Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we have the Hawaii Government Employees Association in opposition.
• I do want to emphasize that employees exempt from civil service aren't afforded the ability to grieve
• I do want to emphasize that employees exempt from civil service aren't afforded the ability to grieve
• </c><01:06:49.680><c> here</c> be here we have about 18 employees here be here we have about 18 employees
• We have the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 665 in opposition.

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It will eliminate vital funding for community organizations that mobilize and organize the BHSA target
• services aimed at giving families opportunities to build resilience and achieve critical economic mobility
• have not reached an agreement by July 1, 2026, would be required to reach an agreement with the employee

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill authorizes the counties to require contractors to disclose information regarding their employees
• , as part of what we do, we provide trainings, we provide funding for community engagement and mobilization
• , as part of what we do, we provide trainings, we provide funding for community engagement and mobilization

Bills: HB2614 , HB1660 , HB1704 , HB1563 , HB1573 , HB1777 , HB1749

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Commerce

Keywords: cosmetics, returns, refunds, consumer protection, high-pressure sales, transparency, accountability, HB1660, Hawaii, county labor standards, counties, contractors, building permits, permit denial, permit suspension, permit revocation, wage theft, wages, benefits, hours

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2614, which would require merchants selling cosmetics to accept returns of newer unopened goods within specified time frames and expand signage requirements for return and refund policies. DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection strongly supported the bill, citing updated figures of 180 cosmetic complaints from 2020 to 2025, 54 still under investigation, 148 referred to class action litigation, and more than $1.3 million in consumer losses. Members questioned whether the bill was needed given the pending lawsuit and whether bad actors would comply, while the office responded that clearer signage would improve consumer awareness and could reduce complaints without limiting other remedies. No vote was taken. The committee then heard HB 1660 HD1, which would allow counties to require contractors to disclose wage, benefit, hour, and employment-status information and to deny, revoke, or suspend permits for certain labor-law violations. DLIR, the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters, Operating Engineers Local 3, and Pacific Resource Partnership testified in support, arguing the measure would help deter cheating contractors, protect law-abiding employers, and keep bad actors from undercutting wages and taxes. One member raised concerns about possible delays to affordable housing projects and whether owners should be held responsible for contractors’ misconduct; supporters replied that compliance is a minimum standard, that county action would be discretionary rather than automatic, and that the bill would not bar counties from working with affordable housing developers. No action was reported. Finally, the committee took up HB 1704, adopting the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact to allow telepsychology and temporary in-person practice across state lines. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the State Health Planning and Development Agency, the Hawaii State Association of Counties, and the Hawaii Association of Health Plans supported the measure, saying it would help fill major staffing gaps, especially for forensic evaluations and services in rural and neighbor-island communities. The Board of Psychology raised concerns about the compact’s scope, the need for a study focused specifically on psychologists, background-check requirements, possible loss of regulatory authority and revenue, and the need to update older statutory provisions. Hawaii Association for Justice opposed the immunity language in the compact, and Shawn Scanlon opposed the bill, arguing it could weaken cultural responsiveness and local control and suggesting the state instead improve temporary licensing and other in-state pathways. The committee also questioned the Department of Corrections about its vacancies and whether telehealth could be filled by local providers; no vote was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• With the Minneapolis Foundation, we participate in convening, spoke focused on mobilized shared efforts
• participate in convening spoke focused participate in convening spoke focused on<01:12:26.080><c> mobilized
• </c><01:12:27.000><c> shared</c><01:12:27.520><c> efforts</c><01:12:28.000><c> around</c> on mobilized
• shared efforts around on mobilized shared efforts around attendance.<01:12:29.400><c> With</c><01:12

Bills: HF3776 , HF3557 , HF3585

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: screen time, preschool, kindergarten, early childhood education, digital media, tablets, smartphones, educational technology, EdTech, classroom devices, publicly funded preschool, school policy, child development, special education, IEP, 504 plan, IFSP, Minnesota education law, climate literacy, education

Transcript Highlights:

