Video & Transcript Research : 'accommodations'
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HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
FIN Info Briefing - Tue Jan 7, 2025 @ 9:00 AM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- <05:55:54.360>
them <05:55:55.360>um facility that can accommodate them um facility - that can accommodate them um until<05:55:55.958>
we <05:55:56.120>can <05:55:56.400> - And so the idea is to create a larger turn-in to accommodate buses so they're not hanging out the back
- And so the idea is to create a larger turn-in to accommodate buses so they're not hanging out the back
- And so the idea is to create a larger turn-in to accommodate buses so they're not hanging out the back
Summary:
The Committee on Finance received an informational briefing from the Department of Law Enforcement on its priorities following the January 1 transfer of law enforcement assets into the department, including the sheriff’s division, narcotics enforcement, criminal investigations, homeland security, and the inspector general’s office. DLE said its goals are to improve public safety, accountability, communications, training, and standards. The department outlined planned initiatives such as stronger federal partnerships, narcotics and gun-violence enforcement, an agricultural crime unit, traffic and commercial vehicle enforcement, an explosive/fireworks enforcement section, gun buybacks, new police facilities in the airport area, Aahu, and the leeward side, a state training center, upgraded law-enforcement IT, and efforts to narrow salary gaps with county departments to improve recruitment.
A major portion of the discussion focused on illegal fireworks enforcement after the recent explosion tragedy. DLE said its current task force is small and relies on ad hoc support from HPD, the Attorney General’s office, criminal investigations, and sheriffs, which is not sustainable. The department requested eight FTEs for the effort—one administrator, two clerical staff, and six investigators—plus funding for a laboratory, equipment, storage, disposal, vehicles, safety gear, and a criminalist. DLE said the explosive enforcement section would use an existing facility and that the initial lab startup cost is about $2 million. Members asked for follow-up materials, and DLE said it would send the explosive enforcement forms and additional details to the Finance and Judiciary chairs.
Members also questioned staffing vacancies, interagency coordination, and whether new specialized units could be filled. DLE said it has about 119 vacancies and that recruitment is hindered by a roughly $28,000 starting pay gap with county police departments; academy classes are down to about 12 to 14 recruits. The department said it is streamlining hiring, using QR-code recruitment, and hopes specialized units will attract applicants. On coordination, DLE said it works closely with HPD and other agencies on operations such as fireworks enforcement and public events, and that DOCARE remains a case-by-case partner but is not currently moving into DLE. The committee also received updates on the Silver Alert program, which is nearing rollout with county MOUs and a coordinator expected later in the month, the special duty officer program, which is being moved to a web-based vendor-managed system at no cost to the department, and the SaferWatch school safety system, which is being deployed statewide with annual software costs of $3,500 per school in the first year and $2,500 thereafter. No votes or formal actions were taken.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The Department of Revenue, of course, I think, has been very accommodating in this process, and they
- The Department of Revenue, of course, I think, has been very accommodating in this process, and they
- The Department of Revenue, of course, I think, has been very accommodating in this process, and they
- The Department of Revenue, of course, I think, has been very accommodating in this process, and they
- The Department of Revenue, of course, I think, has been very accommodating in this process, and they
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Resources, Recreation and Development (01/28/2026)
Resources, Recreation and Development
Transcript Highlights:
- process and address, then we do have to explain in the decision findings why we could not accommodate
- process and address, then we do have to explain in the decision findings why we could not accommodate
- accommodate accommodate and<04:23:03.840>
turn <04:23:04.080>around <04:23:04.319>the - concerns which we cannot accommodate through<04:23:29.120>
the <04:23:29.359>review <04 - accommodate and address those concerns. accommodate and address those concerns.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Health and Human Services (04/02/2025)
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- It doesn't make accommodation for providing it electronically.
- It doesn't make accommodation for providing it electronically.
- It doesn't make accommodation for providing it electronically.
- It doesn't make accommodation for providing it electronically.
