Transcript Highlights:

• . behavior. behavior.
• </c> here in strong support of HCR 61. here in strong support of HCR 61.
• He's in support, and then Stephanie Sakamoto in support.
• ><c> support.
• </c> support of that. support of that.

Bills: HCR13, HCR61, HCR136, HCR185, HCR155, HCR68, HCR174, HCR178, HCR179, HCR91, HCR103, HCR115, HCR199, HR15, HR128, HR175, HR147, HR62, HR164, HR168, HR169, HR83, HR95, HR107, HR189

Keywords: coral reefs, sunscreen, environmental education, student stewardship, marine conservation, reforestation, Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources, native forests, climate resilience, sustainable practices, economic opportunity, biodiversity, wildland-urban interface, WUI, wildfire mitigation, wildfire safety, Maui County, County of Maui, Kauai

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on March 31, 2026, and heard testimony on several resolutions. HCR 13/HR 50, which asks DLNR to work with DOE and the Public Charter School Commission on a student coral stewardship program, drew comments from DLNR, which said it stood on written testimony and had proposed amendments, and from supporters in the room. HCR 61, urging investment in reforestation policies, workforce, nursery capacity, and related support for public and private lands, received strong support from DLNR and multiple testifiers, including members of a reforestation policy hui, a resident, and others who emphasized watershed protection, flood and fire resilience, and the need to upgrade nursery infrastructure and staffing. Committee members asked questions about nursery modernization, staffing, island-specific needs, and whether reforestation could reduce wildfire impacts; the DLNR witness said all islands need investment, with especially large opportunities on Hawaiʻi Island, and that healthier forests improve resilience though they cannot eliminate climate-related risks. The committee then heard HCR 136/HR 128 on wildland-urban interface safety standards for Maui plantation towns, but no one testified. It also heard HCR 185/HR 175, which urges denial of permits for ICE detention-related warehouses; Chris Coffey of Immua Alliance testified in support, saying migrant survivors of exploitation are harmed when ICE detains people and that Hawaii would not be the first place to take such action, citing examples from other states and cities. In questioning, members explored whether a local facility would keep people closer to families and services or instead increase local detention; Coffey said detention generally cuts off access to services and can intensify fear, and that a local facility could incentivize more detention and make survivors less likely to come forward. Finally, the committee heard HCR 155/HR 147 supporting the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition’s Hawaii Water Safety Act. Testifiers included Allison Shapera, who described the statewide water safety plan, Hawaii’s high drowning rate, the economic and human costs of drownings, and her personal loss of her daughter in a preventable drowning; Kirsten Hermstead and Kalani Vierra of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association said the plan’s recommendations need legislative recognition to help with implementation and grant funding; and Jessamine Town Horner testified by Zoom as a co-founder and bereaved family advocate. The transcript provided does not show any votes or final committee actions on the measures discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're in strong support.
• We're in strong support. Yes, thank you. We're in strong support.
• Uh in support I believe. Yeah. Okay. Uh in support I believe. Yeah. Okay.
• In support Hawaii Pharmacists support.
• </c> testimony and support. Thank you. testimony and support. Thank you.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing opened with SB 1442, which would update the statute governing the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division and clarify its role as the state Medicaid provider of intensive mental health services for children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance. The Department of Health testified in strong support, saying the current statute is outdated and warning against any unfunded mandate because the division relies on federal funding and faces uncertainty about future resources. Written testimony from several organizations also supported the bill. The committees took no immediate action and said they would hold decision-making until later. The hearing then moved to SB 479 on ABLE savings accounts. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Hawaii Disability Rights Center supported the measure, arguing that ABLE accounts help people with disabilities save money without losing benefits and that the state needs more outreach and staffing to expand participation. A testifier with a disability said the bill would help people keep Social Security and housing stability. The chair indicated an intention to move the bill forward, and asked about funding; the discussion settled on a requested appropriation of about $75,000 for incentives. Next, SB 1245 on reimbursement of pharmacists drew broad support from the Hawaii Pharmacists Association, rural pharmacies, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, and others, who said the bill would improve access to care, especially on neighbor islands and in rural communities, and help pharmacies participate in 340B-related services. The Insurance Division and HMSA raised concerns about bill language, saying it could be read to cover pharmacists outside an insurer’s network and that the scope of reimbursable services needed clarification; the pharmacists’ association said the bill is intended to apply only to in-network pharmacists and should continue to reference existing scope-of-practice law. The hearing also took up SB 1279, which would allow pharmacists to authorize medications via telehealth under certain circumstances. The State Board of Pharmacy opposed the bill, citing patient safety, a pilot project with reported errors, concerns about controlled substances and unregulated technicians, and the view that in-person pharmacist services are safer and already available on the affected islands. Several pharmacies and health care groups supported the measure as a way to preserve 340B access and improve service on Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi, while some local pharmacies said they already provide in-person service and opposed remote dispensing. No votes were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, please<00:13:25.480><c> support.</c> please support. please support. Thank<00:13:26.839><c> you.
• . support. support.
• </c> Transportation in support. Transportation in support.
• </c> in support. in support. All<00:40:05.480><c> right.
• </c> in support on Zoom. in support on Zoom.

