Transcript Highlights:

• And that is the tank issue of wanting to replace the tank.
• Replacing your oil company doesn't happen in the summer.
• </c><05:03:44.560><c> the</c> &gt;&gt; the tank issue of wanting to replace the &gt;&gt; the tank issue
• of wanting to replace the tank,<05:03:45.440><c> replacing</c><05:03:46.160><c> your</c><05:03:46.480
• doesn't tank, replacing your oil company doesn't happen<05:03:49.360><c> in</c><05:03:49.600><c> the

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• illustrates everything that you could show somebody to say that you're a veteran, and it doesn't replace
• </c><01:37:37.360><c> it</c><01:37:37.600><c> with</c> veteran and it doesn't replace it with veteran
• you removed where it kind of removed the proof that you are a veteran, that part, but then didn't replace
• You mentioned that there's an amendment in Transportation that completely replaces this bill.
• </c> replaces this bill. Am I correct? replaces this bill. Am I correct?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They were choosing between Candia and Claremont, and they replaced Claremont with—so it's not like if
• They were choosing between Candia and Claremont, and they replaced Claremont with—so it's not like if
• They were choosing between Candia and Claremont, and they replaced Claremont with—so it's not like if
• They were choosing between Candia and Claremont, and they replaced Claremont with—so it's not like if
• </c> Europe she's added that to replace Europe she's added that to replace Federal<03:42:31.199><c> funding

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on the Department of Business and Economic Affairs budget, with testimony from Chase Hegman and Kathy Frederickson. Early discussion focused on staffing and vacancies, including a senior planner position tied to FEMA requirements, a program assistant funded by federal ORID dollars, a program specialist being considered for reclassification, two Housing Champions positions to be funded in the next biennium, and temporary welcome center positions. Members also reviewed the commissioner’s office, indirect cost recoveries tied to federal program administration, and the structure and staffing of rest areas and welcome centers, including the Turnpike-funded locations and seasonal staffing patterns. Members then moved through economic development and federal grant-related accounts. Hegman explained that a large share of the agency’s funding is federal, with some programs requiring state match, including the Apex Accelerator, which supports government contracting assistance for businesses. He described Apex as a small team that helps businesses with DOD and other contracting opportunities through webinars, matchmaking, and one-on-one support. The Office of Workforce Opportunity was described as largely federally funded through Commerce-related workforce programs and subrecipients, with some general fund support for agency-wide needs. The Northern Borders Regional Commission dues and capacity grant were also discussed, with officials explaining the state’s required contribution and the federal funds used to administer the program. A major point of discussion was the proposed reduction to the Small Business Development Center, which officials said provides one-on-one technical assistance to new and small businesses and has a strong return on investment. Members questioned the cut, the federal funding sources, and whether there was a waiting list for services; officials said they would provide more detail on matching requirements and funding. The committee also reviewed travel and tourism accounts, including the joint promotional grant program and tourism advertising funds, both of which are proposed to increase. Officials said the tourism marketing formula is based on a percentage of meals and rooms tax revenue and argued that the spending generates significant visitor spending and tax revenue, citing an outside ROI study and examples of advertising in test markets. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• must have a clear plan if or when we use the funds, and very importantly, how those funds will be replaced
• And then what is our plan to replace them? Because we are where we need to be in turn.
• to make withdrawals, we do so in a methodical way, and that we have a plan on how we're going to replace
• we approach working with the rainy day fund, utilizing the rainy day fund appropriately, and then replacing

