Transcript Highlights:

• :00.160><c> on</c><01:02:00.400><c> page</c><01:02:00.720><c> 2274</c><01:02:01.760><c> or</c><01:02:
• could<01:02:35.680><c> then</c><01:02:35.920><c> say</c><01:02:36.640><c> um</c><01:02:36.799><c> not
• </c><01:02:37.119><c> only</c><01:02:37.280><c> can</c><01:02:37.440><c> you</c><01:02:37.599><c> not
• <c> possession</c><01:02:38.400><c> of</c><01:02:38.559><c> a</c><01:02:38.720><c> firearm,</c><01:02
• Um<01:02:47.760><c> I</c><01:02:48.079><c> worked</c><01:02:48.400><c> with</c><01:02:48.880><c> the<

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And<00:02:01.920><c> you're</c><00:02:02.080><c> presenting</c><00:02:02.560><c> the</c><00:02:02.880
• House<00:02:05.920><c> Bill</c><00:02:06.080><c> 682</c><00:02:06.760><c> in</c><00:02:06.840><c> its
• </c><00:02:08.479><c> It</c><00:02:08.560><c> just</c><00:02:08.800><c> says</c><00:02:09.039><c> that
• /c><00:02:10.600><c> on</c><00:02:10.759><c> the</c><00:02:10.840><c> board</c><00:02:11.080><c> of</
• c><00:02:15.840><c> you</c><00:02:16.080><c> must</c><00:02:16.520><c> live</c><00:02:16.920><c> in</

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:04 Roll Call 00:00:14 HB 682 Discussion 00:01:41 HB 682 Vote 00:03:10 HB 731 Discussion 00:04:33 HB 731 Vote 00:06:26 HB 607 Discussion 00:09:24 HB 607 Vote 00:32:15 Adjournment 00:34:12, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:02:03.360><c> for</c><00:02:03.600><c> nomination</c><00:02:04.079><c> based</c><00:02:04.320><c
• I don't have<00:02:25.280><c> any</c><00:02:25.520><c> other</c><00:02:26.319><c> signed</c><00:02:26.720
• ><c> Miss</c><00:02:29.640><c> Khipi</c><00:02:30.640><c> on</c><00:02:30.959><c> Zoom.
• Is<00:02:31.840><c> there</c><00:02:32.000><c> anybody</c><00:02:32.319><c> else</c><00:02:32.400><c>
• So, it would have<01:02:03.119><c> um</c><01:02:04.000><c> already</c><01:02:04.400><c> many</c><01:02

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Hawaiian Affairs heard multiple gubernatorial nominations to island burial councils, with testimony focused on the importance of filling vacancies so the councils can reach quorum and fulfill their kuleana to protect iwi kūpuna and burial sites. For GM 674, Kavuna Khalipi was introduced as OHA’s nominee for the Molokaʻi burial council, with OHA, SHPD, and several community members testifying in support and describing her cultural grounding, community service, and experience in mālama ʻāina. Testifiers also stressed that burial councils are essential for protecting ancestral remains and that prolonged vacancies have left sacred sites vulnerable. Khalipi herself said she was honored to serve but expressed concern about accepting the appointment without quorum, saying she did not want to waste a term if the council could not function effectively. The chair explained the Senate advice-and-consent process and the consequences of inaction, and after discussion Khalipi asked to pull her nomination from the committee. The chair then deferred decision-making on GM 674 until April 10 at 1 p.m. to clarify the process and avoid unintended rejection. The committee then heard testimony on GM 676, Dane Maxwell for the Maui and Lānaʻi burial council, GM 677, Noani Parisa, GM 678, Caroline Hartman, and GM 679, Benedict Duman. Supporters, including SHPD and OHA, highlighted each nominee’s cultural knowledge, preservation work, genealogy, and experience with burial or historic preservation matters. Testimony repeatedly linked the nominations to the need for functioning burial councils, especially in light of the 2023 Maui fires and long-standing vacancies. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided; the chair indicated votes would be taken at the end of the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> want</c><02:00:05.000><c> to</c><02:00:05.080><c> make</c><02:00:05.200><c> it</c><02:00:05.320>
• ><c> every</c><02:00:11.280><c> board</c><02:00:11.560><c> meeting</c><02:00:11.800><c> in</c><02:00:
• To<02:00:22.040><c> reiterate,</c><02:00:22.800><c> this</c><02:00:22.960><c> bill</c><02:00:23.160><
• eliminate<02:00:24.080><c> financial</c><02:00:24.440><c> disclosure</c><02:00:25.160><c> or</c><02:
• Regents will<02:00:27.680><c> still</c><02:00:28.000><c> file</c><02:00:28.200><c> disclosures</c><02