- It doesn't make accommodation for providing it electronically.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- To accommodate development in the Florida Keys, we're inserting a provision that the House removed that
- taking it out and us putting it back in, you mentioned that in the amendment you sort of wanted to accommodate
- taking it out and us putting it back in, you mentioned that in the amendment you sort of wanted to accommodate
- In the amendment, you sort of wanted to accommodate some of the concerns that I had addressed previously
- And just for clarity, is there anything else that you think in this new amendment that further accommodates
Summary:
The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, then moved into a series of special-order bills and House messages. Early floor action included passage of a claim bill for Mandy Penny Lemon (HB 6503) and bills on sewer collection systems (HB 1123) and farm products (HB 211), all passing unanimously. The chamber also took up an ad valorem tax exemption resolution for agricultural tangible personal property (CS/HJR 1215), which passed 37-0. Several other measures were temporarily postponed before the Senate recessed and later returned to House messages and additional special orders.
The Senate then addressed multiple House amendments and conference-style motions. It concurred in amended versions of SB 994 on driver safety, SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response, and HB 1609 on waste incineration/auxiliary containers after extended debate over hurricane recovery rules, local government restrictions, and plastic container preemption. The chamber also concurred in CS/HB 1205 on citizen initiative petitions, increasing the number of petitions a volunteer may carry from 2 to 25, and in CS/HB 733 on Brownfields. Other House amendments were rejected or sent back, including SB 234 on offenses against law enforcement, SB 116 on veterans policy, SB 168 on mental health, and HB 1101 on out-of-network provider referrals.
Later, the Senate approved CS/HB 1255 on education and CS/HB 875 on educator preparation, with discussion focused on school readiness, teacher training, and changes to certification and testing requirements. It also concurred in CS/HB 1427, a broad health care bill, after the House added a major nursing education amendment that tightened Board of Nursing oversight, required standardized evaluation and remediation, and imposed accountability measures tied to NCLEX pass rates and program performance. Several members raised concerns or praised negotiated compromises throughout the day, but the recorded actions were mainly concurrence motions, refusals to concur, and final passage votes on the bills considered.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee Jun 23rd, 2026 at 10:00 am
Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- So a big day for us coming up, but I really appreciate that, Chair Bekkedahl, and all the accommodations
- So a big day for us coming up, but I really appreciate that, Chair Beck at all, the accommodations you've
- So I'm going to get right into the property. at all the accommodations you've made for us.
- I've requested an extra meeting for September to accommodate the schedules of the Tax Commissioner's
- And that's really to accommodate the tax commissioner to present his final report on the primary residence
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- done a pretty good job of protecting our graduate students and making sure that they do have accommodations
- They do have accommodations when they are expecting or are going through pregnancy-related conditions
- You may have a professor who is willing to accommodate an expectant mom, and you may have somebody else
- down a marker: this is what is acceptable, this is what is necessary, this is what you need to accommodate
- that under advisement and work with our sponsors to see whether there's a path forward that can accommodate
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee Jun 12th, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Oregon-Washington Legislative Action Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- included C Street ramps, had one auxiliary lane in each direction, and provided parking capacity to accommodate
- It included C Street ramps, had one ox lane in each direction, and provided parking capacity to accommodate
- Accommodating parking capacity for nearly 1,300 spaces across a dispersed parking area.
- is recognizing that we need to build the bridge over the Columbia River right with the space to accommodate
- is recognizing that we need to build the bridge over the Columbia River right with the space to accommodate
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Fish and Game and Marine Resources (03/04/2026)
Fish and Game and Marine Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- based on the idea that this session would be held during lunch, and you very nicely changed it to accommodate
- I try to accommodate everybody on the committee. >> All right.
- based on the idea that this session would be held during lunch, and you very nicely changed it to accommodate
- I try to accommodate everybody on the committee.
- I'll just send out a message when I know how many we have. accommodate everybody on the committee. accommodate
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- may remember that a few years ago, we enacted, you all enacted the rural program units to try to accommodate
- districts are defined based on census definitions as rural, and they generate additional units to accommodate
- And they generate additional units to accommodate for some of those scale issues.
- The school is able to provide all the accommodations that my child needs to be successful, and their
- So it generates additional funding for those districts, as it should, because it's intended to accommodate
Keywords:
general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, higher education, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, appropriation, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
PSM-HOU, HOU Public Hearings 04-10-2025
Public Safety and Military Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- facility uh to the community<00:33:31.440>
for <00:33:32.000>to <00:33:32.360>accommodate - <00:33:33.360>
our <00:33:33.679>elders Community for to accommodate our elders, who - I think, to the extent it's all about resources, if resources are allocated appropriately to accommodate
- I think, to the extent it's all about resources, if resources are allocated appropriately to accommodate
- I think, to the extent it's all about resources, if resources are allocated appropriately to accommodate
Summary:
The joint committees heard HCR 66, which asks the State Building Code Council to update the state building code to allow point access block construction for residential buildings up to six stories. Testimony was generally in support, including from Housing Hawaii’s Future, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, and OPSD, with one registered opponent. No questions were raised, and the joint committee later adopted a recommendation to pass the resolution as is. Because the housing committee lacked quorum at that time, final action on the resolution was deferred to the housing-only agenda.
