Transcript Highlights:

• the DA has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person knew they were placing food or edible waste
• the DA has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person knew they were placing food or edible waste
• the DA has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person knew they were placing food or edible waste
• the DA has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person knew they were placing food or edible waste
• the DA has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person knew they were placing food or edible waste

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we're wasting time on. We're going after entities that we should not have any involvement in.
• Um, we're wasting time on. We're going after entities that we should not have any involvement in.
• Um, we're wasting time on. We're going after entities that we should not have any involvement in.
• Um, we're wasting time on. We're going after entities that we should not have any involvement in.
• Um, we're wasting time on. We're going after entities that we should not have any involvement in.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll waste so much time I may consume, Mr. Speaker.
• If you don't hook them to the arena, then you're wasting a lot of money.'
• Gentlemen, I understand that waste, fraud, abuse happens in levels of government.
• It's not because you're concerned about waste.
• It wastes taxpayer dollars on frivolous and uncontrolled spending by private institutions.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are solid waste permits and then watershed or feed lot permits. Okay. Uh, Mr.
• Those are solid waste permits and then watershed or feed lot permits. Okay. Uh, Mr.
• division.<01:43:39.840><c> Those</c><01:43:40.159><c> are</c><01:43:40.320><c> solid</c><01:43:40.639><c> waste
• Those are solid waste permits division.
• Those are solid waste permits and<01:43:41.440><c> then</c><01:43:41.679><c> watershed</c><01:43:42.239

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, it's almost a waste of our time.
• restriction is not already in there, because why would we even consider a site and have you folks waste
• /c><01:30:52.520><c> have</c><01:30:53.040><c> you</c><01:30:53.239><c> folks</c><01:30:53.520><c> waste
• </c><01:30:54.320><c> time</c><01:30:54.520><c> and</c> site and have you folks waste time and site and
• have you folks waste time and money<01:30:55.000><c> examining</c><01:30:55.440><c> a</c><01:30:55.600

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee met on March 19, 2025, and first heard SB 137 SD2 HD1 relating to electric utilities. The Division of Consumer Advocacy and the Public Utilities Commission said they stood on their written comments, IBEW Local 1260 supported the bill, and Ulupono Initiative also supported it. Hawaiian Electric supported the intent but asked for an amendment, saying the bill’s definition of “acquiring entity” was too broad and could unintentionally cover purely local utility transactions. A later witness from Life of the Land supported the bill only if the merger/acquisition language were removed, arguing the PUC would not have a workable mechanism to let a cooperative intervene in a utility sale process. Committee members questioned whether the bill could still work without that section, and Ulupono said it was open to clarifying language but did not seek to remove the provision; the discussion ended without a vote in the excerpt provided. The committee then took up SB 1220 SD2 relating to a renewable gas tariff. The Division of Consumer Advocacy and the PUC again stood on written comments. HGas strongly supported the measure, saying it would create a faster, more cost-effective path for a voluntary renewable gas tariff without requiring a full rate case, while preserving PUC oversight and consumer protections. The Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas also supported the bill, emphasizing that it would expand consumer choice and help Hawaii’s clean energy goals while keeping the program voluntary and shielding non-participating customers from costs. Henry Curtis of Life of the Land opposed the bill, arguing that HGas already had an active rate case and could have raised the issue there, and that the proposal did not increase renewable gas supply or speed up acquisition; he called it a gimmick. In response, HGas said the bill was mainly a mechanism to speed filing and that the details would be worked out in a PUC docket. Committee members pressed HGas on whether the measure would actually add renewable gas, what source would be used, and whether customers would simply be paying more for the same gas; HGas said it had two projects in development, including banagrass and hydrogen-related work, and that the tariff would be a voluntary opt-in rate for customers seeking renewable natural gas to meet sustainability goals. No vote was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• mucopolysaccharidosis, is a devastating disorder related to the inability to degrade the accumulation of waste
• mucopolysaccharidosis, is a devastating disorder related to the inability to degrade the accumulation of waste
• ><c> imagine</c> degrade the accumulation you can imagine degrade the accumulation you can imagine waste
• products</c><00:46:18.440><c> that</c><00:46:18.680><c> accumulate</c><00:46:19.359><c> inside</c> waste
• products that accumulate inside waste products that accumulate inside our<00:46:20.200><c> cells</c>

