Transcript Highlights:

• :37.120><c> that,</c><00:02:37.280><c> but</c><00:02:37.519><c> I'll</c><00:02:37.840><c> be</c><00:02
• </c><00:02:40.959><c> I</c><00:02:41.120><c> do</c><00:02:41.280><c> just</c><00:02:41.519><c> want</
• 02:43.280><c> uh</c><00:02:43.440><c> comment</c><00:02:43.599><c> that</c><00:02:43.760><c> we</c><00
• ><c> a</c><00:02:48.800><c> cap</c><00:02:48.959><c> if</c><00:02:49.120><c> that</c><00:02:49.280><c
• Assuming<00:02:50.800><c> that</c><00:02:51.360><c> uh</c><00:02:51.680><c> drafting</c><00:02:52.080

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services opened its first hearing of the 2026 session and heard testimony on several bills, with the chair emphasizing one-minute testimony, written submissions, and live streaming. For SB 768, relating to an alternative water source income tax credit, the Department of Taxation said a drafting issue needed clarification on the $500 cap and estimated a revenue loss of $6.8 million per year beginning in fiscal year 2028. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Libertarian Party opposed the bill as an unnecessary subsidy and tax-code complication, while one supporter was noted. A member questioned the size of the projected loss and suggested future analysis of net fiscal impacts and methodology. The committee then heard SB 389, which expands a general excise tax exemption to additional health-related providers and purchases. The Department of Taxation said the change would be a minimal code adjustment but would require public education; the Tax Foundation said the bill should be framed in light of the original physician-shortage rationale for the exemption. The Hawaii National Guard and Aloha Care supported the measure, along with several other organizations and individuals, while the Libertarian Party opposed it as favoritism and tax-code complexity. A member asked about administrative burden and potential tax impact, and the department said it did not yet have a calculation but was working on one. The committee also heard SB 877, which would appropriate funds to increase Medicaid in-home services if federal matching funds are maximized, and SB 1139, which would direct DHS to expand Medicaid eligibility for children from birth to age five regardless of household income. DHS stood on written testimony for both bills, and Aloha Care, the Hawaii Medical Association, disability advocates, children’s advocates, and CARES testified in support, arguing the measures would improve access and family stability. The Libertarian Party opposed both bills, warning of higher long-term costs, entitlement growth, and reduced private-sector options. Members questioned the fiscal and programmatic differences between crisis and warm-line services during discussion of SB 787, a bill to fund a Department of Health warm line; the department said the warm line would serve noncrisis callers more cheaply than crisis staffing, and that about 34.7% of 2024 Hawaii CARES contacts were mild issues that could have been routed to a warm line. Supporters cited mental health needs after the Lahaina wildfire and the affordability crisis, while opponents argued the service duplicated existing resources and expanded government involvement.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's<01:02:00.720><c> support</c><01:02:01.040><c> our</c><01:02:01.280><c> two</c><01:02:01.599><c>
• /c><01:02:06.079><c> to</c><01:02:06.319><c> spend</c><01:02:06.640><c> more</c><01:02:06.960><c> money
• </c><01:02:08.000><c> in</c><01:02:08.160><c> the</c><01:02:08.319><c> face</c><01:02:08.480><c> of</
• my</c><01:02:39.200><c> remarks</c><01:02:39.920><c> but</c><01:02:40.079><c> you</c><01:02:40.240><c
• will see some<01:02:41.359><c> similarities</c><01:02:42.480><c> in</c><01:02:43.280><c> how</c><01:02

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• :00.400><c> Office</c><01:02:00.640><c> of</c><01:02:00.799><c> wellness</c><01:02:01.079><c> and</c>
• of the office of the governor<01:02:04.359><c> uh</c><01:02:04.559><c> thank</c><01:02:04.720><c> you
• <c> report</c><01:02:10.079><c> we</c><01:02:10.240><c> we</c><01:02:10.359><c> stand</c><01:02:10.599
• :31.119><c> as</c><01:02:31.240><c> an</c><01:02:31.480><c> office</c><01:02:31.799><c> to</c><01:02:
• ><01:02:43.240><c> several</c><01:02:43.680><c> ways</c><01:02:44.079><c> one</c><01:02:44.760><c> in