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And all state and local statutes, codes, rules, regulations, and other official documents enacted after
• And all state and local statutes, codes, rules, regulations, and other official documents enacted after
• All state and local entities are urged to review their statutes, codes, rules, regulations, and other
• What it does is reinforce how statutes are meant to function through clear definitions and consistent
• That happened in Minnesota with what 5892, the bill that Senator Riccelli sponsored.

Bills: HB1759 , HB2632 , HB2574 , HB2235 , SGA9267

Committee: Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections

Keywords: designation, commemoration, December 12, local observance, cultural significance, citizenship, immigration, terminology, rights, legal status, election, ballot, candidates, deceased, voting law, public records, concealed pistol licenses, firearm purchases, transfers, exemptions

Transcript Highlights:

• :22.760><c> anyone</c><00:02:23.080><c> to</c><00:02:23.200><c> have</c><00:02:23.360><c> any</c><00:
• any questions on this<00:02:26.640><c> do</c><00:02:26.760><c> I</c><00:02:26.920><c> have</c><00:02
• :27.000><c> a</c><00:02:27.160><c> motion</c><00:02:27.800><c> to</c><00:02:28.800><c> do</c><00:02:28.920
• ><c> Poli</c><00:02:32.720><c> call</c><00:02:32.920><c> the</c> Madam Secretary Poli call the Madam
• <00:02:43.400><c> Senator</c> Elkins Senator Elkins Senator Haron<00:02:45.560><c> Senator</c> Haron

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:44 Attendance Roll Call: 00:55 SB 193 (Sen. Girdler): 01:53 SB 9 (Sen. Higdon): 03:22 SB 257 (Sen. Tichenor): 34:14 Adjournment: 50:57, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government first took up Senate Bill 193, a simple measure described as restoring wallet cards for jailers to carry when they are outside the jail. The sponsor noted the fiscal impact was essentially zero, there were no questions, and the committee approved the bill 9-0 for passage to the Senate floor. The committee then heard Senate Bill 9, sponsored by Senator Higdon, which would change how the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) treats sick leave, personal leave, and annual leave in retirement calculations. The sponsor argued the bill is intended to address TRS’s financial challenges by standardizing leave rules statewide, limiting TRS retirement credit to 10 sick days and 2 personal days per year, preventing annual leave from being rolled into sick leave, requiring districts to pay the actuarial cost for any leave beyond the cap, and adding reporting and oversight requirements for participating agencies. He also said the bill would add 30 days of maternity leave, allow voluntary district contributions for tier four teachers, and direct the state auditor to audit TRS and report on agencies. Committee members asked about how overages would be audited and billed, the cost of a sick day, and how the bill would interact with local leave policies, including paid parental leave in some districts. The sponsor clarified that existing accumulated leave would not be affected, that the bill applies going forward, and that districts could still offer more leave but would bear the added cost. Members also discussed whether the maternity leave language set a cap or a minimum, and one senator noted the bill was intended to preserve personal days while stopping annual leave from being converted into pension credit. No vote on Senate Bill 9 was shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• What<00:02:02.079><c> we</c><00:02:02.240><c> do</c><00:02:02.399><c> propose</c><00:02:02.799><c> is
• </c><00:02:03.040><c> that</c><00:02:03.200><c> we</c><00:02:03.759><c> what</c><00:02:04.000><c> the
• <c> the</c><00:02:04.560><c> bill</c><00:02:04.799><c> proposes</c><00:02:06.159><c> is</c><00:02:06.399
• </c><00:02:12.319><c> one</c><00:02:12.560><c> branch</c><00:02:13.040><c> and</c><00:02:13.360><c> the
• We<00:02:20.800><c> respectfully</c><00:02:21.440><c> oppose</c><00:02:21.760><c> the</c><00:02:21.920

