Transcript Highlights:

• Good gentleman from 22, Mr.
• Good Gentleman from 22.
• Good Gentleman from 22.
• The gentleman from 22. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Gentleman, 22. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> be</c><00:22:06.000><c> shut</c><00:22:06.240><c> off</c><00:22:06.400><c> in</c><00:22:06.640><
• 00:22:08.080><c> on</c><00:22:08.320><c> until</c><00:22:08.559><c> a</c><00:22:08.720><c> water</c>
• importance<01:22:01.679><c> for</c><01:22:01.840><c> HHFTC</c><01:22:02.639><c> to</c><01:22:02.719>
• </c><01:22:06.239><c> Um</c><01:22:06.560><c> members,</c><01:22:06.880><c> do</c><01:22:06.960><c> we
• Chair votes I.<01:22:18.400><c> Vice</c><01:22:18.560><c> chair</c><01:22:18.719><c> votes</c><01:22:

Summary: The committees heard testimony on five housing-related measures. SB 2232 would create a three-year tiny home grant pilot program within HHFDC, with annual reporting to HHFDC and the Legislature; testimony was mixed, and the bill was later recommended for passage with amendments, including a full-time housing development specialist, a residential-use-only restriction for the tiny homes, and a blanked appropriation. SB 2192 would bar county down-zoning that reduces housing capacity unless equivalent capacity is added elsewhere in the county; it drew support from housing advocates and comments from planning officials, and was also recommended for passage with amendments. SB 2378 would clarify insurance requirements for single- and multifamily projects seeking expedited county permitting; engineers and housing groups supported it, while one testifier opposed it, and it was recommended for passage with a technical amendment. SB 2524 would appropriate funds to the City and County of Honolulu for housing-related departments to comply with prior acts; the Honolulu department supported it, and members asked about prior spending and funding sources. SB 2398 would require residential housing utility availability maps; the Honolulu Board of Water Supply opposed the bill as written, citing infrastructure security, accuracy, liability, and administrative burden concerns, while supporters said it would improve transparency for developers. The chair proposed amendments to make the maps broad and geographic rather than parcel-specific, remove contested-case and reliance provisions, allow disclaimer language, and change the date; the bill was then recommended for passage with amendments, with one member noting reservations. All five measures were ultimately passed out of committee with amendments, with votes recorded and some members excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• &gt;&gt; Uh<00:22:42.720><c> Madam</c><00:22:42.960><c> Speaker,</c><00:22:43.640><c> sound</c><00:22
• :44.040><c> is</c><00:22:44.160><c> one</c><00:22:44.320><c> of</c><00:22:44.400><c> the</c> &gt;&gt;
• ><c> that</c><00:22:45.160><c> Act</c><00:22:45.360><c> 250</c><00:22:45.920><c> oversight</c><00:22:
• </c> &gt;&gt; So,<00:22:52.840><c> the</c><00:22:53.240><c> question</c><00:22:53.840><c> is,</c><00:
• 22:54.200><c> shall</c><00:22:54.560><c> the</c><00:22:54.720><c> House</c> The question is, shall the

Transcript Highlights:

• .<01:22:19.760><c> Uh</c><01:22:20.000><c> before</c><01:22:20.159><c> I</c><01:22:20.400><c> do</c><
• > thank</c><01:22:22.080><c> the</c><01:22:22.719><c> chairs</c><01:22:23.120><c> of</c><01:22:23.360
• <01:22:27.199><c> finance</c><01:22:27.920><c> as</c><01:22:28.080><c> well</c><01:22:28.239><c> as</
• Senate<01:22:28.880><c> chairs</c><01:22:29.360><c> health</c><01:22:29.520><c> and</c><01:22:29.760
• ><01:22:36.159><c> this</c><01:22:36.400><c> bill</c><01:22:36.639><c> and</c><01:22:36.960><c> the</

Transcript Highlights:

• on any<00:22:02.440><c> minimization</c><00:22:03.320><c> or</c><00:22:03.600><c> avoidance</c><00:22
• would</c><01:22:27.120><c> like</c><01:22:27.280><c> to</c><01:22:27.400><c> share</c><01:22:27.679>
• :22:29.840><c> who</c><01:22:30.040><c> are</c><01:22:30.320><c> in</c><01:22:30.480><c> our</c> you
• c> and</c><01:22:31.840><c> directly</c><01:22:32.520><c> affected</c><01:22:33.000><c> by</c><01:22:
• </c><01:22:38.480><c> said</c><01:22:38.920><c> one</c><01:22:39.159><c> thing</c><01:22:39.360><c> I