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The joint budget hearing opened the FY27 budget process with remarks from the Senate and House Ways and Means chairs, who described the fiscal outlook as challenging because of slow revenue growth, rising health care and other costs, and uncertainty from federal policy changes. Governor Healey and Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz then presented House 2, a $62.8 billion budget that they said grows by about 1% and does not raise taxes or fees. They emphasized affordability, fiscal discipline, protection of core services, and continued investment in education, transportation, housing, child care, health care, and public safety. The administration also discussed a separate bill to delay and phase in certain federal tax-code changes from the so-called OB3 law, especially research and experimental expense provisions, to reduce immediate budget impacts and preserve competitiveness. A major portion of the hearing focused on education and municipal aid. The administration said House 2 provides about $7.6 billion for Chapter 70 aid, fully funds the final year of the Student Opportunity Act, increases special education circuit breaker funding, and raises rural school aid. Senators and representatives from both parties raised concerns that Chapter 70 and other aid formulas are not equitable for small, rural, and low-wealth communities and are not keeping pace with inflation, and several called for broader review of the formula and related funding streams. The governor and secretary said they are open to further discussion, pointed to additional support through rural aid, special education, transportation reimbursements, and minimum aid, and said total Student Opportunity Act investment would reach about $2.1 billion over the life of the law. Transportation, housing, and fair share spending were also central topics. The administration said fair share revenues are being used holistically, with education-heavy spending in the operating budget and transportation-heavy spending in the supplemental budget, and estimated the overall split to date at roughly 57% education and 43% transportation. They highlighted MBTA stabilization, regional transit authority support, microtransit, fare-free regional transit, and bridge and commuter rail investments, while noting the MBTA remains a major fiscal concern. On housing, the governor stressed production, permitting reform, ADUs, down-payment assistance, and support for public housing authorities, while lawmakers pressed for more funding for local housing authorities and for ways to address out-migration, energy costs, and affordability. The governor also said the administration will not withhold fire safety grants from communities over MBTA Communities Act noncompliance and will handle such issues case by case. No votes were taken at the hearing; it was an informational presentation and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are changing some of the membership of the study group, and we are going to replace...
• We are changing some of the membership of the study group, and we are going to replace the Louisiana
• That was done twice in the set of amendments and replaced the word address with impeach.
• Because once these farms are gone, they're not easily replaced.

Bills: HB410, HR310, HR314, HR316, HR317, HR321, HR275, HR276, HR279, HR282, HR286, HR289, HR292, HR295, HR302, HR319, HR307, HR273, SCR59, SCR61, SCR62, SCR68, SCR69, SCR70, SCR54, SCR55, SCR64, SCR75, HCR32, HB776, HB42, HB119, HB159, HB302, HB1017, HB1028, SB217, SB283, HB953, SB208, HR74, HB998, HB901, HR20, HCR65, HCR71, HCR98, HB284, HB306, HB341, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB577, HB603, HB605, HB614, HB625, HB646, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB798, HB911, HB955, HB996, HB1035, HB1069, HB1113, HB1140, HB1180, HB1191, HB1240, HB1255, SB82, SB89, SB97, SB123, SB237, HB36, HB74, HB75, HB258, HB259, HB414, HB459, HB784, HB848, HB956, HB1095, HB1220, HB1252, SB469, SB479

Keywords: recording, privacy, notification, direct conversation, law enforcement, first responder, penalties, oil and gas, orphan wells, inactive wells, shut-in wells, marginal wells, plugging and abandonment, well decommissioning, site remediation, site restoration, Oilfield Site Restoration, OSR program, financial security, bonding

Transcript Highlights:

• c><01:12:20.360><c> to</c><01:12:20.520><c> the</c> First, so on page 12, line 9, you're going to replace
• Page 12, line 9. you're going to replace the word you're going to replace the word "ensure"<01:12:38.480
• Since the amendment is a replace all, okay, I do have a couple.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The House position was to use $65 million of that to replace general revenue, and in conference we took
• thought it was going to be something different than that, as it relates to the blind pension, not replacing
• general revenue, but replacing lottery and other dollars.
• Well, there was a connection, if I understand, in the earlier conversations about replacing the lottery

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior day’s journal by roll call, and a long series of special guest introductions recognizing family members, interns, public servants, nonprofit leaders, students, and a park ranger honored for life-saving actions. Committee reports and Senate messages followed, including Senate nonconcurrence on numerous amendments to Senate Bill 1421 and the appointment of a conference committee on another bill. The main floor action centered on budget conference committee reports, especially House Bill 2002 on public education. Members debated whether the conference version fully funded the foundation formula, with supporters arguing it maintained record-level funding and opponents saying it left schools about $190 million short and relied on uncertain funding sources such as blind pension, lottery, and possible ARPA dollars. After a substitute motion to send the bill back to conference was defeated, the House adopted the conference report 83-68 and then third-read and passed House Bill 2002 by the same margin. The House then took up House Bill 2003 on higher education, where members discussed a move toward a future performance-based funding model while keeping current funding flat; the conference report passed 119-28 and the bill was third-read and passed 109-32. The chamber next considered House Bill 2004, covering the Departments of Revenue and Transportation. Debate focused on transportation funding, rural roads, and a small local safety project in Lebanon that had already been addressed by MoDOT. The conference report was adopted 128-21 and the bill was third-read and passed 127-27. Finally, the House began debate on House Bill 2005 for the Office of Administration and IT-related functions, with the sponsor and supporters emphasizing IT accountability, the Movers project, and the transfer of some staff to DSS; the transcript ends during discussion of that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House position was to use $65 million of that to replace general revenue, and in conference we took
• thought it was going to be something different than that as it relates to the blind pension, not replacing
• general revenue but replacing lottery and other dollars.
• Well, there was a connection, if I understand, in the earlier conversations about replacing the lottery