Bills: SB2567, SB2448, SB3046, SB2231, SB2526

Keywords: harassment, restraining order, temporary restraining order, injunction, protective order, public employer, public servant, public employee, government employee, state employee, legislator, judge, judicial branch, executive branch, local government, political subdivision, workplace violence, threats, stalking, employee safety

Transcript Highlights:

• . support. support.
• . support. support.
• </c> Health System in support. Health System in support.
• Scott Turner in support. Tapani Maui Ocean Center in support. Late Muffy Hanaman in support.
• </c> in in support in support. in in support in support.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2693 relating to capital improvement projects for aerospace infrastructure. Members had no questions, and the recommendation to pass the bill with a defective date of July 1, 2050 was adopted unanimously. The committee then deferred decision making on Senate Bill 26980 relating to transportation and Senate Bill 2374 relating to the blue economy until Thursday, February 19, 2026, in Room 229, pending additional information. In the joint hearing on Senate Bill 2816 relating to state enterprise zones, agencies and organizations including DBEDT, HTDC, Taxation, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Oceanit, the Hawaii Medical Association, and the Queen’s Health System testified in support or submitted written comments. One public testifier urged expanding enterprise zones around the Kakaako/Cancer Center area and combining them with the foreign trade zone to reduce taxes and attract business. A senator questioned whether the enterprise zone program had ever been comprehensively evaluated, noting DBEDT said it had not done a full study in recent years and cited annual report figures including about $221 million in company revenues and $460,000 in foregone state revenue in 2022. The discussion focused on whether the bill would subsidize existing activity or support new economic development, and on the broader policy question of whether enterprise zones should be used to revitalize depressed areas or to target strategic sectors like health care technology. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2900 relating to sports officials. The Department of Education supported the measure, saying the Attorney General is best positioned to represent employees in temporary restraining order matters and that elevating intentional bodily injury of a sports official to a class B felony would improve safety. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing it would escalate conduct already covered by existing assault statutes and go beyond other protected classes. The Department of the Attorney General recommended narrowing the bill by inserting “substantial” before bodily injury in the criminal section and deleting a section that would make the AG’s office act like plaintiff’s counsel in civil matters, suggesting instead that departments adopt policies to help employees obtain TROs without creating an open-ended civil representation role. Several sports and school-related organizations testified in support, and members discussed whether the bill should be narrowed or coordinated with other measures before further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Anything that supports moving geothermal forward would be supported.
• William G.C. from Solari Corporation was in support. Wend Choy was in support.
• Isero Lip Villaflor was in support. Donna Fisher was in support. Michelle P. was in support.
• isero lip villaflor in support support isero lip villaflor in support Mike<00:56:24.720><c> excuse</c
• ><c> P</c><00:56:29.079><c> in</c><00:56:29.359><c> support</c> Michelle P in support Michelle P in support