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several Human Services measures focused on Medicaid access, long-term care benefits, home health reimbursement, SNAP administration, trauma-informed child welfare, and child abuse reporting. HP 702 would increase funding for Medicaid in-home services if federal matching funds are secured, and testimony from disability advocates supported the measure as needed to help people with disabilities cover medical expenses. HB 1477, described as a correction to a prior session’s mistake, would clarify that the monthly needs allowance for certain long-term care residents does not replace state supplemental payments and would raise the ceiling by $25 to fix the prior issue and by an additional $20 as a new benefit; DHS supported it with amendments, and the committee indicated it would amend accordingly. HB 713 would fund a DHS rate study for home health services, with the Healthcare Association of Hawaii strongly supporting it and describing rising labor costs, losses on Medicaid patients, and access concerns if agencies cannot keep serving Medicaid clients. HB 1099 would appropriate emergency funds to DHS after a USDA penalty tied to SNAP response times, with supporters including Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and others arguing the money should be reinvested in staffing and systems to improve access and avoid further penalties. HB 1079 would direct the Office of Wellness and Resilience and DHS to create trauma-informed assessments and training for Child Welfare Services staff; testimony from state offices and advocacy groups supported it, citing the Mālama ʻOhana Working Group, staff burnout, and the need for a sustainable train-the-trainer model. Finally, HB 239 would narrow when failure to provide a child’s needs constitutes abuse or neglect, but DHS raised concerns that the current wording could broaden abuse findings and leave families in poverty without a clear safety net, while the Honolulu prosecutor’s office opposed it, warning it could weaken mandatory reporting and hinder investigations of child abuse. No formal votes were taken in the portion provided, though the chair said HB 1477 would be amended and several measures were left open for further questions and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Or So,<02:02:28.960><c> all</c><02:02:29.120><c> these</c> So, all these So, all these uh<02:02:30.720
• ><c> everybody</c><02:02:31.200><c> or</c><02:02:31.400><c> their</c><02:02:31.560><c> designees.
• Commission<02:02:33.160><c> repre-</c><02:02:33.520><c> representation,</c><02:02:34.560><c> two</c>
• of</c><02:02:35.720><c> the</c><02:02:35.840><c> Commission</c><02:02:36.440><c> on</c><02:02:36.680>
• ><c> Management</c><02:02:38.600><c> provided</c><02:02:39.200><c> that</c><02:02:39.920><c> the</c>

Bills: SB3253 , SB2401 , SB3169 , SB17 , SB3014 , SB3032 , SB1432 , SB2002 , SB2972 , SB3247

Committee: House Water & Land

Keywords: conservation, endangered species, wildlife preservation, native birds, biodiversity, sanctuary, nonprofit, DLNR, agricultural district, land use, chapter 195D, chapter 205, chapter 42F, state funding, public purpose, habitat restoration, predator-free sanctuary, ecosystem restoration, Zealandia, wildlife refuge