On the housing-only agenda, the committee first heard HTR 78, which states the intent that housing projects qualifying for credits under Act 31 remain eligible for those credits after the act’s repeal. Testimony was in support from HHFTC and the DIY chapter, and there were no questions or opposition noted. The committee then took up Governor’s Message 592, confirming Lisa Darcy to the HPHA board. Support came from HPHA board members and several individuals, and Darcy said she accepted the nomination and emphasized her experience and interest in HPHA’s work. Members questioned her about the HPHA board’s oversight role, the 10,000-unit RFQ, and media coverage of Kuhio Park Terrace relocations; she said she supports the project, values transparency, and would push for better context and accountability, though some members felt she had not directly answered concerns about on-the-ground oversight.
The committee also heard Governor’s Message 736, confirming Grant Chun to the HHFDC board. Support testimony highlighted his experience in nonprofit housing, real estate, and leadership roles, and Chun said he was pleased to serve the state. Members asked about his residence and his perspective on senior care at Hali Makua, where he said his family found the care compassionate and thorough, while noting staffing shortages. The transcript ends before any final vote on the housing-only items is shown.
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
January 27, 2026 - 03:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- This is a price control bill, and the U.S. healthcare market is not equipped and not structured to accommodate
- CONTROL BILL IN THE US HEALTHCARE MARKET IS NOT EQUIPPED AND NOT 507 STRUCTURED TO ACCOMMODATE
- The supply chain is just not structured to accommodate this proposal.
Summary:
The committee first took up CS/House Bill 981, which would restore the Ocklawaha River and related natural resources. Supporters, including environmental groups, Save the Manatee Club, business owners, and Reunite the Rivers advocates, argued the bill would improve manatee habitat, fish passage, flood protection, tourism, and long-term economic returns while reducing dam maintenance costs. Opponents and skeptics focused on concerns about water quality, nutrient loading in the St. Johns River, loss of the Rodman Reservoir’s habitat and water-supply value, and potential ecological and economic harms. Members in debate largely supported the restoration effort, and the bill was reported favorably on a unanimous vote.
The committee then heard HB 697, the PRICE Act, which would use international reference pricing to set a drug cost benchmark, address pharmacy benefit manager practices, and require health plans to keep drug prices stable for the year. The sponsor said the bill would lower costs and improve access, especially for uninsured Floridians. Supporters, including independent pharmacists, argued PBMs are squeezing pharmacies and that the bill could help lower prices. Opponents from BioFlorida and PhRMA warned the proposal could disrupt the national drug supply chain, fail to pass savings to patients, and lead to shortages, reduced access, and less innovation. After debate, the bill passed favorably, with Rep. Chambliss voting no.
The committee also considered CS/HB 1081, which was amended to include private colleges and universities with NCA designation in the program. After brief discussion and support from United Way Miami, the committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, CS/HB 177 was introduced as a framework for Florida’s regional councils to cross-assign bills among regions; it received supportive testimony and was also reported favorably. The meeting then adjourned.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- meaning they don't have the training and, um, they might not have the training necessary to, uh, accommodate
- Even certified teachers do not always follow the accommodations, uh, for students with disabilities in
- schools more removal options doesn't always help, um, if the teachers don't have proper training to accommodate
Keywords:
hemp, consumable hemp products, hemp-derived cannabinoids, CBD, cannabidiol, CBG, cannabigerol, Texas hemp law, hemp regulation, cannabinoid products, delta-9 THC, intoxicating hemp, hemp gummies, hemp vape, retail registration, product registration, QR code labeling, child-resistant packaging, youth access, minor sales
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary (6-3-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- Properties approached ENKU to determine whether the university had a building or a space that could accommodate
- 00:02:52.080>
space <00:02:52.720>that <00:02:53.040>could <00:02:53.280>accommodate - <00:02:53.920>
the a space that could accommodate the a space that could accommodate the Northern - model capacity and separation requirements, as well as a consultant analysis of various options to accommodate
- <00:47:38.400>
a various options to accommodate a various options to accommodate a regional
Keywords:
0:00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call
0:01:19 NKU Capital Project Update
0:38:57 DJJ High Acuity Services Update
1:03:53 Adjournment, 958, all
Summary:
The interim Budget Review Subcommittee for Justice and Judiciary received an update on Northern Kentucky University’s capital project to house the Northern Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office and the Northern Kentucky Crime Lab in the former Highland Heights Civic Center building on NKU’s campus. NKU and Justice Cabinet staff described the project timeline: the building was identified in late 2022, lease terms were agreed to in early 2023, a pre-construction evaluation agreement was executed in May 2023, the General Assembly authorized $21 million in April 2024, and the lease and construction agreement were finalized in spring 2026. The project is now being prepared for bid, with construction expected to start in August and occupancy targeted for January 2028. About $1 million has been spent so far on design and related investigations.
