Transcript Highlights:

• have a level of urgency around those updates and changes, so that's the kind of world that we're operating
• I'm chief operating officer of Soundbuilt Homes and responsible for development of nearly 15,000 building
• So we can build every building net zero energy, and that's great for the operational side, but we still
• The Duwamish Valley is already overburdened by pollution from ports, warehouses, highways, and heavy
• Cleaner, more efficient buildings mean healthier indoor air, reduced energy use, and lower long-term operating

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several housing, building code, and permitting bills. HB 2228 would direct the State Building Code Council to convene a technical advisory group to recommend code amendments allowing scissor stairs in buildings with more than two dwelling units. Supporters, including architects, builders, and housing advocates, said scissor stairs could improve safety, reduce corridor and stair footprint, lower costs, and allow more efficient and denser housing layouts. The bill was then closed to public hearing. HB 2381 would create a performance-based code pathway for low-rise residential buildings and allow recognition of third-party certifications. The chair described it as a move from prescriptive to performance-based standards, with flexibility for builders and potential alignment with clean building goals. The Building Industry Association of Washington opposed the bill as written, saying the main need is a performance pathway in the energy code rather than the IBC, while FutureWise supported the concept but urged caution about the complexity and timeline of converting code to performance-based standards. The public hearing on HB 2381 was closed after testimony. HB 2418 would change permit review processes, including vesting rules for residential project permits in urban growth areas, pausing review clocks in certain circumstances, extending timelines to other fee-charging reviewing entities, and requiring a single permit responsible official and point of contact by 2027. Builders, developers, and housing advocates generally supported the bill’s coordination and timeline provisions, saying they would reduce delays and costs, though several groups raised concerns about the vesting section and completeness definitions. FutureWise and county representatives warned the vesting changes could create litigation or records issues, while the sponsor said the vesting portion might be reconsidered. The committee also heard HB 2273, which would require embodied carbon reduction standards for larger building projects through reuse, product-based reductions, or whole-building life-cycle assessment. Support came from architects, Commerce, and environmental justice advocates, who said the bill would reduce climate impacts and encourage innovation; opponents from the concrete and aggregate industry and a taxpayer group raised concerns about costs, supply-chain issues, conflicts with other legislation, and exemptions such as for schools. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after closing the public hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm part of a family farming operation, and I also have significant experience in operating non-typical
• fertilizer operations.
• in operating have significant experience in operating non-typical<00:19:03.960><c> fertilizer</c><00
• :19:05.440><c> operations</c><00:19:06.440><c> I'm</c> non-typical fertilizer operations I'm non-typical
• </c><00:48:03.559><c> representative</c> livestock operations representative livestock operations representative

Bills: HF1621 , HF1701 , HF1796 , HF1676 , HF40 , HF1428 , HF1540

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF1621, CelluComp, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, appropriation, grant, commercialization, fiber-based barrier packaging, packaging materials, PFAS, perfluoroalkyl substances, polyfluoroalkyl substances, plastic reduction, sustainable packaging, environmental health, materials innovation, bio-based packaging, food packaging, agriculture finance, one-time grant, state subsidy

Transcript Highlights:

• They have robot fire suppression operating 24 hours a day.
• Operating hours are not convenient. It's difficult for working people.
• We operate two drop-off sites in Brooklyn Park and Bloomington.
• </c> faster than new mining operations faster than new mining operations meaning<00:18:43.039><c> that
• Their websites are up and operating.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• And it says you must have a driver's license to operate it.
• Oh, yeah, they're only going 20, but you can operate them.
• operate this vehicle; not on any roadway of 25 miles per hour or more.
• This provides needed safety regulations, driver's operator license.
• You're 16 years of age or older to operate this vehicle.