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land heard testimony on SB 5253 SD2 relating to conservation and SB 2401 relating to regional shoreline mitigation district, with the chair emphasizing short testimony limits and the need to finish before session. On SB 5253, DLNR said it stood on its written testimony and answered questions about the bill’s proposed nonprofit endangered species sanctuary. Members asked whether existing entities or agreements, such as land trusts, private landowners, and DLNR safe harbor agreements, could accomplish similar conservation goals without creating a new entity. DLNR said similar work already exists, but it was not aware of a comparable sanctuary model in the state. A member also questioned language suggesting for-profit businesses in the sanctuary, and DLNR said the intent appeared to be sales of outreach or similar materials, though it agreed that such activities could be handled by a nonprofit. The bulk of the hearing focused on SB 2401, which would create a regional shoreline adaptation/mitigation framework. The Department of the Attorney General said it had concerns about inconsistent use of the terms “mitigation” and “adaptation,” warning of possible title-subject issues. DLNR said it was neutral on the terminology and more concerned with the substance, and noted that the bill would not waive permits; any plan would still require environmental review and applicable state and county permits. DLNR also supported OHA’s recommendation to consider impacts on Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices during regional planning, and said the bill’s language on temporary shoreline protection measures could help address the gap between emergency permits and longer-term planning while avoiding a hardening-only approach. The Office of Planning supported the regional planning concept but noted it is not a regulatory agency and would need to work with DLNR and the Land Board. OHA supported the bill’s planning-based approach but recommended amendments to require assessment of impacts on Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices during plan development and to clarify that environmental review would still apply at the project level. Testifiers from the Ka‘anapali Steering Committee strongly supported the bill, saying it would provide a regional framework for ongoing erosion problems while preserving full regulatory authority and normal permitting, and they proposed amendments to standardize terminology, create a limited pathway for temporary shoreline protection, and address ownership and maintenance responsibilities. Members discussed the meaning of “mitigation” versus “adaptation,” the scope of shoreline hardening, and whether the bill would help the legislature take a broader, more holistic view of shoreline decisions. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• System um<00:02:23.879><c> it's</c><00:02:24.040><c> our</c><00:02:24.400><c> second</c><00:02:24.840
• c><00:02:27.840><c> it's</c><00:02:28.000><c> our</c><00:02:28.480><c> it's</c><00:02:28.640><c> our<
• </c><00:02:29.920><c> unit</c><00:02:30.200><c> as</c><00:02:30.280><c> a</c><00:02:30.440><c> whole<
• :02:34.319><c> does</c><00:02:34.920><c> is</c><00:02:35.840><c> um</c><00:02:36.840><c> brings</c><00
• ><c> into</c><00:02:41.319><c> the</c><00:02:41.400><c> room</c><00:02:41.800><c> together</c><00:02:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Health Services met with a quorum and first considered House Bill 9, which would create a Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board modeled after the Public Pension Oversight Board. The sponsors said the board is intended to bring together the executive branch, legislative branch, and stakeholders to study Medicaid policy and its fiscal impacts before changes are made. Members generally supported the concept, with questions focused on board size and representation from providers and community-based service organizations. The bill was reported favorably by unanimous vote, including a title amendment. The committee then heard House Bill 152, which would create a Medicaid supplemental directed payment program for public EMS agencies, including fire departments and city, county, or taxing-district EMS providers. The sponsor said the measure is designed to draw down a higher federal match without any general fund impact, and noted support from local government groups. After brief discussion, the bill passed with favorable expression by unanimous vote. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 688, a two-part measure. One part would give the Board of Nursing more discretion to review out-of-state nursing credentials by changing mandatory acceptance of certification to permissive language, in response to concerns about fraudulent or substandard nursing programs and the effects of multistate licensure. The other part would allow certain diabetes medications to be stored and administered in schools, with training for school personnel and civil immunity for those acting in good faith. Some members supported the bill as a way to protect patients and maintain standards, while one senator voted no because of concerns about slowing licensure during a nursing shortage. The bill passed 10-1 with favorable expression. The committee announced it would meet again Wednesday at 8:30 a.m., then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> let</c><02:08:26.760><c> us</c><02:08:26.960><c> then</c><02:08:27.119><c> be</c><02:08:27.320><
• :08:33.800><c> day</c><02:08:34.800><c> unto</c><02:08:35.119><c> you</c><02:08:35.280><c> we</c><02:
• :09:36.079><c> it</c><02:09:36.239><c> is</c><02:09:36.639><c> known</c><02:09:37.040><c> that</c><02
• </c><02:10:05.159><c> that</c><02:10:05.440><c> he</c><02:10:05.599><c> will</c><02:10:05.800><c> be<
• and stability for<02:10:11.679><c> the</c><02:10:11.840><c> people</c><02:10:12.079><c> of</c><02:10

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, January 13, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:02:15.320><c> yeah</c><02:02:15.679><c> I</c><02:02:15.880><c> vote</c><02:02:16.199><c> Yes<
• /c> nine<02:02:23.800><c> Ys</c><02:02:24.679><c> nine</c><02:02:25.360><c> nine</c><02:02:25.960><c>
• :30.040><c> F</c><02:03:30.679><c> statute</c> disagreement on hp19 on the F statute disagreement on
• hp19 on the F statute limitations<02:03:32.560><c> um</c><02:03:33.320><c> with</c><02:03:33.560><c>
• ><c> statute</c><02:03:39.960><c> of</c> everybody to extend the statute of everybody to extend the statute

