Transcript Highlights:

• :19.880><c> at</c><00:14:20.040><c> 10%</c><00:14:20.639><c> above</c><00:14:20.880><c> the</c><00:14
• :25.600><c> please</c><00:14:26.079><c> uh</c><00:14:26.199><c> if</c><00:14:26.279><c> you</c><00:14
• <00:14:37.959><c> in</c><00:14:38.079><c> the</c><00:14:38.160><c> office</c><00:14:38.360><c> of</c>
• and<00:14:39.279><c> operations</c><00:14:40.279><c> thank</c><00:14:40.440><c> you</c><00:14:40.560
• :47.519><c> this</c><00:14:47.759><c> issue</c><00:14:48.199><c> but</c><00:14:48.360><c> I</c><00:14

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met on February 10 with a quorum present, approved the minutes, and then reviewed a long agenda of agency regulations, most of which were accompanied by staff-suggested amendments for drafting conformity under KRS Chapter 13A. The Department of Financial Institutions’ 808 KAR 9:10, the Secretary of State’s 030 KAR 2:11, the Office of the Attorney General’s 04 KAR 5:10, the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology’s emergency 201 KAR 17:120, the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ 301 KAR 2:41, the Department for Environmental Protection’s 401 KAR 47:110 and 48:320, the State Police regulations 502 KAR 1:012 and 1:121, the Department for Public Health’s 902 KAR 4:15, the Department for Medicaid Services’ 907 KAR 1:15, and the Department for Community Based Services’ 921 KAR 1:400 were all discussed and, where applicable, staff amendments were approved without objection. The Workplace Standards emergency regulation 803 KAR 2:320E was also presented without amendment, and the Department of Insurance’s 806 KAR 9:360 was taken up but ultimately deferred at the agency’s request. Several regulations drew brief substantive discussion. The Fish and Wildlife rule on foxhound training enclosures was explained as expanding both commercial and non-commercial provisions for training with dogs involving red fox and coyotes, with enclosure standards intended to protect wildlife inside and outside the facilities. The environmental protection rules were tied to House Bill 478 and addressed permit-by-rule timelines, reporting, and operating standards for certain construction and demolition debris landfills, including sites up to two acres; members asked whether these facilities were private or municipal, and staff said they were a mix, often tied to private demolition contractors or single projects. The State Police fee increase for hazardous materials endorsements was described as reflecting a federal TSA fee change, and the witness estimated the new fee at about $23. The most extended debate concerned the Board of Education’s 704 KAR 3:535 on full-time virtual and remote learning programs. The agency amendment would cap enrollment in such programs at 10% above a district’s prior-year in-person enrollment, while also clarifying accountability, staffing, and monitoring requirements. Education officials said the cap was intended to address concerns about district capacity and student performance, and they cited Cloverport as an example of a district with high virtual participation and participation-rate issues. Members expressed concern that the amendment was too open-ended for regulation and suggested the issue might be better addressed in statute; no motion was made to adopt the agency amendment, so the regulation was left to proceed to the committee of jurisdiction. The Department of Insurance also discussed implementation of Senate Bill 188, saying it had received more than 3,000 complaints since the law took effect and was still working through enforcement and complaint processing before asking to defer its PBM licensing regulation.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:04.640><c> We</c><00:14:04.839><c> are</c><00:14:04.960><c> probably</c><00:14:05.480><c>
• going</c><00:14:05.600><c> to</c><00:14:05.720><c> do</c> 11<00:14:10.040><c> sounds</c><00:14:10.320
• </c><00:14:15.920><c> Anything</c><00:14:16.520><c> in</c><00:14:16.640><c> the</c><00:14:16.720><c>
• President.<00:14:22.360><c> The</c><00:14:22.440><c> Senate</c><00:14:22.760><c> Democratic</c><00:14
• </c><00:14:51.440><c> Sorry</c><00:14:51.760><c> we</c><00:14:51.839><c> didn't</c><00:14:52.040><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> they</c><00:14:01.200><c> can</c><00:14:01.400><c> do</c><00:14:01.560><c> it</c><00:14:01.760><c
• Because<00:14:11.000><c> not</c><00:14:11.400><c> everybody</c><00:14:12.560><c> is</c><00:14:12.760>
• c><00:14:14.520><c> the</c><00:14:14.600><c> same</c><00:14:14.880><c> way</c><00:14:15.000><c> as</c
• But<00:14:25.160><c> one</c><00:14:25.360><c> person</c><00:14:25.720><c> stood</c><00:14:25.959><c>
• :14:34.480><c> as</c><00:14:34.680><c> he</c><00:14:34.920><c> would</c><00:14:35.600><c> the</c> he