Committees: House Transportation , House Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation met with a quorum and first held an expedited joint public hearing on House Bills 2977 and 2958, which sponsors said were identical to HB 2951 and intended to be folded into that bill. The bills were described as targeting Missouri residents who register vehicles out of state or through shell companies to avoid Missouri sales and personal property taxes. Committee members and the Department of Revenue discussed enforcement concerns, the scope of the bill, the 30-day registration rule for new residents, and whether the proposal could withstand legal challenge. The Department of Revenue said the problem is widespread, that it already receives complaints and evidence from assessors, collectors, and law enforcement, and that the bill would add clearer penalties and an amnesty period to encourage compliance. Some witnesses supported the goal but objected to the size of the penalties and the short compliance window, while the Missouri Trucking Association said it had worked with the department on language and could accept most of it, though some truck-related issues remained. The committee then went into executive session on HB 2951 and adopted two amendments: one adding HB 2958 and HB 2977 to the title, and another making more substantive changes. The substitute created an amnesty period, delayed implementation to December 1, exempted recreational vehicles and trucks over 54,000 pounds with apportioned plates, clarified the definition of shell companies, and retained a $500 penalty and up to a 75% tax-and-fee penalty for willful evasion, with authority for the director of revenue to waive or reduce penalties for good cause. After debate about enforcement, fairness, and the burden on ordinary residents, the committee adopted the substitute and voted the House Committee Substitute for HB 2951, 2958, and 2977 do pass by a vote of 11-2 with one present. The committee also considered HB 2742, which concerns school bus safety cameras. A committee substitute was adopted that clarified existing language, removed unnecessary authorization language, and required footage to be deleted no later than 180 days after recording. The substitute and the bill were then voted do pass unanimously. Finally, the committee heard HB 1939, a public safety bill regulating golf cart use on roads. The sponsor said the bill would prohibit golf carts on roads over 25 mph, require safety equipment and a driver’s license, and keep carts off trails where dedicated paths exist, while allowing local ordinances for some exceptions. Testimony in favor supported statewide safety rules but suggested adding mandatory insurance; no opposition testimony was offered, and the hearing was adjourned without a vote on HB 1939.

Transcript Highlights:

• That outlines the TEC's four operational missions.
• I'm honored to provide an overview of our agency's mission, operations, and the impact.
• As far as just a quick summary of what we do, TFC plays a vital role in ensuring the efficient operation
• Strategic facilities planning, asset management, design, construction, operation, maintenance. and leasing
• None of those projects are currently operating. So zero, right?

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• So, and you feel like you've been able to operate effectively? Yes.
• Hold harmless operates a little differently.
• And so now you're going to..." ...assumption it operates on. Okay.
• Page 66 is the core for the foundation board-operated schools.
• Page 143 is a new decision item for the SEDS data warehouse.

Committee: House Budget

Summary: The committee first heard the Secretary of State’s FY27 budget presentation. Secretary Denny Hoskins described his office’s work on business filings, elections administration, securities enforcement, archives, libraries, and Safe at Home, and said the office had cleaned up voter rolls by removing more than 200,000 ineligible voters. Members questioned him closely about deceased voters, voter registration through DMVs, information sharing with the federal government, and whether any personal identifying information would be released; Hoskins said only publicly available information had been shared and that PII would not be released absent a court order. He also said his office had 10 pending lawsuits handled by the Attorney General’s office, and discussed budget lapses, staffing levels, and the need to spend federal and other funds before general revenue when possible. A major portion of the discussion focused on election-related funding requests. Hoskins defended funding for ballot publication in newspapers, saying the constitution and state law require publication of statewide ballot measures and that the cost could rise sharply if many petitions or a referendum reach the ballot. Several members questioned whether the newspaper notices are still effective, while others emphasized that many Missourians still rely on print and that the requirement remains constitutional. The committee also discussed the technology services NDI tied to the sunset of the $5 business filing fee that funds IT operations, with Hoskins saying the office would need general revenue if the sunset is not extended. Other topics included absentee ballot postage reimbursement, election cost transfers, and the library networking fund, which Hoskins said has not historically been funded at the full 10 percent level. Members also raised broader budget and policy concerns, including the office’s FTE count, the restoration of some previously cut archives/local records positions, and the need for a new voter registration system and election-night reporting system. Some members pressed Hoskins on whether his budget requests were consistent with his past calls for smaller government, while he responded that election-year obligations, cybersecurity risks, and outdated systems require investment. The committee did not take a vote on the Secretary of State items during this segment. The committee then began the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education presentation from Commissioner Carla Eslinger. She outlined the FY27 request for the foundation formula, transportation, child care, literacy, educator workforce, and strategic planning. Eslinger said the formula increase is driven by policy changes such as enrollment-based funding and higher special education and virtual education costs; transportation needs a modest increase; child care needs general revenue to replace expiring federal funds; and literacy efforts continue to expand through science-of-reading training and state-approved assessments. She also highlighted through-year testing, grade-level descriptors, teacher recruitment and retention, and work with a new Transforming Schools group. The presentation was cut short when the committee recessed for floor activity, with no votes taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• And even as our collective psyche tries to recover from the after-effects of Operation Metro Surge, we
• 28.560><c> Surge,</c><00:16:29.560><c> we</c><00:16:29.760><c> can</c><00:16:29.960><c> take</c> Operation
• Metro Surge, we can take Operation Metro Surge, we can take decisive<00:16:30.880><c> action</c><00:
• </c><00:36:32.960><c> Metro</c><00:36:33.280><c> Surge,</c><00:36:34.040><c> not</c> impact of Operation
• Metro Surge, not impact of Operation Metro Surge, not just<00:36:34.640><c> the</c><00:36:34.720><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• It's energy independent because we operate our own power plant to generate and consume all of our own
• centers are projected to bring in $163 million in annual tax revenue, exceeding the county's entire operating
• Amazon logistically can have a warehouse that's a million square feet, and they're not forbidden from