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met in executive session and first corrected a procedural issue by revoting on House Bills 98 and 164, which had previously been reported out unanimously before the notice had been placed on the calendar. HB 98, concerning professional limited liability company assistant managers, was again voted ought to pass by roll call 16-0 and was placed on the consent calendar. HB 164, dealing with local records, was amended with a fiscal note update from the Secretary of State’s office and then voted ought to pass as amended 17-0; because it was going to Finance, it was not eligible for consent. The committee also set aside HB 111 briefly while the amendment language was corrected. The committee then took up HR 6, a resolution condemning the judicial doctrine of disparate impact. The sponsor argued the resolution was intended to criticize the doctrine, but several members said it was too broad, legally problematic, and in need of more work, including a drafting error in the addressee. The committee voted ITL on HR 6 by 15-2, and with no objection it was placed on the consent calendar. The final major item was HB 111 FN, which would extend the right-to-know ombudsman position for two years. Representative Kuttab offered an amendment to limit remote records requests to people with a New Hampshire connection, citing testimony about out-of-state requests and the burden on municipalities. Members discussed the broader policy of the bill, with supporters saying the ombudsman has reduced court filings and saves time and money, while opponents said the office needs restructuring or more resources and that they were not ready to extend it without changes. The amendment was adopted 16-1, and the committee then voted ought to pass as amended 15-2, sending the bill to Finance.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><01:02:02.520><c> board</c><01:02:02.839><c> would</c><01:02:03.039><c> be</c><01:02:03.279><c> a</
• <01:02:05.440><c> immediately</c><01:02:06.119><c> any</c><01:02:06.359><c> changes</c><01:02:06.880>
• :07.319><c> pass</c><01:02:07.920><c> through</c><01:02:08.160><c> the</c><01:02:08.440><c> re</c><01
• </c><01:02:52.599><c> an</c><01:02:52.799><c> instantaneous</c><01:02:53.599><c> we're</c><01:02:53.760
• we're going to do<01:02:54.119><c> it</c><01:02:54.240><c> at</c><01:02:54.440><c> this</c><01:02:54.640

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on HB 660, which would require historic horse racing facilities to provide 10% of HHR winnings to host municipalities as mitigation. Representative Om said the bill was intended to offset local costs associated with large gaming facilities, noting that prior gaming measures included opt-in provisions and that this proposal would leave charities and the state whole while taking the 10% from the operator’s share. Members questioned why 10% was chosen and whether municipalities were currently experiencing added costs; Om said the amount was meant to address projected future impacts, not broader municipal budget issues, and cited a study on casino-related community costs. Opponents from the New Hampshire Charitable Gaming Operators Association argued the bill unfairly singled out one industry and said gaming facilities do not impose more municipal burden than other entertainment venues. The hearing closed without a vote, and a member clarified the bill would apply to existing and future casinos/facilities. The committee then opened a hearing on HB 658-FN, which raises the cap on reimbursements from the Oil Discharge and Disposal Cleanup Fund and makes related changes to the Oil Pollution Control Fund. Representative Malloy introduced the bill, and Representative Aly described the funds as an insurance backstop for oil spill cleanup and low-income tank replacement, saying the program helps prevent environmental hazards and satisfies financial responsibility requirements. Bob Scully of the Energy Marketers Association supported the bill but noted that fee changes are ultimately passed on to consumers. Department of Environmental Services officials Robert Bishop and Jennifer Marts explained that the bill would change reporting deadlines, raise the reimbursement cap for low-income homeowners, extend the fee collection period for 10 years, and adjust petroleum import fees based on an actuarial review. They said the funds cover spill response, prevention, and tank replacement, and that the fee structure was designed to keep the funds solvent while balancing costs across fuel categories. Committee members asked about the actuarial basis for the fee changes, why some fees would rise while others would fall, and how the funds are used. DES said the review used 10 years of claims and exposure data and that the fuel oil fee would otherwise need to rise sharply, so the board proposed a smaller increase and rebalanced other fees. Members also asked about the scope of covered oil imports, and DES explained that the fee applies to oil destined for use in New Hampshire, not merely passing through the state. The discussion also covered home heating oil spills, which DES said are often discovered by homeowners or fire departments and are usually caused by tank corrosion, piping, or overfills. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair noted that the policy committee had already approved the bill before the finance-focused review.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um I I I look<00:02:06.440><c> forward</c><00:02:06.840><c> to</c><00:02:06.960><c> working</c><00:02
• c> you</c><00:02:09.479><c> guys,</c><00:02:10.479><c> to</c><00:02:11.040><c> make</c><00:02:11.320>
• it more easy<00:02:12.800><c> for</c><00:02:13.000><c> people</c><00:02:13.240><c> to</c><00:02:13.320
• It's<00:02:32.200><c> been</c><00:02:32.320><c> very</c><00:02:32.600><c> good</c><00:02:32.840><c> to
• Um<00:02:58.840><c> we</c><00:02:59.200><c> have</c><00:02:59.400><c> a</c><00:02:59.480><c> really</

