Transcript Highlights:

• It's just smells like rotten eggs sometimes.
• It's just smells like rotten eggs sometimes.
• It's just smells like rotten eggs sometimes.
• </c> like rotten eggs sometimes. like rotten eggs sometimes.
• It just smells like rotten eggs sometimes.

Transcript Highlights:

• amendments as such and to include the Department of Agriculture, since it would probably impact their egg
• parks and egg activities as well, as part of the working group available for comment.
• 01.279><c> their</c> Agriculture since probably impact their Agriculture since probably impact their egg
• </c><00:33:02.640><c> as</c><00:33:02.799><c> well</c><00:33:02.960><c> as</c> egg parks and egg activities
• as well as egg parks and egg activities as well as part<00:33:03.279><c> of</c><00:33:03.360><c> the

Summary: The committee first considered a series of Governor’s Message nominations, largely to the State Council on Developmental Disabilities and one to the Hawaii Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances. Testifiers and agencies spoke in strong support of the nominees, emphasizing their advocacy, community involvement, and lived experience. The committee heard from nominees and supporters for John Paul Moses III, Cynthia Fowler, Joshua Eay, Alicia Kim, Raymond Mamea, Maria Christina Valenzuela, Eden Watabayashi, Sierra Whiteside, and Brandy Lynn Macallani Hayen. After hearing testimony, the committee voted to advise and consent on each nomination, with the votes adopted by the members present. The committee then took up SR 53 / SCR 69, which asks the Department of Health to convene a pharmacy benefit manager working group to improve transparency, fairness, and drug affordability. Supporters included the Hawaii Pharmacist Association, the University of Hawaii system, and several individuals, while the Department of Health said the issue is complex and may require additional support or a different structure. Members discussed whether the Department of Health should lead the effort or whether another entity, such as SHIPA with an appropriation, might be more workable; the Department of Health suggested a $100,000 appropriation could be sufficient. Next, SR 56 / SCR 73 proposed a report on the developmental needs of children born during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Office of Wellness and Resilience supported the measure and asked for an extended deadline to the end of 2026, and several youth, mental health, and community organizations testified in support. The committee also heard SR 69 / STR 86 on creating an aeromedical services working group, with support from Air Methods, the Department of Health, and the Hawaii Medical Association, and SR 99 / STR 118 on studying the use of filtered catchment water for business activity, which drew support from the Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association and comments from the Department of Health that the issue is complicated and should include the Department of Agriculture. No final votes on the resolutions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Testimony from former members and government retrieved documents depict a structured interconnected network

Transcript Highlights:

• asking for $4.6 million and additional personnel to increase our efforts in that area to try to retrieve

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met to hear budget presentations from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), an FDLE update on the Uniform Arrest Affidavit and Florida Incident-Based Reporting System (FIBERS), the Department of Juvenile Justice on Florida Scholars Academy, and the Clerks of Court Operations Corporation. FDLE requested funding for a wide range of items, including a new Fort Myers regional operations center lease, technology upgrades for missing persons alerts and criminal justice data systems, replacement breath-test instruments, recurring support for critical public safety contracts, cybersecurity, a career offender registry unit, expanded wellness and peer support for law enforcement, cryptocurrency seizure efforts, vehicle replacement, forensic lab and digital forensics upgrades, a repaired Jacksonville firearm range, and additional resources for criminal alien detection, fentanyl enforcement, and other operational needs. Senators questioned FDLE about the reported 79% increase in officer misconduct cases, body cameras, masking by officers, public records request burdens, and the status of criminal alien detection funding. FDLE’s second presentation explained that FIBERS is Florida’s incident-based crime reporting system and that 61% of agencies, covering 74% of the population, have transitioned to it. The agency also described the Uniform Arrest Affidavit initiative, which standardizes arrest data for statewide sharing. Senators asked about NCIC/FCIC access, hate crime reporting requirements, and why more agencies have not adopted the UAA and FIBERS systems; FDLE said it is working with law enforcement associations and vendors to address technology and implementation barriers. The committee also heard from DJJ Secretary Matt Walsh, who praised FDLE’s wellness program and then reported on Florida Scholars Academy’s first year, including unified education across 39 residential facilities, security fixes after early website access issues, strong enrollment and graduation numbers, and extensive support for students with disabilities. Walsh said the program still faces staffing shortages and a wait list for residential beds, and estimated about 260 additional beds are needed. The final presentation came from Clerk of Court and Comptroller Stacey Butterfield, who said clerks are operating with outdated funding levels and requested $22 million to stabilize operations. She highlighted reimbursement shortfalls for injunctions for protection and other high-risk cases, rising postage and summons costs, and the need to fund clerk staffing for 37 new judges under the “fund the entire courtroom” concept. Senators asked about SB 532, a CPI-based court-fee bill, and about collections of court fines and fees. Butterfield said clerks work with defendants on payment plans and collections, but the system still faces a structural deficit. After the presentations and questions, the committee adjourned without taking any substantive votes or other action.

