Video & Transcript : 'memorial garden' :
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NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
New York State Senate Session - 02/04/2026
New York Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The Secretary will read. 2025-J1535, Senate Resolution No. 1535, by Senator Stewart-Cousins: memorializing
- society; now, therefore, be it resolved, that this legislative body pause in its deliberations to memorialize
- We came from soil that they wouldn't allow us to till, and now we've become some of the greatest gardeners
- So to my Black people, continue to be the gardeners. May your blessings grow bountiful.
- TO BE THE GARDENERS. MAY YOUR BLESSINGS GROW BOUNTIFUL. MAY YOUR HARVEST BE FULL.
Summary:
The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, received messages and substitutions from the Assembly, and welcomed two new members, Senators Erik Bottcher and Jeremy Zellner. The chamber then adopted the resolution calendar and took up a privileged resolution sponsored by Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins memorializing Governor Hochul to proclaim February 2026 as Black History Month in New York. Senators Bailey, Baskin, Sanders, Scarcella-Spanton, Brisport, Parker, Cleare, Comrie, and others spoke in support, emphasizing Black history as American history, the importance of education and remembrance, and the contributions of Black New Yorkers and historical figures. The resolution was adopted, and the leader opened it for co-sponsorship.
The Senate then moved to the bill calendar and passed several measures, including bills on civil procedure, urban development, labor, and public service law. One labor bill was substituted from the Assembly and passed. Several energy and utility-related bills drew debate, with supporters arguing they would improve affordability, utility rate-setting, and consumer protections, while opponents said they would not meaningfully lower costs and instead reflected broader policy choices. Senator Walczyk voted no on one utility bill, and Senators Tedisco and others criticized the package; Senators Mayer and Harckham defended the measures as needed reforms to utility regulation and return-on-equity standards. Most bills were approved by wide margins, including one public service bill that passed 53-9 and another that passed 61-1.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Finance May 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- of the programs and extension are conducted at a regional or statewide level, such as our master gardener
- Number of examples there such as our master gardener program, pesticide training program, our New Mexico
- extension to help support the university and its recruitment efforts, but I, I did want to highlight the Memorial
- Maybe it'd be great if we could take you up to see that program, but Peter Skelton's been in the Memorial
- Like you said, they've got to cover everything from master gardeners to 4H education.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- No matter the battle, whether it was in the sit-ins and in wine garden grocery stores, lunch counters
- On the bridge of Selma, Alabama, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, on the or the Baptist Church in
- Tuesday March 4th In memory of Sarah Botticelli Collar, constituent of Senator Alvarado, and Paul McCann
Keywords:
teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- This is a joint memorial.
- This is a joint memorial.
- And this particular memorial, ...relationship with our federal partners.
- So that's what the memorial does. Campaign financing. So that's what the memorial does.
- I live in Garden City. Thank you for allowing me to testify.
Committee:
Senate State Affairs
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Resources, Recreation and Development (01/21/2026)
Resources, Recreation and Development
Transcript Highlights:
- They like our garden. So, they tend to lay their eggs in the gardens and beside the gazebo.
- They like our<00:22:21.360><c> garden.
- </c> Dusta memorial in Boscoan. Dusta memorial in Boscoan.
- </c><02:21:16.640><c> that</c> and we were left with a memorial that and we were left with a memorial
- Represented by and their memories.
Committee:
House Resources, Recreation and Development
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee Jun 24th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Today I'm here to introduce AB 760, a bill that would ensure the victim of the Garden Grove chemical
- A bill that would ensure the victim of the Garden Grove chemical incident will be made whole.
- Land-Wain, Trustee of Garden Grove School Unified District. Good morning, Mr.
- The Garden Grove chemical leak harmed residents and businesses through no fault of their own.
- Records would be lost, memories would fade, and the system would be unworkable.
Summary:
The committee heard and advanced several tax-related bills, beginning with AB 760, which would exempt settlement payments tied to the Garden Grove chemical incident from California income tax. The author and a school district trustee described evacuations, school closures, and losses to residents, businesses, students, and staff, arguing the payments should make victims whole rather than be taxed. There was support from the Orange County Board of Supervisors, no opposition, and the bill passed 3-0 to Appropriations, with committee amendments accepted.
