Transcript Highlights:

• submit a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) that establishes a first allotment of residential
• electricity Allotment of residential electricity service.
• projected electricity or gas consumption of a participant in a calendar year billed at two standard residential
• Senators Mobly and Kirkmire, also Representatives Brown and Tiger, concerning the transition of residential
• Also, Senator Roberts, concerning property tax procedures for non-residential properties.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• everyone in the valley pays their property taxes, but are denied emergency fire and police protection, residential
• police</c><00:10:41.360><c> protection,</c> fire and police protection, fire and police protection, residential
• <00:10:43.240><c> building</c><00:10:43.600><c> permits,</c><00:10:44.600><c> septic</c> residential
• building permits, septic residential building permits, septic services,<00:10:46.120><c> and</c><00:10
• Is the road in a residential neighborhood? Is that the concern?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on March 31 and heard a series of resolutions focused on roadway safety, transportation access, and infrastructure coordination. Early measures included HCR 104/HR 96 on advancing coastal trails on O‘ahu’s North Shore and HCR 63/HR 57 on clarifying responsibility for Honouliuli Bridge and addressing safety, wildfire, and emergency access concerns. The Department of Transportation supported both, and a resident testified that the Honouliuli bridge is a single-lane emergency replacement on state land that has limited access for fire protection, heavy vehicles, permits, and repairs. DOT said it was working with DLNR and that jurisdiction may ultimately lie with the County of Maui, with research ongoing. The committee also heard HCR 62/HR 56 on alternative vegetation management along Hana Highway, HCR 43/HR 39 on raised crosswalks near Ala Wai Elementary, and HCR 52/HR 48 on integrating the safe system approach into county road design; these drew support testimony and no opposition. The committee then considered HCR 120/HR 112 on regulating transportation network companies under motor carrier law. DOT and the Public Utilities Commission offered comments, while Lyft opposed, arguing the legislature already created a TNC-specific framework in 2022 and that motor carrier law is not a good fit for app-based ride platforms. In questioning, PUC explained that TNCs would fall under both PUC motor carrier jurisdiction and DOT permitting, and DOT said it would follow up on enforcement questions. Members also discussed HCR 119/HR 111 on an indirect traffic disruption grant program, with the chair asking DOT to clarify how it enforces penalties when contractors or others fail to follow road closure requirements. Other measures discussed included HCR 96/HR 88 on moving to a demerit-point driver licensing system, which DOT supported; HCR 128/HR 120 on coordinating capital improvement planning for Hawaiian Home Lands developments, which DOT and DHHL supported; HCR 127/HR 119 on a state highway police force, which DOT supported; and HCR 125/HR 117 on a statewide plan for derelict utility poles and lines, which drew support from DOT, Hawaiian Electric, and Hawaiian Telcom, with DOT acknowledging it lacks current statutory authority to force immediate removal. The committee also heard HCR 58/HR 54 on school crosswalk safety for Mililani Elementary, HCR 55/HR 51 on using artificial intelligence to mitigate traffic and improve road safety, and HCR 54/HR 146 on expanding the Hele-On Shared Ride program on Hawai‘i Island. Supporters of the Hele-On measure said expanded service would help rural residents, kupuna, and people with disabilities reach medical appointments and daily activities, while noting cost and technology-access concerns; they said missed or delayed appointments are a real issue in remote areas. The final item discussed in the excerpt was HCR 64/HR 58 on minimizing rumble strip dimensions on Kūhiō Highway on Moloka‘i, with DOT saying it had already removed some strips where large emergency vehicles were affected on narrow curves.

Transcript Highlights:

• My counselor helped me get a bed in a residential... ...program.
• are important for everyday living by showing me how to use a computer, helping me to find jobs, residential
• They have the clothing plan... ...residential programs, food banks, they have the clothing closet, housing
• lifer is going up for parole and the parole board is saying, well, you need to step down, go to a residential
• any lifers, it's really hard, especially if they don't have a substance abuse issue, because most residential