Transcript Highlights:

• third-ranked issue that tenants call our hotline, and this accounted for 2,103 calls, was for help in retrieving

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• more importantly, she's a friend of EG, and she really understands how technology is the future of egg
• more importantly, she's a friend of EG, and she really understands how technology is the future of egg
• more importantly, she's a friend of EG, and she really understands how technology is the future of egg
• Again, as somebody who is in the egg industry, somebody who does represent an iconic crop such as macadamia
• Again, as somebody who is in the egg industry, somebody who does represent an iconic crop such as macadamia

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism heard confirmations for two Hawaii Technology Development Corporation board nominees, Jaclyn Ka and Gregory Oara. Testimony for both was overwhelmingly in support. Supporters for Ka emphasized her Kauaʻi roots, work in workforce development and digital equity, and ability to connect schools, industry, and community needs. In her own remarks, Ka said she wants to bring resources to Kauaʻi and the neighbor islands, strengthen local workforce pathways, and use the HTDC board to help local residents access technology jobs and training. Members questioned Ka about how to reduce reliance on mainland hires for jobs at PMRF and other technology employers, how to better align training with local needs, and how to connect Kauaʻi schools, community college programs, and creative media/digital technology efforts. Ka described KDB’s role in building islandwide digital media and drone clubs, professional development for teachers, and partnerships intended to create a pipeline from school to workforce. She also said the legislature can help mainly by listening and staying informed about local needs. For Oara, supporters highlighted his engineering and semiconductor background, his experience in academia, industry, and startups, and his potential to help HTDC with technology commercialization, IP, and exportable services. Oara said he wants HTDC to better support early-stage companies, improve coordination among universities, government, and the private sector, and create a directory of technical skill sets to connect startups with needed expertise. He also discussed AI, saying Hawaii can contribute by developing smaller, locally relevant models rather than only relying on large-scale data-center infrastructure. The hearing focused on these nominations and testimony; no vote or final committee action was stated in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• have no problem moving forward for a cleaner energy future, but we need to stop putting all of our eggs
• other words, our energy costs are not rising, and especially if you go all electric, we put all our eggs
• But again, we sit there and say we put all our eggs into one basket with wind, solar, and battery storage
• We have... [00:24:35] ...all our eggs into one basket with wind, solar, and battery storage.