Members then heard AB 2319, creating a California post-production tax credit for film and television work done in-state, even when principal photography occurred elsewhere or the project did not receive the existing film credit. The author and supporters from the Motion Picture Editors Guild, California Post Alliance, and others said post-production jobs and facilities are leaving California and that the bill would help retain high-wage work; opponents were not present. The committee members generally supported the measure, and it passed 3-0 to Appropriations. AB 2186 followed, excluding future reparations benefits for descendants of formerly enslaved people from state income tax. The author and NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference said taxing such benefits would undermine reparative justice; there was no opposition, and the bill passed 3-0.
The committee also heard AB 762, which would ban the sale of disposable nicotine vapes and add enforcement tools. Supporters, including waste, recycling, local government, and public health groups, said disposable vapes create fire hazards, waste problems, and costs for local agencies; opponents argued the bill would mainly eliminate the legal market while leaving illicit products untouched and urged stronger enforcement instead. The author accepted committee amendments adding CDTFA enforcement, but the bill was not voted on because a motion was pending and members were absent. Later, AB 1519, AB 2172, AB 2222, AB 1793, AB 2089, and AB 1265 were heard and each received support from committee members and passed 2-0 or 3-0 to Appropriations, with amendments accepted where noted. AB 1519 clarified that the 20-year tax collection statute of limitations should not be reset by later fees or penalties; AB 2172 would let large counties use a single assessment appeals commissioner for complex property tax appeals; AB 2222 would create a temporary tax credit for local news organizations to retain and hire journalists; AB 1793 would authorize symmetrical cash rounding to the nearest nickel after the federal penny phaseout; AB 2089 would streamline the welfare exemption filing process for affordable housing; and AB 1265 would extend and revise the historic building tax credit to encourage adaptive reuse for housing and mixed-use projects.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Human Services and Agriculture Committee Mar 26th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Isn't that just a big community garden?
- Isn't that just a big community garden?
- There are ways on small plots of land for farmers. just a big community garden.
- infrastructure funding for farmers markets, mobile farmers markets, urban agriculture, and community gardens
- infrastructure funding for farmers markets, mobile farmers markets, urban agriculture, and community gardens
Summary:
The joint oversight hearing focused on food insecurity in California and how state and federal nutrition programs, agricultural production, and food distribution systems intersect. Assemblymembers emphasized that many Californians, including farmworkers, seniors, children, and communities of color, remain food insecure despite California’s agricultural abundance. Panelists and members discussed CalFresh, WIC, school meals, Sun Bucks, food banks, and the impact of federal policy changes, including possible nutrition cuts, tariffs, and immigration enforcement, on access to food and the agricultural workforce.
Secretary Karen Ross described CDFA programs aimed at improving access to fresh food and supporting local agriculture, including the senior farmers’ market program, California Nutrition Incentive Program, Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program, Community Food Hubs, Farm to School, urban agriculture, and a proposed tribal food sovereignty program. She said these efforts help connect local producers to consumers, expand healthy food access, and build infrastructure such as refrigeration, mobile markets, and aggregation hubs. Department of Social Services Deputy Director Alexis Fernandez Garcia outlined CalFresh, CFAP, Sun Bucks, CACFP, emergency food programs, and tribal nutrition assistance, noting that CalFresh and related programs significantly reduce poverty and food insecurity, but participation gaps remain for non-English speakers, some Asian American communities, and undocumented households.
PPIC researcher Tess Thorman presented data showing that 13% of California households experienced food insecurity in 2023, with higher rates among households with children and Latino, Black, and other households. She said nutrition programs reduce poverty and food hardship, but federal rules, income thresholds, immigration restrictions, and high living costs limit their reach. Members asked about simplifying applications, improving call center access, increasing outreach in multiple languages, and adjusting benefits for inflation. Officials said the state has used available federal options to streamline enrollment, improve customer service, and target outreach, but many core rules and benefit levels are set federally.
The second panel shifted to food production and market access. A farmer, a UC food systems leader, and a produce distributor described efforts to connect small and medium farms with food banks, schools, universities, and Medi-Cal food-as-medicine programs. They highlighted programs such as Farms Together, the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center, Farm to School, food hubs, and climate-smart infrastructure grants as ways to create stable markets for local growers while improving food access. Speakers also raised concerns about land tenure, consolidation, regulatory burdens, labor constraints, and the loss of federal funding, and members discussed whether state investments and Prop. 4 funds could help sustain and expand these efforts.