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees first heard Senate Bill 151 relating to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and geothermal development on Hawaiian homelands. DHHL and Ulupono Initiative testified in strong support, saying the measure would help advance clean energy goals, create economic opportunities, and support DHHL’s mission. Fine Electric also supported the bill. Several members of the public testified in opposition, raising concerns about consultation with beneficiaries, water impacts, land issues, and the scale of the proposed spending. In response to questions, DHHL staff explained slimhole drilling, the permitting distinctions between water exploration and geothermal exploration, and said prior studies and geophysical testing had been done. The chair then recommended passage with amendments, including SMA technical amendments, a directive to establish a permitted interaction group to study geothermal options, removal of the appropriation language, and a new effective date. The committees adopted the recommendation and passed SB 151 with amendments, with one senator voting no and several excused. The joint committees then took up Senate Bill 371 on property damage to critical infrastructure facilities. The Department of the Attorney General supported the bill with amendments, recommending broader critical infrastructure language to cover systems such as transportation, gas, power, water, and oil, and suggesting additional changes to improve prosecution. Utility and other supporters also testified in favor. The chairs proposed adopting the AG’s amendments except one, and further expanding the bill to make manslaughter explicit when a death results from disruption of critical infrastructure, and to add water as a covered infrastructure category. The committees adopted the amended recommendation and passed SB 371 with amendments. Finally, the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs committee heard Senate Bill 585 on special purpose revenue bonds for Bana Pacific. The Attorney General noted a possible issue with the company’s entity status and the bill title, but Bana Pacific stated it was in the process of converting from an LLC to a corporation and was satisfied with the title. The State Energy Office supported the concept, and Bana Pacific described the project as an integrated biogas and green hydrogen facility that would support energy security, create jobs, and reduce emissions. The committee then moved on to Senate Bill 964 on waste-to-energy, where the State Energy Office offered supportive comments but many testifiers opposed the measure, arguing incineration is costly, polluting, and inferior to recycling. Written testimony showed more opposition than support, and public testimony focused on environmental and cost concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are happy to support our member First Med.
• that will support our life-saving programs.
• Because of this, I urge you to support SB 300.
• How robust are those support services?
• And these youth really need that support. We, we, I don't think any of us,... ...need that support.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm sorry, support. Excuse me, I was thinking of the last one. Thank you. Thank you, Chairman.
• Studies show that 88% of Texans support red flag laws.
• So that, I am in support of this anti-red flag law. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mabry.
• The Texas State Rifle Association fully supports this bill and recommends passage.
• Again, TSRA wants to support the bill. And I'm ready for this question. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> management system that will support management system that will support improved<00:31:55.840><c
• </c> suspect um possible criminal behavior. suspect um possible criminal behavior.
• take</c><00:45:32.160><c> very</c> So, that behavior we take very So, that behavior we take very seriously
• </c> compensation support payment program. compensation support payment program.
• </c> have eight for improving supportive have eight for improving supportive recovery<01:37:19.280><c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:19:29.679><c> health</c> spend a moment on the behavioral health spend a moment on the behavioral
• </c> changing uh the uh positive support changing uh the uh positive support program.<00:31:14.720><c
• . support. support.
• We growth in the student support aid.
• </c><00:59:14.000><c> and</c> a kid who was used to the support and a kid who was used to the support

