Transcript Highlights:

• They could usually put 3% of their own equity or collateral into a project, but needed about 2% equity
• I'm reading on line 1.12 about equity enhancements, and I didn't know where the equity enhancements are
• They could usually put 3% of their own equity or collateral into a project, but needed about 2% equity
• They could usually put 3% of their own equity or collateral into a project, but needed about 2% equity
• c> but needed about 2% uh Equity but needed about 2% uh Equity enhancements<01:21:00.800> to<01

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Equity in education means doing all that we can to give all parents the opportunity to send their children
• Equity in education means doing all that we can to give all parents the opportunity to send their children
• Equity in education means doing all that we can to give all parents the opportunity to send their children
• Equity in education means doing all that we can to give all parents the opportunity to send their children
• are trained to teach about accepting and working with everyone, so that whole idea of diversity, equity

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Education Finance Committee met on February 5, 2025, to hear testimony from representatives of Minnesota’s Catholic and other nonpublic schools, focused on state nonpublic pupil aid, transportation, counseling, nursing, and related support programs. Meg Forette of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis argued that Catholic schools serve more than 30,000 students across many districts, educate a diverse population, and achieve strong academic results while operating at far lower per-student costs than public schools. She urged lawmakers to reject proposed cuts to nonpublic funding, saying they would be inequitable and harmful to lower-income families, and also raised concerns about state teacher-licensing requirements conflicting with Catholic values. Trisha Menshu, principal of St. John Paul II Catholic School in Northeast Minneapolis, described a student body with high levels of poverty, learning needs, and academic gaps, and said state-funded nurse and guidance-counseling services are essential to keeping students safe, healthy, and on track for high school. She said the school absorbs many costs itself, including medical supplies and significant staff time, and credited the support programs with helping students make strong academic growth and graduate on time. In response to a senator’s question, she clarified that the school uses the nursing aid for limited nurse time and pays other medical-related costs from operating funds, with no billing back to public school districts. Committee members asked follow-up questions about the relationship between teacher licensing and Catholic values, and about how medical needs for nonpublic students are funded. Forette said the concern was not with welcoming all students but with how DEI-related trainings and language are presented in ways that conflict with Catholic teaching. The committee then moved on to the next testifier, Andrew Hiliker of Stella Maris Academy in Duluth, who began by describing his school’s growth and the state’s role in supporting all students, regardless of school choice.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's up from a 13% back in 2019. 23 private equity firms now own over about 2,000 manufactured home
• We think it's far more likely that it would be a corporate owner or a private equity owner, however you
• More likely that it would be a corporate owner or a private equity owner, however you want to say it,
• So you're slowly building equity, maybe not as quickly as a single-family homeowner, but you're still
• Are you talking about the equity, so particularly regarding mobile homes, are you talking about the equity

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:

• So first up, Senate Bill 1061 relating to digital equity. Thank you. Thank you.
• executive director of Maui County Area Health Education Center, and we have a history with digital equity
• We have gone throughout the island of Molokai, and we have a need for digital equity on our island.
• I think because this bill, along with the other digital equity bills or digital broadband bills, our
• We are reconvening for decision-making on Cille 1061 relating to digital equity.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several measures, beginning with SB 1061 on digital equity. Testimony was strongly supportive, including from Rosie Davis of the Maui County Area Health Education Center, who said Molokai and Maui need better digital access for telehealth and clinic services. Members discussed whether the bill should be consolidated with other digital broadband measures and asked about funding; the chair noted the draft used general funds but said federal money was now available for the navigator program. The committee later recommended SB 1061 be passed with an SD1, technical amendments, and an effective date of July 1, 2050, with members voting aye. The committee then heard SB 135 on macadamia nut labeling. Hawaiian Host Group and several supporters argued the bill would help align the industry around a processing solution and support growers and jobs, while the MacNut Association and Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company opposed it, saying the state lacks enough processing infrastructure and that existing law already covers labeling. In questioning, members focused on the lack of a current processing facility and the timeline for a new one on Hawaiʻi Island. After hearing mixed testimony, the committee deferred the bill indefinitely. The committee also considered SB 1657 and SB 1539 relating to the Agribusiness Development Corporation. Testimony on both measures was generally supportive, with ADC describing the Wāhō water system as serving about 5,000 acres and over 70 farmers, mostly small and medium growers, and saying the proposal would help expand service without asking for more water. The committee later voted to pass SB 1657 and SB 1539 with SD1s, technical amendments, and a July 1, 2050 effective date. Finally, the committee took up SB 891 on economic development and gaming. The hearing drew extensive testimony, including support from Boyd Gaming and Stanford Carr Development, and opposition from Native Hawaiian speakers who said Hawaiians must have a seat at the table and raised concerns about self-determination and outside control. Members questioned the scope of the proposed gaming working group, the number and makeup of members, and the need to review prior gaming bills and studies. In decision-making, the committee passed SB 891 with an SD1 and major amendments: adding tourism references, changing expense reimbursement rules so private gaming representatives pay their own expenses, expanding the working group to include Native Hawaiian, social services/behavioral health, DBEDT, law enforcement, and tax/professional expertise seats, deleting one proposed seat, and adding a July 1, 2050 effective date. The committee also reported that the recommendations were adopted by vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS MEANS SBA IS TAKEN HIS AIRWAY POLICY TARGET OF INVESTMENT EXPOSURE IN THE EQUITY MARKET.
• MEAN WE ARE FULLY DEVASTING FROM FOR CLOSING INVESTMENT IN, INSTEAD OF REMOVING CHINA FROM PUBLIC EQUITY
• FUND MANAGERS ARE ABLE TO TAKE ACTIVE POSITIONS IN SPECIFIC CHINESE EQUITIES FOR WHICH THEY CONVICTION
• ACTIVE APPROACH REDUCES THE RISK OF BEING BROADLY EXPOSED TO THE EQUITY MARKET AT A TIME WHEN RISING
• GEOPOLITICAL RISK MARKET PERFORMANCE BROADLY EXPOSED TO THE EQUITY MARKET AT A TIME WHEN RISING GEOPOLITICAL