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
New York State Senate Session - 05/05/2026
New York Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Thirty-eight years later, in the meantime, however, I have been rewarded with so many incredible memories
- OF THOSE MEMORIES ON Many of the good teams involved Carlos Beltran.
- grab your autograph on the active list, and really thankful for your contribution, my family, our memories
- And I want to thank all of the memory that came up on the buses today.
- AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE MEMORY THAT CAME UP ON THE BUSES TODAY, I WANT TO ASK YOU TO CONTINUE
Summary:
The Senate met on May 4, 2026, approved the prior journal, and then took up a series of resolutions and floor bills. The chamber first adopted a resolution honoring Carlos Beltran on his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, with several senators praising his Mets career, athletic achievements, and philanthropy in Puerto Rico. The Senate also adopted resolutions recognizing the 2026 Women of Distinction, including tributes to living honorees and posthumous recognition of Congresswoman Nita Lowey and Dr. Hazel Dukes, and later adopted resolutions commemorating May Day and Panama’s Black Heritage Month. A Queens Chamber of Commerce resolution also prompted extensive remarks celebrating Queens’ diversity, small businesses, immigrant communities, and cultural institutions.
On legislation, the Senate recalled two bills from the Assembly and restored them to the third reading calendar by a 62-0 reconsideration vote. The chamber then passed a long list of bills, including measures affecting public health, agriculture and markets, insurance, criminal procedure, public officers, labor, not-for-profit corporations, and executive law. Several bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously, while a few drew recorded opposition, including the environmental conservation bill on animal cruelty and the public health bill on Calendar 840. Supportive floor explanations emphasized animal welfare, protections for abandoned pets, and other public-interest reforms.
The Senate also heard brief explanatory remarks on some bills, such as concerns about animals left behind in vacated housing and the treatment of wild animals in traveling circuses. After completing the calendar, the Senate reported no further business and adjourned until Wednesday, May 6, at 3:00 p.m.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee and Joint Committee on the Arts May 14th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I appreciate, you know, the memories. It's true.
- These funds have catalyzed jobs, they help support our schools, they elevate voices, they memorialize
- It's also important to note that we see ourselves as a place of memory, reconciliation, justice, and
- We are being dismembered, and not just our bodies, but our memory.
- So this is not just a call to fund the arts, but to protect that memory, to defend creation, to refuse
Summary:
The joint informational hearing focused on how recent federal actions are affecting arts, culture, humanities, libraries, museums, and the creative economy in California. Chair Ben Allen and Vice Chair Chris Ward opened by describing the hearing as a response to proposed and ongoing federal cuts to the NEA, NEH, IMLS, and public broadcasting, as well as grant terminations and leadership changes at cultural institutions. Several members emphasized the economic and civic importance of the arts, while one Republican member argued for greater ideological diversity in the arts and noted the loss of music programs in small schools.
Testimony from Aaron Harky of Americans for the Arts and Jolie Fisher of SAG-AFTRA described the impact of federal policy on grants, jobs, and production. Harky said executive orders and the FY 2026 budget proposal threaten arts agencies and arts education, and that rescinded grants are causing hiring freezes, shutdowns, and losses for small organizations, especially in rural and underserved communities. Fisher focused on runaway film and television production, outdated tax rules, and the need for federal incentives, intellectual property protections, and action on AI and digital replicas. Members also discussed bipartisan support, the role of business and tourism partners, and the need to include more diverse voices in arts advocacy.
