Transcript Highlights:

• We are running a little bit behind<01:09:57.600><c> schedule.
• </c> behind schedule. Welcome represent Taki. behind schedule. Welcome represent Taki.
• So, really just want to say thank you to all members for accommodating our heavy schedule and for keeping

Bills: HF1972 , HF229 , HF1090 , HF1084 , HF1307 , HF1274 , HF1609 , HF2110 , HF211 , HF216 , HF222 , HF224 , HF225 , HF203 , HF206 , HF207 , HF208 , HF227 , HF246 , HF427 , HF466 , HF502 , HF680 , HF971

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• In the early 2000s, the opera house was scheduled to be demolished by the city council in Litchfield
• 14.960><c> was</c> In the early 2000s, the opera house was In the early 2000s, the opera house was scheduled
• 16.560><c> demolished</c><00:36:17.200><c> by</c><00:36:17.440><c> the</c><00:36:17.760><c> city</c> scheduled
• to be demolished by the city scheduled to be demolished by the city council<00:36:18.640><c> in</c><

Bills: HF2411 , HF2471 , HF1440 , HF1393 , HF1631 , HF1259 , HF280 , HF1281 , HF1459

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, are there any questions about that calendar or schedule?
• calendar</c><01:37:24.400><c> or</c> questions about that calendar or questions about that calendar or schedule
• schedule? schedule?

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development - Subcommittee on Veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• It is about maintaining friendships, seeing family, attending weddings and funerals, scheduling appointments
• ><c> funerals</c> family attending weddings and funerals family attending weddings and funerals scheduling
• > appointments</c><01:04:29.079><c> and</c><01:04:29.279><c> yes</c><01:04:29.520><c> maybe</c> scheduling
• appointments and yes maybe scheduling appointments and yes maybe even<01:04:30.000><c> a</c><01:04:30.119

Committees: Senate Health and Human Services , Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Transportation would develop according to the statutory criteria and then report those on a rolling monthly schedule
• 00:43:45.440><c> a</c><00:43:45.640><c> rolling</c><00:43:46.160><c> monthly</c><00:43:46.720><c> schedule
• </c><00:43:47.359><c> to</c><00:43:47.520><c> the</c> on a rolling monthly schedule to the on a rolling
• monthly schedule to the general<00:43:48.000><c> assembly</c><00:43:48.440><c> with</c><00:43:48.559

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Appropriations and Revenue met on February 25 and considered a series of bills and joint resolutions, mostly involving appropriations, capital projects, and local infrastructure funding. The committee first adopted PHS 2 and passed House Bill 152, which creates a Medicaid supplemental payment program for public ground ambulance providers; the sponsor said the substitute ensures no state general fund dollars will be used and that local agencies must identify a funding source for any required match. HB 152 was reported favorably on a 20-0 vote. The committee also passed House Bill 545, the annual claims bill, after members confirmed all executive-branch claims were included; it was reported favorably on a 21-0 vote. House Bill 606, requiring reporting for general obligation bonds, also passed unanimously and was reported favorably. The committee then took up several joint resolutions tied to capital and infrastructure spending. House Joint Resolution 30, concerning water projects, was described as implementing ranked projects under the Waters program administered by KIA and was reported favorably on a 21-0 vote. House Joint Resolution 32, concerning school facilities construction, was amended by PHS 1 and advanced after discussion referencing the Auditor’s report and questions about a Johnson County Schools expenditure; it also passed 21-0. House Joint Resolution 34, relating to contingent appropriations for KCTCS, was amended by PHS 1 and advanced after testimony outlining three projects in Somerset, Jefferson Community and Technical College, and Glasgow; it passed 21-0. House Joint Resolution 46, for local road projects, was described as funding the highest-scoring local road requests from a larger pool of applications and passed 21-0. The committee also advanced House Joint Resolution 53, authorizing release of funds for KSU’s Health Sciences Center project, after KSU officials said the building is needed for nursing and allied health programs and promised a business plan report by November 1, 2025; it passed 21-0. House Joint Resolution 54, authorizing funds related to the State Fair Board, also passed unanimously. Later, the committee considered House Bill 546, which revises the local roads and streets program by adding a DOT-developed scoring system, monthly reporting, a match requirement, and a $500,000 project cap; members asked about the cap and were told larger projects should be handled through other mechanisms. HB 546 was reported favorably on a 21-0 vote. Finally, House Bill 605, a technical corrections and update bill for the local economic relief grant program, was amended by PHS 1 and discussed as expanding eligibility, including to the Delta Regional Authority and certain local-affiliated applicants; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on HB 605.