Summary: The House convened with prayer, approved the House Journal by a 107-1 vote, and then spent much of the day on introductions of guests, family members, interns, and public servants. Members recognized visitors including family of legislators, a park ranger honored for life-saving work, substance-use treatment advocates, nonprofit and apprenticeship program representatives, students, and staff. The chamber also received committee reports and Senate messages, including a conference committee appointment on House Bill 2818 and fiscal review reports recommending passage of Senate Bill 1020 and Senate Bill 1062. The main floor action centered on the state budget, especially House Bill 2 on public education. The budget chair explained the conference report as providing $8.4 billion for K-12 and the Office of Childhood, with disputes over funding sources and the foundation formula. Several members argued the bill underfunded schools by about $190 million and objected to using blind pension and projected ARPA/lottery-related funds; others defended the budget as record-level funding and emphasized that the total education dollars were unchanged, only the funding mix differed. A substitute motion to reject the conference report and send the bill back to conference failed 62-89, and the conference report on House Bill 2 was then adopted 83-68; the bill was third read and passed 83-68. The House then adopted and passed House Bill 3 on higher education, after debate over a proposed performance-based funding model and language directing the department to develop a new formula by the end of the year. Members generally supported keeping funding flat this year while studying a longer-term model. House Bill 4, covering Revenue and Transportation, was adopted 128-21 and passed 127-27, with discussion of rural roads funding and transportation investments. The House also took up House Bill 5 on the Office of Administration and IT consolidation/accountability, with the sponsor describing it as the central state-government operations bill; debate on that measure began before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• And these are necessary trips that cannot always be replaced by biking, walking, or transit.
• So the 5% is completely gone and was replaced with that.
• It will replace our Alta Bates Summit Ashby campus in Berkeley, which must stop operating as a hospital
• Without a timely replacement, the East Bay risks losing essential inpatient and emergency care, including

Summary: The committee heard a long series of bills, beginning with AB 2026 on groundwater recharge. The author and supporters said the bill would streamline permitting for recharge projects, codify long-standing CEQA exemptions for flood diversions to recharge, and add tribal consultation and other guardrails. Water agencies and local districts supported the measure as a way to capture high-flow water and reduce groundwater subsidence, while environmental groups and some irrigation districts opposed it, warning that the bill’s exemptions and broader diversion authority could harm rivers, Delta resources, and public trust values. The bill was discussed but not voted on because the committee lacked a quorum at that point. The committee then took up AB 1577 on data center energy accountability, which would require monthly reporting of energy-use data and permit-related estimates of energy and water demand. The author and the Little Hoover Commission argued the bill would improve transparency, help protect ratepayers, and give regulators better information for grid planning. Data center industry representatives opposed it as duplicative, burdensome, and uniquely targeted, while local governments, environmental groups, and some utilities supported it or supported it if amended. The bill was later reported out with a due pass recommendation once a quorum was established. Members also heard AB 2245 on a producer responsibility program for lubricant products and containers, AB 2170 on CEQA language-access and environmental review protections for overburdened communities, AB 2059 on rural transportation and VMT mitigation, AB 1808 on Western Joshua tree permitting and fee relief, AB 2182 on industrial energy efficiency program changes, and AB 2231 on streamlining two hospital projects. Testimony was mixed on most of these bills: supporters emphasized affordability, local control, environmental justice, or project urgency, while opponents raised concerns about CEQA scope, regulatory duplication, costs, and environmental impacts. Several measures received due pass recommendations and roll-call votes, including AB 2170, AB 2059, AB 1808, AB 2182, and AB 2231, with some members voting no or not voting and some bills left open for absent members.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are necessary trips that cannot always be replaced by biking, walking, or transit.
• So the 5% completely gone and was replaced with that.
• It will replace our Alta Bates Ashby campus in Berkeley, which must stop operating as a hospital by 2030
• Without a timely replacement, the East Bay risks losing essential inpatient and emergency care, including