Bills: SB2350 , SB2349 , SB2407 , SB3320

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Keywords: agriculture, aquaculture, livestock, agribusiness, Department of Agriculture, regulatory functions, employee benefits, restorative practices, sustainability, environmental stewardship, local food systems, Native Hawaiian, workforce development, agricultural development, Hawaii Island, property manager, state employment, SB3320, Hawaii, Agribusiness Development Corporation

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SP 2350, which would transfer oversight of the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Development Division and the aquaculture and livestock support services branch to the Agribusiness Development Corporation. The Department of Agriculture and ADC both testified, with ADC opposing the bill as written while supporting the goal of strengthening agriculture. ADC said the transfer could create federal operational and coordination risks, jeopardize federal funding and program continuity, and was unnecessary because ADC is a business development entity, not a regulatory agency. The Hawaii Farmers Union also expressed concern that moving the programs could weaken the department’s ability to access federal resources, while the Hawaii Farm Bureau submitted written testimony and the Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association and H-Plan were noted as supporting the measure; the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council was noted as opposing it. Much of the discussion focused on aquaculture’s economic potential and the role of regulation, permitting, and funding. Committee members questioned why aquaculture had not grown faster, citing current gross revenues of about $66 million last year, a prior high of $82 million, and a possible long-term target of $500 million. Testimony identified permitting and feed costs as major barriers, along with market conditions and water quality issues affecting producers. ADC described ongoing efforts on feed development, permitting streamlining, coastal-state collaboration on seaweed and restorative aquaculture, and national advocacy for more parity in seafood import standards. Members also pressed the Department of Agriculture on its leadership and priorities, criticizing the lack of bills and resources dedicated to aquaculture and asking whether the department should have more authority to pursue land purchases and development opportunities. The department said it relies on divisions and industry feedback for bill ideas, noted it funds an annual aquaculture survey, and said it was pursuing congressional earmarks and other funding for aquaculture parks, research, and export/import issues. ADC said it would work with the department if the bill passed, but that its current statute does not give it regulatory authority and any such change would require a statutory amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• comes</c><01:02:04.079><c> to</c><01:02:04.240><c> AGR</c><01:02:05.000><c> tourism</c><01:02:06.000>
• have an issue<01:02:19.200><c> where</c><01:02:19.559><c> a</c><01:02:19.880><c> lot</c><01:02:20.039
• > trying</c><01:02:32.559><c> very</c><01:02:32.760><c> hard</c><01:02:33.000><c> to</c><01:02:33.400
• <01:02:51.559><c> when</c><01:02:52.039><c> you</c><01:02:52.240><c> have</c><01:02:52.400><c> the</c
• ><c> lot</c><01:02:54.480><c> of</c><01:02:54.640><c> consideration</c><01:02:55.119><c> to</c><01:02

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They had to replace that actually took the copper out. system we have system we have pretty<00:02:50.080
• ><c> much</c><00:02:50.879><c> $50</c> once<00:02:57.760><c> you</c><00:02:57.920><c> turn</c><00:02:
• in statute or allowable in statute, and then the rules that they came up with then went above that,
• </c><00:10:59.200><c> misalign</c><00:11:00.079><c> statute</c><00:11:00.959><c> uh</c><00:11:01.040>
• <c> with</c> been doing. misalign statute uh with been doing. misalign statute uh with current<00:11:

Bills: SB277 , HB395 , HB482 , SB251 , HB513

Committee: House Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: decentralized nonprofit association, unincorporated nonprofit association, blockchain, distributed ledger technology, smart contract, digital asset, crypto, web3, DAO, decentralized autonomous organization, nonprofit governance, digital membership, consensus mechanism, ledger, Alabama nonprofit law, entity formation, liability protection, service of process, real property, winding up