The second panel featured Rick Noguchi of California Humanities, Greg Lucas of the State Library, and Danielle Purcell of the California Arts Council. Noguchi said NEH funding was cut immediately, putting California Humanities’ grantmaking and documentary programs at risk and prompting consideration of litigation and possible state support. Lucas reported that IMLS funding for California libraries was briefly canceled but partly restored, though a budget gap remains. Purcell said the California Arts Council is still awaiting federal award language for state partnership funds, but NEA grant terminations and the proposed elimination of federal cultural agencies create major uncertainty; she also said the council is assessing the damage and tracking impacts on grantees. Members asked about measuring outcomes, AI’s threat to creative work, documentary funding losses, and possible state and national strategies to protect cultural institutions and jobs.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
250th Anniversary Celebration of the American Revolution Jun 9th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Leader Bank Pavilion at 300 Northern Avenue, where we will have music and stage and food and beer gardens
- Monument, on a Boston Harbor historic cruise, the USS Constitution, the National Cemetery and Born Memorial
- Monument on a Boston Harbor historic cruise, the USS Constitution, the National Cemetery and Born, Memorial
Summary:
The special commission on the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution met without quorum but proceeded with updates on upcoming commemoration activities. Chair Sean Garballey and Senator Paul Mark opened the meeting, then heard a detailed presentation from Dusty Rhodes on Sail Boston/Tall Ships, including the July 10–15 schedule, ship arrivals and parade of sail, harbor anchorage, public boarding, the Sail Boston festival, fireworks, and related public safety and logistics planning. Rhodes said the event will involve 20 countries, about 60 ships, and significant coordination among pilots, tugboats, hotels, sponsors, and 67 public safety agencies.
Massachusetts 250 staff Kate Fox and Sheila Green reported on campaign outreach and programming. They highlighted strong website and email engagement, merchandise sales, grant-funded exhibits and murals across the state, the Boston Pops July 4 program, multilingual media outreach, and an I Civics “We Declare” student competition. They also described Massachusetts’ contributions to the America 250 time capsule, the July 8 national reading of the Declaration of Independence, the Great American Block Party in Boston, the flag sojourn, MA 250 signage at rest areas, and a new schools-and-farms partnership with the Department of Clean Energy and Environment and the Executive Office of Education.
Jonathan Lane of Revolution 250 updated the commission on Bunker Hill-related events, the Gloucester battle reenactment, Treaty Day in Watertown, and the organization’s Declaration of Independence project to reprint the Ezekiel Russell broadside for distribution to Massachusetts communities. Members praised the work and discussed a possible Massachusetts-specific time capsule, with several offering to help provide objects or facsimiles and staff planning to solicit broader commission interest in a subcommittee. The meeting ended with brief announcements about an upcoming Mass Humanities screening and Freedom Trail’s 75th anniversary, followed by a motion to adjourn that passed unanimously.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- Years later, she continued suffering from traumatic brain injury, memory loss, vision impairment, and
- advocating on behalf of her daughter, who was hit by a driver while she was walking her dog in the Lower Garden
- mine... ...this bill is named after Christina Lawson, a former constituent of mine, and to honor her memory
Committee:
Senate Judiciary C
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Special Committee on Rural Issues Mar 25th, 2026
Special Committee on Rural Issues
Transcript Highlights:
- Gentlemen, we talked about these earlier, but I suppose it's appropriate that I bring them up so memorialize
- It goes right up to where the garden was, where my brothers and sister and I used to throw dirt clods
- at each other while we were planting the garden.
- It goes right up to where the garden was, where my brothers and sister and I used to throw dirt clods
- at each other while we were planting the garden.
Committee:
House Special Committee on Rural Issues
Summary:
The Special Committee on Rural Issues heard House Bill 3375, sponsored by Rep. Koslow, a broad eminent domain reform measure aimed at protecting landowners, especially farmers and ranchers. The bill would create protections for beginning farmers and ranchers, require 15 days’ notice before surveyors enter property, extend the response period in eminent domain cases from 10 days to 60 days, bar eminent domain for wind and solar facilities, require land restoration and maintenance after construction, increase compensation to 125% of fair market value in certain cases, add tax-liability compensation, change treatment of heritage and blight-related compensation, and allow attorney’s fees when a landowner wins a higher award than the condemning authority offered. Members raised concerns about the bill’s scope, its effect on energy development, and several drafting and implementation issues, including surveyor access, maintenance standards, and whether the bill could create conflicts with existing attorney-fee provisions. The sponsor said he was open to changes and noted that an HCS would address some drafting errors and feedback.
Testimony in support came from the Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, a landowner/banker, and attorney Brent Hayden, who argued that landowners are often pressured into quick, low offers and should be treated as partners rather than obstacles. Supporters said the bill would improve transparency, due process, compensation, and restoration standards, and that it would not stop infrastructure development. Hayden described current eminent domain practice as giving landowners little leverage over route selection or restoration and said the bill would create needed discipline for condemning authorities. Several supporters also defended the wind-and-solar restriction as a response to the amount of land those projects can require and to concerns about using eminent domain for generation projects.