Bills: SB3123 , HB1853 , HB1961 , HB1965 , HB1962 , HB1959 , HB2505 , HB2576 , HB1801 , HB1804 , HB1864 , HB2319 , HB2314 , HB2115 , HB1854 , HB2062 , HB1511 , HB1535 , HB2614 , HB2282 , HB1870 , HB1695 , HB1626 , HB1643 , HB1972 , HB1550 , HB1974 , HB1966 , HB1973 , HB2545 , HB1946 , HB1939 , HB1721 , HB1741 , HB1700

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> have</c><00:14:02.480><c> it</c><00:14:03.160><c> a</c><00:14:03.279><c> lot</c><00:14:03.399><c
• in here but<00:14:14.800><c> I</c><00:14:14.880><c> think</c><00:14:15.079><c> you</c><00:14:15.199>
• <c> got</c><00:14:15.320><c> to</c><00:14:15.560><c> have</c><00:14:16.000><c> a</c><00:14:16.279><c>
• have a a template and<00:14:17.360><c> you</c><00:14:17.480><c> got</c><00:14:17.600><c> to</c><00:14
• call a<00:14:19.880><c> site</c><00:14:20.120><c> shovel</c><00:14:20.600><c> ready</c><00:14:21.040>

Summary: The committee met without a quorum, so the minutes from the last two meetings were not approved. Secretary Noel of the Cabinet for Economic Development then gave a broad overview of the cabinet’s work and an update on the Kentucky Product Development Initiative (KPD), with Deputy Secretary Katie Smith and General Counsel Matt also present. He said the cabinet’s strategy is to focus on high-wage job creation, especially in automotive transformation, business and financial professional services, tourism, logistics, agri-tech, aerospace, and other high-tech sectors, while also supporting small and medium-sized businesses and existing employers. Noel highlighted several program results and examples, including average incentivized wages approaching $27 per hour, 877 jobs and $346 million in investment through hub operations, $90 million through Commonwealth Ventures, help for hundreds of companies through the Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance, work with 220 companies through the Kentucky Science and Technology Council, nearly 3,000 students in Advanced Kentucky, and more than 1,100 participants in Kentucky Valor. He also cited 35,000 workers trained through Bluegrass State Skills, 177 businesses helped by the small business tax credit, and 77 entertainment incentive transactions totaling about $200 million and 7,400 jobs. On the grant side, he said the cabinet had approved 155 projects under a federal grant program, committing $99 million, with outreach aimed at smaller communities and all 120 counties. The main focus of the second half was KPD. Noel described it as a program that requires more than basic due diligence, emphasizing community readiness, local vision, title and mineral-rights review, sewer validation, and consultant review. He said 109 projects had been awarded in the earlier rounds, and in 2024 there were 45 requests for information seeking $81 million against $35 million in available funding, showing strong demand. He also said the cabinet has worked with local economic developers through five regions aligned with area development districts, and that the secretary, deputy secretary, or commissioner of business development must attend the regional meetings, with 100% attendance reported for the key three last year. In response to questions, he said Jefferson County’s lack of KPD projects so far likely reflects where local land and development strategies are in the process rather than a lack of interest, and he said the cabinet has not heard that Kentucky’s occupational safety and health rules are clearly helping or hurting competitiveness, though he offered to look into it further.