Transcript Highlights:

• c><02:02:08.159><c> there</c><02:02:08.360><c> anyone</c><02:02:08.679><c> else</c><02:02:08.920><c>
• c><02:02:18.159><c> because</c><02:02:18.400><c> we</c><02:02:18.520><c> have</c><02:02:18.679><c> a<
• ><c> and</c><02:02:25.520><c> the</c><02:02:25.679><c> committee</c><02:02:26.079><c> will</c><02:02:
• ><c> oh</c><02:02:31.320><c> yes</c><02:02:31.560><c> sorry</c><02:02:32.480><c> we</c><02:02:32.679>
• Bill 525<02:02:42.719><c> which</c><02:02:42.960><c> we</c><02:02:43.480><c> heard</c><02:02:44.480>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 610, which would fold the Office of the Consumer Advocate into the Department of Energy rather than fully eliminate consumer advocacy functions. The prime sponsor argued the current office is small, funded by a special assessment on ratepayers, and duplicative of DOE work. He said moving the function to DOE would streamline energy policy review, reduce bureaucracy, and better focus the larger agency on lowering residential energy costs. He also disputed claims that the Consumer Advocate is independent, saying the office is appointed through a political process similar to DOE leadership. Committee members and the sponsor discussed whether the bill would actually relocate existing positions or replace them, and whether the Department of Energy would absorb the cost of the transferred staff. The sponsor said the fiscal note shows roughly a million-dollar reduction in both revenue assessment and spending, and that the bill would effectively reduce the office from five positions to three. He also defended his cost estimates for energy-code-related housing impacts and said the Consumer Advocate has sometimes supported policies he считает increase costs, such as energy-efficiency measures and building code changes. He argued the office should focus more on energy supply and generation, including natural gas and nuclear, rather than efficiency alone. Representative Wendy Thomas testified in opposition, saying the Consumer Advocate is an important, fair, and impartial voice for ratepayers and warning that the bill was fiscally irresponsible because the incumbent could still be owed salary and benefits if the office were repealed. She also said the bill’s drafting was confusing and that the Consumer Advocate’s role is to push back on utilities on behalf of consumers. Other members raised questions about whether the DOE would simply inherit the same political appointment structure and whether the bill would meaningfully lower bills. No vote was taken in the excerpt; the chair indicated additional testimony would follow, and the Department of Energy was present to answer questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• 01:02:03.160><c> out</c><01:02:03.400><c> not</c><01:02:03.599><c> only</c><01:02:03.920><c> what</c>
• the issues<01:02:04.440><c> are</c><01:02:04.640><c> but</c><01:02:04.839><c> where</c><01:02:05.000
• cas</c><01:02:26.160><c> that</c><01:02:26.279><c> we</c><01:02:26.440><c> talk</c><01:02:26.680><c>
• to the opportunity<01:02:29.880><c> to</c><01:02:30.000><c> bring</c><01:02:30.160><c> it</c><01:02:
• the life<01:02:35.440><c> Jack</c><01:02:35.839><c> at</c><01:02:36.200><c> loner</c><01:02:36.760><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met on March 28 for a Health and Human Services Oversight Committee meeting, approved the draft minutes from February 21, and then received updates from DHHS on the sudden termination of about $80 million in federal COVID-era funding. Commissioner Lori Weaver and Trisha Tilly said the funding had been expected to continue through September 2026, but an email ending it immediately created a 15-month budget gap. They explained that most of the money supported public health work, especially epidemiology, laboratory capacity, data systems, community health workers, outbreak response, and some behavioral health supports. DHHS said it had notified contractors, was reassessing which activities could continue, and had managed to avoid layoffs for its 20 affected staff by shifting funding sources, though some contract lab staff had to leave and some work would stop or be put on hold. Senators and representatives asked about impacts on labs, staffing, and the state budget lapse, and DHHS said the water lab and testing supplies would be affected and that the department was trying to backfill where possible with other federal funds. The committee then heard a maternal mortality report from the Maternal Mortality Review Committee. Alison Power and Caroline Naami explained that the MMRC reviews maternal deaths to identify contributing factors and make recommendations, and that it had completed one CDC grant and received another five years of funding. For 2023, the state recorded five pregnancy-associated deaths, including three from overdose, two from cardiovascular causes, and one homicide; the share of deaths related to substance use fell from 62.5% in 2022 to 40% in 2023. Over the 2019–2023 period, half of pregnancy-related deaths were due to overdose, most occurred postpartum, and many involved Medicaid recipients, transportation or financial barriers, and deaths at home. The committee said mental health and substance use remained the main drivers of maternal mortality, but that 79% of pregnancy-related deaths in the five-year aggregate were considered preventable. Presenters highlighted recommendations and ongoing interventions, including expanding Medicaid coverage through one year postpartum, strengthening behavioral health access, partnering with the Department of Corrections on care for pregnant and postpartum women, and continuing clinical education through the Northern New England Perinatal Quality Improvement Network. Members asked why the maternal mortality rate had declined in recent years; staff said the 2021 spike was tied to the pandemic and that recent declines likely reflected both that spike and the impact of interventions, though the small number of cases makes trends hard to interpret. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:01:20.199><c> and</c><02:01:20.400><c> beyond</c><02:01:20.920><c> what</c><02:01:21.159><c> statute
• </c> would be above and beyond what statute would be above and beyond what statute says<02:01:21.719>
• </c><02:02:00.639><c> this</c><02:02:00.800><c> is</c><02:02:01.480><c> weighted</c><02:02:02.079><c>
• ><c> things</c><02:02:03.119><c> that</c><02:02:03.239><c> are</c><02:02:03.440><c> outside</c><02:02
• 02:02:07.400><c> okay</c><02:02:07.760><c> I</c><02:02:08.119><c> I</c><02:02:08.199><c> think</c><02