Keywords: 1212, all

Summary: The Special Commission on Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration met to approve prior minutes and then heard extensive testimony focused on reentry, programming, and the differences between Department of Correction facilities and county sheriff programs. Much of the testimony came from incarcerated or formerly incarcerated people describing how county facilities offered education, treatment, work release, identification documents, housing help, and reentry planning that they said were often unavailable or harder to access in state DOC settings. Several witnesses emphasized that these programs helped them obtain sobriety, employment, family reunification, and parole readiness, while others said they needed more time, mentoring, or transitional support before release to make the most of those services. Witnesses from Hampshire, Barnstable, Hampden, and Franklin counties described specific programs such as high school/GED completion, college courses, culinary arts, vocational training, recovery groups, therapeutic treatment, and community-based reentry centers. Many said staff treated them with dignity and that the facilities’ culture encouraged accountability and personal change. A few witnesses also noted that some programs were not a fit for their needs, especially for people without substance-use issues or for those whose mental health needs were not adequately addressed. One Barnstable witness said she returned to custody within 48 hours of release because she was not mentally prepared for reentry, and another from Framingham said mental health support was insufficient and visitation restrictions worsened her experience. Commissioners asked follow-up questions about DOC access to programming, classification barriers, reentry preparation, and visitation policies. Several witnesses said DOC programming was limited by sentence length, classification status, or program waitlists, and that some people were steered into programs that did not match their needs. A number of commissioners and the sheriff present responded by stressing the importance of wraparound services, individualized planning, and hiring formerly incarcerated staff. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving away from the residential services support criteria and instead focusing on individuals assessed
• these hard caps could make it incredibly difficult to stay in their own home instead of a community residential
• <00:03:20.920><c> of</c><00:03:21.000><c> a</c><00:03:21.080><c> community</c><00:03:21.640><c> residential
• </c> instead of a community residential instead of a community residential setting<00:03:23.280><c> or

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the person's last known residential address prior to issuance of the committed order.
• It's the person's last known residential address prior to issuance of the committed order.
• It's allocating an incarcerated person to their last known residential address for the purpose of redistricting
• It's allocating an incarcerated person to their last known residential address for the purpose of redistricting
• none, all in favor... ...same thing it's allocating an incarcerated person to their last known residential

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It will prevent the cost from being passed on to residential, industrial, agriculture, and commercial

Bills: HB2992 , HB3183 , HB3464 , HB4170 , HB4338

Committee: Senate Energy

Keywords: HB2992, Data Center Customer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, Corporation Commission, Oklahoma utilities, ratepayer protection, data centers, artificial intelligence computing, AI data centers, cryptocurrency mining, large load customer, electric rates, utility tariffs, cost causation, rate design, public power utility, municipal utility, electric cooperative, investor-owned utility, load growth, interconnection

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, that is James Overstreet’s very vibrant, colorful piece of Yellowstone, the hot pools.
• Madam Chair, that is James Overstreet’s very vibrant, colorful piece of Yellowstone, the hot pools.
• colorful piece of Yellowstone uh<01:49:40.320><c> the</c><01:49:40.480><c> hot</c><01:49:40.719><c> pools
• <c> is</c><01:49:42.880><c> Steve</c><01:49:43.280><c> Knox</c><01:49:44.080><c> uh</c> uh the hot pools
• It is Steve Knox uh uh the hot pools.

Committee: Joint Capitol Interpretive Exhibits and Wayfinding Subcommittee

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• amount, plenty of people to pick from, and still there were candidates that were chosen outside of that pool
• amount, plenty of people to pick from, and still there were candidates that were chosen outside of that pool
• c><02:04:54.240><c> outside</c><02:04:54.720><c> of</c><02:04:54.840><c> that</c><02:04:55.080><c> pool
• </c><02:04:56.160><c> Um</c><02:04:56.280><c> I</c> were chosen outside of that pool.
• Um I were chosen outside of that pool.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• fund, it does contradict the statute, HRS 101-107.11, that states all fines collected by the motor pool
• collected by 10711 that states all fines collected by the<01:05:03.279><c> motor</c><01:05:03.760><c> pool
• parking</c><01:05:04.960><c> control</c><01:05:05.880><c> go</c><01:05:06.160><c> into</c> the motor pool
• parking control go into the motor pool parking control go into the<01:05:06.640><c> state</c><01:05:
• I do think that a robust applicant pool is critical to provide the governor and the Chief Justice the

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard SB 104, which would restrict the use of restrictive housing or solitary confinement in state-operated and state-contracted correctional facilities, with specified exceptions. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation strongly opposed the bill, saying its existing policy already meets or exceeds ACA and National Institute of Corrections standards, and objecting to language they said would give the oversight commission operational decision-making authority. The Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission supported the bill, but also said it was not intended to run operations and described concerns about restrictive housing practices, including CoreCivic’s SHIP program at Saguaro. Supporters included the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Office of the Public Defender, the Disability Rights Center, ACLU Hawaii, Easter Seals Hawaii, and individual testifiers. They argued that Native Hawaiians are disproportionately impacted by incarceration, that solitary confinement is harmful and linked to depression, anxiety, suicidality, and poor reentry outcomes, and that confinement beyond 15 days is widely condemned under international standards. Several testifiers cited suicides and deaths in custody as reasons to codify limits in statute rather than rely on policy alone. The department responded that it already has 24/7 medical care, though not 24/7 mental health coverage at one facility, and explained that it uses four custody categories: disciplinary segregation, administrative segregation, protective custody, and placements for inmates seeking separation for safety reasons. Members questioned the department and commission about the SHIP program, whether the bill was based on other states’ laws, and how current policies compare with national standards. The director said the bill was too ambiguous in places and that the department was willing to work with the commission on policy changes, but still opposed the measure as written. The committee took testimony and questions; no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here on behalf of Walker Advertising and the many small and mid-sized law firms that pool their resources
• He said that if the property is zoned residential and could be sold and turned into a major high-rise