Bills: S0408 , S0986 , S0678 , S0800 , S1050 , S0484 , S1118

Committee: Senate Regulated Industries

Transcript Highlights:

• This approach aligns with chapter 461, which establishes that pharmacists must operate under pharmacist
• This approach aligns with chapter 461, which establishes that pharmacists must operate under pharmacist
• must operate underarmacies must<00:25:56.159><c> operate</c><00:25:56.640><c> under</c><00:25:57.039
• ><c> pharmacist</c><00:25:57.679><c> control</c> must operate under pharmacist control must operate under
• </c> warehouse price, how does DLIR rule? warehouse price, how does DLIR rule?

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The joint HHS and LBT meeting opened with accessibility concerns, as several blind attendees arrived after the general public had already been seated. The chair apologized and said future hearings would try to seat blind members earlier. The committee also announced the hearing was being streamed on YouTube, testimony would be limited to one minute, and written testimony was available online. The first bill heard was SB 2281, relating to the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The Department of Health supported transparency for patients but preferred disclosure through provider websites and office signage rather than a new regulatory program. The Hawaii Medical Association and Healthcare Association of Hawaii generally supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about administrative burden and suggested a working group or model policies. Hawaii Pacific Health said it already uses AI for note-taking and patient portal functions and worried that written notice requirements could create too much consumer information. In response, the chair emphasized that patients should be informed when AI is used, especially if it affects diagnosis or consequential decisions, and said AI should not be making medical decisions. The committee later voted to recommend SB 2281 pass with amendments, including narrowing the definition of consequential decisions, removing certain language requested by DOH, adding a two-year implementation period, and setting a far-future defective date for further discussion; both committees adopted the recommendation, with the chair voting aye and the vice chair voting with reservations. The second major bill was SB 2852, a civil rights measure focused on digital access for people with disabilities. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii all supported the bill, arguing that existing law clearly protects physical access but should also make digital access explicit. Blind testifiers described how accessible technology, such as VoiceOver on iPhones, allows them to participate independently in public processes and warned that inaccessible digital systems can create barriers for thousands of blind residents. One testifier, an attorney with disability-law experience, supported the bill’s intent but said the draft had flaws, including no exceptions for archived materials, no distinction between small and large businesses, and concerns about the timing and choice of accessibility standards; he suggested delegating regulatory authority to the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission. The bill’s sponsor said he supported DAB’s proposed amendments, and the committee indicated those amendments would address many of the concerns raised. No final vote on SB 2852 was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up SB 2751, which defines compounded prescription drugs for workers’ compensation purposes. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations supported the bill but requested clarifying amendments to keep pharmacists as the primary professionals authorized to compound in licensed pharmacies and to limit any physician compounding authority to the physician’s own patient. Supporters included the Work Injury Medical Association of Hawaii, while Solera Integrated Medical Solutions opposed the measure, arguing the current definition was already broad enough and warning about cost inflation, especially with 503B bulk compounding facilities and physician dispensing. In questioning, members asked about rural access, reimbursement for 503B products, and late testimony suggesting definitions for 503A and 503B facilities, limits on physician dispensing to 30 days post-injury, and pre-approval for non-FDA-approved drugs. DLIR said not every rural community has licensed pharmacists available, that products with a national drug code are reimbursed at 140%, and that 503B facilities raise concerns because they are bulk manufacturers rather than patient-specific compounding operations. The meeting then moved into decision-making on SB 2281; the chair’s pass-with-amendments recommendation was adopted by both committees, with the vice chair voting with reservations.