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several housing, land use, and preservation bills. HB 1008 HD2 would require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to complete historic preservation determinations for state affordable housing projects within 90 days and create sensitivity-based review pathways. HHFDC, DLNR’s State Historic Preservation Division, and written testimony from DBEDT supported the bill as an expedited process for projects unlikely to affect significant historic resources. Members asked how the bill would define significant versus non-significant historic properties, how it would interact with Kapakai analysis, and whether burial councils had been consulted; SHPD said the bill would not replace Kapakai review and that burial councils had not been included. Written support also came from OHA, Hawaii Realtors, and the Maui Chamber of Commerce. HB 1093 would clarify the Hawaii Public Housing Authority’s powers relating to housing projects. HPHA supported the measure, saying it would align definitions with prior law and help deconcentrate poverty by allowing mixed-income rebuilding. The director also said the bill was increasingly urgent because of reported federal HUD priorities that could affect public housing and Section 8 funding. HB 1096 HD1 would repeal state low-income housing preferences for disabled veterans and spouses of deceased veterans, with HPHA saying federal veteran programs such as VASH are a better mechanism and that the state preference has not been used in years. HB 1411 would allow HHFDC projects to give sale or lease preferences to applicants who live or work within five miles of a project; HHFDC and the Hawaii Chapter of NAIOP supported it as a way to keep residents connected to their communities, while members raised constitutional concerns about broader local-preference policies. The committee also heard HB 367 HD1, which would create county permit exemptions for certain agricultural and maintenance activities. Written testimony included opposition from the Department of Planning and Permitting and support from the Hawaii Farm Bureau, Grassroot Institute, and others. A public testifier opposed the bill, arguing that permit exemptions could worsen safety and compliance problems. Finally, HB 826 HD1 would allow county planning commissions, by special permit, to authorize residential housing in agricultural districts for agricultural workforce housing, long-term rental, or fee simple ownership under certain conditions. HHFDC supported it as a faster alternative to lengthy state land-use redistricting, but the Department of Agriculture, Land Use Commission, and Office of Planning and Sustainable Development raised concerns about food production impacts, due process, service provision, jurisdictional conflicts, and the use of special permits for what could amount to district boundary changes. Public testimony was mixed, with some support and some opposition. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> sections to comply with CARAS chapter sections to comply with CARAS chapter 13A.
• <00:22:02.320><c> Senator</c><00:22:02.640><c> Wilson</c><00:22:03.039><c> has</c><00:22:03.280><c> a
• I don't<00:22:04.559><c> have</c><00:22:04.720><c> a</c><00:22:04.960><c> question.
• </c><00:22:05.360><c> I</c><00:22:05.600><c> just</c><00:22:05.760><c> have</c><00:22:05.840><c> a</c
• I just have a statement<00:22:06.480><c> that</c><00:22:06.720><c> I'm</c><00:22:06.960><c> in</c><00

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met to reorganize its leadership for the new term, renewing Representative Derek Lewis as House co-chair and Senator Steven West as Senate co-chair. The committee then approved the minutes and moved through a series of agency regulations, generally adopting staff-suggested amendments without objection. Among the regulations reviewed were an Attorney General rule changing how a commission reviews and distributes funds and how grant reporting is handled; Personnel Board changes abolishing and renaming certain job classifications and adjusting probationary periods; an Education and Labor Cabinet rule removing references to local board of education members; several Public Protection Cabinet rules covering Board of Claims and Crime Victims’ Compensation procedures; an Alcoholic Beverage Control rule on direct-to-consumer shipping forms; and a Medicaid Services emergency regulation establishing the Kentucky Trauma Hospital Rate Improvement Program for rural hospitals serving many Medicaid patients. The committee also heard that the Board of Claims and Crime Victims’ Compensation regulations included both staff and, in one case, an agency amendment, which were approved. The most extended discussion came on the Department for Community Based Services’ regulation increasing per diem rates for private child-placing therapeutic foster care levels 2 and 3. Committee members questioned the estimated $10 million biennial cost, the source of the funding, and why the cabinet had not yet filed regulations implementing Senate Bill 151 on kinship care. DCBS staff said the rate increase was discretionary and intended to address placement crises for children with high needs, while acknowledging they could not personally explain the budget decisions. A kinship caregiver testified in support of the rate increase but urged the cabinet to also implement SB 151 and expand support for kinship families. The committee expressed frustration over the lack of SB 151 implementation but stated the rate increase itself was appropriate and allowed the regulation to proceed.