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with most drawing support after amendments or ongoing stakeholder negotiations. SB 29, by Senator Laird, would extend a sunset on the law allowing pain-and-suffering claims to survive a plaintiff’s death; supporters, including a family member describing a medical negligence case, labor groups, consumer advocates, and disability and elder organizations, argued it prevents defendants from running out the clock, while hospitals, medical groups, and business organizations warned of higher costs and added liability. After extensive debate about data collection, settlement reporting, and the impact on health care access, the bill passed to Appropriations on a divided vote. SB 294, by Senator Reyes and presented by Senator Laird, would require employers to notify a worker’s emergency contact if the worker is arrested or detained and would create a template to inform employees of state and federal labor rights. Labor and worker advocates said the bill would help workers understand and enforce their rights amid weakened federal enforcement; there was no opposition on file, and the bill passed unanimously to Appropriations. SB 697 would modernize water-rights adjudication by allowing the State Water Board to use technology instead of requiring in-person field investigations; with no opposition, it also passed unanimously. The committee also advanced SB 37 on attorney advertising, SB 645 on peremptory challenges in civil cases, SB 303 on bias-mitigation trainings in public workplaces, and SB 464 on expanding pay-data reporting for specified state workers. SB 37 drew support from consumer and legal groups but concerns from Walker Advertising about joint advertising; members said negotiations were ongoing, and the bill passed. SB 645 would extend anti-bias jury-selection rules to certain civil rights cases; criminal-defense and defense groups said they were close to agreement, and the bill passed. SB 303 and SB 464 were both amended to narrow scope and moved forward after several opponents shifted to neutral or removed opposition. The committee also approved a consent calendar of additional bills, all sent to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our role is limited to service provision, shelter services, non-residential services, and community education
• The sheriff's office also sees me as a welcome asset that augments their small pool of deputies.

Bills: HB1455 , HB1777 , HB2101 , HB2136 , HB2609 , HB3142 , HB3552 , HB3846 , HB4155 , HB4514 , HB4879 , HB4995 , HB5014 , HB5139 , HB5228 , HB5436 , HCR40

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: mental health, jail diversion, law enforcement, reporting requirements, criminal justice, data collection, criminal justice reform, intellectual disability, mental illness, data reporting, public safety, reporting, substance abuse, sex offender, driver's license, identification, gunshot detection, unreported gunshots, municipal police, crime investigation

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and heard several bills, generally leaving them pending after testimony. HB 4995 would create a training/certification program allowing licensed physicians and certain EMS personnel assigned to tactical units to carry firearms during high-risk deployments, with supporters saying it would protect tactical medical staff and improve emergency care; the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill left pending. HB 2609 would repeal the OmniBase/failure-to-appear-or-pay license hold program; the author and supporters argued it unfairly compounds debt and traps drivers in noncompliance, while judges and municipal court representatives said it is an effective, voluntary tool that prompts court appearances and reduces warrants. HB 4879 would create a grant program to help local law enforcement pay for lab testing of suspected hemp/THC substances, and HB 5436 would allow licensed auto recyclers to purchase certain untitled vehicles for scrap or parts to curb illegal sales, VIN cloning, and chop shop activity; both bills drew supportive testimony and were left pending. The committee also heard HB 1777, which would place a discrete sex-offender designation on driver’s licenses and state IDs for registrants under Chapter 62. The author said the marker would help law enforcement and businesses quickly identify potentially dangerous offenders and cited other states and research in support, while opponents argued it would function as a scarlet letter, increase harassment, and punish people who are already complying with the law. HB 4155 would create a Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force in the Governor’s Office to study risk factors, coordinate agencies, and recommend policy changes; the author, HHSC, TCFV, and a survivor testified in support, emphasizing the number of family violence homicides and the need for coordinated, data-driven prevention, and the bill was left pending. Finally, HB 4514 would authorize DPS to use facial image verification, with consent and confidentiality protections, to help businesses verify identities and combat fraud. Supporters from the lumber and identity-verification industries said it would reduce losses from fake IDs and organized theft, while the author stressed privacy safeguards and limited, consent-based use. The committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• HTR 184, authorizing the Hawaii Community Development Authority to conduct a study to consider residential
• research about the role of groundwater in also sustaining some of these ecosystems, such as ankuline pools