Committee: Senate Energy And Telecommunications

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Telecommunications considered a large agenda focused mainly on energy affordability, the CLCPA, utility rates, and renewable energy siting. Senator Mattera and other Republican members argued that the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act has driven up utility bills, harmed reliability, and imposed costs on ratepayers, while Democratic members pushed back that rising costs are also driven by natural gas markets, infrastructure costs, and broader economic factors. Several bills sought to repeal or pause CLCPA-related policies, create a CLCPA task force, impose studies or moratoriums on new energy taxes and fees, and increase transparency around utility surcharges and state energy spending. Supporters framed these measures as ratepayer relief and accountability; opponents said some proposals would undermine clean-energy policy and existing consumer-benefit programs. The committee defeated S.1167, which would have repealed the All Electric Building Act, and S.1173, which would have created a CLCPA task force. It also failed S.5250, a bill to study CLCPA costs and impose a moratorium on new energy taxes, fees, or regulations, and S.7075, which would have prohibited the system benefits charge on utility bills. Several other bills advanced, including S.1236A on virtual access and electronic filing for Public Service Commission proceedings, S.1552 establishing reduced residential rates for low-income electric and natural gas customers, S.2484 directing a study of replacement timeframes for battery storage and renewable facilities, S.2638 on carbon allowance auction proceeds, S.3247 on electric vehicle charging stations, S.3553 requiring utilities to post promotional and educational materials on their websites, S.4571A creating a floating solar incentive education program, S.5518 shifting Public Service Commission funding to legislative appropriation, and S.6412A requiring itemized ratepayer disclosure of surcharges. S.9251, on labor-related legal costs, was referred to the Labor Committee. S.7710, which would have restricted energy storage systems near schools and homes in New York City, failed after concerns and support were debated. The committee adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• The other one's an egg bill, bill, bill. Oh, never mind. I can fall.
• </c><00:13:21.199><c> other</c><00:13:21.360><c> one's</c><00:13:21.519><c> an</c><00:13:21.639><c> egg
• </c> Bill the other one's an egg Bill the other one's an egg bill bill bill um<00:13:25.279><c> oh</c

Summary: State Representative Jim Nash and Representative Kristin Robbins discussed a package of fraud-prevention bills, centered on House File 3 and a separate whistleblower-protection measure. HF 3 would require annual reports based on Office of the Auditor (OA/OLA) findings to be sent to ranking members of relevant committees, with the goal of giving appropriators more information about internal controls and follow-up on audit recommendations. Nash said the bill is intended to help reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, cited the Feeding Our Future case as an example of weak controls, and noted that the OA helped draft the proposal and supports it. He also said the bill’s language is modeled in part on Colorado and on earlier recommendations for more information to be shared with decision-makers. Robbins said her bill would expand whistleblower protections for state employees, including unclassified employees, and add new protected reporting channels and definitions. She said employees are often afraid to come forward because of job and career concerns, and that the bill would better protect reports made to legislators, the OA, governmental bodies, and law enforcement. She and Nash said they were working with DFL members and committee chairs on bipartisan amendments to define “fraud” and “misuse,” and to align the language with the Inspector General bill and prior law. In questions, Robbins explained that current law protects only certain employees and that her bill would broaden coverage and make it easier for employees to report concerns without fear. She said the OA supports the effort and that the added reporting pathways would help with follow-up on agency recommendations. Nash and Robbins both emphasized that the measures are part of a broader fraud-fighting package and expressed hope for bipartisan support, though Nash criticized DFL leadership for not backing the bills more openly. No votes or final actions were taken in the exchange shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• and chicken in with the price of eggs and chicken in the<01:35:14.400><c> past</c><01:35:14.639><c>
• </c><01:37:53.960><c> and</c><01:37:54.159><c> I</c> chickens for I eat them and eggs and I chickens
• for I eat them and eggs and I hatch<01:37:54.599><c> my</c><01:37:54.760><c> own</c><01:37:54.920><c>
• to pay at higher egg price, so we'll lay over the...
• beget more eggs to help those who may have to pay at higher egg price, so we'll lay over the...

