Video & Transcript Research : 'statutory entities'
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on State and Local Government - 04/08/25
State and Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- statutory authority up to 12%. statutory authority up to 12%.
- /c><01:03:43.200>
open like maintaining the statutory open like maintaining the statutory open - >
eligible with another entity that is not eligible with another entity that is not eligible for - >
send non-governmental entities who send non-governmental entities who send solicitations<01: - we'll be able to support more entities we'll be able to support more entities struggling<02:06:07.280
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, so for example, I would amend this resolution to say research statutory language and specificities
- <00:05:07.440>
language <00:05:07.759>and research statutory language and research - statutory language and specificities<00:05:09.680>
in <00:05:10.000>federal <00:05:10.240 - <00:09:48.800>
like organizations and other entities like organizations and other entities - Every department, every entity, every nonprofit is coming and saying we need more funds.
Summary:
The joint AEN-HRE hearing focused on HCR 130, HD1, which urges increased and sustained funding for the island invasive species committees and the Hawaii Ant Lab within the University of Hawaii’s Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit. The Department of Agriculture said it supported the intent and noted that ISC funding flows through the Hawaii Invasive Species Council budget item via DLNR, while also describing ongoing collaboration with DLNR and efforts to support ant control work. Testifiers from CAPS, the University of Hawaii, the Oahu Invasive Species Committee, and CARES all supported the resolution, emphasizing that invasive species work is underfunded, that the island committees and Hawaii Ant Lab do critical control, research, outreach, and eradication work, and that sustained resources are needed to plan effectively and respond to priority pests such as little fire ant, coconut rhinoceros beetle, and coqui frog.
A lengthy exchange followed over whether the resolution was meaningful, since it would be urging the state to fund work the Legislature itself controls. Several members argued that a resolution alone has no legal effect and that funding should come through bills and appropriations instead. In response, the Department of Agriculture said its top biosecurity needs are personnel and chemicals, and noted it is building up its plant quarantine and plant pest control divisions with prior funding and HB 427. Oahu Invasive Species Committee representatives said they rely heavily on Hawaii Invasive Species Council grants, have limited soft funding, and need more stable resources; they also pointed to annual reports and prior testimony as documentation of their work.
After a brief recess, the chairs announced they would pass the resolution with amendments to make it more relevant. The amendments changed the title and text to urge the counties, Congress, and other relevant agencies—not the state alone—to provide increased and sustained funding, and added language urging all of those bodies to seek federal grants. The AEN committee then voted to pass HCR 130, HD1, as amended, and the HRE committee also voted to pass it with amendments. The motion was adopted in both committees.
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- Yes, sir. >> So if the entity, Mr.
- They can form all kinds of entities.
- They can form all kinds of entities.
- They can form all kinds of entities.
- They can form all kinds of entities.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation Mar 19th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- But these are the statutory deadlines, and that's what everybody should be intending to live with.
- We also encountered inconsistent or overuse of certain standards and had an issue with the statutory
- This included increasing penalties for late or nonpayment of fees, implementing some of the statutory
- We see early indications that these statutory reform efforts are paying off.
- AB 2113 includes a phased-in increase to the mill assessment and several statutory requirements.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance May 19th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- One of those options is to provide an increase above the statutory COLA, as the May Revision does.
- So they are the entity that is also implementing the secondary school redesign pilot program.
- So the May Revision includes $927 million for LCFF above the statutory cost-of-living adjustment.
- But it's not... is it its own entity? It's got a .org website, so... I believe that's correct.
- But I don't think it's a standalone entity.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- House Bill 4922 seeks an update statutory provisions regarding the health care liability claims against
- Would y'all's entities be open to increasing regulations on you all to bring you up to the same standard
- Under federal law, only entities purchasing directly from antitrust violators may seek to recover damages
- inflation from the passage of the original Act in 1983, but also to increase penalties for larger entities
- Liability liability for the AI generated content holds individuals and entities liable for damages if
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee May 12th, 2026
Energy, Utilities and Communications
Transcript Highlights:
- So this is taking that to, giving that direction to OEIS and the CPUC to actually develop a statutory
- The fourth is a confidential reporting system with a statutory safe harbor protection.
- So our recommendations aim to build on the statutory framework of forward-looking accountability.
- Other examples of protection gap entities that also work for them are like Turkey, for example.