Committee: Joint Public Health and Welfare

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 24 March, 2026; 11:15 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And<01:02:14.000><c> now</c><01:02:14.240><c> moving</c><01:02:14.480><c> on</c><01:02:14.640><c> to<
• 02:19.280><c> moving</c><01:02:19.520><c> this</c><01:02:19.760><c> one</c><01:02:19.920><c> out</c><
• ><c> when</c><01:02:29.359><c> you</c><01:02:29.520><c> look</c><01:02:29.680><c> at</c><01:02:30.079
• I think<01:02:36.319><c> um</c><01:02:36.480><c> the</c><01:02:36.799><c> communities</c><01:02:37.440
• </c><01:02:39.760><c> of</c><01:02:40.000><c> tourists</c><01:02:40.400><c> is</c><01:02:40.720><c> I

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation met on March 20, 2025, first on two bills and then on a series of resolutions. On SB 597, relating to administrative driver’s license revocation, the Department of the Attorney General and other agencies supported extending the deadlines for written review decisions because chemical testing results, especially from neighbor islands, can take longer to return. One individual testified in opposition. The committee amended the bill to set the review-decision deadlines at 14 and 28 days, deferred the effective date to July 1, 3000, and recommended passage with amendments by vote. The committee then heard SB 1285 SD2, a highway safety measure that would create an impaired-driving offense, establish automatic license suspension procedures, and amend related administrative processes. The Attorney General’s office raised concerns about the new infraction structure and recommended deleting that section, while the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing it could create due process problems and unnecessary burdens on the courts. DOT and several advocacy groups supported the measure, and one individual testified in support of lowering the BAC limit to 0.05. The committee adopted extensive amendments, including deleting several sections, revising revocation language for refusals to test, and deferring the effective date to July 1, 3000, then passed the bill with amendments. In the later resolution hearing, the committee heard measures on Maui road projects, the Kulani Hako Bridge replacement, enforcement against improperly registered out-of-state vehicles, a proposed extension of the Skyline rail to West Oahu, a proposal to transfer airport regulatory authority to DOT, a golf-ball safety resolution, and a restricted parking pilot program in West Oahu neighborhoods. Testimony was generally supportive on the Maui road, bridge, vehicle-registration, and golf-ball measures, while DOT opposed the airport-corporation task force resolution and several groups offered mixed views, including calls for public-sector union representation if a task force were created. The committee also heard support and concern on the Skyline extension resolution, with members noting the need for transit options that better serve West Oahu. At the end of the meeting, the committee adopted the resolutions it took up in decision-making, including the Maui road measures, the bridge resolution, the vehicle-registration resolution, and the Skyline-related resolution, with the airport-corporation and parking-zone measures also heard before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:02.840><c> A</c><00:02:02.880><c> lot</c><00:02:03.120><c> of</c><00:02:03.240><c> it's</c
• ><c> of</c><00:02:28.280><c> money</c><00:02:28.440><c> off</c><00:02:28.560><c> the</c><00:02:28.880
• ><c> are</c><00:02:30.680><c> not</c><00:02:30.920><c> an</c><00:02:31.000><c> industry</c><00:02:31.400
• ><00:02:40.560><c> to</c><00:02:40.840><c> defer</c><00:02:41.240><c> this</c><00:02:41.480><c> measure
• Uh<00:02:46.040><c> signed</c><00:02:46.320><c> up</c><00:02:46.400><c> to</c><00:02:46.520><c> testify