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session focused on school funding formulas, adequacy aid, and special education aid, with the chair outlining a schedule for the next several Tuesdays and noting that the committee would likely need multiple executive sessions to narrow down the bills. Members discussed the FY 26 formula, including base cost, differentiated aid, extraordinary needs grants, hold harmless provisions, and the roughly $28 million in excess statewide education property tax (SWP) funds that are not currently returned to the state under the existing formula. The first bill discussed was HB 137, which would allow excess SWP funds to remain with the local municipality for school and municipal purposes. Representative Spilsbury argued the issue is fundamental and suggested the state should require excess funds to be remitted back to the state, while Representative Damon said the bill appears to codify current practice and may be unnecessary, especially given possible court action. The discussion then shifted to a related bill from Representative Fellas that would redefine SWP as local money rather than state money and keep the current adequacy aid numbers revenue-neutral for now. Representative Fellas explained that SWP was created in 1999 after the Claremont lawsuit as part of the state’s effort to show increased school aid, but that it effectively labeled part of the local property tax as state money without changing property tax bills. She argued the state should not be tapping local property tax revenue and said her bill would preserve the current distribution while removing the SWP tax label, with future work possible on a different measure of local capacity such as income, home values, or poverty rate. Members also referenced prior discussions of fiscal capacity aid, relief aid, and other formula changes as part of the broader effort to restructure school funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• thank you<02:04:03.800><c> also</c><02:04:04.119><c> signed</c><02:04:04.400><c> up</c><02:04:04.559
• </c><02:07:24.119><c> if</c><02:07:24.239><c> I</c><02:07:24.400><c> may</c><02:07:24.920><c> I</c><02
• 02:09:39.840><c> in</c><02:09:40.079><c> place</c><02:09:40.320><c> to</c><02:09:40.520><c> S</c><02:
• 02:36:19.800><c> as</c><02:36:20.120><c> needed</c><02:36:21.120><c> so</c><02:36:21.240><c> I</c><02
• <02:57:23.720><c> in</c><02:57:24.399><c> the</c><02:57:24.800><c> in</c><02:57:25.000><c> any</c><02