- Other examples of protection gap entities that also work for them are like Turkey, for example.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
02/10/2026 - House Democratic Caucus Calendar #5
Transcript Highlights:
- Monies, allows the state, including a state agency, county, municipality, and any other governmental entity
- Madam Chair, I don't think that is listed in this statutory duty, so thank you so much.
- This expands employee leave for military duty by removing some of the restrictive statutory language
- This expands employee leave for military duty by removing some of the restrictive statutory language
- Administration Due Process, and it establishes due process procedures for when a state or county entity
Summary:
The committee worked through a very long minority caucus calendar covering a wide range of bills, with many items being described and then either left on consent, pulled from consent, or noted for votes. Topics included bullion and state depository proposals, a produce incentive appropriation, a biennial budget change, veterans services funding, driver licensing and traffic enforcement measures, procurement and public records changes, school board and school facilities rules, SNAP work requirements and verification, child welfare and juvenile justice provisions, housing and homelessness measures, energy and fuel policy, election administration, and several tax, commerce, and licensing bills. Members repeatedly raised concerns about constitutionality, federal preemption, duplication of existing law, and whether some measures were policy priorities that had been vetoed in prior sessions and were returning unchanged.
Several bills drew extended debate. Members objected to English-proficiency requirements for commercial drivers and motor carriers, arguing federal law and the supremacy clause would bar them. Earned wage access regulation prompted strong opposition over consumer harm, overdraft cycles, and high effective APRs. School-related bills were criticized for overregulating public schools while not imposing similar requirements on ESA/private-school programs, especially on fingerprint clearance and reporting. SNAP-related bills were also opposed as setting unrealistic mandates and repeating vetoed proposals. Other contested measures included a drag-show criminalization bill, a bill restricting photo enforcement, a bill limiting local regulation of unmanned aircraft, and a bill conforming Arizona tax law to federal changes, which members said would benefit wealthy taxpayers and corporations without a clear funding source.
The committee also heard a number of supportive or less controversial measures, including bills on veterans awareness, dementia care telemonitoring, Braille transcription funding, CPA licensure pathways, cash acceptance by retailers, and some child safety and court administration changes. Several bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, while others were noted as having unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The meeting ended with caucus announcements, including an affordability award presentation, an upcoming Latino Caucus discussion on community land trusts, and an invitation to African American Legislative Day activities, followed by adjournment.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:21:00.320>
provisions whether or not the statutory provisions whether or not the statutory - We don't think there's a need for it, and it violates the statutory criteria for one.
- We don't need two entities out there existing.
- We don't need two entities out there existing.
- We don't need two entities out there existing.
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs met on March 19, 2025, and heard testimony on several firearms-related bills. HB 125 would require firearm sellers or transferors to provide buyers notice about secure storage laws, expand secure-storage requirements, and clarify criminally negligent storage. The Department of Law Enforcement and the Department of Education supported the bill. The Office of the Public Defender raised constitutional concerns under District of Columbia v. Heller and suggested narrowing the bill so a firearm need not be made inoperable when the lawful owner is home. Supporters, including Brady, Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action, veterans, and other advocates, said secure storage would reduce accidental shootings, youth access, theft, suicides, and school shootings. Opponents argued the bill was redundant, could criminalize victims of theft, and imposed strict liability. The committee noted 24 individuals in support and 103 in opposition.
The committee also heard HB 137, which would impose a mandatory prison term for violent felons who violate firearm or ammunition possession prohibitions. DLE, the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office, and the Hawaii County Prosecutor supported the measure, arguing it targets repeat offenders and strengthens public safety. The Office of the Public Defender opposed mandatory sentencing, saying judges already have discretion to impose lengthy sentences and that mandatory terms can be inappropriate in some cases. The committee then heard HB 392, which would prohibit ghost guns and establish mandatory minimum sentencing for use of a ghost gun in a felony. DLE and the Honolulu Prosecutor supported it, while the Public Defender and several opponents said parts of the bill were redundant or could create definitional problems; the committee recorded five supporters and 70 opponents.
HB 995 would amend deadlines for annual firearms carry reporting by the Attorney General and county police chiefs. The Attorney General’s office and HPD supported the bill, with the Attorney General asking for more time for police departments to submit complete data and for the April 1 deadline to be removed. The committee also heard HB 664, which would create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention, a grant program, a resource bank, and a special fund. The Department of the Attorney General supported the concept but recommended consolidating the new office’s duties with the existing Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission to avoid duplication and possibly repealing the existing commission statute. DLE supported HB 664, while the Tax Foundation objected to the special fund. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.