Opposition came from the Missouri Energy Development Association, municipal utilities, and MoDOT. Opponents said they agreed some reforms may be reasonable but warned the bill, as written, could increase costs, delay projects, and create litigation risk that would ultimately be passed on to customers and taxpayers. MoDOT said the fiscal impact could be substantial, potentially doubling annual right-of-way spending. Utility representatives also cautioned that the bill could conflict with existing attorney-fee rules and should be aligned with compromise language from other legislation. The hearing ended without a vote or committee action, with the sponsor and witnesses indicating further negotiations and possible revisions were expected.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 48 (3-17-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I would think some of those products would be available to be used in a homeowner's garden to grow food
- have used on a garden that is sold<00:45:29.359><c> in</c><00:45:29.680><c> one</c><00:45:29.839><c>
- </c><00:45:41.760><c> is</c><00:45:42.079><c> sewed</c> your garden is sewed your garden is sewed and
- One of my earliest memories was walking through the tobacco fields in Woodford County with my parents
- of my earliest memories was walking through<01:06:57.520><c> the</c><01:06:57.680><c> tobacco</c><01
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Apr 28th, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Their stories have been seared into our collective memory.
- Caucus in honor of Holocaust Memorial Day.
- His memories of the Nazi occupation are all too vivid.
- I rise to adjourn in memory of private first class.
- So today I join my colleague in a journey in the memory of Father Estrada.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Environment and Natural Resources Dec 9th, 2025
Environment and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- Well, we use a lot of common sense and gardening practices and try to use different species to help mitigate
- local tourism development funds, nonprofit funding from private donations, such as funds donated to memorialize
- individuals, memorial reefs, and from institutions, and special state appropriations for legislatively
- If you go to, I'm not going to use names, but you buy a bag of fertilizer for your home garden.
Committee:
Senate Environment and Natural Resources
Summary:
The Committee on Environment and Natural Resources heard a series of presentations focused on coral reef restoration, artificial reefs, biosolids management, and a proposed biosolids processing facility. Mote Marine Laboratory described the severe decline of Florida’s coral reefs, its restoration methods using microfragmentation, genetic banking, selective breeding, nurseries, and outplanting, and asked for a long-term state commitment to help restore reef areas. The Keys Marine Laboratory and Florida Institute of Oceanography highlighted their role as a hub for coral rescue, holding, propagation, and research, including emergency response during the 2023 bleaching event. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission discussed the scale of reef loss, the state’s coral rescue and propagation efforts, and the economic and habitat value of artificial reefs, while noting permitting delays and material-selection concerns for reef projects.
The committee then received a DEP update on the Osborne Reef tire cleanup. DEP explained that the original tire reef was a failure, that nearly 500,000 tires had been removed by 2024, and that the current effort is funded at $5 million for the fiscal year, with cleanup now shifting from large tire clusters to more difficult individual tires and coral relocation. Members asked about the future of the site after cleanup; DEP said that phase two decisions, such as whether to restore or monitor the area, have not yet been made. DEP also presented on biosolids rules, explaining that the 2021 rule tightened nutrient management, groundwater, and surface water protections, reduced the number of active land-application sites, and contributed to a shift away from Class B land application toward Class AA, landfill, or out-of-state disposal. Senators raised concerns about PFAS, nutrient loading, and the loss of disposal options, and a public speaker warned of a statewide septage disposal crisis.
Finally, Sedron Technologies presented its VARCOR system and a planned Indiantown facility that would process dewatered biosolids into clean water, ammonia, and a dry Class AA product or fuel, with the company saying the process can destroy PFAS and help relieve regional disposal pressure. Senators expressed support for the technology as a potential solution to Florida’s biosolids challenges. No formal votes were taken on the presentations themselves, and the only action at the end of the meeting was adjournment after Senator Polsky moved to do so.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate Chamber Jan 30th, 2026 at 11:09 am
New Mexico Senate Floor Meeting
OR
Transcript Highlights:
- The Special Ombudsman and Public Garden Ship Advisory Board: Daniel Smith.
