Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:26.720><c> Yeah,</c><00:13:27.920><c> miles</c> to fund our our programs.
• Yeah, miles to fund our our programs.
• </c><00:19:29.440><c> It's</c> program. So we're doing our best. It's program.
• Highway Administration says that we must balance the federal program.
• And that's of that out of that program.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met on Transportation, approved the prior meeting minutes, and received a road fund update from Transportation Cabinet officials Mike Hancock, Sean McCernan, and Ron Rigney. McCernan reported that FY 2024-2025 road fund revenue came in $38.5 million above the enacted estimate, but was about $11 million below FY24 because of a lower motor fuels tax rate. He said motor vehicle usage tax receipts were stronger than expected, and that the road fund ended the year with a $61.6 million surplus account that, under the budget bill, must be appropriated to state construction. Members focused heavily on how declining motor fuels receipts affect the formula funds that support cities, counties, and rural/secondary roads. Hancock and McCernan explained that lower gas tax receipts reduce both the road plan and revenue sharing, while higher vehicle sales tax receipts from motor vehicle usage go directly to the road fund and do not help the formula distributions. They also said fuel efficiency, hybrid and electric vehicle trends, and the removal of a prior hybrid fee all affect revenue collections. On tolling, officials said Louisville bridge toll revenues are covering bills and commitments, but they did not have the latest collection figures in front of them and said they would provide them later. The committee also asked about project delivery delays, right-of-way acquisition, disaster recovery work, annual contract awards, cash management, and overprogramming in the highway plan. Officials said project delays often stem from right-of-way purchases, utility relocation, and the large volume of projects in the plan, and described the process as a “duck paddling” situation with substantial work happening behind the scenes. They said FY25 contract awards were already just under $998 million by the July letting and expected to exceed last year’s total, and explained that cash balances are managed so they do not fall below $100 million; the current balance was said to be about $166 million. No further votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> business program. business program.
• </c> true program true program uh<00:55:55.000><c> and</c><00:55:55.280><c> they</c><00:55:55.600><c>
• If we incubator program that we have.
• </c><01:02:12.280><c> Um</c> a tried and true program. Um a tried and true program.
• And so, I hope you uh program going.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> went to their own foundations program went to their own foundations program around<00:07:14.240>
• When you foundation's program.
• It is a a it's a certified program.
• Harrison is our high elementary program. Harrison is our high school<00:27:06.960><c> program.
• We also have our school program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 740 is broadly similar to the COM homes program.
• </c><00:58:53.240><c> be</c> kind of value of having the program be kind of value of having the program
• <01:18:44.040><c> thank</c><01:18:44.239><c> you</c><01:18:44.639><c> nen</c> program thank you nen program
• <02:04:49.159><c> um</c> program um program um uh<02:04:52.280><c> adopt</c><02:04:52.599><c> the</c>
• <02:16:34.599><c> to</c><02:16:34.880><c> offer</c> program to offer program to offer um<02:16:37.719

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Housing held a public hearing and moved quickly through a long agenda, beginning with HB 606 on the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. DHHL and several community testifiers strongly supported the bill, describing it as a way to fulfill long-standing promises to Native Hawaiians, reduce the DHHL waitlist, keep families in Hawaii, and support housing production and the broader economy. Testifiers emphasized the cultural and economic importance of stable housing and noted the large number of people still waiting for DHHL homes. The committee then heard HB 1086, also relating to DHHL, which would allow the department to use a $75 million appropriation from the dwelling unit revolving fund as collateral for loans. DHHL, HHFDC, and other supporters said the measure would help DHHL obtain better loan terms and preserve trust funds for other uses. Members asked detailed questions about how the collateral would work, whether other agencies use similar structures, and what would happen if the collateral were drawn upon; staff explained that the funds would be encumbered for the loan and that a similar model had been used for a HUD-backed project. The committee also heard HB 739, which would create the COM homes program to fund counties to buy voluntary deed restrictions from eligible homeowners or buyers. Supporters said the program could help keep local workers in Hawaii by using existing housing stock and cited examples from places like Aspen and Vail. The Attorney General’s office recommended amendments to remove duration requirements to avoid right-to-travel concerns, and the Tax Foundation suggested clarifying the conveyance tax exemption so it also covers the instrument imposing the restriction. Members asked whether tax dollars would be used to buy homes, who would be eligible, and how enforcement would work; supporters said the program is voluntary and income-blind, with restrictions tied to living and working in the state. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• long-term funding for this program.
• long-term funding for this program.
• long-term funding for this program.
• long-term funding for this program.
• long-term funding for this program.

