Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this is the Senate preK-12 that addresses funding policies and the budget.
• The House had a bill for the preK-12 budget, and the Senate broke up many of the subjects into two conforming

Bills: HB 3902, HB 4420, HB 3269, HB 469, HB 336, HB 316, HB 5396, HB 993, HB 1342, HB 5216, HB 2046, HB 2188, HB 2450, HB 2813, HB 2857, HB 4075, HB 2911, HB 4682, HB 3117, HB 3253, HB 3442, HB 4820, HB 4336, HB 5356, HB 3669, HB 3428, HB 5465, HB 3662, HB 2590, HB 2288, HB 1886, HB 3458, HB 5603, HB 5620, HB 1489, HB 4101, HB 4990, HB 5685, HB 4950, HB 4980, HB 5684, HB 3507, HB 3566, HB 4487, HB 4462, HB 4876, HB 4915, HB 4663, HB 5570, HB 2929, HB 5261, HB 2920, HB 4642, HB 4746, HB 1609, HB 5403, HB 5453, HB 3844, HB 2336, HB 1572, HB 1226, HB 2806, HB 2617, HB 2827, HB 3948, HB 3945, HB 4266, HB 4542, HB 3319, HB 1772, HB 2496, HB 1970, HB 3434, HB 5545, HB 5577, HCR 59, HCR 135, HB 4, HB 46, HB 3221, HB 1403, HB 3892, HB 4234, HB 722, HB 4105, HB 4413, HB 170, HB 551, HB 3053, HB 3142, HB 3180, HB 3722, HB 1794, HB 1784, HB 1581, HB 2530, HB 4308, HB 1896, HB 2974, HB 3359, HB 4580, HB 2458, HB 2215, HB 3332, HB 2278, HB 3015, HB 3151, HB 1368, HB 40, HB 101, HB 112, HB 146, HB 214, HB 413, HB 1523, HB 493, HB 521, HB 594, HB 557, HB 305, HB 549, HB 854, HB 1057, HB 1052, HB 842, HB 3174, HB 3196, HB 824, HB 1039, HB 2529, HB 2713, HB 4936, HB 4995, HB 4830, HB 4864, HB 5219, HB 5263, HB 5154, HB 2674, HB 5525, SB 529, SB 541, SB 2004, SB 1012, SB 2269, SB 1886, SB 1236, SB 693, SB 2308, HB 2486, HB 4862, HB 4689, HB 4520, HB 2225, HB 168, HJR 218, HB 4921, HB 5623, HB 2494, HB 2545, HB 2587, HB 2625, HB 5520, HB 5436, HB 4926, HB 1573, HB 5165, HB 4811, HB 5081, HB 4755, HB 3179, HB 4310, HB 4611, HB 2159, HB 4626, HB 3637, HB 3153, HB 3066, HB 2786, HB 2966, HB 638, HB 640, HB 876, HB 497, HB 5539, HB 4809, HB 5308, HB 4687, HB 4070, HB 4421, HB 4412, HB 3284, HB 3369, HB 3420, HB 3449, HB 4098, HB 4281, HB 4120, HB 4504, HB 4370, HB 1106, HB 2370, HB 2404, HB 3863, HB 2407, HB 2253, HB 2273, HB 2040, HB 1586, HB 3788, HB 3993, HB 4690, HB 4309, HB 4696, HB 2308, HB 1142, HB 1533, HB 1621, HB 2242, HB 2012, HB 2193, HB 2442, HB 2464, HB 2348, HB 2313, HB 2289, HB 1942, HB 2011, HB 1629, HB 2993, HB 3592, HB 3824, HB 4076, HB 4535, HB 4623, HB 4773, HB 1091, HB 5115, HB 5515, HB 3372, HB 5659, HB 127, HB 386, HB 115, HB 2868, HB 1249, HB 4766, HB 3720, HB 4656, HB 4879, HB 105, HB 5383, HB 4621, HB 5431, HB 5678, HB 5534, HB 4174, HB 4212, HB 