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• understand it's not as transparent in the bill, but there's a long history there of that kind of equity
• , and the equity that we know that obviously CDFA has supported in the variety of different programs
• So I just want to clarify that moving to this new system, does that help create equity with the pay?
• Well, are we looking to solve this equity? ...like this different pace, like a pay scale.
• Well, is this bill looking to solve this equity and pay people for livable wages? Yeah, exactly.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Agriculture heard three bills. SB 18 by Senator Rubio would create a Food Desert Elimination Grant Program at CDFA to help open or improve grocery stores in food desert communities. Supporters said it would improve access to healthy food, create jobs, and help underserved neighborhoods; opponents argued it could favor large chains, lacked community input and accountability, and should better prioritize tribal, BIPOC-owned, and community-led retail. Committee members raised concerns about population thresholds, community engagement, and long-term commitments, and the author said the bill could be strengthened with guardrails. SB 18 passed 7-0 and was sent to Appropriations. SB 312 by Senator Umberg would require out-of-state shippers of dogs to electronically submit health certificates to CDFA and make them available to buyers and enforcement agencies, aiming to improve consumer protection and traceability in the puppy import pipeline. Supporters from animal welfare and humane organizations said the bill would help stop sick or misrepresented puppies from entering California and give investigators a central record. Members asked about privacy and enforcement, and the author indicated amendments could address consumer privacy concerns. The bill passed unanimously and was sent to Appropriations. SB 493 by Senator Becker would change how compensation is set for secretary managers of district agricultural associations and fairgrounds, shifting salary-setting authority to CDFA and requiring periodic salary surveys. Supporters said fairgrounds are critical emergency-response and community facilities and that the bill would help recruit and retain qualified leaders with fairer pay. Some members expressed concern about local control and appointment delays, but clarified the bill only addressed salary, not appointments. SB 493 also passed unanimously and was sent to Appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• member who's applying for a job at the university is going to be asked to pledge fealty to diversity, equity
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion mandates undermine this principle by creating unfair preferences in
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion and our grassroots supporters in Arizona.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion policies have failed Arizonans.
• Equity is necessary and inclusive.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Special Committee on Government heard and advanced three measures. First, HCR 2044, a constitutional amendment to expand Arizona’s prohibition on preferential treatment and discrimination based on race or ethnicity in public education, public spending, and hiring, drew support from the Speaker, Goldwater Institute, and other advocates who argued it would close loopholes and reaffirm merit-based treatment. Opponents argued it would chill speech, training, and discussion of race and identity in public institutions. The committee approved the resolution on a 4-3 vote. The committee then considered HB 2671, as amended, which narrows mandatory transfer to adult court for juveniles by limiting chronic felony offender treatment to higher-level felonies and preserving judicial/prosecutorial discretion for lower-level repeat offenses. The sponsor and juvenile defense testimony said the bill would keep low-level youth offenders in juvenile court where rehabilitative services are available and reduce recidivism, while still holding them accountable. The Blackman amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 7-0. Finally, HB 2676 was heard to reduce the age for restoring firearm possession rights for certain juvenile offenders from 30 to 25 and to broaden restoration eligibility for other juvenile felony convictions. Supporters said it would align firearm-rights restoration with juvenile record-destruction timelines and help rehabilitated individuals move forward without unnecessary barriers. The committee approved HB 2676 unanimously, 7-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• for the Small Business Credit Initiative or other federal funds accepted for capital programs or equity
• with uh a federal program and um I believe there's about $20 million that has been invested as an equity
• position on behalf of the state equity position on behalf of the state using solely federal funds.
• I do have concerns about the process of investing into the equity of businesses within the borders of
• When we get that equity, When we get that equity, then we are able to attract other sources of funds

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of Government Ethics does a comprehensive review of basically everything I own, every stock, every equity
• Will you restore the website for the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity?
• Just for the record, can you just tell us how much... you made from, you know, the private equity and
• It will impact hospital costs and private equity and you're coming into this. role with relationships
• will you commit today to not participating in any decisions that would have an impact on private equity

Keywords: nominations, labor, health, veterans, Social Security, Elon Musk, transparency, government accountability

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on various executive nominations and their implications on labor and health affairs. Significant discussions surrounded the nomination of Mr. Sonderling as the Deputy Secretary of Labor, with members expressing concerns about workforce cuts affecting veterans and Social Security employees. There was also a debate led by a member regarding the authority and influence of private individuals, specifically citing Elon Musk's involvement in government decisions. Such discussions raised questions about transparency and accountability within governmental agencies, leading to a proposal for Mr. Musk to provide testimony before the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill prioritizes community communities and climate equity.
• These are the climate equity principles that we've been putting into a number of bills.
• We have the climate equity.
• The climate equity principles, our state agencies have been working with now. For many years.
• Madam Chair, are the climate equity principles defined in this bill? Madam Chair: Yes.

Transcript Highlights:

• but I also think that laws should but I also think that laws should provide<00:15:41.639> Equity
• <00:15:42.040> to<00:15:42.360> disproportionate provide Equity to disproportionate
• provide Equity to disproportionate people<00:15:43.319> groups<00:15:43.720> underserved
• c><00:15:56.519> and<00:15:56.639> to<00:15:56.839> provide<00:15:57.199> equity
• about the seniors and to provide equity about the seniors and to provide equity for<00:15:57.759