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It’s different than the social equity program I just talked about. It’s a separate fund.
• It's different than the social equity program I just talked about.
• It's a separate fund. and I It's different than the social equity program I just talked about.
• Just because they're not part of the medical program does not mean that they do not exist.
• program because we were directly impacted by the war on drugs, unfortunately.

Bills: H5005

Committee: Joint Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions

Keywords: environment, water conservation, natural resources, public funding, environmental justice, 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we're going to take up tab 12, SB 624 on batterers' intervention program activities.
• SB 624 on batterers' intervention program activities.
• Restoring faith-based batterers' intervention programs are very near and dear to our hearts.
• The second part of the bill modernizes Florida's address confidentiality program.
• The second part of the bill modernizes Florida's address confidentiality program.

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met with a quorum present and heard a long agenda of bills, beginning with CS/SB 62 on candidate qualification, which would create an enforcement mechanism for party-affiliation qualification requirements and allow challenges by qualified candidates or political parties. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard CS/SB 156, the Officer Jason Raynor Act, which would clarify resistance-to-officer language and impose a mandatory life sentence for manslaughter committed against a law enforcement officer; the sponsor and local law enforcement supporters emphasized the Raynor case, while criminal defense lawyers objected to deleting existing force-limit language and to the mandatory life penalty. Despite the opposition, the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved several open-government sunset review bills extending or preserving public records exemptions, including CS/SB 7014 on social media platform investigations, SB 7016 on small business loan program records, CS/SB 7012 on Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles investigations, CS/SB 7000 on emergency shelter recipient information, CS/SB 7002 on Department of Military Affairs records, SB 7004 on conviction integrity unit reinvestigation materials, SB 7006 on Florida Public Service Commission records and meetings, and SB 7008 on Florida Gaming Control Commission records and meetings. Other measures reported favorably included SB 624 allowing optional faith-based activities in batterers’ intervention programs, HB 167 protecting former phosphate mining lands from certain strict-liability claims, CS/SB 48 on accessory dwelling units and housing supply, SB 288 on rural electric cooperatives, CS/SB 364 modernizing CPA licensure, SB 292 creating a records exemption for appellate court clerks and families, CS/SB 296 expanding domestic violence safety tools and address confidentiality protections, CS/SB 298 as the public-records companion, SB 386 on farm equipment lemon-law style protections, and SB 168 expanding public nuisance law to include gambling houses. Several bills drew supportive testimony from local governments, advocacy groups, industry groups, and affected families, with some opposition on SB 156 and SB 290. For CS/SB 48, the committee adopted two amendments before reporting the bill favorably. SB 290 on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services was temporarily postponed after the chair allowed public testimony but no final action was taken. At the end of the meeting, senators recorded their votes on selected bills, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I thought it was a three-year program. And I'm not sure I've seen good results from this.
• There's been a lot of controversy around this program, as you know.
• The dynamic fallowing program.
• So this program would use...
• So this program would use...

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• LASTLY WE HAVE OUR HOSPITAL DIRECTED PAYMENT PROGRAM.
• AND DATA DRIVEN GOALS FOR THE PROGRAMS AND RECORDING.
• NEXT OF HEALTHY BEHAVIORS PROGRAMS.
• THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE NUMBER OF MMA SPECIFICALLY TO THE MMA PROGRAM.
• WHAT WE ARE LOOKING TO DO WITH THAT PROGRAM IS INCREASE.