Transcript Highlights:

• We operate on the same rules of decorum as the Texas House.
• So TDCJ, we operate 35 factories.
• One of those is actually owned and operated by a private.
• the contracted facilities that TDCJ has in operation.
• since we've operated here in Texas.

Committee: House Corrections

Transcript Highlights:

• up, that removes opportunity and it makes it harder for those growers who want to expand their operations
• will increase opportunities for private ownership for those growers who do want to expand their operations
• Districts operate on a voluntary basis with their local communities, with no regulatory or taxing authority
• As many of us have seen farmland converted to warehouses or neighborhoods, especially here along the

Bills: HB2201 , HB2154

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: urban growth, city planning, county regulations, development standards, land use, land ownership, conservation districts, property rights, regulatory authority, environmental policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Then we will go into some information around committee and committee operations, and hopefully we'll
• We make our meals from scratch, in-house, in our commercial kitchen and warehouse in Seattle.
• to see a slide of just where we were and where we're going in terms of just the structure of the operation
• opportunity to better use state resources that reflect the changing footprint of state-owned and operated

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee met on the first day of the 2026 session and heard a briefing and public testimony on Senate Bill 5966 concerning medically tailored meals. Committee staff explained that the bill would define medically tailored meals and set statewide standards for meals provided through state programs, emphasizing medical guidance, dietary and cultural accommodations, and prioritizing Washington-based nonprofit providers when possible. Senator T’wina Nobles, the sponsor, said the bill is intended to create a clear baseline for quality and accountability without expanding benefits or creating a new program, but rather to streamline and standardize existing efforts. Testifiers in support described existing medically tailored meal and food box programs already operating in Washington. Representatives from Meals on Wheels, Chicken Soup Brigade, Cascadia Produce, Emergency Food Network, and Meals on Wheels Spokane said these programs improve health outcomes for people with chronic conditions, support recovery, and help keep people stable in their communities. They also emphasized that local providers, volunteers, farmers, and food businesses benefit when state dollars stay in Washington. Several members asked whether the bill would create a new system; supporters said it would instead coordinate and standardize current waiver-based and contract-based services. Questions also touched on funding sources, delivery costs, and the role of Medicaid and other programs. The committee temporarily set aside the bill to hear from newly appointed DSHS Secretary Angela Ramirez, who outlined the department’s reorganization into new administrations and said the goal is to reduce silos, improve customer experience, and make services easier to navigate. She also briefed members on federal HR1-related changes affecting SNAP and Medicaid, including work requirements, immigrant eligibility changes, and tribal consultation, and said DSHS is developing a verification hub to reduce administrative burden. Members raised concerns about implementation, data collection, and how to avoid benefit loss due to paperwork issues. After the secretary’s presentation, the committee resumed testimony on SB 5966 and then adjourned without taking a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have government operations agency or govops.
• , I'm the Deputy Secretary of the Fiscal Policy and Administration of the California Government Operations
• This was published by the Government Operations Agency back in November of 2023.
• Given College Corps operates outside this existing infrastructure, it requires additional staffing and
• So a lot of times we could use AI to look at our warehouse instead of a staff member being in there two

Transcript Highlights:

• In response to comments that College Corps operates with high administrative costs and is more expensive
• The staff understand the operational realities, the compliance requirements, and the risks.
• I wonder if part of this rationale is to support the refinery operations and in-state production.
• I am the Senior Director of Operations at the Phillips 66 Rodeo Renewable Energy Complex.
• I don't know who's operating the Sustainable Fuel Center today because everyone seems to be here.