Transcript Highlights:

• :00.440><c> okay</c><00:14:01.040><c> we</c><00:14:01.199><c> filed</c><00:14:01.519><c> an</c><00:14
• ><00:14:03.560><c> think</c><00:14:03.920><c> you</c><00:14:04.040><c> know</c><00:14:04.160><c> on</
• better<00:14:06.839><c> but</c><00:14:07.000><c> you'd</c><00:14:07.199><c> have</c><00:14:07.279><c
• :14:12.000><c> motans</c><00:14:12.560><c> wanted</c><00:14:12.839><c> us</c><00:14:12.959><c> to</c>
• c><00:14:16.880><c> minutes</c><00:14:17.240><c> before</c><00:14:17.440><c> we</c><00:14:17.600><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• > he</c><00:14:20.800><c> uh</c><00:14:21.120><c> vetoed</c><00:14:21.600><c> the</c><00:14:21.839><c
• His veto<00:14:23.440><c> message</c><00:14:23.760><c> said</c><00:14:24.000><c> he</c><00:14:24.160>
• ><c> had</c><00:14:25.440><c> if</c><00:14:25.680><c> it</c><00:14:25.839><c> did</c><00:14:26.000><c
• </c><00:14:27.760><c> The</c><00:14:28.000><c> bill</c><00:14:28.320><c> that's</c><00:14:28.560><c>
• </c><00:14:30.160><c> the</c><00:14:30.399><c> House</c><00:14:30.639><c> and</c><00:14:30.880><c> is

Transcript Highlights:

• 02.560><c> or</c><00:14:03.199><c> adapted</c><00:14:03.680><c> in</c><00:14:03.839><c> any</c><00:14
• </c><00:14:14.560><c> terms</c><00:14:14.800><c> used</c><00:14:15.040><c> in</c><00:14:15.199><c> the
• :48.639><c> you</c><00:14:48.800><c> may</c><00:14:48.959><c> wish</c><00:14:49.120><c> to</c><00:14:
• c><00:14:51.839><c> worked</c><00:14:52.240><c> for</c><00:14:52.480><c> quite</c><00:14:52.720><c> a
• c><00:14:55.519><c> the</c><00:14:55.680><c> form</c><00:14:55.920><c> you</c><00:14:56.079><c> see</

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration met virtually on January 6, 2026, and took up four administrative policy items. Darren Hoff, Senate Human Resources Director, presented updates to the Legislative Coordinating Commission benefit book, including insurance changes tied to SEGIP, mental health and substance use office visit cost sharing, dental plan updates, dependent eligibility clarifications, a new voluntary legal services benefit, a 17% increase in Medicare premiums, and multiple leave-policy revisions to conform with the new paid leave law and other employment rules. Senator Pappas moved adoption of the benefit book with the LCC’s November 10, 2025 changes and staff technical corrections, and the motion passed. Secretary Tom Bern described a proposed Senate Policy 1.56 allowing written rules of conduct for visitors in Senate spaces, aimed at setting clear expectations for behavior such as not blocking hallways or using shouting and profanity, while being developed with consultation to address First Amendment concerns. Senator Marty moved adoption, and the committee approved the policy. Council Lexi Stangle then presented a change to Senate Policy 2.47 on severe weather emergencies that would allow employees who work remotely on severe weather days to accrue compensatory time with supervisor approval; Senator Johnson moved adoption, and the motion passed. The committee also considered a modernization of the Senate information systems policy. Secretary Bern and staff explained that the policy had not been substantially updated in about 20 years and was being condensed and updated to reflect current technology and practices. The revisions reduced the policy from 29 pages to 10, removed obsolete references, added a purpose statement, clarified email inspection and hardware/software procedures, updated website rules and accessibility guidance, and removed the secondary member page option. Senator Coleman moved adoption of the Senate information systems update, and it was approved. After the Rules Committee adjourned, the Subcommittee on Committees met and approved two appointments: one public member to the Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources through December 31, 2030, and Senator Gustafson to the Financial Crimes Advisory Board Task Force. Members asked about the task force’s scope and the public appointee’s background; staff explained the task force advises on identity theft and financial crimes, and identified the public appointee as Sha Lang of Preston, Minnesota. Senator Pappas moved adoption of the appointment list, and the subcommittee approved it before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:14:25.800><c> I'm</c><00:14:26.320><c> I</c><00:14:26.440><c> have</c><00:14:26.600><c> the</c>
• </c><00:14:36.520><c> on</c><00:14:36.640><c> the</c><00:14:36.720><c> bill,</c><00:14:37.080><c> but
• now that<00:14:38.240><c> I</c><00:14:38.320><c> have</c><00:14:38.560><c> it,</c><00:14:38.960><c>
• we're</c><00:14:39.080><c> going</c><00:14:39.200><c> to</c><00:14:39.320><c> ask</c><00:14:39.520><c
• Um I<00:14:55.120><c> am</c><00:14:55.240><c> a</c><00:14:55.320><c> permit</c><00:14:55.600><c> to</