• Interstate teacher mobility compact.
• Interstate<00:19:58.640><c> teacher</c><00:19:59.000><c> mobility</c><00:19:59.560><c> compact.
• </c> Interstate teacher mobility compact. Interstate teacher mobility compact.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 72, Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, sponsored by Senator Scheler. >> Senate File 72,
• Mobility Compact, sponsored by Senator Mobility Compact, sponsored by Senator Scheler. Scheler.
• It just brings in that if you're an owner-occupier of a mobile home, modular home, or townhouse, you

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• reform the Met Council so that these things don't happen have been very effectively rebuffed by the mobilization
• been very effectively rebuffed<00:48:19.359><c> by</c><00:48:20.000><c> the</c><00:48:20.080><c> mobilization
• /c><00:48:21.040><c> of</c><00:48:21.920><c> staff</c><00:48:22.280><c> at</c> rebuffed by the mobilization
• of staff at rebuffed by the mobilization of staff at the<00:48:22.440><c> Met</c><00:48:22.560><c> Council

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• arrest and deport 44 people in the matter of a month or less, just wait until they have time to mobilize
• /c><01:49:36.960><c> have</c><01:49:37.199><c> time</c><01:49:37.520><c> to</c><01:49:37.840><c> mobilize
• </c><01:49:39.119><c> across</c> until they have time to mobilize across until they have time to mobilize

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing on the impact and legality of federal immigration enforcement efforts in Hawaii, with Chair Carl Rhodes framing it as the sixth and final interim briefing in a series on the rule of law and local effects of federal actions. He said the discussion would focus on due process concerns, questioning and detention of citizens and lawful immigrants, free speech issues, and pressure on state and local law enforcement, and noted the issues may be revisited in the 2026 regular session. There was no public testimony or committee vote; only invited speakers presented. Dr. Amy Agayani opened by arguing that immigrants are integral to Hawaii’s history, economy, and communities, and contrasted that with what she described as harmful narratives portraying immigrants as criminals. She cited figures that one in five Hawaii residents is foreign-born, that immigrants make up about 20% of the labor force and over 27% of entrepreneurs, and that roughly 40,000 people in Hawaii are undocumented, many of whom may have pathways to legal status but face language, information, and court barriers. She also said federal enforcement has expanded beyond undocumented immigrants to include citizens and lawful residents, and warned that attacks on birthright citizenship and visa categories could affect many families. Matina Mock of the legal clinic emphasized the complexity of immigration law and the severe lack of legal representation, noting a nationwide backlog of 11.3 million immigration-related applications and 3.4 million court cases, plus about 1,400 pending immigration cases in Honolulu with only two immigration judges. She said Hawaii has only six or seven nonprofit immigration legal service providers, and that represented clients are far more likely to obtain relief. Mock described a recent case involving a lawful student visa holder who was transferred among multiple federal facilities before being brought to Honolulu without clear notice, which she said illustrated due process violations. She also said ICE activity in Hawaii has sharply increased, with about 150 arrests from January to July 2025, a 380% increase over the same period in 2024, and that many detainees have no criminal record. Stephanie Haro Sevilla and another clinic fellow described 2025 enforcement as a major shift driven by a January executive order, the end of prior limits on arrests in sensitive locations, and arrest quotas they said require 3,000 arrests per day nationwide. They said this has led to arrests without warrants or probable cause, broader targeting of people with minor offenses or no criminal history, and the use of resources from other federal agencies and local law enforcement for civilian immigration enforcement. They also said the federal detention center in Honolulu is holding roughly 40 to 80 civilian detainees on any given day, often in conditions they characterized as prison-like, and warned that the current escalation could eventually affect lawful permanent residents and naturalized citizens. The speakers urged the public to support immigrant-rights advocates and local protective policies and funding measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• How do we think about using mobile vans? How do we think about using telehealth?
• How do we think about using mobile<00:08:15.400><c> vans?
• 16.000><c> we</c><00:08:16.120><c> think</c><00:08:16.320><c> about</c><00:08:16.600><c> using</c> mobile
• How do we think about using mobile vans? How do we think about using telehealth?