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard HB 649, which would create a small boat harbor commercial vessel special fund and raise mortgage fees on commercial vessels to fund harbor improvements. DLNR stood on written testimony in support, while the Ocean Tourism Coalition, Activity and Attractions Association of Hawaii, Calypso Charters, and a local commercial operator all opposed the bill, arguing that the fee increase would burden thin-margin businesses without fixing procurement and staffing problems and that the bill’s fee language and fund allocations were too vague. A DLNR witness also noted a prior bill, HB 2477, had sought to broaden the fee base to more ocean operators statewide rather than increase the percentage. No vote was taken on HB 649 during the portion shown. The committee then heard HB 2599 on aquatic protection, which would prioritize ecosystem integrity and use of best available science in managing aquatic resources and set coral reef resilience goals. DLNR supported the measure, and a testifier from the public urged stronger coral goals for Oahu and a broader framework including water quality, herbivore management, fishery management, enforcement, and coral restoration. There was no opposition or vote shown on HB 2599 before the committee recessed to a joint hearing. In the joint Economic Development and Tourism / Water, Land, Culture, and the Arts hearing, members heard HB 2118 on transferring the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission from DAGS to DBED, HB 2474 on authorizing non-binding international cooperative agreements, HB 1863 on creating an honorary ambassador to Canada, HB 1943 on out-of-state DBED offices and export promotion, and HB 2604 on a performing arts ticket surcharge. Testimony was generally supportive for HB 2118, HB 2474, HB 1863, and HB 1943, with questions focused on agency placement, sister-state relationships, and the rationale for overseas offices. HB 2604 drew opposition from the Tax Foundation and others, who argued the surcharge functioned as a tax and would make arts participation more expensive; the chair recommended deferring it. During decision-making, both committees passed HB 2118, HB 2474, HB 1863, and HB 1943 with amendments, including technical changes and revised effective dates. For HB 2474, the amendments were described as clarifying definitions for sister-state and international cooperative agreements, allowing relationships with national governments, and preserving legislative approval and transparency. HB 1943 was amended to require an office in Laoag City, Philippines, rather than a non-existent DBED Philippines office. HB 2604 was deferred. After the joint session, the Water, Land, Culture, and the Arts committee resumed and heard HB 2395 on permits for taking marine deposits and HB 2361 on administrative support for the Kahului Bay Regional Council, both of which drew only DLNR written testimony and no further action in the excerpt. The committee then began HB 1823 on Coastal Zone Management Act exemptions, with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs testifying first, but the transcript cuts off before further testimony or action.

Transcript Highlights:

• tiered<00:02:03.439><c> priority</c><00:02:03.840><c> system</c><00:02:04.159><c> for</c><00:02:04.640
• :27.120><c> to</c><00:02:27.200><c> deal</c><00:02:27.360><c> with</c><00:02:27.520><c> on</c><00:02:
• /c><00:02:33.760><c> think</c><00:02:33.920><c> every</c><00:02:34.160><c> member</c><00:02:34.319><c
• committee<00:02:35.200><c> is</c><00:02:35.519><c> committed</c><00:02:35.840><c> to</c><00:02:36.000
• And<00:02:37.840><c> uh</c><00:02:38.000><c> I'd</c><00:02:38.239><c> like</c><00:02:38.400><c> to</c

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee opened by adopting its mission and priorities for reviewing Kentucky’s 1915(c) home- and community-based services waiver wait lists, including evaluating current capacity and bottlenecks, comparing other states’ practices, and considering a tiered priority system based on urgency of need. The chair also announced that, although public comment was not on the agenda, the committee would allow 30 minutes for comments and asked speakers to keep remarks brief. He noted that public comment would not continue in the smaller subcommittees after this meeting, but could still be made at the larger MOAB meetings or by email. Department for Medicaid Services officials Leslie Hoffman and Carmen Hancock then gave a detailed overview of Kentucky’s waiver programs: the acquired brain injury waiver, ABI long-term care waiver, home and community-based waiver, Model 2, Michelle P. waiver, Supports for Community Living waiver, and the newly approved child waiver. They explained each program’s eligibility and level-of-care requirements, described funded, filled, allocated, reserved, and available slots, and said the state had already added new slots from House Bill 500. They emphasized that available slots can coexist with a wait list because of reserved slots for money-follows-the-person transitions, emergency slots, annual slot churn, and waiver-year reconciliation. They also reported that the unduplicated wait list total was 18,948, and gave current wait-time figures by waiver, noting that the numbers change constantly. Members asked about how level-of-care determinations are made, whether all people on the wait list have been assessed, and whether undocumented individuals appear in the counts. The department said full level-of-care assessments are done only when a person is moving off the wait list into a reserved slot, and that only Medicaid-eligible individuals can reach the wait list. Senators and representatives also pressed on the meaning of “churn,” why slots cannot be reissued immediately when someone leaves, and whether people who receive even a small amount of service keep their slot for the rest of the waiver year under CMS rules. Officials said that once a participant receives service during the waiver year, the slot generally cannot be reassigned until the next waiver year, even if the person later disengages. The department also presented county distribution, annual member growth, average total cost per member, and total annual waiver expenditures, saying fiscal year 2025 closed at about $1.8 billion in waiver services. In response to questions, officials said they would provide additional churn data for other waivers, including Michelle P., and would look into the average wait-time calculations requested by members. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• 01:02:03.039><c> in</c><01:02:03.200><c> favor</c><01:02:03.480><c> of</c><01:02:04.599><c> okay</c>
• > can</c><01:02:05.880><c> make</c><01:02:06.000><c> the</c><01:02:06.200><c> motion</c><01:02:06.480
• :02:09.200><c> all</c><01:02:09.400><c> those</c><01:02:09.559><c> in</c><01:02:09.720><c> favor</c>
• 01:02:10.680><c> I</c><01:02:11.200><c> I</c><01:02:11.880><c> all</c><01:02:12.079><c> this</c><01:02
• c> I'll</c><01:02:16.400><c> take</c><01:02:16.680><c> that</c><01:02:16.799><c> one</c><01:02:16.960