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> got to give a shout out to our egg got to give a shout out to our egg resource<00:09:07.920><c>
• Thank you to our egg loan division.
• that are much larger larges scale eggs that are much larger larges scale egg<00:19:09.600><c> and</c
• It bites cows, and it lays their eggs, and the eggs form into larvae that eats flesh.
• ><c> that</c> eggs and the eggs form into larvae that eggs and the eggs form into larvae that eats<00

Transcript Highlights:

• And here you're trying to create egg farms, egg lots somewhere.
• We have not done any egg lots, farm egg lots, from DLNR. And that's what the chair is banking on.
• </c><01:21:00.280><c> lots</c> know, let's apply for these egg lots know, let's apply for these egg lots
• How long does it take egg lots?
• </c><01:24:01.040><c> lots</c> How long does it take egg lots How long does it take egg lots &gt;&gt;

Transcript Highlights:

• I think I don't need eggs. I'm allergic. Mr.
• Chair, but I think the price of eggs Have they maybe come down finally? But now, guess what?
• The price of eggs is going to go up. So, we have to fix our roads. I am 100% on that.

Bills: SB132 , SB241

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: SB132, DOIT, Department of Information Technology, software replacement, equipment replacement, technology funding, revolving fund, capital equipment, enterprise services, state IT budgeting, software budgeting, amortization, depreciation, State Treasurer, Department of Finance and Administration, New Mexico, information technology, IT infrastructure, fund accounting, legislative appropriation

Transcript Highlights:

• agreement that one of the bills scheduled that day, which was that fish disease bill, we put on the egg
• agreement that one of the bills scheduled that day, which was that fish disease bill, we put on the egg
• was</c><00:03:51.920><c> just</c><00:03:52.159><c> going</c><00:03:52.319><c> to</c> department of egg
• that was just going to department of egg that was just going to be<00:03:52.640><c> a</c><00:03:52.799
• Thank you. forests where their herring lay the eggs forests where their herring lay the eggs by<00:25

Bills: HF3898 , HF3957 , HF4372 , HF4350 , HF3692 , HF4085

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: pesticides, wild rice, environmental protection, agriculture, water quality, pollinators, training, management plan, fertilizer research, education grants, Minnesota Agricultural Council, technology transfer, agricultural productivity, HF4372, Minnesota agriculture, meat processing, meat processing training, retention incentive grants, grant extension, project deadline extension

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:33.600><c> operation</c><00:10:34.120><c> is</c> understanding what that egg operation is
• understanding what that egg operation is there<00:10:34.519><c> could</c><00:10:34.680><c> be</c><00:
• versus some landowners who own egg land; their intent is not necessarily agriculture production.
• versus some landowners who own egg land; their intent is not necessarily agriculture production.
• versus some landowners who own egg land; their intent is not necessarily agriculture production.

Summary: The hearing opened with committee procedures and then took up SB 1, relating to vegetation management near utility lines. DLNR opposed the bill, saying it would shift rights, responsibilities, and liability onto the state and private landowners. Hawaiian Electric supported the measure with amendments, describing it as a first step to address wildfire risk and improve public safety and system reliability. The Hawaii Farm Bureau and Command Schools both raised concerns that the bill could impose significant costs, liability, and access burdens on farmers, ranchers, and other landowners, especially where easements are old or unclear. Life of the Land argued the issue belongs before the Public Utilities Commission, and PUC staff explained that the commission is already reviewing Hawaiian Electric’s wildfire mitigation plan and vegetation management in a docket, with a decision expected by September and public meetings scheduled for April 23 and 24. Committee members questioned the need for legislation versus negotiated solutions, and witnesses said private parties could potentially renegotiate easements without statute. The committee then heard HB 1296, relating to disaster recovery. DLNR and OPSD supported the bill, saying it would ease regulatory burdens in post-disaster rebuilding and help speed permit review. Testimony and member questions focused on the bill’s five-year rebuilding timeline, the role of the coastal zone/SMA process, and how long permit reviews typically take; OPSD said SMA major/use permits generally take about six months, while minor permits are faster. Members also discussed whether the bill would apply to existing structures damaged in disasters and whether the amendments from the Attorney General’s office and OPSD were acceptable; no objections were raised. Finally, the committee heard SB 1170, relating to the expeditious redevelopment and development of affordable rental housing. HHFDC supported the bill, and testimony from a Maui affordable housing project said the measure is needed to rebuild the Weinberg Court Apartments, a 63-unit affordable project in Lahaina, using insurance funds rather than government money. Members asked whether the bill would help existing affordable rental projects damaged before the enactment of related coastal rules, and the response was that the bill is aimed at existing structures damaged during events and intended to speed rebuilding of affordable housing.