Transcript Highlights:

• foundation ensures that every deserving child has the opportunity to excel by providing no costs programs
• Regional programs chair, Ashley McGee and the area for coordinator, Amanda Wilson.
• and pretrial and intervention programs are for the Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence HB 2618 by NCEA
• Solicit donations made by text message for the benefit of local programs and that provide services to
• HB 2748 by Goodwin relating to the pilot program to just by.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an important program and it's a valuable program certainly in my district. >> Thank you.
• It's an important program and it's a valuable program certainly in my district. >> Thank you.
• It's an important program and it's a valuable program certainly in my district. >> Thank you.
• > expand</c> programs, uh, expand programs, expand programs, uh, expand programs, expand the<00:51:44.480
• As you know, the adult program isn't a managed care program.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee met on January 23, 2026, to approve prior minutes and receive an update from the Department of Health and Human Services. The main presentation focused on “Project Compass,” an internal cross-department effort to prepare for changes to Medicaid and SNAP eligibility. Department staff said the goal is to maintain continuous coverage for eligible people, align policy, operations, communications, legal, finance, and eligibility work, and use the new integrated New HEIGHTS system to streamline implementation. They emphasized outreach to beneficiaries, providers, managed care organizations, and other partners, and said temporary manual workarounds had already been used to stay in compliance with fast-moving SNAP changes. Members questioned how the department would avoid repeating the costly outreach effort used in a prior Medicaid work-requirement rollout. Department officials said they are focusing on ex parte processes, sharing eligibility information across programs, and using community partners to reduce duplicate contacts and paperwork. They also said the department is monitoring the SNAP error rate closely, expects automation and a planned system contract amendment to help reduce it, and noted that current error rates are trending downward and remain below the national average. Questions were also raised about possible future SNAP restrictions on certain foods; the department said it can implement whatever the legislature directs, but that defining and administering such restrictions would be complex. The commissioner and CFO then outlined the department’s budget reduction plan. They said the department has begun implementing required “back of the budget” reductions for fiscal year 2026, using contract savings and not cutting existing services where possible. Examples included dental and home-visitation contracts, where spending was adjusted based on utilization and projected need. Officials said they had already written down a little over $15 million in prior-year encumbrances, but that this one-time source will not be available next year, making fiscal year 2027 more difficult. They also explained the difference between legally required back-of-budget cuts and lapse, and said staffing remains a major challenge because vacancies have increased and customer-facing service levels are strained. Dr. Jonathan Ballard then began an update on opioid overdose fatalities, presenting the latest medical examiner data and describing the long-term rise in deaths after fentanyl entered the illicit drug supply, with a peak in 2017 and a later increase in 2022. The transcript cuts off before his full presentation and any further committee action beyond discussion of the minutes and receipt of the department updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, we serve program.
• </c> enrolled in both the Medicaid program enrolled in both the Medicaid program and<00:41:53.920><c>
• And that 600,000 Insurance Program.
• So for the hospital rate improvement program and the ambulance provider assessment program, those two
• and the ambulance provider program and the ambulance provider assessment<00:54:14.640><c> program,</