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board received a presentation from Dr. Stack and Commissioner Langfeld on Kentucky’s application for a federal Medicaid-related funding opportunity tied to House Resolution 1. They described a compressed six-week stakeholder process that produced more than 50 responses and letters of support, and said the application was organized around five broad priorities: maternal health, behavioral health and substance use disorder, oral health, EMS/trauma response, and chronic disease. They emphasized that the proposal was designed to align with CMS goals, use allowable funding categories, and focus on sustainability rather than a short-term grant. Commissioner Langfeld outlined five core initiatives: rural community hubs for chronic care innovation, beginning with obesity and diabetes; a maternal and infant health effort called POWER; a behavioral health and substance use model called IMPATH; an oral health initiative called Rooted in Health; and an integrated crisis-to-care EMS and trauma response effort. He said the chronic disease work would include prevention, food-as-medicine concepts, and technology tools, while the maternal health effort would expand team-based care around mothers and infants using community health workers and doulas. The behavioral health proposal would build on existing crisis intervention models, oral health would address workforce and access gaps through training, mobile vans, and telehealth, and the EMS proposal would better connect emergency response with home-based and community care. Several senators questioned whether the proposal would meaningfully address rural hospital closures or the broader rural health care crisis. Senator Meredith said the plan was not transformational and would not save rural hospitals, while Senator Berg asked how success would be measured. In response, the presenters said they would use both lagging and leading indicators, with an emphasis on rapid-cycle feedback and data use that is more actionable in real time. They also said the work could help existing models that already show promise, such as behavioral health units and dental workforce expansion, even if it would not solve the larger funding gap created by HR1. Senator Douglas asked how the proposals would motivate patients to participate in their own health care. The presenters responded that the chronic disease prevention work would focus on obesity, diabetes prevention, nutrition, and consumer-facing technology tools to help people engage in their own care, and that EMS-community health worker partnerships could identify unmet needs in the home and reduce preventable problems. The board then moved on to its next agenda item, Medicaid managed care delivery models, with Tom Stevens, Katherine North, and Dr. Patel scheduled to present.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have mobilized; they're on site.
• They have mobilized,<00:16:29.320><c> they're</c><00:16:29.440><c> on</c><00:16:29.600><c> site.
• </c><00:16:30.640><c> They</c><00:16:30.760><c> are</c> mobilized, they're on site.
• They are mobilized, they're on site.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with the pledge and prayer, a roll call established quorum, and members announced a Veterans Caucus meeting to follow the session. The committee also recognized distinguished veteran Joe Mash Masterson of Bardstown, who was praised for his Army service, long-time advocacy for veterans, and leadership in the American Legion and local veteran organizations. Masterson thanked his family, the American Legion Post 121, and the VA staff, and several members offered remarks honoring his service and the committee’s practice of recognizing veterans. The committee then briefly addressed a referred administrative regulation, 017 KAR 001 030, which leadership described as technical updates to existing policy; no vote was taken. After that, members heard testimony from KDVA and Finance and Administration officials on the ongoing HVAC replacement project at the Radcliffe Veteran Center. Officials said the system had been problematic for years, that design work began early to accelerate the project, and that the work was complicated by the need to replace the system in an operating nursing facility. They explained that the project was bid in March, awarded to Less Mechanical, and that protective measures, shop drawings, and equipment orders were underway. Committee members pressed officials on why the problem had taken so long to resolve, why the original system had been installed, whether the issue had been communicated regularly, and whether the state should be paying for a replacement in a relatively new facility. Officials said the original system’s components and warranties had failed, that they had tried to replace parts before moving to a full replacement, and that the system’s manufacturer and quality differed from a similar facility in Glasgow that had not had the same issues. They said the current phase one contract was about $6 million, with the remaining funds held for phase two to restore full occupancy; phase two design was nearly complete and could be bid later if funding is approved. Officials estimated phase one completion around January 2026 and full completion around March 2027, depending on funding and scheduling.