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Won't waste a lot of time. Happy to answer any questions you have. We have a fiscal note.
• Won't waste a lot of time. Happy to answer any questions you have. We have a fiscal note.
• /c> say that hasn't been said before uh say that hasn't been said before uh won't<00:04:06.120><c> waste
• 06.560><c> of</c><00:04:06.799><c> time</c><00:04:07.439><c> happy</c><00:04:07.760><c> to</c> won't waste
• a lot of time happy to won't waste a lot of time happy to answer<00:04:08.159><c> any</c><00:04:08.360

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It certainly raises a lot of questions, though, including how much time will be wasted having police
• the Judiciary Committee believes strongly in improving public safety on our roads, so instead of wasting
• the Judiciary Committee believes strongly in improving public safety on our roads, so instead of wasting
• The ayes have it, 15 to 8. wasting our law enforcement's time wasting our law enforcement's time invalidating

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Anderson, I just say that's been challenging the last few years, as you know, in our state with chronic wasting
• Anderson, I just say that's been challenging the last few years, as you know, in our state with chronic wasting
• state um know in our in our uh uh in our state um with<00:57:00.440><c> chronic</c><00:57:00.760><c> wasting
• </c><00:57:01.160><c> disease</c><00:57:01.599><c> and</c><00:57:01.760><c> new</c> with chronic wasting
• disease and new with chronic wasting disease and new regulations<00:57:02.640><c> put</c><00:57:02.799

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Bills: SJR 18 , SCR 5 , SCR 13 , SCR 25 , SB 3 , SB 6 , SB 10 , SB 11 , SB 12 , SB 13 , SB 15 , SB 17 , SB 18 , SB 35 , SB 388 , SB 412 , SB 441 , SB 495 , SB 666 , SB 687 , SB 706 , SB 740 , SB 815 , SB 842 , SB 917 , SB 925 , SB 995 , SB 1006 , SB 1281 , SB 1300 , SB 1379 , SB 1451 , SB 1902 , SJR 36 , SJR 18 , SJR 12 , SCR 13 , SCR 25 , SCR 5 , SCR 22 , SB 565 , SB 372 , SB 495 , SB 842 , SB 765 , SB 62 , SB 19 , SB 18 , SB 666 , SB 707 , SB 888 , SB 687 , SB 706 , SB 847 , SB 290 , SB 11 , SB 10 , SB 13 , SB 412 , SB 441 , SB 1248 , SB 740 , SB 14 , SB 1006 , SB 504 , SB 917 , SB 925 , SB 388 , SB 1902 , SB 1121 , SB 995 , SB 857 , SB 305 , SB 296 , SB 284 , SB 35 , SB 6 , SB 815 , SB 3 , SB 1281 , SB 1379 , SB 1300 , SB 1497 , SB 1499 , SB 1498 , SB 1451 , SB 1061 , SB 15 , SB 65 , SB 241 , SB 304 , SB 402 , SB 499 , SB 621 , SB 974 , SB 1023 , SB 1024 , SB 1025 , SB 1106 , SB 686 , SB 112 , SB 371 , SB 204 , SB 400 , SB 609 , SB 1447 , SB 670 , SB 502 , SB 427 , SB 850 , SB 854 , SB 413 , SB 1555 , SB 1362 , SB 1346 , SB 1033 , SB 1220 , SB 1073 , SB 810 , SB 987 , SB 1539 , SB 893 , SB 447 , SB 875 , SB 406 , SB 509 , SB 985 , SB 965 , SB 17 , SB 1119 , SB 1505 , SB 12 , SB 24 , SB 57 , SB 1194 , SB 1253 , SB 1215 , SB 1532 , SB 1268 , SCR 12 , SCR 24 , SB 1302 , SB 856 , SB 650 , SB 583 , SB 673 , SB 840 , SJR 18 , SB 11 , SB 441 , SB 10 , SB 18 , SB 412 , SB 495 , SR 238 , SR 264 , SR 266 , SR 267 , SR 268 , SR 270 , SR 271 , SR 272 , SR 278 , SB 1169 , SB 1169

Keywords: capital gains, taxation, constitutional amendment, state revenue, individual investment, SCR 5, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, Texas School for the Deaf, TSD, Robert Rives, gymnasium naming, building naming, honorary resolution, commemorative resolution, deaf education, hard of hearing, Gallaudet University, alumni hall of fame, football coach, school facility naming