DE
Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Banking, Business, Insurance - Technology Committee Meeting Jun 17th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- that's a certain amount of taxes that the local governments are able to then bring in from these entities
- So they don't allow statutory damages, and they certainly don't allow class action liability expressed
- So they don't allow statutory damages, and they certainly don't allow class action liability expressed
- is not a human entity.
- is not a human entity.
Summary:
The committee heard several bills, but much of the meeting focused on House Bill 306, which would require disclosure when a consumer is interacting with a chatbot rather than a human. Sponsor Senator Townsend described it as a consumer protection measure and said the bill is meant to keep pace with rapidly changing AI technology. Committee members and witnesses raised concerns about the bill’s enforcement structure, especially private rights of action and penalties that could apply even without actual consumer harm. The Department of Justice said the bill would apply where the conduct has a Delaware nexus, and that the disclosure requirement is the key consumer protection. Industry witnesses and chambers of commerce opposed the bill as drafted, arguing it would create broad compliance burdens and expose businesses to excessive litigation risk without a harm requirement or clearer safe harbor language.
Earlier in the meeting, the committee discussed House Bill 429, which would update Delaware’s step therapy exception process to include biosimilars and interchangeable biologics. Senator Poore and supporters from Highmark and the Department of Insurance said the bill would modernize insurance law, improve access to effective treatments, and reduce costs; they cited national savings from biosimilars and said the bill has agency support. Members asked about Delaware-specific savings, patient switching, and how the process would work, but no vote was taken during the discussion. The committee also heard House Bill 310, which would exclude large data centers from Blue Collar Jobs Act tax credits; the sponsor said the bill is intended to ensure large energy users contribute more to state and local revenues, while supporters and opponents debated competitiveness and community impacts. House Bill 406, on allowing insureds to choose their auto repair shop, and Senate Bill 347, a cleanup bill related to medical debt collection and personal property levies, were also presented without opposition in the hearing. House Bill 253, concerning who may receive letters testamentary or of administration, was described as a cleanup to align statute with existing practice. The committee approved the meeting minutes, but the transcript does not show final votes on the bills discussed.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Taxation and Revenue Feb 14th, 2026 at 10:35 am
House Taxation & Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- So when we have, let's just say some of the tribal entities are very quick about this.
- So they're asking for more evidence of readiness and also asking entities that if they're not ready to
- Who determined that the current statutory definition does not apply to battery storage.
- So I think the strong sense is that this will be revenue positive for local entities and allow projects
- I think the strong sense is that this will be revenue positive for local entities and allow projects
Keywords:
general obligation bonds, GO bonds, capital projects, bond election, property tax levy, state debt, state finance, capital outlay, senior centers, senior citizen facilities, aging services, long-term services, libraries, library acquisitions, broadband for libraries, higher education, university capital projects, community colleges, tribal schools, special schools
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
An oversight hearing to examine Native communities' priorities for the 119th Congress. Feb 12th, 2025 at 01:30 pm
Indian Affairs Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- federal funding and on tribal programs that flow from the federal government's trust treaty and statutory
- Order 3416 directing its agency on implementation of administration priorities recognize that the statutory
- It is important to mention that tribally owned entities under the umbrella of the tribal government are
- These entities are essential partners for tribal governments and their business entities.
- There are problems, I think, with outside courts and entities having, I think the term is comity, right
Keywords:
tribal sovereignty, healthcare, education, public safety, Economic Development, Tax Parity Act, PROTECT Act, trust obligations, bipartisan support, Indian Health Services
Summary:
The committee meeting focused on crucial issues facing tribal nations, particularly emphasizing the federal government's trust and treaty obligations. The discussions highlighted ongoing challenges such as disparities in healthcare, education, and public safety within Native communities. Chair Murkowski underscored the importance of listening to Native leaders and aligning congressional efforts with community needs, advocating for legislative actions that support tribal sovereignty and economic development. Various initiatives, including the Tax Parity Act and the PROTECT Act, aimed at addressing jurisdictional and financial disparities, were discussed in detail. A call for bipartisan support to alleviate the funding shortages affecting Indian Health Services was made several times during the meeting. Testimonies from tribal leaders and representatives emphasized the dire need for legislative support to enhance infrastructure, healthcare access, and public safety initiatives in tribal communities.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- This does require. statutory action by the legislature. Okay.
