Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to turn this over to Senator Coleman for some further comments. Thank you.
• As a mother to Jewish children who has spent her entire career in the Senate calling out and fighting
• calling out and fighting Senate calling out and fighting anti-Semitism<00:02:20.879> and<00:02
• <00:04:25.520> finance know if you heard about Senate finance know if you heard about Senate
• Absolutely not. uh Senator Dames has been working very uh Senator Dames has been working very hard<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Melie, yes. Senator Richards, aye. Senator Ahi, yes. Measures adopted. Senator AO excused.
• Senator Elepante Hior? Senator Hasimoto, hi. Senator Kuha, hi. Senator Kidani, excuse.
• Senator Senator kuha hi Senator kidani Senator Senator kuha hi Senator kidani excuse<00:01:33.759>
• Senator excuse Senator excuse Senator Kim<00:01:36.040> Senator Senator Lee, how are you
• Senator Kino, hi. Senator Elant, hi. Senator Hasimoto, hi. Senator Ino, hi. Senator Kidani, hi.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees considered a large number of Senate bills, with many measures advanced either unamended or with technical or substantive amendments. Early action included SB 88 and SB 11 SD1, both passed unamended, and SB 562 SD1 and SB 642 SD1, which were passed with amendments reflecting agency testimony. SB 1133 SD1 was amended to remove duplicative county requirements and clarify tax credit carry-forward eligibility, while SB 1569 SD1 on sports wagering was deferred. Later, SB 933 on nonprofit/federal funding support drew strong testimony from nonprofit and health advocates emphasizing the risk of federal funding freezes and the importance of protecting services such as early learning, domestic violence support, housing, and workforce supports; the committee recommended amendments to define eligible organizations, require reporting, and include the Judiciary. SB 934 and SB 935 were also amended, with SB 934 tying mass transit funding to Honolulu project milestones and SB 935 revising retirement-system language to change “fewer than five years” to “five or more years.” The committees then took up additional measures with targeted amendments. SB 1033 was amended to clarify that the bill applies to legal entities, not individuals, though members noted concerns about closely held family corporations and asked that the issue be reflected in the committee report. SB 1166, SB 1249, and SB 1256 were advanced with amendments or committee-report notes reflecting concerns from the Attorney General, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and Hawaii Farmers Union United, respectively. SB 1432 and SB 137, both relating to electric utilities, were amended to require retention of covered employees after mergers or acquisitions and to direct the PUC to consider whether proposed transactions further state policy goals. SB 157 on antitrust was narrowed to focus on coordinator conduct in rental housing markets, SB 252 on invasive species received a defective effective date, and SB 336 on defense of state employers and employees passed unamended. SB 536 on the Hawaii Community Development Authority was deferred to a later hearing, and SB 1064 on medical cannabis was heavily amended to authorize cultivator licenses with limits on canopy size, license counts, physician fees, and a special-fund appropriation for enforcement. In the Ways and Means portion, the committee passed several bills unamended, including SB 19, SB 124, SB 264, SB 345, SB 422, and SB 741 and SB 747 later in the agenda. SB 361 was amended to remove references to the attorney general and delete an appropriation section, SB 438 was amended to redefine buffer zones and landfill-unit language, and SB 441 and SB 494 were amended to blank appropriations and, in SB 494, assign charter-school audit responsibility to the state auditor. SB 659 was substantially amended to promote local procurement, including county-level geographic preferences and higher thresholds for locally sourced purchases, and SB 732 was amended to adjust film tax credit provisions, including the streaming-platform definition and sunset-related language. SB 819 was amended to replace references to “educators” with “teachers.” Throughout, most measures were adopted without recorded opposition, though several members noted reservations on particular bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Mel...
• Senator Melby, yes. Senator Richards, reservations. Senator Oa, aye. The measure is adopted.
• Senator Fukunaga, aye. Senator Kim, aye. Senator A, I... Chair, your recommendations.
• Senator Meli, yes. Senator Richards and Senator A... excuse me, measures adopted.
• :22:58.480> Senator<00:22:58.799> a<00:22:59.120> our Senator Richards and Senator