Committee: House Water & Land

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Water and Land met on March 25, 2025, and first announced it had deleted HCR 3 and HCR 4567 from the agenda pending similar Senate measures. It then heard HR 35/HCR 40, which urges DLNR and other state agencies to work with community groups to co-steward community forests on public lands. DLNR’s urban and community forester testified in strong support, and several organizations and individuals submitted support; there were no questions or opposition noted. The committee next heard HCR 64, asking OPSD to convene a working group on establishing and placing an Office of Resilience and Recovery. OPSD and the Governor’s Office of Recovery and Resilience supported the resolution and suggested friendly amendments, including replacing county civil defense representatives with mayors or their designees and allowing subject-matter experts to serve. Members questioned the office’s role, funding, and relationship to other resilience and emergency management offices, and the witness explained it was created after the Maui wildfires to coordinate long-term recovery, with special-project funding and a focus distinct from response and mental health functions. The committee also heard HR 59/HCR 65 on coordinating concurrent reviews of general plan, district boundary, and zoning amendments during land reclassification. OPSD testified with comments and warned that the proposal could facilitate spot zoning if individual landowners could use the concurrent process, recommending it be limited to county-initiated actions. A related discussion followed on HR 118/HCR 122, which would create a collaborative working group on surveying and protecting iwi kūpuna and related coastal erosion issues; DNR, OHA, and others supported it with suggested additions, and testimony emphasized cultural sensitivity and community-specific decision-making. Members asked about burial practices and a recent court ruling, and witnesses said the working group could help guide broader policy and communication. Finally, the committee heard HR 145/HCR 151, requesting DLNR to report on its lease enforcement process and procedures. DLNR said it was recruiting staff to conduct lease inspections but had difficulty filling positions due to compensation, and explained that new or extended leases can include inspection requirements, while retroactive cost-shifting would raise contractual issues. Members asked for information on lease renewal timelines and whether inspection provisions were being added to renewals; DLNR said those decisions are made in public sunshine meetings and agreed to provide additional information. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• we hear from our union contractors and technicians, it's consistent: the permitting process for residential
• address this problem by creating a more standardized and efficient permitting process for qualifying residential
• SB 908 will streamline the permit process for energy code-compliant windows for residential window replacements
• SB 908 will streamline the permit process for energy code-compliant windows for residential window replacements

Summary: The committee heard several housing-related bills, beginning with SB 1003, which would create pro-housing enhanced infrastructure financing districts to help local governments fund infrastructure needed for housing developments. The author and supporters argued that infrastructure costs often prevent projects from penciling out, while the chair expressed support and said the bill would be taken up later when quorum was available. SB 1014 followed, proposing new disclosure requirements for local jurisdictions to provide good-faith estimates of on-site and off-site improvements within 30 days of application, with supporters saying it would reduce late surprises and opposition from several cities citing implementation concerns with the 30-day timelines. The committee then took up SB 802, a Sacramento-region bill requiring a joint powers authority to coordinate housing and homelessness services. Senator Ashby and former Mayor Darrell Steinberg argued that Sacramento’s fragmented system has failed for years and that a JPA would improve accountability, coordination, and use of state funds. The bill drew broad support from local officials, service providers, business groups, and advocates, while some county and city representatives registered opposition or neutral concerns about state-mandated local governance. Several committee members said they were persuaded by the need for regional coordination, though some raised concerns about local control; the chair noted the bill would be moved when quorum allowed. The committee also heard SB 1092 and SB 1093, both focused on mobile home park residents after disasters or park sales. SB 1092 would give residents a right of first opportunity to match a sale offer for a park, with supporters saying it protects vulnerable seniors and preserves affordable housing, while park owners and their representatives argued it would devalue property and raise constitutional and financing concerns. SB 1093 would require more transparent communication, access to property, and consideration of rebuilding or closure after a disaster; supporters cited the long uncertainty faced by Palisades residents, while opponents warned about liability, safety, and burdensome review requirements. Members split along similar lines, with some emphasizing property rights and market impacts and others stressing the need to protect residents and preserve scarce affordable housing.