Bills: SJR18 , SCR5 , SCR13 , SCR25 , SB3 , SB6 , SB10 , SB11 , SB12 , SB13 , SB15 , SB17 , SB18 , SB35 , SB388 , SB412 , SB441 , SB495 , SB666 , SB687 , SB706 , SB740 , SB815 , SB842 , SB917 , SB925 , SB995 , SB1006 , SB1281 , SB1300 , SB1379 , SB1451 , SB1902 , SJR36 , SJR18 , SJR12 , SCR13 , SCR25 , SCR5 , SCR22 , SB565 , SB372 , SB495 , SB842 , SB765 , SB62 , SB19 , SB18 , SB666 , SB707 , SB888 , SB687 , SB706 , SB847 , SB290 , SB11 , SB10 , SB13 , SB412 , SB441 , SB1248 , SB740 , SB14 , SB1006 , SB504 , SB917 , SB925 , SB388 , SB1902 , SB1121 , SB995 , SB857 , SB305 , SB296 , SB284 , SB35 , SB6 , SB815 , SB3 , SB1281 , SB1379 , SB1300 , SB1497 , SB1499 , SB1498 , SB1451 , SB1061 , SB15 , SB65 , SB241 , SB304 , SB402 , SB499 , SB621 , SB974 , SB1023 , SB1024 , SB1025 , SB1106 , SB686 , SB112 , SB371 , SB204 , SB400 , SB609 , SB1447 , SB670 , SB502 , SB427 , SB850 , SB854 , SB413 , SB1555 , SB1362 , SB1346 , SB1033 , SB1220 , SB1073 , SB810 , SB987 , SB1539 , SB893 , SB447 , SB875 , SB406 , SB509 , SB985 , SB965 , SB17 , SB1119 , SB1505 , SB12 , SB24 , SB57 , SB1194 , SB1253 , SB1215 , SB1532 , SB1268 , SCR12 , SCR24 , SB1302 , SB856 , SB650 , SB583 , SB673 , SB840

Keywords: capital gains, taxation, constitutional amendment, state revenue, individual investment, SCR 5, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, Texas School for the Deaf, TSD, Robert Rives, gymnasium naming, building naming, honorary resolution, commemorative resolution, deaf education, hard of hearing, Gallaudet University, alumni hall of fame, football coach, school facility naming

Transcript Highlights:

• I only wish that Republicans cared more about that than wasting floor time with ridiculous anti-efficiency
• I only wish that Republicans cared more about that than wasting floor time with ridiculous anti-efficiency
• I only wish that Republicans cared more about that than wasting floor time with ridiculous anti-efficiency
• I only wish that Republicans cared more about that than wasting floor time with ridiculous anti-efficiency
• I only wish that Republicans cared more about that than wasting floor time with ridiculous anti-efficiency

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First of all, it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money. Everybody knows that.
• It's kind of like setting us up for more waste, use, and fraud in the Department of Health.
• us</c><02:32:50.680><c> up</c><02:32:50.840><c> for</c><02:32:51.000><c> more</c><02:32:51.240><c> waste
• </c><02:32:51.640><c> use</c><02:32:51.920><c> and</c> setting us up for more waste use and setting us
• up for more waste use and fraud<02:32:53.439><c> in</c><02:32:53.800><c> Department</c><02:32:54.200

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• need a job now, so we're able to get in contact with employees much more quickly, and then we don't waste
• need a job now, so we're able to get in contact with employees much more quickly, and then we don't waste
• need a job now, so we're able to get in contact with employees much more quickly, and then we don't waste
• need a job now, so we're able to get in contact with employees much more quickly, and then we don't waste
• need a job now, so we're able to get in contact with employees much more quickly, and then we don't waste