3954, HB 3966, HB 3636, HB 3918, HB 1422, HB 4765, HB 4732, HB 4742, HB 5122, HB 4518, HB 5084, HB 3986, HB 4045, HB 4144, HB 3911, HB 3976, HB 4473, HB 3425, HB 3641, HB 3642, HB 3475, HB 3509, HB 3424, HB 3383, HB 4744, HB 4531, HB 4539, HB 3159, HB 5228, HB 5370, HB 4359, HB 4398, HB 4443, HB 4466, HB 3861, HB 3849, HB 4240, HB 4706, HB 4685, HB 5354, HB 5141, HB 5686, HB 3629, HB 3554, HB 3567, HB 2015, HB 3575, HB 5381, HB 1431, HB 3514, HB 4614, HB 4546, HB 4683, HB 5681, HB 5673, HB 5663, HB 4271, HB 4350, HB 4035, HB 3807, HB 3812, HB 3552, HB 3540, HB 3715, HB 3710, HB 3664, HB 4196, HB 4233, HB 4173, HB 1998, HB 3333, HB 3510, HB 4222, HB 2070, HB 2854, HB 2347, HB 113, HB 983, HB 4847, HB 1449, HB 3833, HB 5151, HB 265, HB 1845, HB 782, HB 108, HB 1960, HB 158, HB 1954, HB 1955, HB 2512, HB 605, HB 2581, HB 2803, HB 627, HB 2667, HB 1738, HB 636, HB 3679, HB 2638, HB 2655, HB 871, HB 2438, HB 1107, HB 1765, HB 1822, HB 2153, HB 4099, HB 3732, HB 3171, HB 3178, HB 3182, HB 3749, HB 2814, HB 3977, HB 4204, HB 4207, HB 4449, HB 1820, HB 1876, HB 1939, HB 1347, HB 2593, HB 2136, HB 2132, HB 2658, HB 2413, HB 2757, HB 2080, HB 3154, HB 3063, HB 3009, HB 3448, HB 3006, HB 2844, HB 3241, HB 3680, HB 3169, HB 2078, HB 2507, HB 4559, HB 3946, HB 3460, HB 3405, HB 475, HB 3463, HB 3441, HB 3520, HB 2060, HB 4731, HB 4991, HB 1991, HB 5596, HB 2014, HB 2142, HB 2673, HB 2731, HB 2417, HB 2399, HB 2301, HB 3335, HB 3234, HB 3320, HB 5573, HB 4848, HB 4748, HB 4769, HB 4795, HB 2086, HB 2234, HB 2203, HB 4916, HB 5624, HB 4505, HB 139, HB 5093, HB 5302, HB 5402, HB 5606, HB 2333, HB 4630, HB 4701, HB 2583, HB 2983, HB 4924, HB 3339, HB 3793, HB 3631, HB 4882, HB 5509, HB 5499, HB 5430, HB 5561, HB 5611, HB 5043, HB 5064, HB 3733, HB 3781, HB 3219, HB 32, HB 4515, HB 5348, HB 3902, HB 4420, HB 3269, HB 469, HB 336, HB 316, HB 5396, HB 993, HB 1342, HB 5216, HB 2046, HB 2188, HB 2450, HB 2813, HB 2857, HB 4075, HB 2911, HB 4682, HB 3117, HB 3253, HB 3442, HB 4820, HB 4336, HB 5356, HB 3669, HB 3428, HB 5465, HB 3662, HB 2590, HB 2288, HB 1886, HB 3458, HB 5603, HB 5620, HB 1489, HB 4101, HB 4990, HB 5685, HB 4950, HB 4980, HB 5684, HB 3507, HB 3566, HB 4487, HB 4462, HB 4876, HB 4915, HB 4663, HB 5570, HB 2929, HB 5261, HB 2920, HB 4642, HB 4746, HB 1609, HB 5403, HB 5453, HB 3844, HB 2336, HB 1572, HB 1226, HB 2806, HB 2617, HB 2827, HB 3948, HB 3945, HB 4266, HB 4542, HB 3319, HB 1772, HB 2496, HB 1970, HB 3434, HB 5545, HB 5577, HCR 76, HCR 127, HCR 9, HCR 40, HCR 118, HR 559, HCR 59, HCR 135