Transcript Highlights:

• we hear from our union contractors and technicians, it's consistent: the permitting process for residential
• address this problem by creating a more standardized and efficient permitting process for qualifying residential
• address this problem by creating a more standardized and efficient permitting process for qualifying residential
• SB 908 will streamline the permit process for energy code-compliant windows for residential window replacements

Committee: House Housing and Community Development

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• stolen property, operating a chop shop, possession of stolen or altered vehicle parts, and burglary residential
• 38.720><c> burglary</c> altered vehicle parts, and burglary altered vehicle parts, and burglary residential
• 03:41.440><c> of</c><01:03:41.680><c> 15</c><01:03:42.000><c> years</c><01:03:42.319><c> in</c> residential
• um for a term of 15 years in residential um for a term of 15 years in MDOC.<01:03:43.839><c> And</c>

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 25 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• presidents ago, where the University of Minnesota, um, had very low outstate tuition and, um, so non-residential
• 31:03.760><c> know</c> tuition and um so non min you know tuition and um so non min you know non-residential
• 04.880><c> tuition</c><00:31:05.919><c> and</c><00:31:06.880><c> it</c><00:31:07.200><c> was</c> non-residential
• tuition and it was non-residential tuition and it was problematic<00:31:08.320><c> because</c><00:31

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we were on a walk outside and um at one of the residential facilities I was at and uh my worker at
• Um, we were on a walk outside and um at one of the residential facilities I was at and uh my worker at
• Um, we were on a walk outside and um at one of the residential facilities I was at and uh my worker at
• Um, we were on a walk outside and um at one of the residential facilities I was at and uh my worker at

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So those treatment services include outpatient counseling, residential counseling.
• We have added some things for state residential treatment.
• problems of youth involved with the juvenile justice system through a variety of community-based and residential
• The second and last, I'm sorry, is the residential services appropriation.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• establishes a program and income tax credit to incentivize the conversion of commercial properties into residential
• incentivize the conversion of commercial properties<00:43:30.720><c> into</c><00:43:30.880><c> residential
• </c> properties into residential properties. properties into residential properties.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Housing, meeting jointly with the Committee on Health and Human Services, heard testimony on Senate Bill 2787, which would expand use of the rental housing revolving fund to provide loans or grants for purchasing rental units, and Senate Bill 2957, which addresses tenant displacement and relocation protections, as well as Senate Bill 2866, which would make the state rent supplement program for kupuna permanent and appropriate funds for it. Testimony on SB 2787 included support from DHHL, HHFDC, AARP Hawaii, and others, while the Attorney General recommended clarifying language and standards for grants, and the Tax Foundation questioned whether grants fit the revolving-fund structure. On SB 2957, supporters including OHA, PACT, medical-legal advocates, and tenant representatives emphasized relocation hardships from the KPT redevelopment, language access, and the need for clearer minimum safeguards; the Attorney General suggested defining “comparable units” and correcting a drafting error. On SB 2866, HPHA, Catholic Charities, AARP, the Executive Office on Aging, and others supported making the kupuna rent supplement program permanent to prevent homelessness among low-income seniors. During discussion on SB 2957, members questioned HPHA and tenant counsel about the KPT low-rise relocation process and what “comparable housing” meant in practice. HPHA said all tenants were relocated, but counsel described disputes over comparability, disability and family-size issues, and at least one offered unit that was not livable. For SB 2787, members questioned DHHL about why it sought funding from the rental housing revolving fund rather than other sources; DHHL said it was still exploring options and had mostly used its funds for infrastructure, with only a small portion used as revolving funds. The chair expressed concern about relying on scarce housing funds and urged more efficient use of DHHL’s existing resources. In decision-making, the committees voted to pass SB 2957 with amendments and SB 2866 with amendments. For SB 2957, the amendments would replace the bill with a working group on tenant displacement and relocation, include a blank appropriation and defective date, and request $75,000 for the working group; the motion was adopted unanimously by the members present, with Senator Favela excused. For SB 2866, the amended version would include a blank appropriation, defective date, and committee report language noting requests for $110,160 for two HPHA public housing specialist positions and $2.16 million for the state rent supplement program; this motion was also adopted, with Senator Favela excused. After the joint hearing adjourned, the committee returned to the housing-only agenda and continued discussion of SB 2787 before moving on to SB 3089, which would amend the down payment loan assistance program for low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers; testimony on SB 3089 was beginning when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Housing Finance Agency to publish information on the rights and responsibilities of landlords and residential
• and responsibilities of landlords rights and responsibilities of landlords and<00:14:15.360><c> residential
• 16.480><c> and</c><00:14:16.800><c> to</c><00:14:17.040><c> provide</c><00:14:17.279><c> a</c> and residential
• tenants and to provide a and residential tenants and to provide a link<00:14:17.680><c> or</c><00:14

Keywords: 1183, house