Testimony emphasized that the vacant building was structurally sound but required major upgrades, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roof, windows, a generator, specialized mechanical systems, security, and geothermal work to meet the needs of two separate operations sharing one facility. NKU said it is contributing $3.7 million to the project. Committee members asked about the condition of the building, the urgency of the project, and why the process took so long. Justice Cabinet and real properties officials said the medical examiner’s office had been shut down since roughly late 2017 or 2018, that the state had first sought funding in the 2022 budget for staffing, a lease, and equipment, and that it took time to find a suitable leased location because the facility has highly specialized requirements.
Members also asked about operating costs, annual lease costs, and the impact of the office’s absence on families and counties in Northern Kentucky. Officials said the lease cost is based on NKU’s expected maintenance-related expenses, while utilities and staffing are covered through the Office of the State Medical Examiner or Kentucky State Police, with seven medical examiner positions funded in House Bill 500 and two additional KSP positions requested for the crime lab. They explained that, until the new facility opens, bodies from Northern Kentucky are generally transported to Louisville for autopsy, with transportation costs borne by the coroner’s office. No votes were taken, but the committee requested follow-up information, including lease cost numbers and additional details on facility usage and timing.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- involved and what we decided for this session because it's not a budget year, uh, we aren't able to accommodate
- involved and what we decided for this session because it's not a budget year, uh, we aren't able to accommodate
- involved and what we decided for this session because it's not a budget year, uh, we aren't able to accommodate
- <00:53:18.400>
aren't <00:53:18.640>able <00:53:18.920>to <00:53:19.600>accommodate - <00:53:20.400>
the uh we aren't able to accommodate the uh we aren't able to accommodate the
VT
Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session
Judicial Retention - 2026-03-25 - 10:30AM
Vermont Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- If she were a civil servant, she could ask for an accommodation and get an accommodation.
- <01:05:02.720>
and <01:05:02.960>get <01:05:03.160>an ask if for an accommodation - and get an ask if for an accommodation and get an accommodation.<01:05:04.400>
If <01:05:04.520 - >
she <01:05:04.680>were <01:05:04.800>a <01:05:04.880>student, accommodation - If she were a student, accommodation.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Capital Planning Advisory Board (6-11-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- to amenities, ensuring a accommodations to amenities, ensuring a better<00:36:49.520>
experience< - The variety of these projects will accommodate new visitors, amplifying the investment in the artisan
- ability to host multiple events simultaneously, dramatically increasing the park's capacity to accommodate
- Replacing the arena's aging roof will eliminate ongoing capacity to accommodate large-scale capacity
- to accommodate large-scale equestrian<00:43:48.960>
competitions.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:09
Approval of Minutes 00:01:10
Welcome New Members 00:01:26
Information Items 00:01:49
COT Special Report 00:02:38
Review of Executive Branch Agency Plans 00:07:41
A. Department of Military Affairs 00:08:07
B. Department of Veterans’ Affairs 00:20:34
C. Kentucky Infrastructure Authority 00:25:54
D. Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet 00:35:05
E. Transportation Cabinet 00:55:53, 958, all
Summary:
The Capital Planning Advisory Board met with a quorum, approved the May 21 minutes, and welcomed a new executive branch member, Secretary Keith Jackson of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. The board also received two informational items: agency responses to prior questions and amendments made to capital plans after the last meeting. It then heard the Commonwealth Office of Technology’s report on executive branch IT capital project scoring, which reviewed 16 IT requests totaling about $330.5 million. COOT said projects were ranked through an independent panel using standardized criteria focused on feasibility, statewide alignment, readiness, impact, and risk; the CIO recommended moving an enterprise application and artificial intelligence inventory system from rank 11 to rank 4 because of its enterprise-wide impact and connection to Senate Bill 4.