Committee: House Health

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1494 on hearing aids. Testimony was generally supportive of expanding hearing-aid coverage, with the Insurance Division raising concern about possible federal defrayment issues, SHPDA supporting the goal of hearing augmentation, DCAB strongly supporting the bill as an important access issue, and health plans and insurers asking for amendments. Kaiser Permanente and the Hawaii Association of Health Plans requested changes to add a medical-necessity standard and clarify annual notice language, while HMSA suggested the proposal should be studied by the auditor. The chair noted concerns about federal preemption and the lack of an audit, and deferred the bill in favor of a related resolution calling for a study. The committee then heard SB 1448, an emergency appropriation for the Hawaii State Hospital. DAGS and the Department of Health supported the measure, with the hospital administrator saying the funding would improve the environment of care, support cleaning, and allow a third-party review of the building. Committee members questioned the size of the request and the status of litigation against the design-builder. Administration witnesses said they were pursuing a comprehensive study involving destructive testing, had made a demand on the design-builder to fund the study, and were using different processes than before. They also said the roof work would be handled through a separate CIP request. No final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee next heard SB 1432, relating to the future responsibilities of the Department of Health and land issues at Kalaupapa after the last patient dies. DOH supported the bill in part but said its long-term role would be limited mainly to environmental cleanup, with operations expected to continue under the National Park Service and land-use decisions left to DHHL and beneficiary consultation. DHHL asked that the measure reflect that any land-use or zoning changes on homeland lands require commission approval and beneficiary consultation. Testifiers from Kalaupapa and Maui County, including Degra Vanderbilt-Papa and Council Member Keani Rollins-Fernandez, supported deferring the bill, saying there had been no meaningful community discussion about provisions affecting Kalaupapa’s future management and possible transfer of responsibilities to Maui County. The committee also read into the record written testimony from Gloria Marks emphasizing that Kalaupapa stakeholders must be included in future discussions. Finally, the committee heard SB 955 on fitness-to-proceed examinations. The Judiciary and the Public Defender’s Office both supported raising pay and standardizing expectations for private examiners, but opposed reducing felony fitness evaluations from three examiners to one and opposed expanding use of expedited reports. They argued that a single examiner would reduce reliability, create a more adversarial process, and likely increase costs and contested hearings, while expedited reports do not contain enough information for a proper fitness determination. The Department of Health also supported the bill’s intent but asked to preserve a three-examiner framework and said the goal was to reduce the number of people sent to the State Hospital, where admissions have reportedly risen about 20% year over year since Act 26. The bill remained under discussion in the excerpt, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't want to waste a kit on you."
• We don't want to waste a kit on you."
• We don't want to waste a kit on you."
• We don't want to waste a kit on you."
• </c> kits so they're not wasting anything. kits so they're not wasting anything.

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• create more debt is going to fund more homeless housing operations that have been riddled with fraud, waste
• It's been riddled with, I said, waste, fraud, and abuse. And I'm offended.

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then spent much of the session honoring Sister Michelle Gorman, the Senate chaplain, on her final day after 11 years of service. Members from both parties praised her prayers, compassion, humor, and steady presence, and several noted her long career in education and religious service. The chamber also welcomed delegations from the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California and the Japanese Business Association of Southern California, as well as a delegation from Morelia, Mexico, in connection with Sacramento’s sister-city relationship. The Senate then handled several procedural items, including Assembly messages and motions to remove or withdraw certain bills from consent or committee. The chamber adopted a motion to move Budget and Fiscal Review Committee measures to third reading, and later approved author’s and floor amendments. The main floor action was on ACA 20, the Save for California Futures Act, which would expand the state Rainy Day Fund target from 10% to 20% of general fund taxes, change how reserve deposits count under the Gann limit, and extend and broaden debt repayment provisions, including federal unemployment insurance debt. Supporters argued it would strengthen fiscal stability and reduce volatility; opponents said it was too complicated, still allowed too much borrowing, and did not sufficiently prioritize paying down existing debt. The measure passed 29-2. The Senate also took up SB 623, a compromise measure addressing transportation network company accident cases and medical lien practices. The bill would cap certain lien-based medical charges, restrict attorney referrals and kickbacks tied to lien providers, require more standardized billing, and add rideshare safety requirements such as background checks and additional disqualifying offenses; it passed 36-0. The chamber then considered SB 417, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, an $11.25 billion housing bond with $10 billion in general obligation bonds and $1.25 billion for veterans home loan assistance. Supporters said it would fund shovel-ready affordable housing, preservation, homeownership, youth housing, infrastructure, and veterans’ housing; opponents criticized it as a “bait-and-switch” that used veterans to justify broader housing debt and argued the state should focus on existing programs and private financing. Despite the opposition, the measure passed 29-2.

Transcript Highlights:

• create more debt, going to fund more homeless housing operations that have been riddled with fraud, waste
• It's been riddled with, I said, waste, fraud, and abuse. And I'm offended.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I really appreciated the section you talked about the risk related to perceived waste of dollars by the
• at some point as electric vehicle adoption increases, but from the public, this feeling is it's a waste