- There's no statutory inundation to get to that 3, right? And then on top of the current law...
- So the statutory emendations that are contemplated in H.B. 1, that's where we get the 3.5.
- Well, the owners. of those are the entities themselves.
- You said the entities? Yes. And who are they? Well it depends on what they are.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education Apr 15th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education
Transcript Highlights:
- I think there will be elements of negotiation that are not included in what's in the statutory framework
- Our charter schools, our private schools, they have their own management entity, per se.
- And so some, apparently an outside entity, a contracted entity...
- And so, apparently, an outside entity, a contracted entity, you know, a company, somebody would come
- A business owner would never be forced to house another entity funded with its own business profits.
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum and took up several education bills. SB 1150, by Senator Calatayud, was presented as a measure to help school districts retain school social workers by removing an exam requirement unrelated to the profession. With no questions or debate, the committee voted the bill favorably. The committee then moved to SB 1514, by Senator Smith, on anaphylaxis response in public schools. After adopting a delete-all amendment and a late-filed amendment clarifying FDA-approved epinephrine devices and weight-based dosing, the committee heard support from Orange County Public Schools and reported the bill favorably.
The most extensive discussion centered on SB 1708, also by Senator Calatayud, which would expand Schools of Hope by broadening the definition of low-performing schools from those in the bottom 10% in both math and reading to those in the bottom 10% in either subject, and would authorize co-location of Schools of Hope in underused public school facilities. Senators questioned how co-location would work, who could enroll, how liability and contracts would be handled, and whether the bill would help the specific students most in need. Many public speakers opposed the bill, arguing it would strain already underfunded public schools, reduce space and resources, and unfairly favor charter operators. The sponsor said the bill would not reduce classroom space in use, would require contracts to address safety and liability, and would provide a net positive to districts through a $600-per-student facility payment plus associated funding. After debate from both supporters and skeptics, the committee reported the bill favorably.
The committee also considered CS for SB 822, by Senator Rodriguez, which would give charter schools more autonomy over governance and operations, including deadlines, enrollment caps, student conduct policies, and data sharing. The Florida Charter School Alliance supported the bill, arguing it would create parity and reduce burdens on charter schools, while committee members pressed the witness on claims of district “harassment” and the basis for those concerns. The bill was reported favorably after a roll call vote. At the end of the meeting, members recorded votes on prior tabs, thanked staff, and adjourned.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Except for the associations that are exempt from reserve and insurance requirements under specific statutory
- In fact, the very entity that is pushing you to pass this legislation, Gulfstream Park and First Racing
- This bill immediately shuts off the statutory funding requirements from slots and cards.
- This bill shuts off these statutory funding requirements from slots and cards and reduces the number
- This bill guts the core advocacy of the sport by removing the major entities that champion and support
Summary:
The Commerce Committee held its first meeting, took roll, established a quorum, and heard opening remarks from the chair, vice chair, and ranking member emphasizing the committee’s broad scope and focus on Florida’s economy and daily-life issues. The committee then considered several bills, with members and staff noting the agenda included four bills and a PCS.
The first measures dealt with insurance and consumer regulation. CS/HB 367 on home and service warranty associations was explained as allowing financial requirements to be met through one or more contractual liability policies and reducing certain filing requirements; an amendment adding requirements for liability insurance coverage was adopted, and the bill passed favorably. HB 655 on pet insurance and wellness programs created a regulatory framework for pet insurance and also passed favorably. HB 6015, which deleted the word “reusable” from the wine keg statute, had brief support testimony and passed favorably.
The committee spent the most time on CS/HB 105, a strike-all PCS on thoroughbred permit holders and decoupling racing from gaming. The sponsor said the revised bill would decouple racing and gaming while adding protections for the thoroughbred industry, including a notice period before racing could stop, permit transferability, and changes to how breeders’ and owners’ funds are administered. Supporters argued the bill would preserve and strengthen the industry through clearer rules and more direct support, while opponents—horsemen, breeders, trainers, veterinarians, and related businesses—warned it would harm a major rural industry, threaten jobs, and favor casino interests. After extensive debate, the strike-all was adopted and the bill was reported favorably on a divided vote.