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• From what you've seen, does legalization actually replace that activity, or does a good portion of it
• From what you've seen, does legalization<00:24:37.560><c> actually</c><00:24:38.440><c> replace</c><00
• :24:38.880><c> that</c> legalization actually replace that legalization actually replace that activity

Bills: SCR145, SCR132, SCR31, SCR110

Keywords: traffic violations, demerit point system, driver license points, traffic safety, hit and run, reckless driving, repeat offenders, recidivism, Department of Transportation, DOT, task force, traffic enforcement, road safety, vehicle code, license suspension, county police, Hawaii transportation, SCR132, Senate Concurrent Resolution, Makakilo Drive Extension

Transcript Highlights:

• What we're dealing here basically is that it replaces the 1997 static minimum of $130 per day with a
• ><00:03:01.040><c> that</c><00:03:01.200><c> it</c><00:03:01.520><c> raises</c><00:03:02.480><c> replaces
• </c><00:03:02.920><c> the</c> basically is that it raises replaces the basically is that it raises replaces

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• million for a system study, but are you thinking that this is going to be a new system and, you know, replacing
• c><00:23:40.679><c> and</c><00:23:40.960><c> you</c><00:23:41.040><c> know,</c><00:23:41.120><c> replacing
• </c> a new system and you know, replacing a new system and you know, replacing what<00:23:42.520><c>

Bills: HF4525, HF3002, HF3665, HF4420

Keywords: human services, background studies, NETStudy 2.0, licensing, license suspension, license revocation, provider enrollment, program integrity, fraud, medical assistance fraud, Medicaid, payment withholding, credible allegation of fraud, background check, disqualification, variance, set-aside, foster care, family foster setting, adult foster care

Transcript Highlights:

• amendment removes the previous anti-vertical integration language on PBMs and retail pharmacies and replaces
• Takes away section B when it and it replaces it with when three or more separate offenses for petty larceny
• So, this would allow us to capture the actual price for, let's say, a knee replacement or for a prescription
• I'm curious why we're replacing a predator with a plant eater.

Bills: HB4420, HB3974, HB3016, HB3062, HB3021, HB3145, HB4128, HB3131, HB3015, HB3472, HB3453, HB1638, HB4126, HB2696, HB2710, HB3552, HB3031, HB3544, HB3521, HB4490, HB4488, HB1746, HJR1069, HB4428, HB4429, HB1170, HB3538, HB4124, HB3904, HB4106, HB2999, HB3982, HJR1077, HB3464, HB2588, HB3462, HB4440, HB3674, HB3345, HJR1067, HB4326, HB4331, HB4337, HB4338, HB4359, HB4392, HB3557, HJR1076, HB4003, HB3495, HB3497, HB3501, HB3505, HB3749, HB3011, HB4336, HB4346, HJR1087, HB3240, HB3647, HB3796, HB3969, HB3972, HB3983, HB3984, HB3989, HB3383, HB3130, HB4358, HB3327, HJR1055, HB3386, HJR1089, HB3087, HB2970, HB3314, HB4129, HB4199

Keywords: reading, intervention, literacy, education, third grade retention, teacher training, funding, Strong Readers Act, tort claims, inmate housing, government immunity, public trust, private prison, emergency legislation, vision screening, binocular vision, kindergarten, elementary education, health, firearm rights

Transcript Highlights:

• been involved in this program and the need to start to consider transitions and the difficulty of replacing
• </c><00:12:50.680><c> of</c> transitions and the difficulty of transitions and the difficulty of replacing
• ><c> someone</c><00:12:51.720><c> who's</c><00:12:51.960><c> been</c><00:12:52.120><c> doing</c> replacing
• someone who's been doing replacing someone who's been doing something<00:12:52.720><c> for</c><00:12

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• enforcement of municipal health ordinances related to the inspection, maintenance, upgrade, or replacement
• inspection, maintenance,<00:39:36.560><c> upgrade,</c><00:39:37.440><c> or</c><00:39:37.760><c> replacement
• </c><00:39:38.240><c> of</c> maintenance, upgrade, or replacement of maintenance, upgrade, or replacement

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's a share of motor vehicle sales tax that by law goes to the different replacement service municipalities
• goes to the the tax that by law goes to the the different<00:45:05.119><c> uh</c><00:45:05.359><c> replacement
• </c><00:45:05.920><c> service</c> different uh replacement service different uh replacement service municipalities