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Health and Family Services committee heard an informational presentation on Kentucky personal care homes from representatives of the Kentucky Association of Healthcare Facilities, Management Systems of Kentucky, and Elder Care Partners. Witnesses described personal care homes as a lower-cost, 24/7 residential option for adults, often with serious mental illness, who do not meet nursing home criteria but need structured supervision, medication assistance, meals, and daily support. They said the homes are regulated by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, are not Medicaid-funded, and are supported largely through state supplementation payments and residents’ SSI income. The presenters argued that the current reimbursement rate of about $50.70 per day is no longer sufficient to cover staffing, food, insurance, utilities, maintenance, and other costs, and said the sector has shrunk significantly over time. They cited figures showing a decline from 64 to 34 homes serving the seriously mentally ill since 2002, with 30 closures over 23 years, and said the loss of beds contributes to homelessness, hospital overcrowding, and longer psychiatric stays. They also gave examples of residents who had spent many months in hospitals before being successfully placed in personal care homes, which they said can prevent more costly institutional care. Committee members asked about staffing credentials, fraud controls, referral processes, and how reimbursement works in other states. The presenters said Kentucky does not require licensed or certified staff in these facilities, though some homes use certified medication technicians or an LPN, and they described a county case-manager-based assessment process used to set individualized rates in other states such as Minnesota. Members expressed support for the work but emphasized the need for documentation of savings and budget offsets. The presenters said they are seeking an incremental reimbursement increase over two years, roughly 25% to 50% in the first year and another 50% after that, and urged the committee to support the homes to prevent further closures.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we have a number of programs.
• </c><01:27:34.320><c> This</c> program and some of them won't. This program and some of them won't.
• </c> employee assistance program employee assistance program &gt;&gt; and<01:30:34.960><c> uh</c><01:
• mentioned, but affects numerous programs, dozens, potentially dozens of programs across the department
• Again, I'm here for the asbestos air programs and for the water programs that may be affected. there

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> hopefully make the program a success. hopefully make the program a success.
• </c> program. Thank you. program. Thank you. &gt;&gt; Thank<00:20:21.200><c> you.
• </c><00:42:25.040><c> I</c> programs have not incorporated. I programs have not incorporated.
• </c> existing uh displacement programs. existing uh displacement programs.
• It funds a lot of our programs.

Bills: HB1721 , HB1714 , HB1718 , HB1732 , HB1740 , HB1777 , HB1842 , HB1919 , HB1701 , HB1923 , HB1741 , HB1734 , HB1739

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: housing, expedited permits, insurance, indemnification, construction, affordable housing, executive compensation, Hawaii housing finance, legislative approval, low-income housing, moderate-income housing, mixed-use development, transit-oriented development, TOD, county powers, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, HHFDC, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, DHHL, affordable housing credits