Keywords: Medicaid, reimbursement, nursing facilities, ownership change, healthcare policy, mental health, psychiatric beds, inpatient psychiatric treatment, acute psychiatric care, bed availability, bed capacity, hospital reporting, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state hospitals, private mental health facilities, civil commitment, competency restoration, not guilty by reason of insanity, jail diversion

Summary: The Florida House passed Senate Bill 2510 relating to prekindergarten through grade 12 education funding and policies. Speaker Perez delivered remarks criticizing the Senate for breaking a budget deal and outlined the House's position on reducing state spending and revenue. He emphasized that the state has a spending problem, not a revenue problem, and proposed various tax cuts including sales tax, business rent tax, and communication services tax eliminations. The House also passed a concurrent resolution extending the 2025 legislative session until June 30, 2025. Perez stressed that property tax relief and state revenue reduction are separate issues, highlighting the House's tourist development tax reform proposal.

Transcript Highlights:

• what that has done is put a focus in the classroom around agriculture from all levels, K through 12, preK
• levels,<00:15:21.279><c> K</c><00:15:21.519><c> through</c><00:15:21.920><c> 12,</c><00:15:22.240><c> preK
• </c> levels, K through 12, preK through 12. levels, K through 12, preK through 12.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:12 SB 5 Discussion: 03:10 SB 5 Roll Call Vote: 18:05 SB 73 Discussion: 22:00 SB 73 Roll Call Vote: 22:40, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• subsidy<00:10:47.120><c> dollars</c><00:10:47.760><c> or</c><00:10:48.079><c> a</c><00:10:48.240><c> prek
• 00:10:48.800><c> program</c><00:10:49.600><c> that</c><00:10:50.240><c> u</c> subsidy dollars or a prek
• c><00:14:09.360><c> Head</c><00:14:09.600><c> Start,</c><00:14:10.000><c> our</c><00:14:10.240><c> prek
• ,</c><00:14:11.440><c> some</c> many like our Head Start, our prek, some many like our Head Start, our
• prek, some child<00:14:12.079><c> care</c><00:14:12.320><c> facilities.

Bills: HB329, HB8, HB353, HB329, HB8, HB353, HB50, HB78, HB225, SB75, SB209

Keywords: military installations, tall structures, local government, construction approval, wind energy facilities, tobacco regulation, vaping, sales restrictions, youth protection, tobacco compliance, public health, education programs, electronic nicotine delivery systems, judicial compensation, salary adjustments, district attorneys, Judges, local officials, computer science, education reform

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:15:26.079><c> retain</c><00:15:26.480><c> the</c><00:15:26.720><c> existing</c><00:15:27.360><c> prek
• You retain the existing prek section 35.
• You retain the existing prek weight,<00:15:28.639><c> but</c><00:15:28.880><c> there's</c><00:15:29.120
• So, as John mentioned, there's a weight for preK students. and a half times what you do other and a half
• , as John mentioned, there's a weight So, as John mentioned, there's a weight for<00:32:39.440><c> preK

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:37:16.280><c> seats</c><00:37:16.680><c> for</c><00:37:16.920><c> Universal</c><00:37:17.720><c> prek
• </c> getting those seats for Universal prek getting those seats for Universal prek at<00:37:18.960><c
• 37:27.960><c> to</c> care and it is clear that if you go to care and it is clear that if you go to prek
• 29.720><c> through2</c><00:37:30.280><c> student</c><00:37:30.720><c> you</c><00:37:30.880><c> have</c> prek
• as a k through2 student you have prek as a k through2 student you have better<00:37:31.560><c> educational