Summary: The subcommittee first received an informational update on the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement (GoServe), including California Volunteers, the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications, and the Youth Empowerment Commission. GoServe reported strong participation in College Corps, Youth Service Corps, and Climate Action Corps, along with outreach results from OCPSC and the Trusted Messenger Network. The Department of Finance said the programs remain a priority but noted prior budget reductions, while the LAO said it had no new recommendations. Committee members raised questions about program diversity, geographic reach, administrative costs, and whether the programs duplicate existing volunteer opportunities; one member criticized the programs as costly and duplicative, while another emphasized the value of volunteerism and asked about the men’s service challenge. The item was informational only. The committee then heard an overview of the Board of Equalization’s property tax responsibilities and its first budget proposals since the 2017 reorganization. BOE described its role in county assessment oversight, state-assessed property valuation, and related tax administration. Members asked about BOE’s interaction with counties, property tax reassessments, and local tax notices; BOE explained it mainly works with county assessors and handles technical property tax questions, while local special district charges are generally outside its scope. The committee also considered a BOE proposal to implement SB 293, which would give additional time for certain intergenerational property tax transfer claims after the 2025 wildfires. BOE requested $154,000 for guidance, public materials, and inquiry response work, saying the change is urgent for wildfire-affected families, especially in Altadena. The LAO had no concerns, and the item was held open. BOE also presented an information technology modernization proposal for its state-assessed property program, seeking $3.2 million in 2026-27 and $3.1 million in 2027-28 to replace a 30-year-old mainframe system. BOE said the current system relies heavily on manual data entry and paper processes, creating inefficiencies, cybersecurity risks, and delays, while modernization would free staff for more audits and valuation studies. The LAO supported the need but urged a high bar for new IT projects; Finance said the project met the threshold of necessity. Members generally supported the upgrade but asked about audit gains, revenue impacts, and implementation risks, and the item was held open. Finally, CDTFA gave its department overview and then discussed a proposal to require all delivery network companies, such as Uber Eats and DoorDash, to be treated as marketplace facilitators for sales tax purposes. CDTFA said the current carve-out creates confusion for restaurants and small businesses because some DNCs collect and remit tax while others do not, and the change would improve compliance and shift reporting to larger platforms. Members debated whether the proposal amounts to a tax increase for consumers, with CDTFA and Finance arguing it is a consistency and compliance measure rather than a new tax, while others said it would likely raise consumer costs. The committee also discussed broader CDTFA issues, including local sales tax districts, revenue-sharing agreements, and the growth of special taxing jurisdictions. No votes were taken, and the agenda items were informational or held open.

Transcript Highlights:

• in construction, I worked for unions that represent food processing and grocery and freight and warehouse
• 16.640><c> and</c> processing and grocery and freight and processing and grocery and freight and warehouse
• And every time we warehouse workers.
• in recent years, although they drive Amazon vans, wear Amazon vests, deliver Amazon packages, and operate
• according to quotas and roots operate according to quotas and roots determined<00:33:26.240><c> by</

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, Amazon warehouses use an unpaid time system that provides workers with a limited amount
• And then we see a distinct conversation between a public agency versus a private operator.
• Some forward-facing cameras that we operate on buses.
• The cost of operating a business or business friendliness in the case of California.
• Because it's operating now, right? Some are operating right now, yes.

Summary: The committee heard several AI- and consumer-protection-related bills, with extensive testimony from authors, supporters, and industry opponents. SB 53 by Senator Wiener would create transparency requirements for large AI developers, including disclosure of safety and security protocols, reporting of critical safety incidents, whistleblower protections, and the CalCompute public cloud. Supporters said it is a narrower, transparency-based follow-up to last year’s vetoed AI safety bill, while opponents argued it still relies too much on company size, could expose trade secrets, and should be narrowed further. The committee approved SB 53 on a do-pass-as-amended vote to Appropriations, with the roll held open for absent members. SB 766 by Senator Allen would codify the FTC’s Cars Rule and create a three-day cooling-off period for certain used-car purchases, along with stronger disclosure rules on pricing, add-ons, and government affiliation claims. Supporters said it would save consumers money and time and help buyers avoid bad deals, while dealer and industry groups said amendments addressed many of their concerns. Several former opponents moved to neutral, and the committee passed SB 766 unanimously as amended to Appropriations. SB 7 by Senator McNerney would regulate automated decision-making systems in employment by requiring notice, human review for discipline and termination, and limits on predictive behavior analysis. Labor and consumer advocates supported the bill as a safeguard against biased or overly automated workplace decisions, while employer and industry groups raised concerns about scope, notice burdens, and the predictive-analysis ban. The committee passed SB 7 to Appropriations on a 4-2 vote, with the roll held open. SB 833, also by Senator McNerney, would require human oversight of AI used in critical infrastructure, along with training and system assessments; it drew limited opposition focused on scope, and the committee passed it as amended to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote, also holding the roll open. Later, the committee took up SB 11, which would address AI-generated voice, image, and video cloning and deepfakes by clarifying likeness protections, requiring consumer warnings, and addressing misuse and evidence tampering. Supporters framed it as a targeted response to nonconsensual deepfakes, while industry groups said recent amendments improved the bill but still had concerns about penalties and warning language. The committee also heard SB 720, the Safer Streets Act, which would let cities opt into a revised red-light camera system that shifts from driver to owner liability, removes facial identification, makes violations civil rather than criminal, and directs revenue toward transportation safety projects; the author presented the bill, but the transcript ends before any final action on SB 720.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our warehouse is on Sand Island Road.
• Our warehouse is on virtual inventory.
• Um, and them to continue to operate.
• the telepharmacy project, nor at any time that they were actually operating pharmacy operations by flying
• the telepharmacy project, nor at any time that they were actually operating pharmacy operations by flying