Bills: HF2433, HF2434

Keywords: education funding, children with disabilities, transition aid, special education, school district consolidation, healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• There are dollars there to support that exploration as well.
• RTA support in the budget has more than doubled in the last three years.
• RTA support in the budget has more than doubled in the last three years.
• The other investment we strongly support is the for years going forward.
• While we support the shoring up of funds for... ...on federal funds.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 55, the governor’s FY25 supplemental budget proposal to spend about $1.3 billion in surplus Fair Share revenue. House and Senate chairs framed the bill as a one-time opportunity to invest fairly in education and transportation, while also noting the need to protect the state’s long-term fiscal balance. Administration officials said the proposal should be considered alongside the FY26 budget and related bills, since the governor’s broader Fair Share plan aims for roughly an even split between education and transportation over time. Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz, Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt, and Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler outlined the administration’s priorities. Transportation funding would go mainly to the MBTA and related reserves, including money for the Federal Transit Administration reserve, MBTA stabilization reserve, low-income fares, winter resilience, RTA workforce support, MassDOT workforce and project delivery, and micro-transit grants. Education funding would support universal preschool expansion, early education and care capacity, early literacy tutoring, adult basic education and ESOL, early college and career technical education, MyCAP expansion, and special education circuit breaker funding. The administration emphasized that many of these investments are one-time or multi-year measures designed to address current needs without creating unsustainable recurring costs. Committee members raised concerns about regional equity, especially the large share of transportation money going to the MBTA versus regional transit authorities and rural areas. Several members asked for more detail on how the proposal would benefit Western Massachusetts and other non-MBTA regions, and whether micro-transit and Chapter 90-related investments would be sufficient. Education questions focused on special education reimbursement shortfalls, federal funding cuts to school districts, and how CTE and vocational investments would align students with workforce needs. The administration said it would provide additional data on MBTA versus RTA investment and explained that the special education circuit breaker and transportation reimbursement changes were intended to improve predictability and relief for districts. After the administration panel, Jessica Tang of AFT Massachusetts testified in support of using Fair Share funds to protect public education amid federal uncertainty and cuts. She argued that schools are facing a fiscal cliff, that vulnerable students would be hit hardest by funding losses, and that the Fair Share revenue should be used to preserve services and support students’ needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• She was very outspoken in her support of women's involvement in the political arena.
• Speaker, I'd ask for your support. Thank you, gentlemen. ...law. And without, Mr.
• Speaker, I'd ask for your support. Thank you, gentlemen. Deferred the motion.
• Speaker, debate in support of the bill. Gentleman has the floor.
• We prohibit all kinds of behavior; preventing is different.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House convened with 59 members present, approved the journal, and then held a memorial program honoring former legislators and public servants, including Frank Brunel, Jeannie Givens, Carl Shirtleff, Wendy Ungrich Kachetti, Ron Vieselmeyer, and Anne Wilde. The tributes highlighted their legislative service, community involvement, family lives, and personal legacies, and the chamber observed a moment of remembrance with music before returning to business. During announcements, the House also welcomed several student and civic groups in the gallery, including participants in 4-H Know Your Government, AAUW members, and students from CUNA High School. After the memorial, the House received messages from the Senate and governor, and committee reports were read. Several bills were referred for printing or to committees, including measures on state budget logos, elections, telecom service discontinuance, broadband, geothermal water, trapping, self-defense and public assemblies on roads, child abuse interview recording, criminal procedure, parental rights, sex offender residency, sheriff reimbursement, masks during crimes, bribery and nepotism, AI procurement, airbags, administrative subpoenas, Attorney General duties, unauthorized workers, rental applications, land use, homeowners associations, programmable money, school start dates, administrator authorization, civics programming, and health insurance cost-sharing. Senate bills 1240, 1248, 1249, and 1251 were also received and referred. On second reading, House Bills 639, 635, 594, and 610 were advanced to the third-reading calendar. On third reading, House Bill 576, concerning the Idaho Consumer Asset Recovery Fund and limiting reimbursements to Idaho residents, passed 53-14; House Bill 577, removing the requirement to replace license plates every 10 years if still legible, passed 66-1; and House Bill 632, expanding whistleblower protections and setting timelines for legislative records requests, passed 68-0. The chamber then debated House Bill 607 at length; the bill would require separate restroom, shower, and locker room facilities by biological sex in government buildings and public accommodations, with enforcement provisions and civil penalties. Supporters argued it would protect privacy and safety and impose only reasonable steps, while opponents said it was vague, costly for small businesses and cities, and could create liability and enforcement problems. The debate continued without a final vote in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, behavioral health as well as the expansion acute care.
• Infant and maternal, behavioral health, DD waiver, and then the hospitals.
• I'm glad these guys showed up here today to support this project.
• Um, they're there to support potential fires. Next slide.
• Um, and then there's about 1500 federal personnel, um, that can help support in the region, um.

