Video & Transcript Research : 'trafficking'

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TX

Texas 89th Regular

Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V Feb 24th, 2025

Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Transcript Highlights:
  • And our governor's child sex trafficking team.
  • Rider number 23, the child sex trafficking team. What exactly is happening there?
  • Trafficking team.
  • We have an intensive training grant with the Human Trafficking Institute.
  • Trafficking and all the organizations that work on their behalf.
Keywords: 1184, house, all
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

House of Representatives Apr 9th, 2026

Louisiana House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • of emphasis always putting on the trafficked victim?
  • So in human trafficking or sexual trafficking, there's usually some solicitation or let's just say prostitution
  • This bill is addressed to the individual charged with human trafficking.
  • Well, there's the victim and there's the human trafficker.
  • Human trafficking is not excused to one person. I agree with you.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

FL House Floor Session - 2026-02-19 (10:00AM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Committee substitute for Senate Bill 340, a bill to be entitled an act relating to Human Trafficking
  • Committee substitute for Senate Bill 340, a bill to be entitled and act relating to Human Trafficking
  • Committee substitute for Senate Bill 340, a bill to be entitled an act relating to human trafficking
  • Committee substitute for Senate Bill 340, a bill to be entitled an act relating to human trafficking
  • These actions have reduced fentanyl trafficking at the southern border by 56%.
Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, pledge, and a series of gallery introductions recognizing visitors, local officials, students, and public safety personnel. The chamber first took up a report from the Ethics and Elections Committee on 42 executive appointments; after Senator Gaetz explained that the committee had reviewed the appointees’ qualifications and suitability, the Senate adopted the report and confirmed the appointments by a 36-0 vote. The Senate then moved through a long special-order calendar focused largely on open-government sunset reviews and other policy bills. It passed measures to continue or consolidate public records and meeting exemptions for aquaculture records, agency-held trade secrets, and cybersecurity information, with one technical amendment adopted on the cybersecurity bill. The chamber also approved bills extending the statute of limitations for failure to report child abuse, strengthening regulation of commercial driving schools, requiring human trafficking education for nursing graduates, creating a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person, and making the related public-records exemption. Additional bills passed included a nature-based coastal resiliency measure with an amendment restricting dredge-and-fill in Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, a chiropractic trust-funds bill, specialty license plates, a one-time waiver of late financial disclosure fines, public school personnel compensation changes, the annual Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services “Farm Bill,” homestead exemption clarification for long-term leaseholders, disability-presumption clarifications for first responders, reinsurance intermediary manager changes, patriotic displays in public schools, ADS-B fee restrictions, autism-related law enforcement training and a Blue Envelope program, campus safety policy transparency at public colleges and universities, and veterinary prescription disclosure. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including local vessel restrictions, temporary certificates for practice, and domestic animals. The Senate also debated and passed a bill allowing licensed insurance agents to market health care sharing ministries, despite concerns raised by Senator Polsky about consumer confusion, commissions, and the sale of non-insurance products; supporters argued it restored free speech, religious liberty, and consumer choice. The chamber approved the bill 32-5 after debate. Most other measures passed with strong bipartisan support, often by unanimous or near-unanimous votes, and several companion House bills were substituted in place of Senate bills before final passage.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session May 11th, 2026

California Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • join me in welcoming to the Senate Chamber Kay Buck, CEO of the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking
  • Kay Buck joined CAST in 2003, where she helped develop the first U.S. shelter for trafficked women and
  • When she isn't on a movie set, Mira Sorvino is a tireless advocate for human trafficking prevention and
  • Mira was appointed as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador to combat human trafficking in 2009.
  • Mira has advocated in the state legislature for funding to support trafficking survivor support services
Keywords: 987, senate, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Jun 3rd, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • . and the number of individuals who have been a victim of human trafficking.
  • of human trafficking.
  • and put an end to the inhumanity. that is human trafficking.
  • Even one victim of human trafficking is one too many.
  • their victims even after they have escaped human trafficking.
Keywords: 988, house, all
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