The Department of Military Affairs presented its capital plan, describing 43 million in projects for the current period and 13 projects totaling $65 million for 2026–2028, with most funding coming from federal sources and restricted agency funds and no general fund request in the latter period. Its projects included maintenance pool adjustments, a statewide Army master plan, the Somerset readiness center, Shelbyville and Ashland armories, a future home for the Kentucky Army National Guard band, and other facility upgrades. Members asked about the Somerset project’s cost growth and federal delay; the department said the project remains in conceptual design, is awaiting federal MILCON action, and would require a state match of about $9.8 million against $29.6 million federal funding if it is approved. Members also asked about staffing levels, and the department said state employee and Title 32 numbers have been relatively steady, while technician positions have declined.
The Department of Veterans Affairs outlined seven projects for 2026–2028, led by a Radcliff Veterans Center HVAC replacement that needs an estimated additional $16 million to finish phase two after phase one was already funded. Other requests included a maintenance pool increase, renovations and exterior upgrades at Eastern and Western Kentucky veterans facilities, a cooling tower replacement at Thompson Hood, and parking lot and lighting improvements. The department said some projects were already in the six-year plan and that the Radcliff phase two could be bid in June 2026 if funded. Members confirmed that a columbarium wall project at Grayson is federally funded.
The Kentucky Infrastructure Authority presented its six-year capital plan, citing more than $3 billion in loan commitments since 1988 and over $5 billion in supported infrastructure projects. KIA requested $298.439 million in the first biennium, including $27.742 million in state match for federal clean water and drinking water revolving funds, $25 million for its state Infrastructure Revolving Fund, $185.697 million in federal capitalization grants, and $30 million in leverage bond authorization for each year of the two federally assisted loan programs. Members asked about drinking-water quality, and KIA said that function is handled by the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division of Water, not KIA. KIA also said its loan rates currently range from 0.5% to 2.25%, averaging just under 1%, and that its revolving loan programs have had no defaults. The Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet began its presentation at the end of the transcript, with staff identifying themselves, but no project details or board action from that presentation were included in the excerpt.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Sunset Advisory Commission Jan 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Our purpose here isn't to serve ourselves or make choices that simply accommodate government processes
- . ...to serve ourselves or make choices that simply accommodate government processes.
Summary:
The Sunset Advisory Commission met for its final meeting of the biennium, established a quorum, and approved the December 11, 2024 minutes. Members then voted on staff recommendations for several agencies, including the Angelina and Netties River Authority, Lower Netties Valley Authority, and Trinity River Authority of Texas, adopting all recommendations for those entities without modification.
The Texas Ethics Commission received the most discussion. Members adopted a modified recommendation to exempt lobby compensation thresholds from inflation adjustments and another modification to round inflation-adjusted amounts. The Commission also adopted a series of new recommendations addressing TEC customer service staffing, late filing penalties, post-election reporting penalties, waiver of penalties when notice cannot be produced, review of the substantial compliance standard for corrected reports, review of the definition of principal purpose for campaign finance reporting, more prominent public posting of delinquent penalties, and clearer training and guidance on lobbying registration and filing requirements. The Commission also adopted two previously omitted Texas Department of Criminal Justice recommendations, 6.5 and 6.6.
The Commission then took its required final record vote to forward all recommendations adopted during the biennium to the 89th Legislature; the motion passed with nine ayes. Sunset staff provided a status update on implementation of 2023 Sunset recommendations, reporting that the State Auditor found 89% of selected management actions fully implemented and that Sunset staff found 68% of 163 statutory and related changes fully implemented, with the remainder mostly in progress. The meeting also noted the recently completed evaluation of the Texas Lottery Commission and ended with closing remarks from the chair and vice chair before the Commission recessed.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Sunset Advisory Commission Jan 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Our purpose here isn't to serve ourselves or make choices that simply accommodate government processes
- . ...to serve ourselves or make choices that simply accommodate government processes.