Transcript Highlights:

• While we don't have client testifiers here today since the hearing was scheduled last Friday, you do
• While we don't have client testifiers here today since the hearing was scheduled last Friday, you do
• While we don't have client testifiers here today since the hearing was scheduled last Friday, you do
• While we don't have client testifiers here today since the hearing was scheduled last Friday, you do

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• This is why we tried to schedule all the transportation bills on one hearing, so you can just come to
• </c><00:19:07.600><c> we</c><00:19:07.799><c> tried</c><00:19:08.080><c> to</c><00:19:08.320><c> schedule
• </c> much this is why we tried to schedule much this is why we tried to schedule all<00:19:09.080><c>

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee heard a series of transportation and public safety bills, beginning with HB 706, which would require skateboard users under age 16 to wear helmets. The Department of Transportation supported the measure, and the chair noted written support from AAA Hawaii, Kulani Medical Center for Women and Children, and several individuals. No opposition was mentioned, and the bill appeared to draw no questions. Members then heard HB 860, which would grant immunity to the state or county that repairs or maintains a street when ownership or jurisdiction is disputed. DOT and DLNR supported the bill, with county support from Maui and a Hawaii Island county representative, while the Hawaii Association for Justice opposed it. The committee also heard HB 1162, requiring applicants for a motorcycle instruction permit to complete an approved basic rider course, with DOT support and a recommended amendment to exempt motorcycles used for training; the Public Defender asked about the current process, and DOT explained the bill was intended to improve safety given motorcycle fatalities. HB 1259, allowing speed-limit reductions within 10 mph of the current limit without an engineering study, also drew DOT support and support from the AAHU Metropolitan Planning Organization and individuals. The committee next considered HB 1158, a governor’s package bill limiting civil liability for people who provide firefighting services with vessels at commercial harbors or roadsteads to gross negligence or wanton conduct. DOT Harbors said the bill was prompted by lessons from the Lahaina fires and was intended to encourage privately owned firefighting-equipped vessels to assist without hesitation; the Hawaii Harbor Users Group and an individual supported it. HB 54, which would make a third or subsequent excessive speeding offense a Class C felony and allow vehicle forfeiture, drew DOT support but strong opposition from the Public Defender, who argued the bill was overly harsh, would force jury trials, and could create sentencing problems; the Public Defender also said existing penalties were already significant. The committee then heard HB 1334, which would exempt donations of wild game meat, including axis deer, to charitable and nonprofit organizations from certain meat inspection and transportation laws; DLNR and multiple community and food-related groups supported it, and no opposition was noted. Finally, the committee took up HB 698 on animal cruelty, which would increase criminal penalties for various offenses. The Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing the cases are rare, enforcement is limited, and the proposed penalties—up to Class A felony treatment in some cases—were too severe; animal welfare advocates strongly supported the measure, saying cruelty cases are widespread, underreported, and under-enforced, and that stronger penalties are needed as a deterrent. No votes or final actions were taken on any of the bills in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• to talk about the concerns and make sure we have a standard process for fiscal notes and doing scheduling
• We'll let you know as soon as we have a schedule, but I don't think we would be meeting more than one
• We'll let you know as soon as we have a schedule, but I don't think we would be meeting more than one
• We'll let you know as soon as we have a schedule, but I don't think we would be meeting more than one

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think it's set by a schedule, and I think it's set by the parties for that time.
• like me, I'm actually more influenced by the people with the lobbyists who know the legislative schedule
• like me, I'm actually more influenced by the people with the lobbyists who know the legislative schedule
• like me, I'm actually more influenced by the people with the lobbyists who know the legislative schedule

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 114, which would create a presidential preference primary for the 2028 election. The Office of Elections said the bill would cost about $4.1 million. Supporters, including the Hawaii Democratic Party and the League of Women Voters, favored moving the process to a state-run primary, while several opponents, including the Hawaiian Islands Republican Women and multiple individual testifiers, argued it would be too expensive, would shift control away from the parties, and would replace volunteer-run caucuses with a mail-in system. Committee members questioned the chief election officer about election timing, certification, and how a primary might be scheduled with other elections. Testimony was recorded as 11 in support, 41 opposed, and 3 comments, and no vote was taken in the excerpt. The committee then took up SB 725, which would require judges to make findings about a defendant’s ability to afford bail. Judiciary and Attorney General witnesses asked that the bill be deferred or amended, saying the Judicial Council is already reviewing pretrial bail reform and that the bill’s language could create practical problems for police, sheriffs, and courts. Supporters, including the Correctional System Oversight Commission, the public defender, the Community Alliance on Prisons, the ACLU of Hawaii, and disability rights advocates, said cash bail disproportionately harms low-income defendants, increases pretrial detention costs, and should require clearer findings and records. Opponents included the Hawaii County prosecuting attorney. Members questioned how bail is initially set, what records exist, and whether the bill would change current practice; Judiciary witnesses said initial bail decisions are often made by police or judges and later reviewed on the record, while supporters argued the bill would strengthen front-end due process. The ACLU said it supported the bill with amendments, including clearer standards for ability to pay and written findings. The committee also began hearing SB 733, a proposed constitutional amendment to establish a continuous legislative session. Early testimony was strongly supportive, with advocates arguing that the current 60-day session limits public participation, makes it hard for working people to testify, and prevents lawmakers from collaborating effectively. Supporters said a year-round model could improve transparency, reduce duplicate bills, and better accommodate neighbor island legislators. The excerpt ends during the opening testimony on SB 733, before any committee action or vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the event of a network failure, it may be necessary to reschedule the hearing or schedule a meeting
• So I believe that they're still scheduled to meet.
• I believe that they're still scheduled to meet.
• I believe that they're still scheduled to meet.