Keywords: Order of the Day: PENDING, 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :07:43.680><c> administer</c><00:07:44.159><c> 92</c><00:07:44.680><c> public</c><00:07:44.919><c> prek
• </c> Education to administer 92 public prek Education to administer 92 public prek classrooms<00:07:45.840
• :57.760><c> skills</c> they can handle their learning skills they can handle their learning skills prek
• 58.959><c> every</c><00:11:59.240><c> free</c><00:11:59.480><c> child</c><00:12:00.079><c> and</c> prek
• is good for every free child and prek is good for every free child and we're<00:12:00.399><c> so</c>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of the school employees, and a beginning of the path<00:04:32.639><c> toward</c><00:04:32.960><c> prek
• </c><00:04:34.400><c> And</c><00:04:34.560><c> then</c> path toward prek for all.
• And then path toward prek for all.
• prek, a government<00:16:15.360><c> prek</c><00:16:15.759><c> now.
• </c> government prek now. Is that correct? government prek now. Is that correct?

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:11 Executive Budget 00:00:50, 958, all

Summary: The committee met to hear a presentation from Dr. Hicks on the governor’s recommended budget for the next biennium. He reviewed the revenue outlook, noting modest general fund growth, a large rainy day fund balance, and the impact of recent income tax reductions. He said the budget was built around recurring reductions, lower debt service and retirement contribution rates, and the use of excess restricted funds, while protecting K-12 education, Medicaid, postsecondary education, public safety, and pension obligations. Dr. Hicks outlined several major spending and reserve proposals, including $350 million from the Department of Insurance’s excess restricted funds to support Medicaid in the first year, $150 million for the affordable housing trust fund, $125 million for rural hospitals, $100 million to offset lost federal ACA premium tax credits, $75 million for utility assistance, and $50 million for food assistance. In education, the proposal included a phased pre-K for all plan funded by sports wagering tax revenue, a 3% annual salary increase for full-time school personnel, continued full funding of teacher pensions, a 2.5% annual increase in SEEK base funding, and additional support for career and technical education and school facilities. He also discussed Medicaid cost pressures, including higher managed care, pharmacy, behavioral health, and nursing facility costs, and explained the expected effects of federal HR1 changes on Kentucky’s Medicaid program. Those changes include work and community engagement requirements and more frequent eligibility redeterminations for expansion members, which the administration estimated would reduce enrollment by about 4,300 in the first year and 28,000 in the second year. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting, which was limited to the budget presentation and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's universal<00:59:46.720><c> prek,</c><00:59:47.200><c> right?
• We've been universal prek, right?
• But there is a chunk in prek years.
• So for prek, we it's different agencies.
• on prek that have a steering committee on prek that sits<01:39:55.280><c> above</c><01:39:55.760><c>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> four campuses across duth serving prek four campuses across duth serving prek through<00:22:45.880
• </c> serve over 700 Scholars annually prek serve over 700 Scholars annually prek through<00:36:56.240
• to 12 settings all of students in a prek to 12 settings all of whom<00:47:03.800><c> travel</c><00:47
• We are a PreK through 12 school on the east side of the metro.
• </c> mounds park Academy we are a prek mounds park Academy we are a prek through<01:31:11.119><c> 12<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:36:59.040><c> or</c><00:36:59.200><c> charters,</c> It'll probably use for prek or charters,
• 00:39:32.480><c> develop</c><00:39:32.800><c> and</c><00:39:33.040><c> expand</c><00:39:33.440><c> prek
• </c><00:39:33.839><c> and</c> area to develop and expand prek and area to develop and expand prek and
• c> &gt;&gt; it would be a great for preschools for &gt;&gt; it would be a great for preschools for prek
• or it would be also great for a prek or it would be also great for a charter<00:42:48.319><c> school