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• farm in rural Minnesota.
• farm in rural Minnesota.
• farm in rural Minnesota.
• farm in rural Minnesota.
• looking at some changes to Minnesota Statutes 103G regarding culverts, and we're not too concerned that

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:02:30.080><c> of</c><02:02:30.239><c> what</c><02:02:30.400><c> we</c><02:02:30.639><c> were</c><
• there.<02:02:31.599><c> We</c><02:02:31.760><c> had</c><02:02:32.400><c> numerous</c><02:02:32.800><c
• </c><02:02:34.639><c> Uh</c><02:02:34.960><c> so</c><02:02:35.280><c> they</c><02:02:35.599><c> were<
• We<02:02:40.719><c> had</c><02:02:40.880><c> a</c><02:02:41.199><c> booth</c><02:02:41.840><c> and</c
• and so on.<02:02:44.880><c> So</c><02:02:45.599><c> uh</c><02:02:45.679><c> they</c><02:02:45.920><c

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:02:32.359><c> sort</c><01:02:32.559><c> of</c><01:02:33.200><c> continued</c><01:02:34.200><c
• /c><01:02:36.039><c> parse</c><01:02:36.400><c> through</c><01:02:36.680><c> what</c><01:02:36.799><c
• 01:02:39.319><c> introduced</c><01:02:39.839><c> was</c><01:02:40.079><c> more</c><01:02:40.319><c> narrowly
• ><c> to</c><01:02:42.480><c> SFA</c><01:02:43.480><c> um</c><01:02:44.359><c> and</c><01:02:45.200><c
• > if</c><01:02:45.359><c> it</c><01:02:45.599><c> does</c><01:02:45.920><c> what</c><01:02:46.079><c>

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several housing-related measures. SB 38 SD2 drew mixed testimony on changes to 21H projects, with HHFDC supporting and county and community groups split between support and opposition. In discussion, members focused on how county legislative bodies can alter projects in ways that increase costs, including changes to AMI mixes and fee waivers. The committee later recommended passage with amendments, limiting county changes that would impose stricter conditions than HHFDC, stricter AMI requirements, or reduced fee waivers; the motion passed with one member voting with reservations and two members excused. A major portion of the hearing focused on SB 71 SD2, which would revise the rental housing revolving fund. Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi YIMBY, and NAAP Hawaiʻi opposed the bill, arguing it would weaken support for deeply affordable units, eliminate the 5% set-aside for households at or below 30% AMI, and create a funding gap for households between 60% and 120% AMI. Supporters of the bill, including public housing and some development interests, emphasized the need to redirect funding and make the program more flexible. In decision-making, the committee described the bill as making comprehensive changes that would narrow Tier 2 toward higher-income projects and favor shorter loan terms, then moved it out with amendments. The committee also heard and advanced several other measures with little or no opposition: SB 40 SD2 on state finances, SB 378 on HHFDC, SB 572 SD1 on housing, SB 1229 ST2 on the dwelling unit revolving fund, and SB 602 on the Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority all received support testimony and were moved forward. For SB 65 SD2, HPHA and other agencies supported the measure, and HPHA testified it sought roughly $8 million to $10 million for repair and maintenance of units not covered by CIP funds. The committee also took up SB 826 SD1 on the low-income housing tax credit, where HHFDC, the Tax Foundation, and DHHL expressed confusion over the bill’s intent and whether it would bar state agencies from using LIHTC financing; no action was taken on that item in the excerpt. SB 944 SD2 on LIHTC transferability drew support and a suggestion to keep clarifying language that notifies the tax department, and the committee indicated it would keep the provision in.