- Continuing under the order of business: reading of Senate memorials and resolutions, other business of
- The Senate is received of the Senate Joint Memorial Number 112, adopted by the Idaho State Senate and
- been distributed members desks and will lie on the table the Senate is received of the Senate Joint Memorial
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Nov 4th, 2025
Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security
Transcript Highlights:
- An example of what might be purchased is some type of technology that would help with memory care.
- And an example of what might be purchased is some type of technology that would help with memory care
- So. is some type of technology that would help with memory care. So we're really happy and excited.
- work with service members within about 24 months of separation veterans guards and members of the garden
Summary:
The Committee on Military Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met to consider SB 96, which originally proposed a new veterans dental care program but was amended to expand the existing Veterans Dental Care Grant Program. The amendment raised eligibility from 300% to 400% of the federal poverty level and added a recurring $500,000 general revenue appropriation. Members discussed whether expanding eligibility without guaranteed additional funding could dilute services for veterans already being served, while supporters argued it would help veterans currently turned away for dental care. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported CS/SB 96 favorably by roll call vote, with Chair Wright voting no.
The committee also approved two committee bills continuing public records exemptions: SPB 7000, covering the address and telephone number of people staying in public emergency shelters during storms or catastrophic events, and SPB 7002, covering certain Department of Military Affairs records stored in or transmitted through Department of Defense systems or related to military cyber operations. Both were moved as committee bills without objection and were favorably reported.
Members then received presentations from Dr. Pia Woodley of the Florida Veterans Foundation and Joe Marino of Veterans Florida. Dr. Woodley outlined the foundation’s dental initiatives, emergency assistance, transportation support, benefits guide distribution, new programs for state veterans’ homes and community grants, and recent audits with no findings. Marino described Veterans Florida’s SkillBridge, entrepreneur, and workforce programs, including outreach and federal partnerships, and noted legislative priorities to allow stipends for training at UF IFAS AGVets facilities and to rename a program in statute for clarity. The meeting concluded with no further business and adjournment.
AR
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
CPN, CPN, CPN, CPN-JDC DEFER, CPN Public Hearings 04-07-2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We also have written testimony in support from Hawaii Memorial Life Plan, Mitchell Dodo of Dodo Mortuary
- , Ricky Aoki of Jose Garden, Mor Mortuary, both in support.
Summary:
The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee heard House Bill 1481, which would require cemeteries, crematories, funeral establishments, HSI facilities, and mortuaries to dispose of human remains within 60 days after a burial transit permit or related affidavit is issued. The Hawaii Funeral and Cemetery Association and several funeral-related entities supported the bill, and the association said it had already implemented consistent cremation authorization language regarding notice and consent for recycling metal implants, effective January 1. The committee later recommended HB 1481 be passed with a defective effective date of July 1, 2050; the vice chair voted with reservations, saying the prior version with Department of Health rulemaking was stronger consumer protection.
The committee also considered several resolutions. SCR 96 and SR 91, on a status update for implementation of the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, were recommended for passage with amendments adopting the PUC’s requested changes. SCR 172 and SR 163, seeking a comprehensive analysis of ways to reduce costs and financial risks while meeting state goals, drew support from the PUC and Energy Office with comments, and the committee recommended passage with amendments removing a disputed whereas clause. SCR 109 and SR 102, on studying expanded mail-order pharmacy use, drew mixed testimony: the Insurance Division and HMSA supported a study, while the Hawaii Pharmacist Association and others raised concerns about patient outcomes, rural access, and community pharmacy sustainability; the committee amended the resolutions to require broader agency cooperation and evaluation of community pharmacy impacts, then recommended passage.
In additional decision-making, the committee deferred SCR 193 and SR 1802 on trust transparency due to no testimony. It recommended passage with amendments on several bills, including HB 1782 after clarifying terminology with the Attorney General’s Office, HB 1514 on workers’ compensation, HB 1619 on electric vehicle infrastructure, HB 1643 on pharmacy, HB 1721 on housing, HB 1864 on insurance, HB 1946 on timeshare registration, and HB 2475 on labeling requirements. HB 350 on energy was deferred for more work. The committee also reconsidered HB 2101 on commercial aquarium collection and recommended passage as amended after hearing from supporters and noting concerns about enforcement and statewide consistency.