January 15, 2025 - 03:30 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • the people of Florida from all threats to public safety, such as illegal immigration and illicit trafficking
  • This unit partners with the Highway Patrol's tactical units conducting counter-trafficking operations
  • about some of the special units that we have, starting with Bight, which is border integrity and trafficking
  • 153,000 undocumented arrivals have been intercepted by the Florida Highway Patrol and 2400 human trafficking
  • incur the risk and associated actions for investigating these horrific instances, often of human trafficking
Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met to organize for the session, take roll, and hear introductory remarks from members and agency heads. Members briefly introduced themselves and their districts, with several noting transportation, economic development, emergency response, military, and hurricane recovery issues in their areas. Chair Shove then outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction and current-year budget, noting a total of about $20.3 billion, with most funding coming from trust funds and only a small share from general revenue. The committee also heard that upcoming meetings would include presentations from major agencies in the subcommittee’s purview. The first agency presentation was from the Department of Military Affairs and the Florida National Guard. Major General John Haas described the Guard’s three missions—supporting national security, responding to state emergencies, and adding value to the state—and highlighted deployments for hurricanes, border security support, and ongoing support to the Department of Corrections. He emphasized that the Guard is understrength relative to Florida’s size and demand, said recruiting is strong, and identified force structure growth as the main challenge. Members asked about aircraft, funding sources, and recruiting; Haas explained the Guard’s helicopter and fixed-wing fleet, said aircraft purchases are funded through legislative appropriations, and reported strong interest in the Florida State Guard’s recruiting pipeline. Executive Director Mark Thieme then described the Florida State Guard’s expansion into air, ground, and maritime capabilities, including Black Hawks, boats, drones, canine search-and-rescue teams, and ground support units. He said the agency supported immigration enforcement and hurricane response, and asked for continued legislative support to expand aviation, maritime, and medical capabilities. Members praised the Guard’s disaster response work and asked about aircraft, funding, and staffing. Secretary Cord Byrd of the Department of State followed, focusing on election administration, election security, the SunBiz and voter registration IT systems, arts and culture, corporations, libraries, and historical resources. He said Florida’s election system remains a national model, reported two prosecutions for non-citizen voting, and discussed modernization needs for legacy IT systems. The committee also asked about voter lookup tools, password privacy for SunBiz, and arts funding vetoes. Secretary Alex Kelly of the Department of Commerce described the agency’s broad portfolio, including workforce, economic, community, and international commerce functions, plus housing recovery, broadband, small business support, rural infrastructure, defense-community grants, and law enforcement recruitment bonuses. He said access to capital is the biggest barrier for small businesses and noted ongoing work with CareerSource, the Department of Corrections, and other partners on workforce and reentry. Secretary Jared Perdue of the Department of Transportation then outlined FDOT’s record budget and five-year work program, emphasizing emergency response, preservation and maintenance, safety, and major investments in roads, ports, airports, transit, and spaceport infrastructure. He said the department has removed millions of cubic yards of storm debris, is ahead of schedule on the Moving Florida Forward initiative, and faces a large unfunded project backlog. Members asked about supply chain issues, project priorities, and workforce needs, and Perdue said FDOT is open to collaboration on recruitment and retention.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • those are Elite legally trafficked those are Elite legally trafficked firearms<00:32:00.399>
  • We do see a correlation of illegally trafficked firearms in the iron pipeline states with weaker gun
  • We do see a correlation of illegally trafficked firearms in the iron pipeline states with weaker gun
  • We do see a correlation of illegally trafficked firearms in the iron pipeline states with weaker gun
  • We do see a correlation of illegally trafficked firearms in the iron pipeline states with weaker gun
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committee first took up SB 547 on water conservation, a deferred agenda item that had already been considered by the other joint committees and received no public testimony. The chair recommended adopting Department of Taxation and Department of Health amendments, passing the bill, and adding a defective date of July 1, 2050. The committee voted to adopt the recommendation; the vice chair voted yes, two senators were excused, and the recommendation was adopted. The main hearing focused on SB 1030, which would define election fraud intimidation to include carrying any firearm or weapon at or near a voter service center, place of deposit, or polling place. Testimony was overwhelmingly opposed, with speakers arguing the bill duplicated existing sensitive-places law, raised Second Amendment concerns, and could create confusion for lawful concealed carry holders using ballot drop boxes. A smaller number of supporters, including gun violence prevention advocates and labor representatives, argued the measure would improve voter safety. The committee heard more than 1,560 total testimonies for the hearing overall, and for SB 1030 staff noted over 10 in support and over 80 in opposition; no vote on SB 1030 was taken in the portion provided. The committee then heard SB 38, which would extend Hawaii’s ban on high-capacity magazines from pistols to any firearm with a detachable magazine over 10 rounds. Supporters, including the Department of Law Enforcement, Moms Demand Action, Everytown, Brady, and other gun violence prevention advocates, said the bill would close a loophole, improve consistency in the law, and reduce the harm caused by mass shootings. Opponents, including gun owners, veterans, and Second Amendment advocates, argued the bill would criminalize lawful owners, be difficult to enforce, and would not reduce crime. The committee reported receiving over 40 testimonies in support and over 400 in opposition. Finally, the committee began SB 401, which would add rifles capable of firing .50 caliber or higher ammunition to the list of prohibited weapons, excluding antiques and muzzle loaders. HPD and Everytown testified in support, describing the weapons as military-grade and dangerous, while Jerry Yuan and others opposed the bill, saying it was overbroad and would sweep in firearms and ammunition types that are not used in crime. The transcript ends during testimony on SB 401, before any committee action or vote on that measure.
FL