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:04.560><c> So</c><00:14:04.959><c> just</c><00:14:05.440><c> um</c><00:14:05.600><c> to</c
• So just um to level<00:14:06.160><c> set</c><00:14:06.480><c> in</c><00:14:06.839><c> 2024</c><00:14:
• 00:14:13.120><c> for</c><00:14:13.440><c> DHS</c><00:14:14.240><c> and</c><00:14:14.560><c> they</c><
• </c><00:14:16.240><c> um</c><00:14:17.279><c> uh</c><00:14:17.519><c> I</c><00:14:17.839><c> believe<
• 58 u<00:14:19.519><c> million</c><00:14:19.839><c> dollars</c><00:14:20.160><c> in</c><00:14:20.480>

Transcript Highlights:

• know</c><00:14:02.880><c> how</c><00:14:03.199><c> great</c><00:14:03.440><c> work</c><00:14:03.839>
• We want<00:14:17.440><c> to</c><00:14:17.600><c> make</c><00:14:17.680><c> sure</c><00:14:17.839><c>
• </c><00:14:23.600><c> and</c><00:14:24.079><c> I</c><00:14:24.800><c> am</c><00:14:25.120><c> 100%</c
• this</c><00:14:26.560><c> bill</c><00:14:26.800><c> and</c><00:14:27.040><c> thanks</c><00:14:27.279
• ><c> forward</c><00:14:28.160><c> and</c><00:14:28.480><c> thanks</c><00:14:28.720><c> for</c><00:14:

Summary: The committee took up House File 3732, with the author moving both the bill and two separate amendments. The DE1 amendment would create a healthcare workforce grant program to let the Department of Employment and Economic Development identify and fund healthcare workforce shortage areas, while the A1 amendment would establish an Office of Community Investment to provide strategic grant management and help align grants with legislative priorities. Both amendments were adopted, and the bill was laid over for later consideration. The bill author explained that the healthcare workforce proposal is meant to address shortages that market forces alone have not solved, citing examples such as CNA training and rural oncologist recruitment. The Office of Community Investment was described as a way to improve grant oversight, set clearer goals, and strengthen collaboration between agencies and the legislature, drawing on the model of the Office of Justice Programs. Testimony from the Mong American Partnership strongly supported the healthcare workforce grant program, describing successful CNA and phlebotomy pathways, but also noting long waitlists and the need for flexible funding. Members discussed the importance of locating training opportunities in greater Minnesota and in communities with workforce gaps, so distance and travel barriers do not limit access. Several legislators said the proposal would help create good-paying jobs, strengthen healthcare access, and support overworked healthcare workers. The bill’s sponsors also emphasized that codifying grant programs can speed up future funding decisions and improve accountability, and they said the measures would return for further consideration in a few days.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um<00:14:03.600><c> Jeremiah,</c><00:14:04.240><c> thanks</c><00:14:04.480><c> for</c><00:14:04.639><
• Uh<00:14:07.440><c> maybe</c><00:14:07.680><c> you</c><00:14:07.839><c> want</c><00:14:07.920><c> to<
• /c><00:14:08.079><c> hand</c><00:14:08.240><c> it</c><00:14:08.399><c> off</c><00:14:08.560><c> to</c
• Uh give<00:14:14.079><c> us</c><00:14:14.240><c> your</c><00:14:14.480><c> thoughts</c><00:14:14.720>
• 14:44.959><c> but</c><00:14:45.279><c> we've</c><00:14:45.519><c> got</c><00:14:45.600><c> a</c><00:14

Bills: HB0015 , HB0017 , HB0019

Committee: Senate Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:14:02.240><c> And</c><00:14:02.399><c> so</c><00:14:02.720><c> now</c><00:14:02.880><c> we're</c
• Uh<00:14:06.399><c> and</c><00:14:06.639><c> it</c><00:14:06.800><c> it's</c><00:14:07.040><c> going<
• So it's going<00:14:10.160><c> to</c><00:14:10.240><c> be</c><00:14:10.320><c> hard</c><00:14:10.480>
• :14:33.199><c> but</c><00:14:33.440><c> I</c><00:14:33.600><c> vote</c><00:14:33.839><c> I.
• </c> So,<00:14:37.600><c> with</c><00:14:37.839><c> 14</c><00:14:38.160><c> yes</c><00:14:38.480><c>

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam<00:14:03.079><c> Speaker,</c><00:14:04.079><c> in</c><00:14:04.399><c> as</c><00:14:04.720><c>
• 00:14:08.240><c> a</c><00:14:09.199><c> panel</c><00:14:09.760><c> of</c><00:14:10.079><c> women</c><
• </c><00:14:13.040><c> here</c><00:14:13.440><c> and</c><00:14:13.680><c> I</c><00:14:13.920><c> want<
• :14:18.240><c> please</c><00:14:18.560><c> start</c><00:14:19.040><c> stand</c><00:14:19.360><c> up.
• :33.480><c> Ranny,</c><00:14:34.480><c> and</c><00:14:34.720><c> if</c><00:14:34.880><c> I</c><00:14:

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh<00:14:01.080><c> as</c><00:14:01.240><c> far</c><00:14:01.480><c> as</c><00:14:01.600><c> false</c
• I've<00:14:05.680><c> heard</c><00:14:05.920><c> 12%,</c><00:14:06.640><c> I've</c><00:14:06.800><c>
• </c><00:14:11.760><c> tell</c><00:14:11.959><c> you</c><00:14:12.079><c> that</c><00:14:12.560><c> uh
• uh</c><00:14:20.560><c> closely</c><00:14:21.120><c> with</c><00:14:21.480><c> both</c><00:14:21.720>
• Uh<00:14:29.880><c> and</c><00:14:30.000><c> then</c><00:14:30.160><c> once</c><00:14:30.760><c> we</

Committee: Senate State & Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• And we don't<00:14:01.839><c> have</c><00:14:02.000><c> an</c><00:14:02.240><c> IG</c><00:14:02.639><
• :14:04.240><c> will</c><00:14:04.480><c> set</c><00:14:04.639><c> up</c><00:14:04.880><c> like.
• ><c> do</c><00:14:06.880><c> is</c><00:14:07.120><c> just</c><00:14:07.680><c> help</c><00:14:08.000>
• </c><00:14:10.160><c> But</c><00:14:10.560><c> it</c><00:14:10.880><c> is</c><00:14:11.199><c> part</
• 14:12.480><c> office</c><00:14:12.800><c> to</c><00:14:13.040><c> also</c><00:14:13.440><c> have</c><