Finally, HB 11 on municipal water and sewer utility rates was presented as correcting an unintended consequence in surcharge law for utilities owned by one municipality but located in another. Testimony focused on the fairness of the current surcharge structure and the impact on Miami Gardens and North Miami Beach. After debate about negotiation, parity, and local impacts, the bill passed favorably. The committee then adjourned after its first meeting.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- When the governmental entity unilaterally delays construction, ...when the governmental entity unilaterally
- the government entity is going to make the contractor pay for delays caused by the entity.
- If the government entity is going to make the contractor pay for delays caused by the entity.
- Are we just looking at public entities?
- Are we just looking at public entities?
Keywords:
electric generation, reliability, ERCOT, Public Utility Commission, penalties, performance requirements, energy policy, construction contracts, compensatory damages, government delays, contractor, legislation, nonprofit donor privacy, membership lists, supporter confidentiality, volunteer privacy, association rights, public records exemption, Texas Public Information Act, government transparency
Summary:
The committee first took up pending business and favorably reported several bills without objection or by recorded vote, including SB 783, SB 1238, SB 1706, SB 1791, SB 458, SB 1644, and SB 1810, with some of them also sent to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee then moved into hearings on additional bills.
SB 1968, by Senator Schwertner, would update the Real Estate License Act by repealing subagency, requiring written buyer-agent agreements before showings, and clarifying when a formal buyer representation agreement must be signed. Texas Realtors testified in support, saying the bill modernizes agency rules and increases transparency, while a committee substitute corrected drafting issues. SB 2411, the annual update to the Texas Business Organizations Code, was also laid out and left pending after supportive testimony from the Texas Business Law Foundation and drafting committee representatives.
The committee also heard SB 2321, which would codify ERCOT’s current practice of notifying TCEQ when backup generation needs enforcement discretion for grid reliability; Sierra Club and a chamber of commerce witness supported it with suggestions for clearer emissions reporting, and the bill was left pending. SB 2077 would broaden eligibility for the Texas Mutual Insurance Company board by narrowing conflict restrictions tied to insurance-related interests; Texas Mutual supported the change and the bill was left pending. SB 1405, a broadband bill, would align state law with FCC standards and streamline Broadband Development Office processes; it was left pending after supportive testimony. SB 1299, protecting nonprofit donor privacy, drew support from privacy advocates and concerns from one witness about transparency for publicly funded nonprofit operations; it was left pending.
The committee then heard SB 776, which would bar government construction contracts from shifting delay damages to contractors when delays are caused solely by the public owner. Contractors, surety representatives, and water infrastructure advocates supported the bill, arguing it would improve fairness and reduce inflated bids, while water utilities and critical infrastructure entities opposed it, warning of more litigation and higher costs; the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 715, which would apply reliability requirements retroactively to all generation resources in ERCOT, drew opposition from renewable and storage groups and support from some critics of renewable subsidies, with witnesses split over whether it would improve reliability or raise costs; testimony was underway when the transcript ended.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
April 15, 2025 - 10:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- Tendrich: I HAVE THE GRANT PROPOSALS FROM BOTH ENTITIES HERE AND IT ALMOST, YOU KNOW, IRAN A NONPROFIT
- GRANT PROPOSALS THERE ARE NO REQUIREMENTS FOR REPORTING AND I CAN SPECIFICALLY SAY THAT AND EACH ENTITY
- IF I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF PERSONALLY AT THE FORMATION OF THE ENTITY I WOULD ASSUME BECAUSE I WAS NOT
- WE DO LOOK FORWARD AND ENGAGING WITH ENTITIES FOR THEIR. >> Chair: YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH OUR ATTORNEY
- I NOTICED THAT OF 100 RELATED ENTITY THIRD PARTIES THAT ONE OF THE ONLY ONES TO REPORT ZERO REVENUE,
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 19, 2025 - 01:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- To your understanding, is CVS Caremark a related entity? Yes. Okay.
- That's what the statutory requirement is.
- Do we require plans to report on their affiliated entities?
- If you've requested information on the affiliated entities, is there a penalty?
- It has not been identified as a separate entity on this specific report, but yeah.