Transcript Highlights:

• So how do we leverage, like, app mobile apps, tourism?
• we leverage that is correct so how do we leverage like<00:31:42.399><c> app</c><00:31:42.600><c> mobile
• apps</c><00:31:44.000><c> tourism</c><00:31:44.399><c> I'm</c><00:31:44.559><c> just</c> like app mobile
• apps tourism I'm just like app mobile apps tourism I'm just trying<00:31:44.840><c> to</c><00:31:45.320

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with HB 934 on broadband and digital equity. Testifiers from the Lieutenant Governor’s office, the Office of Enterprise and Technology Services, DCCA, the University system, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and others generally supported the measure and emphasized the need to coordinate broadband efforts, fund operations, and expand access to high-speed internet, devices, and digital navigation services. The Chamber of Commerce and West Coast Comprehensive Health Center supported the bill but objected to HD1 language excluding broadband infrastructure for retail service, warning it could create unintended consequences and limit community-led or rural projects. The Lieutenant Governor explained the state expects roughly $400 million to $500 million in federal broadband funding, described the bill as consolidating efforts under a broadband office attached to the CIO, and said the office would focus on infrastructure, devices, and training. No vote was taken on HB 934 in the portion provided. The committee then took up HB 97 on travel insurance. The Insurance Division said it had no major problem with the product but requested technical changes to align with licensing requirements and noted the bill largely codifies practices already used in the industry. Industry witnesses from Allianz and the U.S. Travel Insurance Association said the measure would create a consistent framework, add consumer protections, and align Hawaii with the NAIC model adopted in many other states. Members questioned whether there was a specific problem the bill was solving, and the division responded that it was mainly a framework and form-review measure rather than a response to a known enforcement issue. The bill was discussed but no final action was reported in the excerpt. HB 448 on technology enablement drew broad support from the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce, the Food Industry Association, and other business representatives. Supporters said the measure would help businesses use technology such as digital platforms, e-commerce, robotics, and AR/VR to improve competitiveness, especially in tourism and other sectors. Committee members pressed for clearer scope, cost estimates, and assurances that local companies would be used; the agency said it would prioritize local-first contracting, use federal NIST-related support where possible, and estimated an initial request of about $200,000, though it could not give a firm total. Members expressed concern that the plan was still too undefined. The committee then began HB 455 on small business loans, where the Attorney General suggested explaining why a special fund is needed, and a witness from H Collaborative said the bill would help startup businesses that struggle most to access capital.

Transcript Highlights:

• Expanding these options will increase supply, improve affordability, boost economic mobility, and enhance
• Expanding these options will increase supply, improve affordability, boost economic mobility, and enhance
• Expanding these options will increase supply, improve affordability, boost economic mobility, and enhance
• Expanding these options will increase supply, improve affordability, boost economic mobility, and enhance

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We moved into a time when people are buying up mobile home parks and raising rents of $900 on a trailer
• into a time when people are<01:33:43.400><c> buying</c><01:33:43.719><c> up</c><01:33:44.320><c> mobile
• </c><01:33:44.679><c> home</c><01:33:45.159><c> parks</c><01:33:46.159><c> and</c> are buying up mobile
• home parks and are buying up mobile home parks and raising<01:33:46.719><c> rents</c><01:33:47.000><

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also represent auto suppliers, mobility, and technology companies.
• in the US we also represent Auto sold in the US we also represent Auto suppliers<00:34:11.240><c> mobility
• </c><00:34:11.679><c> and</c><00:34:11.879><c> technology</c> suppliers mobility and technology suppliers
• mobility and technology companies<00:34:13.320><c> uh</c><00:34:13.399><c> thank</c><00:34:13.560><c

Bills: HF737 , HF247 , HF325 , HF1330

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Keywords: lead, cadmium, consumer products, safety regulation, retail restrictions, motor sports, nonoxygenated gasoline, fuel regulations, storage requirements, racing events, HF325, flavored nitrous oxide, nitrous oxide, whippets, laughing gas, retail sales, consumer protection, misdemeanor, commerce, Minnesota Statutes chapter 325F

Transcript Highlights:

• don't have a reason, they're going to—I've been in retail and renting my whole life, not housing, so mobiles
• 00.840><c> so</c> um renting my whole life not housing so um renting my whole life not housing so mobiles
• :02.679><c> and</c><01:23:02.920><c> stuff</c><01:23:03.480><c> but</c><01:23:03.639><c> what</c> mobiles
• and trinkets and stuff but what mobiles and trinkets and stuff but what I<01:23:03.920><c> found</c>

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I would finally say to our Department of Homeland Security employees out there who have served us so
• Security employees out there who<03:19:48.880><c> have</c><03:19:49.040><c> served</c><03:19:49.359>
• We simply cannot allow our troops or federal employees to miss another paycheck.
• We simply cannot allow our troops or federal employees to miss another paycheck.
• Uh, Social Security Administration, thousands of Social Security Administration employees would likely