Summary: The joint hearing opened with SB 1442, which would update the statute governing the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division and clarify its role as the state Medicaid provider of intensive mental health services for children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance. The Department of Health testified in strong support, saying the current statute is outdated and warning against any unfunded mandate because the division relies on federal funding and faces uncertainty about future resources. Written testimony from several organizations also supported the bill. The committees took no immediate action and said they would hold decision-making until later. The hearing then moved to SB 479 on ABLE savings accounts. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Hawaii Disability Rights Center supported the measure, arguing that ABLE accounts help people with disabilities save money without losing benefits and that the state needs more outreach and staffing to expand participation. A testifier with a disability said the bill would help people keep Social Security and housing stability. The chair indicated an intention to move the bill forward, and asked about funding; the discussion settled on a requested appropriation of about $75,000 for incentives. Next, SB 1245 on reimbursement of pharmacists drew broad support from the Hawaii Pharmacists Association, rural pharmacies, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, and others, who said the bill would improve access to care, especially on neighbor islands and in rural communities, and help pharmacies participate in 340B-related services. The Insurance Division and HMSA raised concerns about bill language, saying it could be read to cover pharmacists outside an insurer’s network and that the scope of reimbursable services needed clarification; the pharmacists’ association said the bill is intended to apply only to in-network pharmacists and should continue to reference existing scope-of-practice law. The hearing also took up SB 1279, which would allow pharmacists to authorize medications via telehealth under certain circumstances. The State Board of Pharmacy opposed the bill, citing patient safety, a pilot project with reported errors, concerns about controlled substances and unregulated technicians, and the view that in-person pharmacist services are safer and already available on the affected islands. Several pharmacies and health care groups supported the measure as a way to preserve 340B access and improve service on Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi, while some local pharmacies said they already provide in-person service and opposed remote dispensing. No votes were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:04.840><c> income</c><00:10:05.280><c> of</c> operator income of operator income of $10,000<00
• Loan programs and operating, which is why I'm trying to figure this out.
• Um what is that that uh operation.
• Thank you. warehouses and converted it into warehouses and converted it into housing<00:15:44.320><c>
• </c> ensure the program can operate ensure the program can operate effectively.<00:27:31.920><c> Sterilization