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint House committees on Housing and Education heard HB 1713, HD1, which would repeal school impact fees and transfer remaining balances in the school impact fee and certain fair share accounts to the school facilities special fund. The Department of Education testified in opposition, while the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, the Attorney General’s office (with comments and suggested constitutional amendments), the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, the School Facilities Authority, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, NAP Hawaii, Avalon Development Company, Mark Development, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Housing Hawaii’s Future, Landis Research Foundation, BIA Hawaii, and others testified in support. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered comments. The DOE said the bill would weaken a key tool for matching school facilities to residential growth, while supporters said the current program leaves funds unused or restricted in ways that limit their effectiveness. A lengthy discussion followed about the difference between the older school impact fee program and the separate fair share agreements tied to land use entitlements and change-of-zone approvals. DOE Deputy Superintendent Jesse Suki explained that fair share funds are tied to the district where they were collected, may be too small to build a full school on their own, and are held until needed for projects such as Core Ridge, Central and West Maui, and other planned schools. Committee members pressed DOE on why funds had remained unspent for years, how much money was in the accounts, and whether the department had reviewed audit findings about the program. Members also questioned whether homeowners ultimately bear these costs through developers passing them along. The committee did not take a vote during the portion of the meeting provided. The discussion ended with members and DOE debating whether the current statute should remain in place, whether past entitlements should be affected, and whether the bill should be amended to better address remaining construction-related obligations and the use of collected funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• It<00:12:20.079><c> will</c><00:12:20.240><c> expand</c><00:12:20.959><c> prek</c><00:12:21.839><c> so
• </c><00:12:22.079><c> our</c><00:12:22.320><c> youngest</c> It will expand prek so our youngest It will
• expand prek so our youngest students<00:12:23.120><c> have</c><00:12:23.279><c> a</c><00:12:23.440><

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :13:34.320><c> indelible</c><00:13:35.120><c> impact</c><00:13:35.680><c> for</c><00:13:35.920><c> prek
• </c> create indelible impact for prek create indelible impact for prek readiness.<00:13:37.760><c> Um

Keywords: 958, all

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2681, SB5467, SB5820, SB5863, SB5892, SCR8406, HB2487, HB2711, SB5816, SB5919, SB5995, SB6278

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, cannabis, license fees, regulatory framework, revenue generation, legalization, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, HB2681, SB5467, SB5820, SB5863, SB5892, SCR8406, HB2487, HB2711, SB5816, SB5919, SB5995, SB6278

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, cannabis, license fees, regulatory framework, revenue generation, legalization, SB 5467, water-sewer district, water sewer district, surplus property, public property sale, local government

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, approved the prior day’s minutes, and then moved through caucuses and a series of transportation, elections, energy, historical records, cannabis, abortion-access, and fiscal bills. Members repeatedly emphasized that several measures were supplemental or technical updates to existing law, while others involved larger policy disputes over taxes, fees, clean energy, election security, and reproductive health. The chamber also received Senate messages on other bills and briefly recessed for caucus during the day. The most prominent action was final passage of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6005, the supplemental transportation budget, after adopting a technical amendment and a larger striker amendment. Supporters highlighted preservation and maintenance funding, rail investments, ferry maintenance, road safety, and continued work on major projects statewide; opponents largely reserved comments or noted concerns about future needs. The House passed the bill 93-0 with five excused. The House also passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2711 on transportation resources, after adopting a technical amendment that removed the aircraft tax and delayed an RV-related tax change; supporters said it protected businesses and jobs, while opponents objected to trade-in treatment and other tax changes. That bill passed 83-10. On elections, the House considered Senate Bill 5892 to protect the voter registration database. An amendment to reduce penalties from a felony to a civil infraction and remove the emergency clause failed, while the committee amendment passed 50-34. Supporters said the bill was needed to safeguard sensitive voter data and clarify access; opponents argued it created conflicts with federal law and imposed excessive penalties on local election officials. The bill then passed 57-36. On energy, Substitute Senate Bill 5982 updating consumer-owned utility provisions drew debate over carbon capture, resource adequacy, data centers, and clean energy policy. Amendments on carbon capture and blackout-triggered termination failed, while an amendment preserving cogeneration exceptions passed; the bill then passed 57-37. The House also passed Senate Bill 5863 on preservation and inspection of state historical records, after rejecting an amendment to require longer retention but adopting the committee amendment; supporters stressed preserving the history of residential habilitation centers and the value to families seeking records. Substitute Senate Bill 5874, allowing the Employment Security Department to waive penalties for minor employer reporting errors, passed unanimously. Engrossed House Bill 2681, raising cannabis license fees while removing an escalator, passed 52-42. Finally, Substitute Senate Bill 5917 on access to abortion medications saw several failed amendments from opponents seeking to narrow, reframe, or add fiscal limits to the bill; supporters said it preserved flexibility to ensure access and avoid waste, and the bill passed 57-36.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um<01:08:28.640><c> think</c><01:08:28.880><c> about</c><01:08:29.120><c> preK.
• c><01:08:29.839><c> This</c><01:08:30.159><c> governor</c><01:08:30.480><c> and</c> Um think about preK
• This governor and Um think about preK.
• I think we're clearly heavily in preK.
• , all of those that all of those prek, all of those that have<01:13:21.840><c> made</c><01:13:22.000>