Transcript Highlights:

• But then there were things leading up to that that were predicting his behavior.
• So somebody will be able to witness these behaviors, extreme mental health psychosis.
• But then there were things leading up to that that were predicting his behavior.
• So somebody will be able to witness these behaviors, extreme mental health psychosis.
• So then somebody gets to a family member, see these behaviors.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We don’t have infrastructure in place to support public transportation or transportation of any type.
• I haven't really read the bill in its entirety, so I may not vote to support it until I do, to make sure
• We do support having representation for long-term care on the board; however, as... ...long-term care
• If we think your behavior in Kentucky was bad enough, we’re just not Kentucky was bad enough, we’re just
• But the main thing is that the pharmacists out there working every day should be supported in their roles

Bills: HB191, HB35, HB29, HB123, HB35, HB29, HB191, HB123

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, sales and use tax, local tax exemption, county tax, municipal tax, county commission, municipality, Alabama Department of Revenue, tax exemption, ordinance, resolution, fiscal year, September 1 effective date, notice requirement, local government, tax administration, revenue law, state and local taxation, volunteer firefighters

Transcript Highlights:

• For land supporting. Is that to purchase land supporting? Where would we spend $100 million?
• , the Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act.
• I'll be extremely brief: I support everything that everybody just said.
• To support projects, this fund is built to support projects in biotech, medicine, energy, water aerospace
• On line 12, this is for providing those entrepreneurship supports.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are seeing addictive behaviors.
• something</c><00:02:22.480><c> that's</c> behaviors.
• You have something that's behaviors.
• We're seeing um disorderly behaviors.
• </c> behavior, you know, increase in schools. behavior, you know, increase in schools.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I rise in support of this amendment.
• Now, we are taking the marijuana tax revenue and using it to support a healthcare using it to support
• I am in support.
• And I think that this is something that I'm strongly supportive of. I supported it last year.
• They need specialized staffing, behavioral supports, and too often they don't have what they need to

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:31:31.960><c> them</c> better support them better support them is<01:31:33.360><c> something<
• </c> in some instances, functional supports in some instances, functional supports fall<01:37:26.080>
• Support Program in our adult program. Support Program in our adult program.
• </c><01:59:46.640><c> So,</c> support of those provisions. Right. So, support of those provisions.
• </c> liaison for behavioral health at DHHS. liaison for behavioral health at DHHS.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up in support? Anyone else to testify in support? Okay. My name is Allison Gordon.
• We support transparency 100%. We support disclosures.
• Anyone else here in support?
• I am here in support of House Bill 2072, and I respectfully ask for your support. All right.
• Next up in support.