Transcript Highlights:

• supported<00:22:25.560><c> this</c><00:22:25.760><c> recommendation</c><00:22:26.480><c> to</c><00:22
• On<00:22:28.120><c> your</c><00:22:28.240><c> desk</c><00:22:28.640><c> members</c><00:22:29.040><c>
• letters</c><00:22:30.760><c> too</c><00:22:31.000><c> numerous</c><00:22:31.480><c> for</c><00:22:31.640
• Madam<00:22:34.960><c> President</c><00:22:35.440><c> those</c><00:22:35.680><c> letters</c><00:22:36.040
• </c><00:30:49.200><c> 308C</c> chapter the newly written chapter 308C chapter the newly written chapter

Transcript Highlights:

• three line 17 to 199 19 um<00:22:03.360><c> because</c><00:22:03.600><c> they're</c><00:22:03.840><c
• </c><00:22:36.320><c> If</c><00:22:36.480><c> not,</c><00:22:36.720><c> chair</c><00:22:36.960><c> voltai
• </c><00:22:37.919><c> If</c><00:22:38.080><c> the</c><00:22:38.240><c> members</c><00:22:38.559><c> present
• Okay, before<00:22:45.120><c> we</c><00:22:45.440><c> adjourn,</c><00:22:45.840><c> so</c><00:22:46.080
• <00:22:46.799><c> just</c><00:22:46.960><c> sit</c><00:22:47.120><c> here</c><00:22:47.280><c> for</c

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Summary: The joint Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary decision-making meeting on April 1, 2025 considered several measures previously heard in committee and took action on each. HB 228 HD1 SD1, relating to license plates, was recommended to pass with amendments defining the terms “cover” and “shield”; it was adopted with votes of aye from the chair, vice chair, Senator McKelvie, and Senator Richards, and a no from Senator Awa. HB 125 HD1, relating to firearms and secure storage notice requirements, was recommended to pass unamended and was adopted, though Senator McKelvie noted reservations and Senator OA did not vote. The committees also noted they would wait for a full complement on some JDC votes before finalizing all actions. HB 1194 HD2 SD1, relating to midwives, drew the most discussion and testimony. The recommendation was to pass with amendments, including DCCA-proposed changes and a revised effective date; members discussed concerns about regulation, the role of unlicensed birth attendants, and whether the bill could criminalize people present at births. The chair explained the intent was not to criminalize invited, uncompensated birth attendants who do not use the title “midwife,” while also clarifying limits on practicing midwifery without a license. The measure passed with reservations from Senator McKelvie and a no vote from Senator Awa. HB 348 HD1 SD1, relating to single-use plastics, was recommended to pass unamended and was adopted without objection. HB 874 SD1, concerning trust accounts for minors in theatrical employment, was recommended to pass with amendments accepting the Attorney General’s suggestion to remove rulemaking authority; it passed in both committees without opposition. After the CPN portion adjourned, JDC also took up HB 125 and HB 1194, adopting the same recommendations and passing both measures, with the midwifery bill again reflecting the committee’s intent to preserve invited, unpaid attendance at births while restricting unlicensed practice.

Transcript Highlights:

• :43.640><c> speaker</c><00:22:44.200><c> and</c><00:22:44.400><c> representative</c><00:22:44.919><c>
• :46.360><c> this</c><00:22:46.480><c> is</c><00:22:46.679><c> something</c><00:22:47.039><c> to</c><00
• to prevent it from happening<00:22:53.559><c> representative</c><00:22:54.159><c> leeling</c><00:22:
• :55.520><c> madam</c><00:22:55.840><c> speaker</c><00:22:56.200><c> so</c><00:22:56.400><c> it's</c><
• so it's to prevent from<00:22:57.400><c> happening</c><00:22:57.840><c> something</c><00:22:58.120><