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> above</c><02:02:05.840><c> that</c><02:02:06.239><c> I</c><02:02:06.480><c> don't</c><02:02:06.639
• reduce<02:02:40.480><c> the</c><02:02:41.119><c> uh</c><02:02:41.280><c> general</c><02:02:41.679><c
• c> first</c><02:02:45.199><c> year</c><02:02:45.360><c> and</c><02:02:45.679><c> 35</c><02:02:46.159>
• :02:51.199><c> items</c><02:02:51.679><c> on</c><02:02:51.920><c> on</c><02:02:52.320><c> the</c><02:
• Yes.<02:02:57.440><c> Where</c><02:02:57.599><c> where</c><02:02:57.840><c> is</c><02:02:58.000><c> it

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Division 3 work session focused largely on amendment 1176 to HB 2, which would have incorporated the substance of HB 548FN, a House-passed bill creating a direct-pay or membership-based model for health care facilities. Representative Mlan described the proposal as a way to increase competition in health care by extending the direct-care model used in primary care to facilities, arguing it could encourage innovation and that concerns about widespread harm to critical access hospitals were overstated. He pointed to Oklahoma’s long-standing Surgical Center model as evidence that the approach had not spread broadly or displaced hospitals there. Several members and witnesses raised concerns. Representative Stringham questioned whether the model would shift profitable services and patients away from existing hospitals, potentially worsening their finances and affecting Medicaid-related funding. David Ross, speaking for county nursing homes, opposed the language because it also removed moratoriums on nursing home, skilled nursing, inpatient rehabilitation, and self-pay beds, warning that it could increase pressure on Medicaid rates and undermine community-based care. Ben Bradley of the New Hampshire Hospital Association said the proposal appeared to create a separate regulatory framework for direct-pay facilities and raised concerns about patient safety, CMS participation rules, and a separate patient bill of rights. The chair concluded that, because HB 548 was already moving through the Senate, the HB 2 process was not the best vehicle for the policy and that the issue should be left to the Senate’s more deliberative committee process. Representative Ferski moved to not accept or remove amendment 1176 from the agenda, and the committee approved the motion by roll call, 9-0, withdrawing the item from HB 2.

Transcript Highlights:

• good morning<00:02:03.920><c> committee</c><00:02:04.360><c> my</c><00:02:04.479><c> name</c><00:02:
• /c><00:02:12.560><c> my</c><00:02:12.720><c> name</c><00:02:12.879><c> is</c><00:02:13.000><c> Laura<
• <c> and</c><00:02:14.400><c> I</c><00:02:14.560><c> am</c><00:02:14.840><c> from</c><00:02:15.080><c>
• <c> this</c><00:02:21.920><c> bill</c><00:02:22.200><c> forward</c><00:02:23.000><c> House</c><00:02:
• from Nelson County<00:02:29.519><c> is</c><00:02:29.640><c> a</c><00:02:29.959><c> simple</c><00:02:

Keywords: The previous live stream for this committee experienced a technical issue. This is the complete meeting recording recovered from backups., 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 44, “Landon’s Law,” sponsored by Rep. Candy Massaroni. The bill would allow schools to keep anti-choking devices such as LifeVac on hand while limiting liability. Testimony from Equal First Aid and LifeVac emphasized that choking is a leading cause of death for children, that the devices are noninvasive and FDA-registered, and that updated Red Cross guidance allows their use when standard rescue protocols fail or are not feasible. Lauren McCubbins, Landon McCubbin’s mother, gave emotional testimony about her 8-year-old son’s death from choking at school and urged the committee to give schools an added rescue option. Members asked questions about how the device works, whether the Heimlich maneuver remains part of the protocol, and whether the bill is limited to LifeVac or applies to similar devices. The bill was reported favorably, with a roll call vote showing unanimous support from members present. The committee then heard a bill sponsored by Rep. J. Baker aimed at reducing administrative burdens in schools and supporting teacher recruitment and retention. The measure would lengthen the required evaluation cycle for tenured teachers from every three years to every five years, provide teachers a copy of their employment contract upon request, streamline professional development provisions, update continuous school improvement plan filing requirements, restore schools’ ability to use Title II funds for certain programs after an unintended consequence of prior legislation, and require KDE to review reporting requirements and eliminate those not required by law. Rep. Baker said the bill was developed with teachers and administrators through a working group and is intended to reduce “check-the-box” tasks so educators can focus on instruction. Amanda Butler of Spencer County Schools and other educators testified that the changes would save time, preserve funding for mentor and induction programs, and reduce repetitive paperwork. Rep. Fleming asked for clarification on the longer evaluation cycle, and an educator witness explained that each evaluation involves pre-observation, observation, and post-observation time and that districts would still retain flexibility to evaluate more often if needed. No final vote on this bill was included in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• :02:05.440><c> is</c><02:02:05.760><c> made</c><02:02:06.679><c> but</c><02:02:06.840><c> the</c><02:
• the person<02:02:10.719><c> is</c><02:02:10.880><c> in</c><02:02:11.040><c> the</c><02:02:11.239><c>
• joint</c><02:02:12.000><c> custody</c><02:02:13.000><c> of</c><02:02:13.199><c> the</c><02:02:13.480
• custody is<02:02:16.280><c> the</c><02:02:16.520><c> key</c><02:02:16.800><c> word</c><02:02:17.159>
• :02:19.480><c> have</c><02:02:19.560><c> to</c><02:02:19.679><c> go</c><02:02:19.800><c> to</c><02:02