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• 10:14? 10:14?
• Okay.<00:14:40.000><c> 10:14</c><00:14:40.639><c> is</c><00:14:40.880><c> okay,</c><00:14:41.199><c>
• </c> 10:14<00:14:45.920><c> would</c><00:14:46.079><c> be</c><00:14:46.240><c> great.
• </c><00:14:46.639><c> Yeah.</c><00:14:46.959><c> 10:14</c> 10:14 would be great.
• Yeah. 10:14 if<00:14:49.440><c> you</c><00:14:49.680><c> if</c><00:14:49.920><c> you</c><00:14:50.000

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:06.399><c> now</c><00:14:06.560><c> we</c><00:14:06.680><c> open</c><00:14:06.920><c> up</
• up to questions<00:14:08.360><c> um</c><00:14:08.560><c> I'm</c><00:14:08.720><c> looking</c><00:14:
• :14:13.639><c> 10</c><00:14:13.880><c> minutes</c><00:14:14.160><c> of</c><00:14:14.399><c> questions
• so</c><00:14:15.240><c> we</c><00:14:15.360><c> can</c><00:14:15.519><c> get</c><00:14:15.639><c> on<
• chair um so<00:14:23.120><c> I</c><00:14:23.240><c> have</c><00:14:23.320><c> a</c><00:14:23.560><c>

Summary: The committee took up House File 337, a bill addressing long-term funding for rural and Greater Minnesota EMS and ambulance services. The author offered the A2 amendment, moved to divide it, and the committee adopted lines 1.2 to 1.19 of the amendment. The bill, as amended, was described as creating a policy framework for identifying ambulance services with operating deficits, requiring financial audits, and setting up a future grant program, with the author emphasizing that the proposal was still being developed and was intended to be a long-term solution rather than a short-term fix. Testimony was largely supportive. Eric Simonson of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities said the bill builds on last session’s one-time aid and would target grant dollars using state data, clarify eligible uses, allow audits, address uncompensated care and readiness costs, and require reporting back to the legislature. Mike Warner of the Red Wing Fire Department said his city’s ambulance service operates with a heavy government-funded payer mix and a persistent operating shortfall. Tim Meyer of Sanford Ambulance said low-volume rural services face widening revenue gaps, staffing pressures, and the loss of the volunteer model. Nathan Zacharias of the Association of Minnesota Counties and Kevin Lee of North Memorial Health also supported the bill, citing rising costs, staffing shortages, stagnant reimbursement, and the need for a sustainable statewide funding model. Members raised concerns about how the bill would work in practice, especially around communities that straddle metro and non-metro boundaries and around local control over grant dollars. Representative Pel asked how the eligibility language would apply to places like Northfield and New Prague; the author and a testifier said eligibility would depend on whether a service area is mostly outside the metro area, but acknowledged more review was needed. Representative Huitt argued the bill should give more local control and should address EMS as a statewide issue, not only a Greater Minnesota issue. Representative Ryer asked whether the bill would eventually include revenue recapture or another funding source, and the author said the proposal was still at an early stage and all options were being considered. The committee laid HF 337, as amended, over for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• > the</c><00:14:02.839><c> last</c><00:14:03.440><c> 2</c><00:14:03.640><c> or</c><00:14:03.720><c> 3
• days, but<00:14:04.480><c> this</c><00:14:04.720><c> is</c><00:14:05.120><c> So,</c><00:14:05.440><c
• :14:07.640><c> off</c><00:14:07.839><c> of</c><00:14:07.920><c> the</c><00:14:08.040><c> spreadsheet<
• ><c> is</c><00:14:09.600><c> in</c><00:14:09.800><c> landscape</c><00:14:10.440><c> format</c><00:14:
• /c><00:14:13.200><c> the</c><00:14:13.320><c> middle</c><00:14:14.160><c> right</c><00:14:14.680><c>