Transcript Highlights:

• :07.120><c> base</c><00:22:07.400><c> tax</c><00:22:07.919><c> rate</c><00:22:08.919><c> uh</c><00:22
• <00:22:14.039><c> Service</c><00:22:14.360><c> or</c><00:22:14.720><c> charge</c><00:22:15.080><c> to
• ><c> bonds</c><00:22:18.000><c> um</c><00:22:18.559><c> that</c><00:22:18.760><c> is</c><00:22:18.960
• is now uh under<00:22:20.400><c> the</c><00:22:20.799><c> chapter</c><00:22:21.120><c> 68</c><00:22:
• the chapter 68 2023 uh was enacted under the chapter 68 2023 uh was enacted that<00:22:23.679><c> that

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> these</c><00:22:03.240><c> um</c><00:22:03.400><c> we</c><00:22:03.520><c> would</c><00:22:03.679
• :04.880><c> continue</c><00:22:05.240><c> to</c><00:22:05.400><c> be</c><00:22:06.240><c> um</c><00:22
• :22:12.920><c> as</c><01:22:13.040><c> it's</c><01:22:13.320><c> adopted</c><01:22:13.760><c> in</c>
• ><c> take</c><01:22:18.480><c> it</c><01:22:18.639><c> up</c><01:22:18.800><c> or</c><01:22:18.920><c
• > hole</c><01:22:20.360><c> on</c><01:22:20.480><c> the</c><01:22:20.760><c> floor</c><01:22:21.760><

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:22:07.760><c> is</c><00:22:07.880><c> asking</c><00:22:08.159><c> us</c><00:22:08.279><c> to<
• ><c> on</c><00:22:08.799><c> a</c><00:22:08.960><c> bill</c><00:22:09.840><c> for</c><00:22:10.200><c
• ><c> has</c><00:22:12.320><c> a</c><00:22:12.520><c> cost</c><00:22:12.760><c> and</c><00:22:12.840><
• 22:16.159><c> is</c><00:22:17.159><c> I</c><00:22:17.240><c> think</c><00:22:17.400><c> he</c> a cost
• c><00:22:17.960><c> has</c><00:22:18.080><c> a</c><00:22:18.279><c> cost</c><00:22:18.520><c> in</c><

Transcript Highlights:

• It amends Chapter 22, Title 28, Idaho Code, by the addition of a new section to provide for interest
• It amends Chapter 22, Title 28, Idaho Code, by the addition of a new section to provide for interest
• Gentleman 22. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for a privilege and an in motion.
• Good gentleman from 22. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• Gentleman 22. Thank you, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> uh</c><00:22:01.840><c> this</c><00:22:02.400><c> uh</c><00:22:02.720><c> this</c><00:22:03.039>
• ><c> uh</c><00:22:05.039><c> uh</c><00:22:05.360><c> pertain</c><00:22:05.840><c> to</c><00:22:05.919
• </c><00:22:13.120><c> Then</c><00:22:13.360><c> if</c><00:22:13.520><c> they</c><00:22:13.679><c> can
• </c><00:22:16.559><c> They</c><00:22:16.799><c> can</c><00:22:16.960><c> only</c><00:22:17.120><c> go
• > cents</c><00:22:19.200><c> above</c><00:22:19.600><c> the</c><00:22:19.840><c> cap</c><00:22:20.480

Committee: House Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:22:47.240><c> Is</c><00:22:47.360><c> that</c><00:22:47.600><c> something</c><00:22:48.560><c
• </c><00:22:51.920><c> So,</c><00:22:52.240><c> there</c><00:22:53.280><c> there</c><00:22:53.679><c>
• c><01:22:22.280><c> have</c><01:22:22.600><c> HB</c><01:22:23.120><c> 549</c><01:22:24.560><c> HD1</c
• Voting<01:22:41.960><c> on</c><01:22:42.080><c> HB</c><01:22:42.880><c> 549</c><01:22:43.920><c> HD1,
• <01:22:45.680><c> is</c><01:22:45.760><c> to</c><01:22:45.840><c> pass</c><01:22:46.120><c> with</c>