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection and Economic Development and Tourism committees heard S.B. 890, which would have prohibited the sale, display, or marketing of products labeled as poi unless wholly derived from Hawaii-grown taro. The Attorney General’s Office raised Commerce Clause and free speech concerns, and the Department of Agriculture offered support with comments. Testimony was mixed: several individuals and organizations supported the bill as a way to protect the cultural integrity and purity of poi and support local taro farmers, while an industry representative opposed the bill as written, arguing that poi is a process, that the language was too restrictive, and that the industry already faces taro shortages and supply variability. Committee members also discussed the limited supply of local kalo, the use of imported taro for tabletop products, and the need to expand production. After testimony, the committees recommended passing S.B. 890 with amendments. The amendment package would convert the measure from a prohibition to a labeling requirement so poi made with ingredients from outside Hawaii must be labeled with the origins of those ingredients, remove references specifically to taro to accommodate other ingredients, add a severability clause, and set a defective date of July 1, 2050. The measure was adopted, with one senator voting with reservations and the rest voting aye. The committees then took up previously heard measures. S.B. 281, relating to telehealth, was recommended for passage with amendments to reinstate an opt-out from video conferencing in the definition of interactive telecommunications software; it was adopted. S.B. 1449, relating to prior authorization of health care services, was recommended for passage unamended and was also adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first bill on the docket today is Senate F 1481, Senator Papas. Thank you so much, Mr.
• Senate F 1481, Senator Papas. Thank you so much, Mr.
• Senator Rasmusson, thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Senator Rest.
• Senator R...
• <01:45:14.480> one<01:45:15.480> uh Senator rest that Senate file one uh Senator rest

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:50:17.839> Muhammad<00:50:18.480> Senator thank you Senator Muhammad Senator thank
• <01:11:53.960> Dam you for your question Senator Dam you for your question Senator Dam Senator
• Thank you, Senator.
• Thank you, Senator.
• Thank you, Senator. Senator Lucero, thank you, Madam Chair.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Marty, yeah, thank you. Senator Limmer, I agree.
• <01:36:18.119> Senate Amendment if if you and Senate Senate Amendment if if you and Senate
• c> Corin both by Senator limmer and Senator Corin both by Senator limmer and Senator Corin about<
• Senator Cwodzinski, and of course Senator Marty.
• > and<01:52:49.840> of authors Senator bar Senator owski and of authors Senator bar Senator

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator Champion, then Senator Draheim, then Senator Mohamed and..."
• Thank you, Senator Champion, then Senator Draheim, then Senator Mohamed and..."
• , then Senator Mohamed and Senator Draheim, then Senator Mohamed and Senator B.
• The House or the Senate is going to have its position, but a budget resolution currently calls for smaller
• /c><00:52:01.400> Senator people can prepare Senator dreim Senator people can prepare Senator

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Labor Committee is called to order.
• response yeah um chair mchu Senator response yeah um chair mchu Senator dornick<00:48:00.800>
• Senator Verbeten: Thank you.
• Senator, any follow-up?
• /c><01:04:18.720> please<01:04:18.880> go Senator Senator G GRE hogen please go Senator

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate will come to order. Senator Murphy: Thank you, Mr. President.
• I move a call of the Senate. The Senate is now under call.
• Remaining under motions and resolutions, Senator Murphy to designate special orders. Thank you, Mr.
• I want to thank Senator Westrom, Senator Dornink, Senator Dames, Senator Putnam for helping along with
• to thank Senator westrum Senator dornick Senator<00:31:15.399> Dames<00:31:16.080> Senator

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:13:31.480> auditor Senator oh Senator house okay auditor Senator oh Senator house okay
• So, Senate File 828, Senator B, go ahead.
• So, Senate File 828, Senator B, go ahead.
• So, Senate File 828, Senator B, go ahead.
• So, Senate File 828, Senator B, go ahead.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• invite senators jinsky and Senator to invite senators jinsky and Senator kupek<00:00:51.760> um
• > cek uh Senator jinsky Senator um cek uh Senator jinsky Senator um cek um<00:03:12.239> uh
• So I'd like to thank you, Madam Chair, Senator Weber, Senator Cek? Senator Chinski?
• <01:22:26.000> senator and thanks to Senator jinsky and senator and thanks to Senator jinsky
• Thank you, Senator Hauschild. Senator Putnam.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Three members are online: Senator Wesenberg, Senator Hauschild, and Senator Lane are online.
• Thank you, Senator Green.
• Thank you, Senator McAn. Yeah, Mr. Chair and Senator McAn, thank you for the question.
• Thank you, Senator McEwen.
• Senator Green, thank you, Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, and welcome to this Hawaii State Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,
• Senator McKelvie yes. Senator Richards yes. Senator Ahi yes. Measure adopted.
• Senator Melie yes. Senator Richards yes. Senator Ahi yes. Measure is adopted. Thank you very much.
• Senator melie yes Senator Richards Senator melie yes Senator Richards Senator<00:03:32.760> a
• <00:13:43.320> Richard date sure to July 1 2015 Senator Richard date sure to July 1 2015 Senator