Summary: The House Housing Committee met on February 4 and heard testimony on several housing measures, beginning with HB1721, which clarifies insurance, indemnification, and certificate-of-occupancy requirements for expedited permits. Testimony on HB1721 was uniformly supportive from the American Council of Engineering Companies, the Grassroot Institute, and individual testifiers, who said the bill would fix insurance issues for design professionals and encourage more participation in the expedited-permit program. No opposition was heard and no questions were raised. The committee then heard HB1714, which would raise salary caps for the executive director and deputy executive director positions at the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and allow more autonomy in personnel matters, including employment contracts. HHFDC supported the bill, saying greater flexibility is needed to recruit and retain staff and that current pay ceilings are not the main issue because the agency lacks operating funds to reach them. The Department of Human Resources Development offered comments and raised concerns about autonomous personnel authority and employment contracts, saying state personnel matters are governed by existing statutes and collective bargaining rules; the Hawaii Public Housing Authority also offered comments, and one board member and one individual opposed the measure. Members questioned whether performance-based pay or existing incentive policies could address retention instead of statutory salary changes. The committee also heard HB1718, which would make permanent county authority to facilitate mixed-use developments and issue county bonds for low- and moderate-income housing projects. Support came from OPSD, HHFDC, the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Housing and Land Management, and Housing Hawaii’s Future, all emphasizing that permanent authority is needed to finance long-term mixed-use and transit-oriented projects. A member asked whether the sunset provision would make bonding impractical, and the city representative agreed that temporary authority would make financing difficult because development takes time. Later, the committee took up HB1732, establishing the Kamina Homes program to fund counties’ purchase of voluntary deed restrictions from eligible buyers. The Department of Taxation and several groups, including HHFDC, AARP Hawaii, the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Realtors, Holomua Collaborative, and others testified, with most supporting the bill as a way to help local families remain in Hawaii and age in place. Holomua said a recent survey found 75% of 3,200 working families were considering moving, and argued the bill could preserve housing for local residents. Members asked about the bill’s 8% cap on deed-restriction cost and why the program focuses on residency rather than resale restrictions; the bill’s proponents said the cap allows flexibility for county negotiations and that the measure is aimed at workforce preservation rather than land-trust-style appreciation limits. Finally, the committee heard HB1740, which would modify a prior HHFDC housing pathway by reducing the qualified-resident requirement from 100% to 80% and allowing more flexibility for long-term rental instead of owner occupancy. HHFDC and Holomua Collaborative supported the change, saying the earlier 100% requirement had produced no developments or applicants and that the revised standard would make projects more feasible while still preserving housing for local residents. The committee did not take final votes on these measures during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, our child welfare program Yes.
• </c> the ohana navigator program. the ohana navigator program.
• </c> of the development of the Kako program. of the development of the Kako program.
• </c> talked to them about um even programs talked to them about um even programs like<01:33:14.639><c
• </c><01:35:14.320><c> Hey,</c> the Coca-Cola program. Thank you. Hey, the Coca-Cola program.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:32:22.360><c> integrity</c> program integrity program integrity bill,<00:32:24.840><c> and</c><00
• , it reduces the loan program by freezing future loans, winding down the program as loans are repaid,
• ,</c> support loan program, support loan program, uh,<00:40:32.280><c> it</c><00:40:32.720><c> reduces
• :40:41.400><c> loans</c> loans, winding down the program as loans loans, winding down the program as
• </c> HCBS innovation grants program. HCBS innovation grants program.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill sponsor: The intent of the SNAP program, which is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,
• An entitlement program? Yeah. Do you mention an entitlement program in your bill at all?
• “We utilize this program.
• This is a supplemental program.
• But for this program, this is the right move to go for our stewardship of this program. Thank you.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• are already under strain, including the state grant program as we know.
• </c> aid programs? aid programs?
• So while you the state grant program.
• Um and so you know if in our programs.
• Uh we have all human services programs.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:32:47.120><c> excuse</c> funds going directly to programs excuse funds going directly to programs
• Employee assistance programs have come a long way, and I'm grateful that there's been strides in that
• have come a long way and I'm programs have come a long way and I'm grateful<00:35:34.560><c> that</c
• But just wondering operationally kind of how to think about those programs.
• </c><00:49:08.760><c> um</c> how to think about those programs um how to think about those programs um

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• have a program within the school.
• </c><01:14:55.560><c> on</c> kapuni program and an English program on kapuni program and an English program
• We want this program to work.
• We want this program to work.
• violating the program.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard three House bills related to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. HB 606 would extend the Act 279 special fund to June 30, 2028, continue deposits and appropriations to help eliminate the DHHL waitlist, and require a strategic plan and annual reporting. DHHL strongly supported the measure, saying most of the initial $600 million had been used and that the need remains large, with more than 29,000 people on the waitlist. Public testimony also supported the bill, emphasizing its importance to Native Hawaiian families and concerns about Hawaiians leaving the islands because of housing costs. A member noted the bill is a priority and that the committee will keep working on how to fund another $600 million. HB 1086 would exempt DHHL homestead lot and housing development from general excise and use taxes. DHHL supported the bill, saying any tax savings would reduce the eventual cost of housing for low-income beneficiaries. The Department of Taxation said it could administer the measure and noted it is already being implemented under the governor’s emergency proclamation, with a proposed effective date of January 1, 2026. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered technical comments and urged the committee to weigh existing benefits already received by DHHL beneficiaries. HB 1307 would appropriate funds for DHHL water well development and geothermal exploration on Hawaiian homelands. DHHL said the bill is a follow-up to prior study funding and would support slim-hole drilling, site evaluation, and consultant work to identify viable geothermal resources, especially on Hawaiʻi Island. Several testifiers opposed the bill, arguing there had been inadequate beneficiary consultation, raising environmental, cultural, and safety concerns, and objecting to using $20 million for geothermal rather than housing. In response to committee questions, DHHL staff explained that the goal is to gather information for a future public-private partnership to develop geothermal electricity, and that a Chapter 343 environmental review would be required later in the process. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.