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Housing heard testimony on several housing-related measures. Senate Bill 65 would appropriate funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for rehabilitation and repair of public housing units. Testifiers from the Department of Human Services, HPHA, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and Roar Cares supported the bill, emphasizing that repairing vacant units is a fast, cost-effective way to increase available housing for homeless and elderly residents. HPHA later told the committee it had 139 vacant units, with an estimated average repair cost of about $73,000 per unit. In decision-making, the committee recommended passage of SB 65 with amendments, including an appropriation of $10,147,000, and the motion passed. The committee also considered Senate Bill 40, which would allow HHFDC to secure a line of credit or other indebtedness for the bond volume cap recycling program. HHFDC supported the measure and explained that Act 35 had provided a $150 million line of credit for fiscal year 2025 only, so this bill would extend that authority; HHFDC said the bonds involved would be revenue bonds. Roar Cares supported the bill, while the chair asked whether the Legislature would need to pass such a bill annually. In decision-making, the committee recommended passage with amendments to specify revenue bonds and noted the administration should study other ways to secure the line of credit without annual legislation. For Senate Bill 35, which would create a Housing Efficiency and Innovation subaccount within the rental housing revolving fund and allow fund transfers without legislative approval, HHFDC and several others supported the measure, arguing that more flexible fund movement would improve efficiency. The committee adopted a recommendation to pass SB 35 with amendments, including language prioritizing projects on state or county land or projects by entities required to reinvest surplus into housing, and noting nonprofit developers could qualify for prioritization. Senate Bill 42, which would repeal certain 30% AMI set-aside and preference requirements for rental housing revolving fund projects, drew opposition from Catholic Charities Hawaii, which argued the bill would reduce the supply of the most vulnerable housing units, while HHFDC warned it could reduce production of 30% AMI units. The committee deferred SB 42. The final bill discussed was Senate Bill 75, which would establish a working group to revise the state’s qualified allocation plan and related rental housing revolving fund loan terms and report back to the Legislature. HHFDC and others offered comments, while Catholic Charities asked that the bill be deferred, saying HHFDC already had the capacity to work with the community without a new law. Roar Cares supported the concept but urged broader stakeholder inclusion. In decision-making, the chair said the committee report would note concerns about prior QAP revisions and the need for more transparent, ongoing stakeholder participation, and the committee recommended passage of SB 75 without amendments. All recommendations were adopted, and the hearing adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They sold the land underneath the hospitals to a private equity firm so that...
• That's right. ...land underneath the hospitals to a private equity firm so that when we sent federal
• We want to give it back to the people. ...that private equity hedge fund, we want to give it back to
• So the private equity firm... Flood happened five years ago.
• So the private equity firm, Medical Properties Trust, has been sitting there waiting.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee first heard testimony on H. 3599, a bill concerning access to historic Indian lands and easements for landlocked tribal parcels in Massachusetts. Witnesses, including members of the Mashpee Wampanoag and Herring Pond communities, said the bill would restore access to family lands that have long been treated as landlocked and had been denied easements by necessity in prior court rulings. They described heavy tax burdens, prior litigation, and support from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, with conditional support from the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe pending language changes. Committee members asked about the tax assessments and the status of tribal support, and the chair said the committee would follow up on possible amendments. The committee then took up S. 2922, which would authorize an underground easement at Magazine Beach in Cambridge for the Greater Cambridge Energy Project. Eversource representatives said the easement is needed for a transmission line connecting the Brighton and Kendall Square substations, supporting grid reliability and the Commonwealth’s clean energy transition. They said DCR would receive fair market value and replacement land in Wendell to satisfy Article 97 requirements. No objections were raised, and the panel’s testimony concluded without a vote recorded in the transcript. Most of the hearing focused on H. 5047, which would authorize the Commonwealth to take the Norwood Hospital site by eminent domain so the hospital can be restored. Sponsors, local officials, hospital task force members, EMS and fire representatives, a chamber of commerce leader, and a former hospital administrator all argued that the 2020 flood and Steward’s bankruptcy left the region without adequate care, causing longer ambulance transports, emergency room boarding, staffing strain, and economic losses. They said the site remains a partially completed shell, that the state should be able to acquire it and bring in a nonprofit operator, and that the taking would not require state funding because an operator would pay the acquisition costs. Committee members from both chambers expressed support and asked about costs, timing, infrastructure, and whether a nonprofit operator is being pursued. The chair took the bill under advisement after extensive testimony; no vote was taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Private equity, public equity are not expected to return the same level of returns over the next decade
• The 15 means 15% of those funds are... being invested in U.S. equities.
• Another 15% are being invested in non-U.S. equities.
• So, equities in Canada, Europe, Asia, Latin America...
• , public equity, everything.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As we kind of move into this space, equity is a new idea.
• Off the reservation, equity, we all understand what it is.
• But we talked about equity. Community is a big one. Community is tricky to nail down.
• They can't cash in on the equity. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Equity, and actually I think their lot in Gallup was like $500 back in the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• affordability is one of three goals of the California Community Colleges Vision 2030, which includes equity
• Office will always keep an eternal flame lit and strongly advocate for the future of the Cal Grant Equity
• for students in access, equity in support, and equity in And success.
• I note this because our equity and access goal emphasizes the need to expand access to Cal Grant for
• The Cal Grant equity framework and inclusion of part-time and nontraditional students, which comprise