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• must have a clear plan if or when we use the funds, and very importantly, how those funds will be replaced
• And then what is our plan to replace them? Because we are where we need to be in turn.
• to make withdrawals, we do so in a methodical way, and that we have a plan on how we're going to replace
• we approach working with the rainy day fund, utilizing the rainy day fund appropriately, and then replacing

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this increase will not replace loss income from jurors, but we feel like it's a token of appreciation
• not</c><00:48:52.000><c> um,</c><00:48:52.960><c> sub</c><00:48:53.280><c> or</c><00:48:53.839><c> replace
• </c> increase will not um, sub or replace increase will not um, sub or replace loss<00:48:54.720><c>

Bills: SB2444, SB2446, SB2450, SB2453, SB2461, SB2457, SB2462, SB2313, SB2528, SB2532, SB2571, SB2678, SB2529

Keywords: real property, exemption, attachment, execution, consumer protection, financial security, inflation adjustment, head of family, senior citizens, Intermediate Court of Appeals, judges, Hawaii judiciary, court membership, legal system, presidential preference primary, elections, political parties, Hawaii voting, 2028 election, voting

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 2444 would raise the real property exemption amount for attachment or execution, which the Attorney General said could create vague retroactivity language and litigation risk; the committee noted the exemption had last been adjusted around 1978. SB 2446 would add a seventh associate judge to the Intermediate Court of Appeals. Judiciary staff testified in opposition, saying recent internal restructuring and a pending vacancy had improved output and that it would be prudent to wait and see the effect before adding another judge. The Public Defender supported the goal of faster appellate resolution but said it would defer to the court’s assessment and had no objection to revisiting the issue later. The committee also discussed current appellate timelines, with staff saying at least 225 days is built into the process before a case reaches a merit panel, and that a two-year delay from panel assignment was realistic under the current structure. The committee then heard SB 2450, which would establish a presidential preference primary for the 2028 cycle. The Chief Election Officer said the election would cost about $4 million, less if combined with the regular primary. Several opponents argued the bill would add bureaucracy, duplicate or undermine party-run processes, and waste taxpayer money; one speaker estimated the total cost could be closer to $6 million when county costs are included. Supporters and committee members discussed that the measure would not require parties to use the results and that Hawaii remains one of the few states still using caucuses. The committee also asked whether counties could staff the election and whether the results would be useful given Hawaii’s current primary timing. SB 2453 would require the Office of Elections to include a notice with each ballot that a digital and printed voter information guide is available, with the notice in 32-point font as a separate insert. The Chief Election Officer said the insert would cost about $90,000 and asked for an effective date of January 1, 2027 because mailing preparations for the primary would already be underway. The Disability and Communications Access Board, League of Women Voters, National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, and others supported the bill. The committee also began hearing SB 2461, which would have the Office of Elections prepare a questionnaire for candidates and publish responses online and in the voter guide; the Chief Election Officer said the office did not think it should be the agency to shape campaign questions, though he said it could work if the questions were specified in statute. Finally, the committee heard SB 2457, which would require a criminal conviction before seized property could be forfeited. The Attorney General and Honolulu Police Department opposed the bill, arguing it would prolong cases, increase storage costs, and make forfeiture less effective against crime, especially where owners flee, die, or hide assets through shell companies. The Public Defender strongly supported the measure, saying forfeiture should be tied to convictions and that people challenging forfeiture often lack counsel. The Honolulu Prosecutor also opposed the bill, but said it supported transparency, due process, and even a right to counsel; it argued conviction-only forfeiture would fail in cases involving fugitives, deceased suspects, or hidden ownership structures. The committee questioned what would happen to property if an owner could not be found, and the prosecutor said the outcome would depend on the type of property and could involve abandonment or interpleader proceedings.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I would say that anytime you're trying to do a replacement of leaders at that level, you want to
• > to</c><00:24:42.799><c> do</c><00:24:42.960><c> a</c><00:24:43.360><c> a</c><00:24:43.760><c> replacement
• </c><00:24:44.320><c> of</c><00:24:44.640><c> leaders</c> trying to do a a replacement of leaders trying
• to do a a replacement of leaders at<00:24:45.279><c> that</c><00:24:45.520><c> level,</c><00:24:46.240

Keywords: 910, house, all