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:49:16.960><c> facing</c><00:49:17.520><c> our</c><00:49:18.000><c> public</c><00:49:18.319><c> prek
• </c> unique situation facing our public prek unique situation facing our public prek workforce<00:49:
• Highly qualified eel public prek<00:49:23.839><c> teachers</c><00:49:24.640><c> have</c><00:49:24.800
• ><c> to</c><00:49:24.960><c> graduate</c><00:49:25.359><c> from</c><00:49:25.520><c> a</c> prek teachers
• have to graduate from a prek teachers have to graduate from a state<00:49:25.920><c> approved</c><00

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Education met on March 19 and moved through several bills under time pressure, hearing mostly brief testimony. SB 2024 SD2 and SB 896 SD2, both concerning public-private partnerships for charter school facilities, drew support from the Department of Education, the Charter School Commission, White Kids Can, and Hawaii Technology Academy. DOE said any P3 model should apply only to charter schools on private land and not affect public schools on DOE land. Supporters argued the approach could speed construction, reduce costs, and keep public money in public assets, while UPW and HGA raised concerns about privatization. In response, SFA said the intent was to mirror the existing conversion charter school model, with public ownership of assets and unionized staff, and noted some regions have waited years for schools. SB 2613 SD1 on TMK transfers was heard next. DOE said the bill had originally been supported as part of the governor’s package but was amended to require DOE to convey lands for 13 libraries on DOE property, which DOE said would create “donut holes” in campuses and was unnecessary because existing agreements already govern library use. The State Public Library System supported the bill, saying it has long coexisted with DOE but needs clearer separation and more reliable control over its sites. The Attorney General’s office said the library system currently lacks express statutory authority to own real property and flagged implementation issues because some of the affected parcels are not currently owned by DOE. Committee members questioned both sides about current agreements, communication, and how the bill would change operations. SB 494 SD2, concerning charter school audits, received comments from the Charter School Commission, which said the bill was redundant because charter schools already undergo annual audits during the term of their contracts. The Office of the Auditor was also present. SB 2391 SD2, relating to automatic pay increases for teachers, drew strong opposition from the Office of Collective Bargaining, which said step movement and longevity increases are negotiated in each contract and do not automatically carry over when a contract expires; it warned the bill could affect upcoming negotiations with HSTA. HSTA and several other supporters argued the bill would standardize annual step movement, improve retention, and reflect existing contract language. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• the number and our ready keki partners, the number of<00:51:35.280><c> public</c><00:51:35.520><c> prek
• </c><00:51:36.000><c> classrooms</c><00:51:36.480><c> has</c><00:51:36.720><c> grown</c> of public prek
• </c><00:51:41.680><c> teachers</c> Highly qualified EO public prek teachers Highly qualified EO public
• prek teachers must<00:51:42.480><c> have</c><00:51:42.720><c> graduated</c><00:51:43.200><c> from</c
• As the system adjusts to prek program.