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're about 65 employees. So again, this is just the current setup of the air division.
• We're about 65 employees.
• much on Um, I'm not going to touch too much on motiv<01:25:55.920><c> motor</c><01:25:56.639><c> mobile
• </c><01:25:56.960><c> source</c><01:25:57.280><c> programs</c> motiv motor mobile source programs motiv
• motor mobile source programs because<01:25:58.000><c> I</c><01:25:58.159><c> want</c><01:25:58.239><

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's part of the build-up program here, but we have over 30 employees working for Saint Paul Regional
• Water Services tied to this program, as well as hundreds of employees working for local contractors.
• we<01:05:45.440><c> have</c><01:05:45.800><c> over</c><01:05:46.160><c> 30</c><01:05:46.560><c> employees
• </c><01:39:24.400><c> and</c><01:39:24.480><c> our</c><01:39:24.600><c> county</c> our state employees
• and our county our state employees and our county workers<01:39:25.320><c> use.

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our dedicated employees, on average, treat 250 million gallons of wastewater per day.
• Our<00:02:33.120><c> dedicated</c><00:02:33.760><c> employees</c><00:02:34.480><c> on</c><00:02:34.800
• ><c> average</c><00:02:35.280><c> treat</c> Our dedicated employees on average treat Our dedicated employees
• I have not been appointed to any position at this time, so I still am an MDH employee.
• I have not been appointed to any position at this time, so I still am an MDH employee.

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Some employees had not even completed the child abuse identification training.
• hotline has been available statewide as a critical tool to help foster youth, including deploying mobile

Summary: The hearing covered several child welfare, human services, tribal housing, child care, and long-term care bills. SB 1099 would clarify local governments’ authority to provide state or local public benefits to all residents under PRWORA; SB 1190 would regulate private youth transport services by requiring permits, background checks, training, and bans on blindfolds, hoods, restraints, and overnight pickups; SB 1322 would streamline tribal access to Community Care Expansion housing grants and better align the process with tribal sovereignty; SB 1109 would require an annual license renewal review for STRTPs with five or more Type A citations in a year; SB 1234 would require fentanyl testing in juvenile dependency cases when a court finds a risk of fentanyl use; SB 991 would require DSS to identify the specific type of abuse on its public licensing database; SB 1200 would redefine “infant” for family child care ratio purposes as under 18 months; and SB 1345 would strengthen foster youth rights regarding access to and dignified transport of personal belongings. The committee also approved a consent calendar including SB 534, SB 1410, and SB 1421. Testimony was largely in support of the measures, often from authors, advocates, county officials, and people with lived experience. Supporters of SB 1190 described traumatic youth transport practices and argued for basic safety standards. SB 1322 supporters said tribal grantees face unnecessary delays and collateral demands that conflict with sovereignty. SB 1109 drew support from county probation officers who cited repeated serious violations and public safety concerns at STRTPs, while the chair ultimately opposed the bill as duplicative of existing CDSS authority. SB 1234 drew emotional support from a grandparent who lost a child to fentanyl, but also opposition from the Drug Policy Alliance and a dependency attorney, who argued the bill was redundant, vague, and could create biased or unnecessary testing; amendments were accepted to narrow the standard. SB 991 supporters said the public needs more specific information about abuse findings, SB 1200 supporters said the change would expand infant care capacity and help working families, and SB 1345 supporters said foster youth deserve dignity rather than having belongings packed in trash bags. Votes were taken after quorum was established. SB 991, SB 1200, SB 1345, SB 1190, SB 1234, SB 1322, and SB 1099 were all reported out of committee, most on unanimous or near-unanimous votes; SB 1234 passed 6-0 as amended to Appropriations, and SB 1099 later had a vote change recorded, ending 5-1. SB 1109 did not advance after the motion failed for lack of a second, and it was held in committee. The committee then adjourned and transitioned into an oversight hearing reviewing the outcomes of AB 2247 (placement stability and notice protections for foster youth) and AB 2496, with presenters discussing how the earlier foster youth placement law has changed practice and the importance of dignity, notice, and youth voice in placement decisions.