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: At the joint hearing on SB 951 SD2, the committees heard testimony on a child protection measure requiring mandatory child abuse and neglect reports to include military status and to improve communication between DHS and the Department of Defense. The U.S. Department of Defense testified in support and described its coordinated community response process for abuse reports, saying the bill would help ensure child safety and better coordination with DHS. DHS was initially absent, later appeared, and said it supported the measure but was still working with DOD on implementation details and staff training. Members asked about how DHS becomes involved and whether there were gaps in the current process. The chair recommended passage with technical amendments, including changing the effective date to 7/1/25 and conforming related language, and both committees adopted the recommendation by vote. The Public Safety committee then heard SB 1377 SD2, which would create a Veterans Cemeteries Board within the Office of Veterans Services in the Department of Defense to provide guidance, education, and technical assistance to state veteran cemeteries. DOD supported the bill and explained that county-run cemeteries must meet National Cemetery Administration standards to remain eligible for federal reimbursements and grants; witnesses described past compliance problems at several cemeteries, including one still not compliant in Hilo, and said the board would help counties prepare for future site visits and improve oversight without taking over operations. Members asked about costs, reimbursement amounts, and whether the state would assume cemetery operations; DOD said the current reimbursement process runs through the state to the counties and that direct takeover would be costly. The committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass the bill with amendments. The committee also heard SB 1382, which would make intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury to a National Guard member performing duty a class C felony. The Hawaii National Guard and HPD supported the bill, citing incidents during the Maui response where Guard members encountered noncompliant and sometimes physically confrontational individuals while assisting police and protecting impacted areas. Testimony emphasized that Guard members are often unarmed and should receive protections similar to first responders. One witness opposed the bill, but the committee moved forward and adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass with amendments. Finally, the committee took up SB 1379 SD2 on emergency preparedness and Community Readiness Centers. Hawaii Emergency Management supported the bill, and supporters said it would create a statewide framework for resilience hubs that can provide supplies, action plans, and refuge during disasters. Testimony highlighted recent hurricanes, wildfires, and other hazards, and argued the measure would complement existing county efforts rather than replace them. County of Hawaii testimony opposed the bill, raising concerns about overlap and cost, while members asked about estimated expenses and implementation. The discussion ended with questions about planning and whether the bill would enhance existing programs; no final vote was captured in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• :02:02.159><c> the</c><02:02:02.280><c> ocean</c><02:02:02.639><c> but</c><02:02:02.760><c> we</c><02
• will</c><02:02:04.560><c> get</c><02:02:04.719><c> that</c><02:02:04.840><c> from</c><02:02:05.040><c
• high<02:02:09.199><c> wind</c><02:02:09.480><c> Tempest</c><02:02:10.320><c> they</c><02:02:10.480><
• ><c> they've</c><02:02:12.280><c> all</c><02:02:12.440><c> had</c><02:02:12.560><c> to</c><02:02:12.679
• /c><02:02:16.520><c> tested</c><02:02:16.920><c> vetted</c><02:02:17.360><c> and</c><02:02:17.480><c>

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all