Transcript Highlights:

• that, I'd like to introduce my co-chair here from committee on a, uh, Senator Gabbard, a member on the egg
• But is this the kind of egg that you're hoping to produce at large scale, I guess is the question?
• Because that's where the egg is. It's not in Manoa, right?
• But our work is hampered right now because we do not have enough egg technicians.
• </c><00:32:40.080><c> Tech</c> cases we struggle to fill uh egg Tech cases we struggle to fill uh egg

Summary: The joint Committee on Higher Education and Agriculture heard Senate Bill 1158, which would authorize general obligation bonds and appropriations for a controlled environment agriculture research and demonstration facility at the Magoon Research and Teaching Site in Manoa. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive from the University of Hawaiʻi, Department of Agriculture, Farm Bureau, Maui County, MetroGrow Hawaiʻi, and other agricultural groups, who said the project would strengthen food resilience, support year-round production, create clean jobs, and provide a demonstration site for urban vertical farming. University representatives said the project would include demolition of an existing condemned building, a research and lab component, and a multistory vertical farm, with an estimated cost of $6 million and a projected two-year build time. Members questioned whether Manoa was the best location, whether the project fit the university’s broader strategy, and whether the request would displace other priorities. The University said the site is tied to SEAR activities, close to students and faculty, and intended to support hands-on training and commercial-scale production. In response to concerns about soil testing and stakeholder needs, the University said it would restart the soil testing lab using internal funds, though not as part of this bill, and would request additional staff for efficiency. The committee then recessed and later reconvened in decision-making, where the chairs recommended and the committee adopted amendments to SB 1158, including a name correction and deferral to July 31, 2050, and the bill passed with amendments. The committee then took up Senate Bill 663, relating to the University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and SEAR research and experiment stations. The University testified that the stations are important for locally relevant agricultural research but are short staffed, with 34 positions down since 2005, and that the bill requests eight new positions, including agricultural technicians and four county community coordinator positions, to improve station operations, community engagement, and workforce development. The Farm Bureau supported the measure, saying the positions are needed to revamp extension services and that Manoa is an appropriate urban location for the vertical farming component. Members questioned why vacant or existing positions could not be used instead of new ones, and the University explained that some listed vacancies reflected old federally funded positions or inaccurate counts, promised a written update, and said it was working to fill current openings. No final vote on SB 663 was reached in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:39:22.240><c> chickens</c><00:39:22.880><c> or</c><00:39:23.040><c> of</c><00:39:23.280><c> eggs
• </c><00:39:24.320><c> um</c><00:39:25.040><c> on</c> the sale of chickens or of eggs um on the sale of
• chickens or of eggs um on residential<00:39:26.320><c> properties.
• </c><00:40:26.000><c> laying</c> heard the story about my uh egg laying heard the story about my uh egg
• Gentlemen, when drafting this bill, were you thinking more about local government authority or local egg

Transcript Highlights:

• 11:34.239><c> for</c> definition of qualifying relatives for definition of qualifying relatives for egg
• 11:34.840><c> Homestead</c><01:11:35.840><c> um</c><01:11:35.960><c> especially</c><01:11:36.520><c> egg
• </c> egg Homestead um especially egg egg Homestead um especially egg Homestead<01:11:37.360><c> can</
• my uh testimony brief first you know my uh testimony brief first you know broadly<01:11:47.320><c> egg
• Homestead is in our viiew broadly egg Homestead is in our viiew the<01:11:50.159><c> foundational</c