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:04.560><c> Um</c><00:02:05.040><c> so</c><00:02:05.680><c> uh</c><00:02:05.759><c> how</c>
• <00:02:10.479><c> And</c><00:02:10.720><c> we</c><00:02:10.879><c> do</c><00:02:10.959><c> it</c><00:
• know,</c><00:02:12.879><c> we</c><00:02:13.120><c> have</c><00:02:13.200><c> a</c><00:02:13.520><c> a
• ><c> um</c><00:02:16.239><c> uh</c><00:02:16.480><c> plan</c><00:02:16.800><c> and</c><00:02:17.120><
• <00:02:28.319><c> year</c><00:02:28.560><c> is</c><00:02:28.879><c> moving</c><00:02:29.200><c> more<

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 20 January, 2026: 8:45 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > see</c><02:02:07.239><c> the</c><02:02:07.599><c> yellow</c><02:02:08.119><c> thing</c><02:02:08.280
• ><c> this</c><02:02:11.000><c> is</c><02:02:11.159><c> what</c><02:02:11.320><c> I</c><02:02:11.440><
• 02:13.239><c> all</c><02:02:13.400><c> of</c><02:02:13.560><c> that</c><02:02:13.920><c> but</c><02:02
• </c><02:02:17.320><c> I</c><02:02:17.440><c> Heard</c><02:02:17.880><c> doc</c><02:02:18.280><c> um</
• dror Senator<02:02:19.360><c> morasco</c><02:02:20.360><c> talk</c><02:02:20.679><c> about</c><02:02

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to the the public<02:02:00.639><c> health</c><02:02:00.880><c> of</c><02:02:01.000><c> our</c><02:02:
• 02:02:05.239><c> to</c><02:02:05.400><c> the</c><02:02:05.520><c> communities</c><02:02:06.000><c> at
• </c><02:02:08.119><c> secondly</c><02:02:08.520><c> I</c><02:02:08.639><c> really</c><02:02:08.760><c
• </c><02:02:15.040><c> you</c><02:02:15.119><c> know</c><02:02:15.320><c> as</c><02:02:15.520><c> as</
• <02:02:43.040><c> of</c><02:02:43.199><c> this</c><02:02:43.360><c> to</c><02:02:43.520><c> my</c><02

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Municipal and County Government subcommittee met on February 19, 2025 to gather additional information on House Bill 432, which concerns recovery houses. The first witness, State Fire Marshal Sean Tumi, said his office had worked with stakeholders for more than a year on the bill’s definition changes and supported the revised definition. He explained that the bill removes vague language such as “safe, healthy, family” and instead relies on fire-code requirements and certification standards, including a primarily non-transient dwelling unit and living as a single household. He distinguished recovery houses from boarding or rooming houses and from other congregate settings such as group homes or transitional housing, saying those other uses do not currently have the same exemptions. Members questioned Tumi about fire safety, inspections, smoke alarms, egress, and whether sprinklers should be required. He said recovery houses are inspected by the fire marshal’s office and local fire departments, with annual inspections under state fire code provisions, and that operators must work with a certifying body. He described the inspection process as checking alarms, extinguishers, heating systems, cooking equipment, street numbers, and no-smoking rules, and said new houses are generally given time to obtain certification. He also said he would prefer sprinklers everywhere but believed mandating them for these existing structures would likely shut down many recovery houses and significantly harm the recovery community. Bill McKenny of the New Hampshire Building Officials Association then testified in support of HB 432. He said recovery housing is an important step after treatment and that the 2024 code changes and the bill help align state law with federal disability law. He emphasized that certification through a recognized organization gives code officials confidence that standards are being monitored, and warned that if a recovery home loses certification it would lose the waiver from sprinkler requirements and could be treated more like a boarding or rooming house. No vote or final action was taken at this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the the public<02:02:00.639><c> health</c><02:02:00.880><c> of</c><02:02:01.000><c> our</c><02:02:
• 02:02:05.239><c> to</c><02:02:05.400><c> the</c><02:02:05.520><c> communities</c><02:02:06.000><c> at
• </c><02:02:08.119><c> secondly</c><02:02:08.520><c> I</c><02:02:08.639><c> really</c><02:02:08.760><c
• </c><02:02:15.040><c> you</c><02:02:15.119><c> know</c><02:02:15.320><c> as</c><02:02:15.520><c> as</
• <02:02:43.040><c> of</c><02:02:43.199><c> this</c><02:02:43.360><c> to</c><02:02:43.520><c> my</c><02