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The goal is to improve access to high-quality health care and achieve health equity in our state.
• One of these is the development of equity and quality measures.
• It isn't enough to measure costs; we don't want equity and quality to decline.
• We are in the process of adopting equity and quality measures, with significant stakeholder input, to
• We also know that investment in primary care is essential for improving health equity, health outcomes

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The mechanism that the legislature decided to use to ensure that equity of distribution was to make sure
• I want to lean in on tax equity.
• Um, and what the tax equity note essentially does is the, uh, tax in its incidence tables that the, uh
• , comptroller's office previously discussed, um, a taxes or tax equity note essentially shows how those
• So anyway, if there, if we're going to have tax cuts, we really want to maximize the equity of those.

Transcript Highlights:

• Make sure we have equity and people are paying their part.
• I want to lean in on tax. equity analyses, you know, I think that we generate a lot of revenue for the
• What level of detail will you give us on the tax equity side to give us a sense of who's paying into
• So anyway, if we're going to have tax cuts, we really want to maximize the equity of those.
• So again if you're going to do it, we really want to see it done in a way that prioritizes equity.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So you mentioned out of country and private equity. Is there, in what you've...
• Private equity corporate companies coming in and taking advantage of the system too?
• It has nothing to do with private equity, nothing... ...of it has nothing to do with private equity,
• Private equity is in a lot of different health care provider spaces.
• So we had been talking about adding the private equity amendment since the first...

Bills: SB1052, SB1115, SB1118, SB1120, SB1121, SB1124, SB1171, SB1172, SB1174, SB1175, SB1214, SB1233, SB1235, SB1316, SB1345, SB1372, SB1399, SB1458, SB1494, SB1496, SB1564, SB1602, SB1621, SB1628, SB1630, SB1631, SB1668, SB1672, SB1814, SB1821

Keywords: assisted living, health care, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, physician orders, informed consent, AHCCCS, remote work, state agency, employment, public health, housing, zoning, middle housing, urban development, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes, historic preservation, radiation protection