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 963, which would make crimes against elders age 60 and over strict liability offenses by removing the requirement that the perpetrator knew or should have known the victim’s age. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing that removing the state-of-mind element would create unfair and subjective results and suggesting sentencing enhancements or broader vulnerability-based language instead. Supporters, including Sandy Wong and another testifier with elder-abuse experience, said the current knowledge requirement creates a loophole that lets offenders avoid the elder enhancement even when they target vulnerable older adults. No vote was taken on the measure in the portion provided. The committee also heard HB 384, which increases penalties for promoting minor-produced sexual images, extends probation terms for felony obscenity offenses, tolls the statute of limitations during a victim’s minority, and requires sex offender registration for certain felony obscenity offenses involving minors. The Public Defender opposed the bill as overly broad and warned of absurd results, while the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney supported it, saying the bill addresses sextortion and other exploitation cases where adults solicit images from minors and that the 3-year age-gap threshold preserves ordinary teen relationships. Committee members questioned whether the bill was aimed at adults only and whether the age-gap carveout was narrow enough; the prosecutor said it was intended to cover adult predators and not consensual peer conduct. No final action was reported. HB 1100, which renames the Neighbor Islands Blind and Visually Impaired Service Pilot Program to use “low vision” instead of “visually impaired,” was supported by the Department of Human Services and disability advocates, who said the current term is derogatory and that the change responds to the blind community. The department said it was beginning work on administrative rules and expected to seek an appropriation, with implementation hoped for in 2026. The committee then heard HB 1283, exempting paternity proceedings from mediation when domestic abuse is alleged; the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and others supported it as consistent with divorce law and important for survivor safety. HB 689, creating safe harbor protections for survivors of sexual exploitation who seek medical or law enforcement help, drew support from HPD, Emua Alliance, the Judiciary, and others, who said it would prevent traffickers from using prostitution charges to silence victims. Finally, HB 383, reinstating mandatory minimum jail terms for successive violations of protective orders and removing the court’s ability to suspend those minimums, drew opposition from the Public Defender, who said some repeat violations stem from mental health or substance use issues, and support from the Prosecuting Attorney, who argued the bill treats protective orders like temporary restraining orders and preserves judicial discretion within a misdemeanor framework.

Transcript Highlights:

• is up first<00:22:19.840><c> century</c><00:22:20.159><c> H</c><00:22:20.480><c> next</c><00:22:21.000
• :22:21.880><c> here</c><00:22:22.000><c> and</c><00:22:22.120><c> I</c><00:22:22.240><c> really</c><00
• ><c> se</c><00:22:24.039><c> for</c><00:22:24.240><c> either</c><00:22:24.400><c> one</c><00:22:24.520
• one of you but<00:22:24.880><c> I</c><00:22:25.000><c> do</c><00:22:25.159><c> have</c><00:22:25.279
• ><c> a</c><00:22:25.520><c> comment</c><00:22:25.919><c> and</c><00:22:26.080><c> I</c><00:22:26.200>

Summary: The subcommittee met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and welcomed new members before taking up Council on Postsecondary Education regulations 13 KAR 2:120 and 13 KAR 2:130. The regulations, as amended by staff and agency amendments, update public university and KCTCS performance funding models to conform to 2024 Senate Bill 191 and the performance funding work group’s recommendations. Changes discussed included replacing the underrepresented minority metric with an underrepresented students metric defined as first-generation students, adding an adult learner metric, increasing the low-income degree premium, adjusting small-school and nonresident credit-hour weights, revising data aging and progression metrics, and adding STEM+H criteria in 13 KAR 2:120. Travis Pal of the Council on Postsecondary Education explained that the changes reflect the work group’s three-year review process and that the work group ultimately voted to define underrepresented students as first-generation students and to apply half-weighting between research and comprehensive universities for the new metric. Michael Frasier of the Kentucky Student Rights Coalition and Eastern Kentucky University student government opposed 13 KAR 2:120, arguing that the regulation improperly applies weights where the statute does not clearly authorize them and that the funding changes disadvantage comprehensive universities and vulnerable students. He asked the committee to find the regulation deficient or, alternatively, recommend legislative clarification and a revised fiscal analysis. Pal responded that weighting has been part of the model since 2017, that CPE was following the statute and work group recommendations, and that the model could be changed by future legislation. Members asked about the timing of the broader performance funding review, and Pal said the full model is reviewed every three years, with the next work group cycle beginning in 2026. No motion to find the regulation deficient was made, and the committee allowed the regulations to proceed to the committee of jurisdiction. The committee then approved a staff amendment to Teachers’ Retirement System regulations 102 KAR 1:195 and 102 KAR 1:340, which require annual reporting of accumulated sick leave, leave policies, and salary schedules to TRS and make technical changes to the final average salary calculation and related definitions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first one relates to the rewrite and reorganization project we've conducted for Chapter 22 of the
• Um, chapter 22 was reviewed as part of our comprehensive rule review.
• Is there a motion to adopt the amendments to Chapter 22 as included in your material? I move.
• Could we include in that motion, uh, closing the review for Chapter 22?
• As with Chapter 22, we removed any rule that was merely duplicative of statute.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> be</c><00:22:05.520><c> honoring</c><00:22:06.799><c> uh</c><00:22:07.039><c> a</c><00:22:07.360
• Yeah, that's<01:22:06.239><c> FDA</c><01:22:06.639><c> or</c><01:22:06.880><c> FIFA</c><01:22:07.360>
• So, we have<01:22:09.440><c> to</c><01:22:09.520><c> give</c><01:22:09.679><c> them</c><01:22:09.920>
• in</c><01:22:22.000><c> stock</c><01:22:23.360><c> prior</c><01:22:23.679><c> to</c><01:22:23.840><c>
• </c><01:22:27.520><c> infant</c><01:22:27.920><c> formula</c><01:22:28.400><c> or</c><01:22:28.560><c