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:01.880><c> what</c><00:02:02.000><c> we</c><00:02:02.119><c> have</c><00:02:02.240><c> done</c
• ><00:02:02.520><c> this</c><00:02:02.799><c> past</c><00:02:03.200><c> year</c><00:02:04.119><c> in</
• nutshell</c><00:02:05.360><c> um</c><00:02:05.479><c> the</c><00:02:05.600><c> DD</c><00:02:06.000><
• > through</c><00:02:09.000><c> the</c><00:02:09.160><c> DD</c><00:02:09.720><c> act</c><00:02:10.640>
• daily lives<00:02:19.640><c> of</c><00:02:19.840><c> individuals</c><00:02:20.440><c> with</c><00:02

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services held an informational briefing on the Developmental Disabilities Council and related agencies. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities outlined its 2025 legislative priorities, including a pilot project for guardian ad litem and capacity evaluations in guardianship/conservatorship cases, a supported decision-making bill, a health disparities study for people with disabilities, an ABLE savings outreach/staffing measure, a Medicaid buy-in proposal, an adult changing tables equity bill, and a resolution on fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Council representatives emphasized that supported decision-making would complement tools like powers of attorney and medical releases, and that the health disparities study would help identify unmet needs by ZIP code and improve state data on the intellectual and developmental disability population. The Center on Disability Studies at the University of Hawaii described its role as the research and training arm within the DD system, working with the DD Council and the Hawaii Disability Rights Center. It reported activities such as interdisciplinary training, community education, technical assistance, research collaborations, the Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity, publications, telehealth, ECHO Autism, and counseling for Maui fire survivors. The center said it leveraged about $16 million in outside funding last year and highlighted goals focused on workforce development, community capacity, research with direct participation from people with disabilities, and accessible dissemination of information. The Hawaii Disability Rights Center, the state’s protection and advocacy agency, supported the Council’s priorities, especially supported decision-making, which it said could help some people avoid guardianship while preserving liberty and reducing state resource use. The center also raised concerns about the DD system budget and urged legislators to review whether the Developmental Disabilities Division is requesting enough funding, noting possible backsliding in services and eligibility. The Developmental Disabilities Division of the Department of Health then outlined its statewide waiver program serving just over 3,500 people, its service array, and its budget request for increased waiver funding, a federal initiatives coordinator, and IT upgrades to comply with the new HCBS access rule; no votes or formal actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:02:30.960><c> And</c><01:02:31.280><c> all</c><01:02:31.520><c> of</c><01:02:31.599><c> the</
• <c> that</c><01:02:34.480><c> we</c><01:02:34.640><c> have</c><01:02:34.720><c> to</c><01:02:34.880><
• 02:36.880><c> get</c><01:02:37.200><c> they</c><01:02:37.520><c> get</c><01:02:38.240><c> uh</c> pay
• So, they go<01:02:41.839><c> back</c><01:02:42.000><c> into</c><01:02:42.319><c> the</c><01:02:42.480
• :51.119><c> How</c><01:02:51.280><c> do</c><01:02:51.359><c> I</c><01:02:51.520><c> access</c><01:02:

Committee: House Public Works and Highways

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And<00:02:08.840><c> if</c><00:02:09.039><c> you</c><00:02:09.200><c> will,</c><00:02:09.759><c> introduce
• yourselves for<00:02:11.600><c> the</c><00:02:11.720><c> record</c><00:02:12.320><c> first.
• Make sure your microphone<00:02:14.040><c> lights</c><00:02:14.440><c> are</c><00:02:14.680><c> really
• :58.040><c> and</c><00:02:58.200><c> one</c><00:02:58.320><c> of</c><00:02:58.400><c> the</c><00:02:58.480
• </c> statute 141 120. statute 141 120.

Committee: Joint Appropriations & Revenue

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Votruba Young Scholars Academy 00:01:55 Taxation of Financial Deposit Institutions 00:36:50, 958, all