Bills: HB2185, HB2621, HB2179, HB2534, HB2168, HB2427, HB2560, HB2565, HB2172, HB2298, HB2304

Keywords: sports officials, referees, umpires, athletic directors, school administrators, league administrators, coaches, assault, first-degree assault, substantial bodily injury, temporary restraining order, TRO, private counsel, Department of Education, DOE, sports safety, school sports, amateur athletics, professional sports, public schools

Transcript Highlights:

• programs Under One Roof and public prek programs Under One Roof and said<01:14:42.040><c> where</c><
• :15:17.400><c> standards</c><01:15:17.800><c> for</c><01:15:18.080><c> public</c><01:15:18.360><c> prek
• </c><01:15:19.320><c> there</c> level standards for public prek there level standards for public prek
• simply</c><01:17:38.239><c> says</c><01:17:39.000><c> provide</c><01:17:39.360><c> instructional</c> prek
• simply says provide instructional prek simply says provide instructional content<01:17:40.360><c> and

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• 47.520><c> a</c> credit one five% so let's say you have a credit one five% so let's say you have a prek
• 44:50.040><c> year</c><00:44:51.040><c> um</c><00:44:51.520><c> right</c><00:44:51.720><c> now</c> prek
• Bill of $10,000 a year um right now prek Bill of $10,000 a year um right now you<00:44:52.040><c> can

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Economic Development and Technology met on February 5, 2025, and heard testimony on several bills related to economic development, broadband, tax policy, and family support. HB 455 drew support for a startup-business loan program, with DBEDT, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, and Hmua Collective among those in favor; Tax Foundation Hawaii questioned the need for a special fund. HB 437, concerning Hawaii trade/investment offices, received support from DBEDT and Hawaii Friends for Civil Rights, and members asked DBEDT about how to measure return on investment from the overseas offices. HB 650, dealing with broadband-related administration, was supported by DBEDT, the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Food Industry Association, and others, while committee discussion focused on the role of the state’s trade and investment offices and broadband administration. HB 935, on digital navigator support, received testimony in favor from DBEDT, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the University of Hawaii system, and others, but also drew comments about consumer representation and the need for service on neighbor islands. The committee also heard strong testimony on tax and family-related measures. HB 572, which would remove the grocery tax, received overwhelming support from groups including the Hawaii Food Industry Association, AARP Hawaii, and others, with testimony emphasizing food insecurity and cost-of-living relief; Tax Foundation Hawaii offered technical comments. HB 701, a caregiver tax credit bill, was supported by AARP Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks, and others, with AARP stressing the burden on family caregivers and Tax Foundation Hawaii suggesting the credit percentage be reduced to preserve price-shopping incentives. HB 753, another child and dependent care tax credit measure, drew support from AARP Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks, and others; Tax Foundation Hawaii again raised technical concerns, this time about the complexity of the formula. After testimony, the committee took up decision-making. HB 455 was passed with amendments, including transferring administrative responsibility from the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to the Community-Based Economic Development Program, blanking out the appropriation, adding one business loan officer FTE, and noting a $95,000 cost. HB 437, HB 650, HB 934, HB 442, and HB 572 were all advanced with amendments, generally involving blanking out appropriations, moving amounts into committee notes, technical cleanup, and setting effective dates to July 1, 3000. HB 935 was deferred because of overlap with public library programs and uncertainty about federal funding for digital navigator positions. The chair also indicated HB 7 would be amended to add a nonrefundable family caregiver tax credit and related technical changes, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• My daughter<00:18:03.120><c> adores</c><00:18:03.600><c> her</c><00:18:03.760><c> prek</c><00:18:04.160
• ><c> teacher,</c><00:18:04.559><c> and</c> daughter adores her prek teacher, and daughter adores her
• prek teacher, and the<00:18:04.880><c> emotional</c><00:18:05.280><c> toll</c><00:18:05.600><c> it</c
• </c><00:21:15.120><c> students</c><00:21:15.440><c> are</c> stacking blocks and prek students are stacking
• blocks and prek students are practicing<00:21:16.000><c> their</c><00:21:16.240><c> ABCs.

Keywords: 1183, house