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Mental Health met in executive session and advanced several bills. HB 1881 was voted do pass without discussion. HB 3010 was amended with a committee substitute that removed a subsection allowing payers to remove “gold carding” based on procedure volume changes, then passed 10-0. HB 2355, the “Food is Medicine” bill, received a committee amendment to align terminology with other partnerships and then passed 11-0. HB 1855, dealing with alpha-gal reporting, was substantially revised: the substitute narrowed the bill to alpha-gal, removed Lyme disease, changed a department duty from mandatory to discretionary in one section, and delayed reporting implementation; it then passed 14-0 after members discussed the need for better disease tracking and the department’s workload. The committee then heard testimony on HB 2034, which would require insurance coverage for activity-based prostheses, orthotics, and high-performance or mobility-supportive wheelchairs. Sponsor Representative Carolyn Caton said the bill is intended to cover devices that help people live, exercise, and avoid secondary health problems, while preserving prior authorization and medical-necessity review. Supporters included clinicians, parents, amputees, and athletes who described being denied running blades, water-safe prostheses, or durable wheelchairs and said the devices are essential for health, independence, mental well-being, and participation in school, work, and sports. Several witnesses said the bill would reduce long-term costs and reliance on charity. Opponents, including the Missouri Insurance Coalition and America’s Health Insurance Plans, argued the bill is an expansion of coverage with unclear definitions and potentially significant costs, especially for Medicaid and other state-regulated plans. They cited the fiscal note, warned about possible federal ACA rule changes that could shift costs to states, and questioned whether the bill’s language on Medicare supplemental coverage and “perceived disability” was workable or preempted. Committee members pressed both sides on cost savings, definitions of “normal” activity, and whether the bill could be narrowed or otherwise revised, and several said they were willing to keep working on the issue. The hearing on HB 2034 was left open and then recessed after testimony, with no vote taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to also add my support to this legislation.
• I'd like to also add my support to this legislation.
• The revision proposed supports military personnel by extending additional leave hours in support of their
• It's one of the many reasons why I support this bill. This Senator will support.
• It's one of the many reasons why I support this bill. This Senator will support.

Summary: The Senate convened with 27 members present, heard prayer and the Pledge, approved the corrected journal, and then moved through committee reports, messages from the House, and first and second readings of several bills. Among the measures introduced or advanced were appropriations bills, child custody and visitation bills, a digital identification bill, a virtual currency kiosk fraud prevention bill, and bills on public outdoor target ranges, hearing loss screening, and small claims procedure. The chamber also re-referred or held several resolutions and bills, including SCR 125 and SR 121 for printing, and later took a short recess for caucus and announcements. On third reading, the Senate passed SB 1347, a transparency bill requiring more reporting from the Idaho Housing and Finance Association on federal housing and homelessness funds; supporters said it would improve oversight of subrecipients and outcomes, while opponents argued it duplicated existing HUD and IHFA reporting. The Senate also unanimously passed SB 1369, which rewrites Idaho’s civil venue statute and allows certain lawsuits to be filed either where the defendant resides or where the cause of action occurred, and SB 1358, which lets returning school administrators count prior administrative service toward the teacher career ladder if they meet performance requirements. SB 1379 passed 28-7 to raise the Project Choice vehicle registration fee by $5 to help recruit and retain Idaho State Police troopers, with supporters citing public safety and opponents warning about taxpayer burden and impacts on local law enforcement. The Senate then passed HB 635, requiring the Professional Standards Commission to report suspected criminal conduct in education cases to law enforcement; HB 532, standardizing identity requirements for DMV transactions; HB 520, standardizing hearing-notice requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act; and HB 541, expanding the definition of a child for electronic enticement offenses to cover some 16- and 17-year-olds when the offender is at least five years older. Later, the chamber passed HB 581, allowing the Legislature to formally notify the Supreme Court when it believes a court rule conflicts with statute or substantive rights, despite separation-of-powers concerns raised by one senator, and HB 599, changing distribution of digital curriculum funds to a needs-based process. The Senate also approved HB 544 on military leave, HB 642 on death benefits for surviving spouses and dependent children of fallen public safety officers and firefighters, HB 560 allowing county election workers to be drawn from the jury pool, HB 697 separating election-crime offenses into distinct code sections, HB 698 closing a loophole for out-of-state felony convictions, HB 503 transferring the Soil and Water Conservation Commission to the Department of Water Resources, and HB 676 on geothermal water applications, which began debate on Boise’s geothermal system before the transcript ended. Most final votes were unanimous or near-unanimous, with the main recorded opposition on SB 1347, SB 1379, and HB 581.