Committee: Joint Joint Transportation Committee

Summary: The committee began with member introductions, then heard a presentation on a draft final report studying alternative funding mechanisms for sidewalks and related pedestrian infrastructure. Consultants said current local funding sources are insufficient, with most jurisdictions unable to complete planned sidewalk networks within 50 years. They evaluated four options: a sidewalk utility fee, a modified transportation benefit district sales tax, a new real estate excise tax option, and expanded stormwater fee use for ADA sidewalk ramps. The consultants recommended authorizing the modified TBD sales tax and new REET option, considering a sidewalk utility despite legal uncertainty, broadening any authorization to all pedestrian improvements, and not pursuing the stormwater fee option. Members asked about legal authority, fairness, revenue adequacy, and whether jurisdictions had been consulted; the presenters said state enabling legislation would likely be needed for a sidewalk utility and that fairness could be defined either by direct benefit or by need. The committee then received an update on the 2025 assessment of city transportation funding needs. The consultants reported that city transportation revenues have grown in some local and federal categories since 2019, but state revenues have remained relatively flat and smaller cities are especially affected by declining fuel tax revenues and limited tax bases. They estimated annual city transportation needs at $4.25 billion, average annual spending at $1.89 billion, and a funding gap of $2.37 billion, larger than in the prior study because of updated data, inclusion of system improvements, and higher preservation costs. Draft recommendations focused on reducing costs and improving efficiency, preserving and increasing state support, and expanding local funding options, including preservation-first spending, a permanent federal fund exchange program, streamlined review processes, better coordination with WSDOT, possible property tax flexibility, and exploration of new local tools. Members raised questions about design standards, the role of density and transit, federal compliance, and whether the report would identify specific consolidation or process changes. The committee also heard a project update on evaluating zero-emission vehicle and electrification programs funded by the Climate Commitment Act. Consultants said they had reviewed roughly 23 programs and projects across seven agencies and were now evaluating options to improve delivery, including process improvements, reorganizing programs, or consolidating governance and administrative functions. Early findings highlighted staffing shortages, duplication and variation across agencies, differing levels of risk, and the challenge of coordinating climate priorities across agencies with other core missions. Members asked about program outcomes, administrative costs, whether some programs should have exit strategies, and how to strengthen the EV Coordinating Council. Finally, WSDOT provided an implementation update on its new public-private partnership authority under SB 5801, saying work is underway to prepare governance, legal, policy, and organizational structures ahead of the January 1, 2027 effective date.

Transcript Highlights:

• stripping the funding because they're actually saving federal tax dollars that I think are being wasted
• stripping the funding because they're actually saving federal tax dollars that I think are being wasted

Summary: The Senate Committee on Transportation heard testimony on a large agenda of transportation-related bills, with several measures discussed before a quorum was established. AB 1588 focused on sideshows and street takeovers, with the author, San Francisco Police Department, and Streets Are for Everyone arguing the bill would modernize enforcement, add motorbikes and dirt bikes to the sideshow framework, and improve public safety; there was no opposition testimony. AB 2015 would require Caltrans to study the effects of third-party navigation apps on congestion, local streets, infrastructure, and emergency response, and was supported by Streets for All, AAA, and local agencies, with no opposition. AB 2717 would extend a sunset for off-site advertising displays at large sports venues; the Dodgers supported it, the San Jose Sharks and others noted amendments, and no opposition was heard. AB 1608 would strengthen the independence and transparency of the High-Speed Rail Office of Inspector General by requiring public reports, adding confidentiality protections for sensitive security information, and granting staffing and purchasing authority; the First Amendment Coalition supported the amended bill, while the Vice Chair raised concerns about transparency and limiting confidential notices to committee chairs. The committee also heard AB 2346 on e-bike safety, which would require speedometers on Class 2 e-bikes, lights, a statewide sidewalk speed limit, local authority over bike-path speeds, and point-of-sale disclosures. Support came from medical, law enforcement, local government, and safety groups citing rising injuries and confusion over e-bike rules; PeopleForBikes remained opposed unless amended, mainly over lighting and disclosure requirements, though Streets for All withdrew its opposition after amendments. Members broadly supported the bill and discussed helmet use, youth safety, and the distinction between e-bikes and higher-powered e-motos. AB 1919 would let Santa Cruz Metro place a citizens’ initiative on the ballot to secure transit funding and protect service and jobs; the sponsor, bus operators, and labor supported it, with no opposition testimony. AB 2012 would streamline permits for moving manufactured homes under an annual permit, and AB 2024 would clarify Outdoor Advertising Act permitting and relocation procedures; both drew support from industry and housing groups and no opposition. After quorum was established, the committee adopted the consent calendar, which included items 13, 6, 8, 11, 14, 15, and 21, by roll call vote. The committee then heard AB 2484, which would allow San Diego voters to authorize a local transit tax initiative for MTS; the author and MTS argued it would preserve service and allow voters to decide future funding, and the bill advanced on a 5-2 roll call with the roll left open for absent members. The committee also heard AB 2560, which would codify the state transportation climate principles known as CAPTI; supporters said it would lock in goals for transit, rail, active transportation, equity, and greenhouse gas reduction, while Orange County Transportation Authority opposed. The author closed by asking for aye votes, and the committee proceeded toward roll-call action on the bill.