Summary:
The Sunset Advisory Commission met for its final meeting of the biennium, established a quorum, and approved the December 11, 2024 meeting minutes. Members then voted on staff recommendations for several agencies, including the Angelina and Nettie River Authority, Lower Nettie Valley Authority, and Trinity River Authority of Texas, adopting all recommendations without objection. For the Texas Ethics Commission, the Commission adopted staff recommendations, including two modifications to recommendation 1.2: one to exempt lobby compensation thresholds from inflation adjustments and revert them to statutory levels, and another to round inflation-adjusted amounts to practical increments.
The Commission also adopted eight new Texas Ethics Commission recommendations. These addressed late filing penalties, including limiting accrual for eight-day reports through election day, excluding the first post-election semiannual report from daily penalties, waiving penalties when notice cannot be shown, reviewing the definition of substantial compliance for corrected reports, reviewing the definition of principal purpose to reduce unnecessary campaign finance reporting burdens, improving public access to delinquent penalty information on the TEC website, and expanding training and plain-language guidance on lobbying and filing requirements. The Commission also adopted two previously omitted Texas Department of Criminal Justice recommendations, 6.5 and 6.6.
By recorded vote, the Commission unanimously forwarded all recommendations adopted during the biennium to the 89th Legislature, with nine ayes. Sunset staff then reported on implementation of 2023 Sunset recommendations, stating that the State Auditor found 89% of selected management actions fully implemented and that Sunset staff found 68% of 163 statutory and related changes fully implemented, with most remaining items in progress or partially implemented. The Commission also briefly noted receipt of a Texas Lottery Commission evaluation concerning executive leadership and potential regulation of lottery ticket courier companies, but no further action was taken on that item. The meeting concluded with closing remarks and a motion to recess subject to the call of the chair.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- We did see that the last committee changed the overnight accommodations, which is 21 days, no longer
- That's a long time, quite frankly, for overnight accommodations for ag tourism.
- We did see that the last committee changed the overnight accommodations, which is 21 days, no longer
- That's a long time, quite frankly, for overnight accommodations for ag tourism.
- That's a long time, quite frankly, for overnight accommodations for ag tourism.
Summary:
The committee on Water and Land met on February 13, 2025, and heard testimony on a series of housing, land, and resource bills. Early bills included HB 743 on fiscal sustainability, HB 1318 on affordable housing, and HB 1409 on the Transit-Oriented Development Infrastructure Improvement District Board. Testimony on the housing measures was largely supportive from agencies and advocacy groups such as the Office of Planning, Hawaii Housing Future, Hawaii Appleseed, Catholic Charities, and the County of Kauai, while the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) raised concerns on HB 1318 about public trust duties for ceded lands. On HB 1409, members questioned whether the bill needed updating in light of a separate bill changing the board structure, and witnesses said the measure did not change funding but only the board’s mission and scope.
The committee also heard HB 1410, which would create a supportive housing special fund. Supporters, including Catholic Charities, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and Hawaii Appleseed, argued that predictable dedicated funding is needed for supportive housing, social services, and long-term homelessness solutions. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii opposed tax earmarks in general, saying they subvert the constitutional budgeting process. Members asked how the fund would be administered and who could access it; witnesses said HHFDC and the counties would coordinate the process, but DLNR noted the bill did not provide additional administrative capacity and suggested language to address that.
Later bills included HB 528 on residential leaseholds, HB 1359 on flood mitigation, HB 1087 on historic preservation reviews, HB 868 on disabilities, and HB 1323 on transfer of non-agricultural park lands. HB 528 drew limited testimony, with a Catholic Charities/Hawaii Public Housing Authority representative offering a general example of leasehold development but saying the bill’s exemptions had not been discussed in detail. HB 1359 prompted discussion of homeowner and county responsibilities for drainage and flood damage, with DLNR saying private owners are responsible for drainage on private property and counties for county roads. HB 1087 was supported by DHHL, which said historic preservation reviews currently take about 165 days and the bill could improve timeliness, while Hawaii Historic Hawaii Foundation opposed it. HB 868 drew support from the Disability Rights Center and DCAB, with testimony focusing on beach access and the need for clearer legal authority. On HB 1323, DLNR opposed the bill, saying it did not reflect Act 90 and that some agricultural parcels should remain under DLNR for conservation, watershed, recreation, or fire protection reasons; DOA, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council supported the measure, arguing that productive agricultural lands should be transferred to agriculture to protect local food production and family ranches.