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a reminder on the Minnesota's egg industry.
• Just a reminder on the Minnesota's egg industry, 65,000 farms, and unfortunately, we kind of have breaking
• It was kind of interesting that the number was the same and and NASS, which is the National Egg Statistics
• So, AMS, egg marketing services, APHIS, which works with the plant and animals, FSIS, which is our food
• > services,</c><00:04:34.080><c> APHUS,</c> So, AMS, egg marketing services, APHUS, So, AMS, egg marketing

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not often we get to bring props to the egg committee.
• How could we ever get a verification of need from any egg commissioner to use seed treatment?
• 01.920><c> any</c> ever get a verification of need from any ever get a verification of need from any egg
• 03.119><c> to</c><00:35:03.440><c> use</c><00:35:03.760><c> seed</c><00:35:04.079><c> treatment</c> egg
• commissioner to use seed treatment egg commissioner to use seed treatment &gt;&gt; represent<00:35:06.240

Transcript Highlights:

• he has completely an acre, but he does have three roosters because we actually grow chickens to get eggs
• impacting people that are trying to do the right thing like my dad, who, you know, raises chickens to have eggs
• , especially in a time when eggs are so expensive.
• that, again, also will get caught up in, even though they're trying to just raise chickens to have eggs
• that, again, also will get caught up in, even though they're trying to just raise chickens to have eggs

Summary: The Assembly Agriculture Committee met as a subcommittee at first because a quorum was not yet present, then adopted its committee rules for the 2025-2026 legislative session by a 5-0 vote. The committee heard a series of agriculture-related bills, with most measures receiving broad support and moving forward. AB 1142 by Assemblymember Hoover would raise the fee thresholds for small public horse events that are exempt from equine medication monitoring rules; supporters said the current limits are outdated and hurt small riding clubs, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 411 by Assemblymember Papin would allow ranchers to compost livestock carcasses on-farm; supporters cited cost, environmental, and predator-control benefits, while rendering industry representatives asked for amendments to protect existing services and limit the bill’s scope. The bill passed to Natural Resources. AB 482 by Assemblymember Solache would modernize the California Table Grape Commission law and raise assessment caps without increasing assessments themselves; it passed to Appropriations. AB 312 by Vice Chair Alanis would shorten the holding period for ag theft property from six months to three months; it also passed to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 937 and AB 947 by Assemblymember Connolly. AB 937 would make technical changes to the Organic Transition Pilot Program to improve access to organic transition support, with testimony from a farmer who said the program helped him pursue organic certification; the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 947 would expand and refine technical assistance under the Healthy Soils/Climate Smart Agriculture programs, including training, grant writing, matching funds coordination, equipment sharing, and outcome monitoring; supporters said the changes would help small and organic producers access state climate programs, and it also passed to Appropriations. AB 1486, presented by the chair, would use Proposition 4 funding to start grants for public postsecondary agricultural research farms focused on climate resiliency; members praised the role of CSU and UC research farms, and the bill passed to Natural Resources as amended. The most extensive discussion centered on AB 928 by Assemblymember Rogers, the California Cockfighting Cruelty Act. Supporters argued the bill would help law enforcement target cockfighting and rooster trafficking, reduce avian disease risks, and protect public health and animal welfare; opponents, including poultry hobbyists, breeders, and 4-H-related participants, said it would overreach into lawful poultry keeping and harm heritage-breed and youth programs, urging instead that cockfighting penalties be increased to a felony. Committee members echoed concerns about unintended impacts on legitimate poultry owners and requested continued work on exemptions and language. The bill passed to Judiciary on a 5-2-1 vote, with one no vote and one abstention, and the chair noted that further committee review would continue as the bill advances.