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 1121, which would prohibit hospitals from requiring lead aprons for cardiac catheterization staff when a radiation protection system is in place, while still allowing hospitals to require aprons outside the designated safety zone or when exposure levels warrant additional protection. An amendment added flexibility for radiation safety officers to require lead or other PPE if exposures approach occupational limits and removed expedited rulemaking language. Supporters, including the sponsor and interventional cardiologists, argued the devices reduce radiation and orthopedic injuries and improve recruitment and retention; hospital groups shifted to neutral after the amendment. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1121 on a 9-2 vote. The committee then considered Senate Bill 1120, which would require hospitals performing cardiac catheterization procedures to equip at least 50% of those rooms with radiation protection systems by 2027. Supporters said the systems protect clinicians from radiation and long-term injury, while opponents, including hospital and radiology groups, argued the bill was overly prescriptive, could create a captive market, and might not fit all rooms or procedures. After adopting a children’s hospital exemption amendment, the committee passed SB 1120 on a 6-6 vote, with the chair breaking the tie in favor of the bill. Senate Bill 1118, an appropriation measure tied to the radiation protection system proposal, was also advanced after brief discussion, passing 6-5. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1214, which would create guardrails for non-FDA-approved stem cell and regenerative therapies, including provider standards, informed consent, advertising limits, reporting requirements, and a private right of action for violations. Supporters described it as a patient-protection and access bill, while testimony emphasized concerns about unregulated “bad actors” and patients traveling out of state for treatment. The committee adopted an amendment removing a reference to the National Law and passed SB 1214 on a 9-3 vote. The transcript then began discussion of SB 1630, which would create a Medicaid-funded home and community-based service benefit for adults with serious mental illness, with AHCCCS taking a neutral position and estimating a significant fiscal impact.

Transcript Highlights:

• HCDA's equity, which is the $15 million, and then the developer equity.
• Um, we did not want to use private equity just because of the cost of money for private equity.
• um private equity did not want to use um private equity just<00:31:47.679> because<00:31:47.919
• You know, money for private equity.
• Now for that state equity uh so equity.

Bills: HB1604, HB1713, HB1722, HB2270, HB2401, HB2515, HB1979, HB1593, HB1743, HB2122, HB1756, HB1837, HB1729

Keywords: agriculture, housing, workforce, land use, zoning, public-private partnerships, tax credit, school impact fees, impact fee exemption, school facilities authority, residential development, housing shortage, affordable housing, infill housing, land dedication, fee in lieu, school construction, developer exactions, fair share contributions, education contribution agreement

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1604, which would create an agricultural workforce housing group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to address shortages of farmworker housing. The department said it supported the bill’s intent but emphasized that the group’s early work should focus on gathering data and surveying farm operators to assess actual demand, to avoid “mission creep.” Testimony from the City and County of Honolulu Office of Economic Revitalization, Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Housing Hawaii’s Future, and the Maui Chamber of Commerce was in support, with one witness suggesting a housing advocacy nonprofit be added to the working group for balance. The committee then discussed HB 1713 on school impact fees, which would clarify exemptions for certain affordable housing projects and exempt new residential developments of fewer than 100 units. The Attorney General’s office said the bill should define “low to moderate income households” because that term is not defined in chapter 302A. HHFDC, the School Facilities Authority, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, and others supported the measure, arguing it would reduce administrative burden and remove barriers to housing. Members questioned whether the bill should instead repeal the school impact fee entirely; supporters said they also favored full repeal but viewed this bill as a more feasible step. The School Facilities Authority also explained that about $28 million in school impact fees had been collected across four districts and none had yet been spent, and discussed how recent nexus requirements limit how the funds can be used. HB 1722, relating to residential condominiums, drew extensive testimony and questioning. HCDA supported the bill and explained that it amends the 99-year leasehold pilot program created by Act 97 of 2023 by reducing owner-occupancy restrictions from 100% of units to 60%, allowing some rental or subleasing flexibility for the owner-occupied units, and permitting up to 40% of units to be sold to qualified residents after being on the market for more than 60 days. HCDA said the original restrictions, combined with rising construction costs, higher interest rates, and competition from nearby projects, made the pilot project difficult to market and finance; it said the changes are needed to make the project feasible and competitive. Supporters including AP Hawaii, Kila LLC, and project representatives said the amendments would help make the demonstration project in Kakaʻako viable. Some members raised concerns that the changes could weaken long-term affordability and questioned why certain ownership language was being deleted if rentals would still be restricted. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.