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Why<00:14:07.880><c> can't</c><00:14:08.080><c> they</c><00:14:08.200><c> be</c><00:14:08.320><c> 99<
• <00:14:09.720><c> We</c><00:14:09.880><c> don't</c><00:14:10.120><c> have</c><00:14:10.320><c> that</
• The<00:14:11.560><c> only</c><00:14:11.800><c> thing</c><00:14:11.959><c> that</c><00:14:12.120><c> I
• ><c> is</c><00:14:13.120><c> the</c><00:14:13.200><c> 900</c><00:14:13.640><c> is</c><00:14:13.760><c
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Summary: The joint committees on Housing, Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, and later Water, Land, Culture and the Arts and Housing, heard several resolutions related to affordable housing and the East Kapolei transit-oriented development area. SCR 48 and SR 47 proposed declaring that affordable housing credits are perpetual until redeemed, and testimony from DHHL, OPSD, and NAIOP Hawaii supported clarifying that intent. The committees voted to pass SCR 48 and SR 47 unamended. The committees then considered SCR 107 and SR 101, which were amended to make clear the resolution applies only to the City and County of Honolulu and will be carried out in collaboration with the Department of Housing and Land Management and the Department of Planning and Permitting. Those measures were recommended for passage with amendments and adopted by the committees. In the later joint hearing, SCR 68 and SR 63 addressed the East Kapolei TOD project, urging DLNR to transfer certain parcels to HHFDC and urging HHFDC to work with HCDA on the non-housing portions of the project. Testimony from DLNR, HHFDC, HCDA, and DHHL focused on the balance between housing and revenue-generating or light industrial uses, the need for an EIS and market study, and the possibility of MOAs to memorialize agreements. After discussion, the committees amended the resolutions to prioritize rental housing as well as for-sale housing and to require MOAs before the board, then passed SCR 68 and SR 63 with amendments by unanimous votes.

Transcript Highlights:

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Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Summary: The Senate Committee on Labor and Technology met on March 6, 2026, and considered four gubernatorial nominations. For GM 690, Jesse Kola Dean was nominated for reappointment to the Hawaii Retirement Savings Board. Testimony from the Retirement Savings Board and the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations strongly supported Dean, citing his original membership on the board and his role in advancing implementation of the retirement savings program. Dean described his background and said the program was moving into implementation after the board approved the Connecticut consortium model; in response to questions, he said the main challenges had been finding an executive director and adapting the program from an original opt-in structure to the opt-out consortium model. The committee voted to recommend advise and consent. For GM 634, Darlene Blakey was nominated to the board of trustees of the Employees' Retirement System. ERS and several individuals submitted support. Blakey, an executive vice president and chief lending officer at First Hawaiian Bank, said her banking and finance background and personal experience with her mother’s retirement benefits motivated her service. She told senators she had attended ERS meetings and was focused on improving retirees’ access to information, education, and retirement planning, and said she would recuse herself from matters involving First Hawaiian Bank because of a potential conflict of interest. The committee again voted to advise and consent. The committee then considered GM 627 and GM 726, both nominations of Gina Anu Novo to the Hawaii Workforce Development Council for different terms. Written testimony from numerous supporters was read into the record. Novo, a longtime First Hawaiian Bank executive and current vice chair, described her experience building audit, compliance, human resources, and technology functions, and said she wanted to help strengthen workforce pathways, career development, retention, and outreach to youth and workers who do not pursue college. Senators asked about her plans to connect workforce development with education and financial literacy; she emphasized career pathing, training, and adapting to changing skills needs, including the role of technology and AI. The committee voted to recommend advise and consent on both nominations, and the meeting adjourned after all four nominations were approved by the committee.