Florida 2026 4th Special Session

February 10, 2026 - 12:30 PM

Commerce Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • So we have experienced this, but it also brings in human trafficking and drugs and prostitution and all
  • And it does promote human trafficking, and it Trying to get around what is illegal.
  • And it does promote human trafficking, and it does create more crime and there are more drugs in our
  • , child trafficking, lost job opportunities, marriage fraud, or, in my case and in Ms.
  • WHETHER IT BE IDENTITY THEFT,   819 ILLEGAL SCAMS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, CHILD TRAFFICKING, LOST
Summary: The committee first took up PCS for HB 1137, which would codify a long-standing DBPR rule allowing alcohol distributors to deduct excise tax for broken or spoiled products. The sponsor said the rule had been nullified for lack of statutory authority, and industry representatives waved in support. The bill passed unanimously and was reported favorably. Members then approved PCS for HB 797 on nonprofit corporations, described as a broad update to the nonprofit statute that tracks prior for-profit corporation changes and model act language. A technical amendment was adopted, and testimony from the Florida Nonprofit Alliance and a Bar business law section representative was supportive. The bill passed unanimously and was reported favorably. The committee also passed CS for HB 679 on trademark registration, which updates the state trademark system to align with federal classifications and create an online application; an amendment extending the implementation date was adopted before the bill passed. The committee next heard several bills related to licensing and regulation. CS for HB 1433 would create an optional high school financial literacy course focused on property and casualty insurance and allow graduates to satisfy pre-licensure requirements for an entry-level license; it passed with support from insurance and free-market groups. HB 929 clarified local permitting for tiki huts, including electrical and plumbing permits, decks, fasteners, and setbacks, and passed without opposition. HB 99 exempted certain underwriting managers handling limited reinsurance business from reinsurance intermediary manager licensing requirements and also passed. A major portion of the meeting focused on gambling enforcement in the strike-all for CS for CS HB 155, which would strengthen penalties for illegal gambling operations, expand oversight of the Florida Gaming Control Commission, clarify fantasy sports and internet sports wagering language, and allow destruction of seized slot machines. Supporters argued the bill would help shut down repeat illegal internet cafés and related criminal activity; one homeowner group opposed it. The committee adopted the strike-all and the bill passed, with several members speaking in favor and a few voting no. The committee also passed HB 1307 on unauthorized aliens after adopting a strike-all that clarified provisions affecting licensing, housing assistance, workers’ compensation, employment enforcement, and related financial services; the bill drew substantial opposition testimony about language barriers and immigrant families, but also support from proponents citing public safety and victim stories. Later, the committee approved DS for HB 387, which would restrict the use of ADS-B aviation data for automatic billing at airports while preserving landing fees and safety functions. It passed after supportive testimony from a private pilot. HB 865, as amended, would require professional management for community associations above a higher budget threshold, add timeshare-specific language, and impose additional licensing and insurance requirements for managers; supporters cited fraud and lack of enforcement in large associations, while one member opposed it as government overreach. The bill passed with one recorded no vote. Finally, the committee passed PCS for HB 885, a transportation facility designation bill naming several roads and bridges, and began debate on CS for HB 33, which would designate a portion of SR 895 near FIU as Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue and also codify a Donald Trump boulevard designation. That bill prompted sharp debate, with supporters praising Kirk’s influence and opponents objecting to honoring a non-Floridian and to his public statements; the transcript ends during that debate.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Oct 8th, 2025

Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • The other piece to that is trafficking.
  • Trafficking came up; it's another one of those things I've been carrying for forever.
  • The penalty for trafficking narcotics is higher than the penalty for trafficking people, and we continue
  • We have been trying to get the trafficking...
  • Trafficking bill, Representative Caballero. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you all on the panel.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session May 11th, 2026

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Escorted by Assembly Member Fong is Wachana Sussman, a human trafficking survivor of the 1995 El Monte
  • A human trafficking survivor of the 1995 El Monte Thai garment slavery case, Rachana Sussman carved a
  • Buck, CEO of the Coalition Against Slavery and Trafficking, or CAST.
  • They are both here in Sacramento today to advocate for critical funding for the Human Trafficking Victim
  • Assistance Program, which is running out by July 1 and ensures that human trafficking survivors receive
Summary: The Assembly met in session after a quorum call and opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a ceremonial observance for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Members from multiple caucuses spoke in support of House Resolution 107, which designates May as AAPI Heritage Month, emphasizing the community’s contributions, resilience, and the need to confront discrimination and hate. The resolution was adopted, and the chamber then recognized 13 honorees for the 2026 AAPI Heritage Month celebration, highlighting leaders in education, business, labor, media, cultural preservation, and public service. After guest introductions, the Assembly took up a series of bills. Measures discussed included HOA reserve funding for common interest developments (AB 2050), professional review requirements for lawsuits against design professionals (AB 2106), direct home delivery of enteral formula (AB 1794), expanded CalWORKs-related support for student parents (AB 1829), longer insurance moratoriums for wildfire survivors (AB 2038), election cybersecurity (AB 2281), medical privacy protections for reproductive and gender-affirming care (AB 2448), water district board compensation (AB 2568), county public contract change-order authority (AB 1658), and several other education, health, and licensing bills. Most measures passed with broad support; AB 2050 passed 44-6, AB 2038 passed 45-8, AB 2448 passed 49-13, and AB 1658 passed 61-2, while several others passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The Assembly also adopted AJR 29, a resolution opposing a federal executive order affecting vote-by-mail and affirming California’s mail voting system. The resolution prompted extended debate over election integrity, voter access, and federal versus state authority, with supporters arguing mail voting is secure and accessible and opponents calling for stronger voter list maintenance and verification. The resolution passed 47-13. In addition, ACR 141 and ACR 123 were adopted by voice vote after co-author roll calls, and the chamber continued or passed on numerous other file items as it worked through the daily file.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • two-year pilot program for grants to organizations to provide services to victims of labor and sexual trafficking
  • Organizations to provide services to victims of labor and sexual trafficking.
  • And as we know, certainly in the sexual trafficking and human trafficking space, a lot of times people
  • may be brought here against their will and be victims of labor or sexual trafficking.
  • If we find that someone is here in the United States and is a victim of sexual trafficking, we will provide
Summary: The House met in session with a roll call establishing a quorum, followed by prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including the Doctor and Nurse of the Day and youth groups visiting the chamber. Special presentations honored the Oklahoma City Blazers under-10 ice hockey team for winning a Texas state championship and MacArthur High School JROTC cadets for repeated drill team success. The chamber also adopted House Resolution 1055 declaring April 29, 2026, as Oklahoma Agriculture Day, and House Resolution 1056 recognizing Denim Day during Sexual Assault Awareness Month; both were adopted without objection. Members then considered a series of Senate bills. SB 2170 on child custody passed 77-0 and requires supervised visitation when a court finds child abuse or sexual exploitation. SB 1833 codifies a federal waiver barring SNAP purchases of candy and soft drinks and passed 62-17. SB 1198, requiring the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to file releases on county- and municipally-owned properties at the request of local officials, passed 79-0. SB 1730, which requires law enforcement sexual abuse reports to be forwarded to OSBI for investigative use, drew debate over victim protection versus due-process concerns and passed 52-29. The House also passed SB 1379 creating a two-year grant pilot for services to labor and sex trafficking victims, including services regardless of immigration status, and approved the emergency. SB 1645 on Medicaid audit procedures, SB 2155 allowing the Route 66 Commission to use MOUs for administrative oversight, and several sunset-extension bills for boards and commissions also advanced, many with emergency clauses approved. SB 1461 extending the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority passed 67-20, but its emergency failed 55-20. Other measures passed included SB 1344 creating an insulin access and affordability program, SB 1309 increasing Roads Fund debt-service capacity, and multiple board-extension bills for construction, polygraph examiners, engineers and surveyors, and midwifery, most with emergency clauses adopted. The House then moved to announcements and recessed until 1:30 p.m.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Judiciary (01/23/2025)