Bills: HB1736 , HB1620 , HB1695

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1737, which clarifies allowable uses in agricultural districts for farm dwellings and farm employee housing, and HB 1604 HD2, which creates an agricultural workforce housing working group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Testimony on HB 1737 was overwhelmingly supportive, with county agriculture officials, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Farmers Union backing the measure; one witness asked for a definition of “affordable” to guard against misuse of farm housing. For HB 1604, the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Housing Hawaii’s Future, Hawaii Farmers Union, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the bill, with OHA requesting disaggregated data and a seat on the working group. Committee discussion focused on housing shortages, possible misuse, affordability, and whether innovative housing models such as modular, tiny, and container homes should be considered. The committee then took action on both measures. HB 1737 HD3 was recommended to pass with amendments that would limit farm employee housing to agricultural employees and their immediate family members actively engaged in the farm operation, add a grandfathering provision for existing permitted housing, preserve county zoning authority, clarify that ag tourism must be secondary and not occur in employee housing, delete a square-footage-per-acre ratio, and defer the effective date to July 1, 2050. HB 1604 HD2 was also recommended to pass with amendments adding OHA and a housing-shortage organization to the working group, expanding its scope to include modular, tiny, and container homes and permitting/zoning streamlining, and deferring the effective date to July 1, 2050. Both motions were adopted unanimously by the members present. The joint hearing then moved to HB 1736, which would establish a spay and neuter special fund and require sterilization and declaration provisions for cats, with some discussion of dogs. DLNR and the Hawaiian Humane Society supported the bill, while Pacific Pet Alliance objected to the broader requirements and the inclusion of dogs; the Hawaiian Humane Society and American Bird Conservancy supported cat-focused sterilization and the special fund, while some testifiers opposed mandatory sterilization as too costly or intrusive. Members raised questions about toxoplasmosis, trap-neuter-release, enforcement, neighbor-island access, and funding needs, and DLNR indicated additional funding and third-party contracting would likely be needed. The transcript then began HB 1620 HD2 on energy, which would increase the environmental response energy and food security tax and shift funds from the hydrogen fueling subaccount to EV charging infrastructure; state agencies generally stood on written testimony in support, while the Tax Foundation objected to special fund earmarks and noted the bill raises only one part of the barrel tax structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• We operate dispensaries in Chichester and Marramck. And we support this bill.
• We operate dispensaries in Chichester and Marramck. And we support this bill.
• for the benefit of therapeutic operating for the benefit of therapeutic patients.<00:37:42.480><c> So
• to grow and have excess uh operations to grow and have excess uh product<00:38:57.040><c> that</c><00
• </c> state that has a giant warehouse-sized state that has a giant warehouse-sized liquor<02:13:15.760

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the operation chief of the Vierra.
• Um, ensuring commercial operations are operating safely on the ocean waters. User conflicts.
• DOT has, you know, was operating it for many years prior to DLNR.
• DOT has, you know, was operating it for many years prior to DLNR.
• commercial operations Um ensuring commercial operations are<01:10:08.720><c> operating</c><01:10:09.280

Bills: HCR13 , HCR61 , HCR136 , HCR185 , HCR155 , HCR68 , HCR174 , HCR178 , HCR179 , HCR91 , HCR103 , HCR115 , HCR199 , HR15 , HR128 , HR175 , HR147 , HR62 , HR164 , HR168 , HR169 , HR83 , HR95 , HR107 , HR189

Committee: House Water & Land

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on March 31, 2026, and heard testimony on several resolutions. HCR 13/HR 50, which asks DLNR to work with DOE and the Public Charter School Commission on a student coral stewardship program, drew comments from DLNR, which said it stood on written testimony and had proposed amendments, and from supporters in the room. HCR 61, urging investment in reforestation policies, workforce, nursery capacity, and related support for public and private lands, received strong support from DLNR and multiple testifiers, including members of a reforestation policy hui, a resident, and others who emphasized watershed protection, flood and fire resilience, and the need to upgrade nursery infrastructure and staffing. Committee members asked questions about nursery modernization, staffing, island-specific needs, and whether reforestation could reduce wildfire impacts; the DLNR witness said all islands need investment, with especially large opportunities on Hawaiʻi Island, and that healthier forests improve resilience though they cannot eliminate climate-related risks. The committee then heard HCR 136/HR 128 on wildland-urban interface safety standards for Maui plantation towns, but no one testified. It also heard HCR 185/HR 175, which urges denial of permits for ICE detention-related warehouses; Chris Coffey of Immua Alliance testified in support, saying migrant survivors of exploitation are harmed when ICE detains people and that Hawaii would not be the first place to take such action, citing examples from other states and cities. In questioning, members explored whether a local facility would keep people closer to families and services or instead increase local detention; Coffey said detention generally cuts off access to services and can intensify fear, and that a local facility could incentivize more detention and make survivors less likely to come forward. Finally, the committee heard HCR 155/HR 147 supporting the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition’s Hawaii Water Safety Act. Testifiers included Allison Shapera, who described the statewide water safety plan, Hawaii’s high drowning rate, the economic and human costs of drownings, and her personal loss of her daughter in a preventable drowning; Kirsten Hermstead and Kalani Vierra of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association said the plan’s recommendations need legislative recognition to help with implementation and grant funding; and Jessamine Town Horner testified by Zoom as a co-founder and bereaved family advocate. The transcript provided does not show any votes or final committee actions on the measures discussed.