Transcript Highlights:

• :22:01.880><c> a</c><00:22:02.039><c> kid</c><00:22:02.240><c> from</c><00:22:02.440><c> her</c> from
• <00:22:07.120><c> with</c><00:22:07.400><c> zero</c><00:22:07.720><c> stake</c><00:22:08.080><c> in</
• <00:22:10.320><c> hf12</c><00:22:11.320><c> gives</c><00:22:11.679><c> the</c><00:22:11.880><c> legal
• ><c> our</c><00:22:16.880><c> daughters</c><00:22:17.720><c> trans</c><00:22:18.279><c> or</c><00:22:
• :22:23.279><c> legally</c><00:22:23.640><c> allows</c><00:22:24.039><c> for</c><00:22:24.240><c> this

Transcript Highlights:

• :14.400><c> that</c><00:22:14.600><c> was</c><00:22:14.799><c> not</c><00:22:15.000><c> the</c><00:22
• ><c> be</c><00:22:21.080><c> able</c><00:22:21.320><c> to</c><00:22:21.600><c> have</c><00:22:21.960>
• from believe exempt Reconstruction from chapter<01:22:07.639><c> 205a</c><01:22:08.520><c> which</c>
• <01:22:08.679><c> has</c><01:22:08.800><c> to</c><01:22:08.920><c> do</c><01:22:09.040><c> with</c> chapter
• 205a which has to do with chapter 205a which has to do with coastal<01:22:09.520><c> zone</c><01:22:

Committee: House Water & Land

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land heard testimony on several measures, beginning with HB 347 relating to goats. The Department of Land and Natural Resources offered comments and said its Division of Forestry and Wildlife was available to answer questions. Testimony on the bill was largely opposed, with speakers arguing it would amount to a “free-for-all” rather than game management and urging deferral. DLNR responded that bag limits can be adjusted by area and game management unit under adaptive management rules, and that hunters typically take out their catch. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up HB 1278, on which DLNR testified in support. The record in the excerpt does not include discussion of the bill’s substance beyond the department’s support, and no action or vote is shown. A substantial portion of the hearing focused on HB 144, relating to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority and proposed exemptions from Sunshine Law requirements during the transition period. The authority’s vice chair testified that the body is a startup agency with a complex transition from the University and needs to be able to discuss strategic planning, operational formation, and other day-to-day matters with more than two members present. Opponents, including the Public First Law Center, Hawaiʻi Environmental Alliance, and community members, argued the bill would cut the public out of the deliberative process, allow decisions to be hashed out in private, and set a poor transparency precedent. One testifier also raised cultural and environmental concerns about Mauna Kea. Committee members questioned whether existing law and narrower guardrails could address the authority’s concerns, and the authority said it had already proposed a narrower alternative but the bill returned in similar form. The excerpt ends before any final committee action on HB 144 is shown.