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • <01:47:28.800> less subject to se sex trafficking less subject to se sex trafficking less
  • humans, trafficking children.
  • <02:32:14.600> humans<02:32:15.279> trafficking<02:32:16.120> children trafficking
  • humans trafficking children trafficking humans trafficking children God<02:32:17.319> only<02
  • ones who are trafficking the children ones who are trafficking the children and<02:33:14.160>
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

Tourism and Gaming Working Group (TGWG) - Wed Apr 15, 2026 @ 11:30 AM HST

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And specifically, one of the big ones is anti-human trafficking.
  • <00:31:28.120> And<00:31:28.320> so, is anti-human trafficking.
  • And so, is anti-human trafficking.
  • <00:31:35.640> has been places where human trafficking has been places where human trafficking
  • side to try to anti-human trafficking side to try to make<00:33:44.640> sure<00:33:44.840>
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs Apr 25th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • And the targets of this trafficking and distribution are babies and moms.
  • Let's keep these drugs from being trafficked and distributed in Texas.
  • who've been trafficked, have had at least one abortion, six or more.
  • It will go after traffickers, not vulnerable women, and hold them... Thank you very much.
  • It targets the commerce and trafficking of these unregulated abortion pills.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session May 22nd, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Members, Texas has historically led the rest of the nation in anti-trafficking legislation.
  • Traffickers are routinely receiving deferred adjudication, probation, or minimal jail time.
  • or if the trafficking victim was a minor.
  • SB1212 elevates the penalty for human trafficking across the board to a first-degree felony where it
  • Victims of trafficking or persons compelled to engage in prostitution. The chair recognizes Ms.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V Feb 24th, 2025

Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Transcript Highlights:
  • So I believe we were asking for an additional million under the child sex trafficking team.
  • We have an intensive training grant with the Human Trafficking Institute.
  • And statewide anti-trafficking and training assistance for other service providers, 1.5 million.
  • And then a fusion center for human trafficking information at 400,000.
  • The additional 1 million we're asking for is to expand the Human Trafficking Institute grant.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • also done is created an adult playground that is littered with pedophiles, sextortionists, human traffickers
  • , human traffickers, human traffickers, drug<00:09:13.520> dealers, And I want to be clear
  • or human traffickers, for that matter.
  • or drug traffickers or drug traffickers or<00:24:56.640> human<00:24:56.920> traffickers
  • or human traffickers for that matter. or human traffickers for that matter.
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The House took up House File 4138, a bill establishing requirements for social media platforms regarding accounts for minors. Rep. Scott explained the bill and an A10 amendment that made several changes, including aligning with Senate language, adding transparency about age-estimation processes, changing the covered-platform revenue threshold, tightening privacy settings for child accounts, and strengthening limits on the sale or disclosure of data collected for age estimation. The A10 amendment was adopted by voice vote. Rep. Bonner then offered A11 to raise the bill’s age threshold from under 16 to under 18 and to replace references to “child” with “minor,” arguing that 18 is the clearer legal age of consent and would better protect 16- and 17-year-olds. Rep. Scott and others opposed the change, saying the bill was designed around First Amendment concerns and that 16 was a more workable cutoff; the amendment failed on a roll call, 15 yeas to 111 nays. A subsequent A13 amendment by Rep. Smith, as amended by A17 from Rep. Myers, added a requirement that platforms review publicly available user-generated content and report potential mass-violence threats to the state fusion center with immediate reporting language. Scott objected that the new language had not had hearings, but the Myers amendment to the amendment was adopted, 83 yeas to 47 nays. Rep. Greenman then offered A18 to tie the discussion to broader gun violence prevention and assault weapons, arguing social media measures alone were insufficient; Rep. Finke spoke in support of broader harm-reduction efforts and the amendment’s intent. The transcript ends while discussion of A18 is still underway, with no final vote shown on that amendment or on final passage of the bill.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Item A is an increase of $1.7 million.10 FTEs for their anti-trafficking unit.
  • The first fiscal and policy issue is about the, the agency's anti-trafficking efforts.
  • Uh, the work that we have been doing to combat human trafficking has been effective.
  • I, um, thank you so much for the work that you're doing in human trafficking.
  • Um, we work on the TDLR was talking about it's increased, uh, human trafficking work.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

State Affairs Aug 22nd, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • As a survivor of human trafficking, I waited on the public housing list for 10 years before I got housed
  • Getting past that, I work heavily with trafficked children. That is one of my main missions.
  • I want to ask you how can you spot a trafficked child and a trafficked woman?
  • Katie's experience also highlights a deeper problem of online advertising and trafficking of abortion
  • We know that rapists, child molesters, and sex traffickers love abortion.
Bills: HB7, SB 8
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

ECD Public Hearing - Thu Apr 17, 2025 @ 10:30 AM HST

Economic Development & Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • Gambling invites addiction, human trafficking, corruption, and criminal activity.
  • It fuels criminal networks that prey on our communities from trafficking to organized crime.
  • /c><00:29:06.480> criminal trafficking, corruption, and criminal trafficking, corruption, and
  • <00:29:52.640> into<00:29:52.960> our human trafficking into our human trafficking
  • <00:30:14.880> to communities from trafficking to communities from trafficking to organized
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The Economic Development Technology Committee met on April 17, 2025, to hear STR 121, a resolution to form a working group to explore legalized gaming in Hawaii. Supporters, including DBED, labor representatives, and some industry interests, argued the measure would allow the state to gather more information, consider economic growth, job creation, investment, and tax revenue, and include a range of viewpoints before any final policy decision. Several supporters emphasized that a working group would help ensure informed decision-making and community input. Opponents argued that legalized gambling would disproportionately harm low-income residents and Native Hawaiians, increase addiction and related social harms, and bring crime, corruption, and human trafficking. Some cited examples from other states, illegal game rooms in Hawaii, and concerns that gambling revenue would be limited while social costs would be high. Others said the conversation should be led by local communities rather than industry stakeholders, and one testifier requested community representation on any working group for a potential stadium-area project. The committee also heard from witnesses who framed the measure as a way to address money leaving the state and to create a regulated alternative to illegal gambling. No vote or final action on STR 121 was taken during the hearing, and the chair noted the committee would need to adjourn in time for floor session if the hearing ran long.