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection held decision-making and hearing sessions on February 25, 2025, on several measures. In decision-making, the committee passed with amendments SP 588 SD1, SP 1245 SD1 (pharmacists), SB 1287 (transparency), and SP 1298 SD1 (recycling), generally adopting agency-requested or technical amendments and in several cases pushing the effective date far into the future to keep the bills moving. The committee deferred SP 1149 SD1 and SP 281 SD1 for one day, and indefinitely deferred SP 1286 SD1 on motor vehicles after noting no supportive or opposing testimony and that the Office of Consumer Protection wanted to work further with the introducer. In the later hearing on consumer-protection-related measures, the committee heard testimony on SB 419 (insurance), SB 942 (rental applications), and SB 1142 (insurance proceeds). SB 419 would require auto insurance to cover replacement of a damaged child passenger restraint system; the Attorney General’s office suggested language to avoid contract impairment, and the measure was advanced with amendments. SB 942 would bar landlords from rejecting applicants solely for lack of a recent paycheck if they can show sufficient liquid assets or unearned income; testimony was largely supportive, with Realtors asking for clarifying amendments to protect their fiduciary duties, while a witness opposed those changes as an unnecessary burden on retirees and elders. SB 1142 would impose requirements on mortgage services for disbursing insurance proceeds after damage to residential property; DCCA and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement supported it, and the committee advanced it with technical amendments and a defective effective date. Across the actions, the committee repeatedly voted to pass measures with amendments, with the chair voting aye and, on SB 942, the vice chair voting with reservations over the Realtors’ amendments. No measures were rejected in the portions provided, and the committee adjourned after adopting the recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know Senator Parker Madam Clerk, would you recognize that Senator Sparks has joined us in a quorum?
• Thank you, Senator. Senator Alvarado, please recognize Senator Alvarado as joining us.
• Senator Alvarado, you're recognized.
• It's an important issue to my district, to my friend and fellow senator, she's still a senator.
• Thank you, Senator Birdwell, Dean Zaffirini, members of the Senate.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Rest, welcome to the committee. Senate File 44 is before the committee. Thank you, Mr.
• committee for Senator committee for Senator rest<00:16:23.279> Senate<00:16:23.600> rest
• > have inclusion Senator rest we now have inclusion Senator rest we now have Senate<00:16:31.639
• Senator Nelson, thank you, Chair. Uh, Senator Rest, very interesting.
• <01:51:10.079> file Senate file 375 as amended Senate file Senate file 375 as amended Senate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have Senator Abeler, Senator Fateh, and Senator Utke—Jim and Omar.
• I appreciate you, Senator.
• I appreciate you, Senator.
• Awesome, and I appreciate the letter that went out, Senator Utke, Senator Gruenhagen, Senator Abeler.
• scoring Senator mqu how about it Senator scoring Senator mqu how about it Senator Mayu<00:32:48.240

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator Seberger.
• Thank you, Senator Seberger.
• uh seberg's bill start uh with Senator uh seberg's bill Senate<00:02:15.319> file Senate file
• c> um happened Senator Clark okay Senator um happened Senator Clark okay Senator um verbon<00:47:
• Senator Westrom, then Senator Clark, thank you, Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator Abeler. Senator Abeler, well, thank you.
• Senator Abeler.
• sorry if I interrupted you Senator sorry if I interrupted you Senator kunish<00:58:46.680> Senator
• Thank you, Senator Wesenberg. Any other Senator?
• vote Senator sosinski um and Senator vote Senator sosinski um and Senator Miller<01:50:33.639>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I see Senator Gruenhagen. Senator Gruenhagen: Hi, Senator Gruenhagen. Well, thank you, Mr.
• <00:15:53.720> Matthews<00:15:54.639> Senator um Senator Matthews Senator um Senator
• Thank you, Senator.
• Senator Dibble, you're good? Okay, we'll go to Senator Green. Senator Green: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Can you—yeah, Senator Green? Senator Green: Yes, Mr. Chair.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all