Summary:
The Health Care Budget Subcommittee took up two bills and then continued oversight discussions with APD and AHCA. CS/HB 27, the Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact, was presented as a way to let Florida social workers practice in other compact states and vice versa; AARP, the Florida Chamber, and NASW Florida supported it, and the bill passed favorably. HB 1127, a child welfare bill, would create a treatment foster care pilot for children with high behavioral needs, improve DCF data collection on commercially sexually exploited children, and expand recruitment for protective investigators and case managers; the bill also passed favorably after brief supportive testimony.
The committee then questioned APD at length about the iBudget waiver waitlist, enrollment pace, spending projections, and provider capacity. APD said it had sent more than 1,100 interest letters in categories 3, 4, and 5, enrolled 1,124 people so far this year, and expects to spend about 96.4% of its waiver appropriation, leaving roughly $82 million unspent. Members pressed APD on why prior discussions suggested more reserve was needed, how long the SANS process takes, whether category 6 could be expanded, and whether the agency has enough waiver support coordinators and direct support providers. APD said it has about 1,061 waiver support coordinators statewide, adequate capacity for current enrollees, but would need further analysis if the legislature directed a much larger enrollment increase. Members also asked about outreach, annual maintenance of the waitlist, portability for military families, and whether communication efforts should be privatized.
Finally, AHCA walked the committee through the 2023 Achieved Savings Rebate (ASR) report for Aetna and explained how the report is used for financial monitoring, rebate calculations, and transparency. AHCA said the ASR is separate from the medical loss ratio (MLR) calculation, though both are reviewed, and that Florida uses the ASR mechanism rather than an MLR remittance requirement to recover funds from plans. Members asked about related-party disclosures, CVS/Caremark relationships, expanded benefits, encounter data, network adequacy penalties, denials and appeals reporting, interest earned on capitation payments, and whether rate increases were reaching providers. AHCA and the outside auditors said they review the plans’ reported data, reconcile it to underlying records, and can assess liquidated damages for network adequacy violations; several members requested follow-up data on rebates, interest, provider capacity, and related-party reporting.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 2/11/25
Higher Education Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- language to make sure that we statutory language to make sure that we are<00:14:33.880>
are <00 - But, you know, I've mentioned Lumina Foundation and other entities.
- But, you know, I've mentioned Lumina Foundation and other entities.
- But, you know, I've mentioned Lumina Foundation and other entities.
- It's one entity, and it's set that they're going to receive the $45,000.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
AEN-WTL-EDT-EIG, WTL-AEN Public Hearings 03-19-2025
Agriculture and Environment
Transcript Highlights:
- inviting other entities into farming. inviting other entities into farming.
- And the intent of this bill as I read it is to help agricultural entities maintain a cash flow so you
- entities entities maintain<00:29:12.200>
a <00:29:12.280>cash <00:29:12.640>flow <00:39:44.720>- ,
including regulate these entities, including regulate these entities, including - of these these 21 statutory of these these 21 statutory sustainability<01:00:18.520>
and <
Summary:
The joint committees met on March 19, 2025, to hear HB 966 HD2, which would create statewide standards for agricultural tourism in counties that adopt ag-tourism ordinances. The bill would require registration with county planning departments, require ag-tourism to remain tied to an active farming operation, and end the activity when the agricultural use stops except in limited circumstances. Testimony from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, the Agribusiness Development Corporation, the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Kualoa Ranch, and the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council was generally supportive of the bill’s intent, with several witnesses emphasizing that agritourism can help farm viability, food security, and public education about agriculture.
The Hawaii Farm Bureau and several other testifiers supported agritourism but urged strong guardrails, minimal statewide standards, and deference to county home rule. They said agriculture should remain the primary activity, warned against adding burdens to farmers and ranchers, and suggested better enforcement and agricultural expertise within county planning departments. Phil Weber and others argued for objective standards, such as minimum revenue or work-performed thresholds, annual reporting, and clearer compliance tools, and cautioned that the bill’s termination exemption could be too broad if not tightened.
A substantial portion of the discussion focused on whether the bill should apply to Department of Agriculture lands, especially ag park lands, and to DLNR lands. Department of Agriculture staff explained that ag park lands currently do not allow agritourism, while non-ag park lands under Act 90 allow limited related activity tied to farm production, with revenue limits and other conditions. Members and witnesses debated how to define and measure agritourism, how to enforce county rules, and whether to exempt ag park parcels or otherwise clarify that existing DOA rules would control. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing, and the chair requested follow-up language from DOA to address possible exemptions and clarify the bill’s application.