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Transcript Highlights:

• There's nothing scheduled this year.
• to last year there was none there's to last year there was none there's nothing<00:24:00.640><c> scheduled
• this</c><00:24:01.360><c> year</c><00:24:01.960><c> there's</c><00:24:02.159><c> been</c> nothing scheduled
• this year there's been nothing scheduled this year there's been talks<00:24:02.679><c> of</c><00:24:

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Summary: The committee first heard SB 252 on invasive species, which would broaden the Department of Agriculture’s authority to inspect items moved into or within Hawaii, prohibit the sale of pest-infested merchandise, and allow quarantine, treatment, or destruction of affected materials with clarified penalties. Testifiers from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species, the Farmers Union, and many others strongly supported the bill, emphasizing gaps in current inspection authority and the need to address high-risk non-agricultural commodities such as outdoor furniture and other cargo that can carry pests like red imported fire ants. Members raised concerns about staffing, inspection capacity, commerce impacts, and whether better manifest descriptions or scanners could help target higher-risk shipments. The chairs recommended passage with Department of Agriculture and technical amendments, and the committees adopted the recommendation. The joint CPN/EDT hearing then took up SB 148 on combat sports, which would create a Hawaii Combat Sports Commission and regulate combat sports while prohibiting no-rules contests. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs offered comments on effective dates and later said other jurisdictions generally use a single commission for boxing and MMA. Supporters, including a professional fighter and a longtime advocate, argued the bill would help revive the sport in Hawaii, improve local opportunities, and reduce costs associated with separate commissions; one testifier initially appeared opposed but clarified he was actually in support. Committee members asked about safety, medical coverage, staffing, vacancies, and whether separate commissions could share staff. The committees ultimately recommended passage with amendments, including an Attorney General effective-date amendment, amendments from the Hawaii Association of Professional Nurses to increase health-care coverage at fights, and DCCA’s recommendation to unify boxing and MMA under one commission; the effective date was deferred to July 1, 2050, and the recommendation was adopted. A later joint CPN/Housing agenda began with SB 69 on deposits of public funds, which would require the Director of Finance to consider the benefits of using in-state depositories, including favorable lending terms for affordable housing. The Department of Budget and Finance and the Hawaii Bankers Association offered comments, and no other testimony or questions were noted before the discussion moved on. The next measure introduced was SB 24 on limited profit housing associations, which would create a regulatory framework and a limited profit housing council; the transcript cuts off as testimony on that bill was beginning.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the event of a failure, Chair may reschedule the hearing or schedule the meeting for decision-making
• reschedule<00:09:08.360><c> the</c><00:09:08.480><c> hearing</c><00:09:08.720><c> or</c><00:09:08.880><c> schedule
• </c><00:09:09.200><c> the</c> reschedule the hearing or schedule the reschedule the hearing or schedule

Summary: The Committee on Education heard several Department of Education-related bills and received extensive testimony on school meals and veteran diplomas. HB 628 would restore authority for the Department of Education to issue high school diplomas to veterans whose schooling was interrupted by World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. The superintendent testified in support, explaining the authority had sunset in 2020 and describing the measure as a way to recognize veterans. No opposition or questions were raised, and the bill was left without further action in the excerpt. The committee also heard HB 1074 and HB 110, both supported by the Department of Education and the School Facilities Authority. HB 1074 was described as a cleanup measure to clarify land-related language and make the statute more consistent across state agencies and DOE. HB 110 concerned benchmarking and the farm-to-school/local food effort; DOE and several supporters, including county councils, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, and the Hawaii Farmers Union, said the bill would help align metrics and support the 30% local food goal by 2030. Members questioned DOE about progress, and DOE said it was working on menus, procurement, and coordination with distributors and farmers. A Farm to School representative said the current bottleneck was poor communication with farmers and the need to bring them into planning earlier; DOE said it was still figuring out the process and that island-based procurement and separate RFPs were being explored. HB 328, relating to school meals and local resource food and plant-based options, drew the most testimony. DOE testified with comments, and the Attorney General’s office suggested revisions to clarify that the bill would apply to both DOE and charter schools, to separate public and private funds if donations or grants are accepted, and to add standards if nonprofit or private entities receive public money. Supporters included HSTA, the Hawaii Public Health Institute/Farm to School Network, Climate Protection Hawaii, the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and numerous individuals and organizations. Supporters emphasized healthier school meals, student-requested plant-based options, support for local farms, and the 30% by 2030 goal. Some testimony urged more local purchasing and raised concerns about decentralization, while DOE said it was considering island-based procurement and separate contracts to better support local producers. No votes were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tax years are on a different schedule; those are abbreviated TY, and they run from January 1st to December
• subsequent June 30th taxers are on a subsequent June 30th taxers are on a different<00:05:17.320><c> schedule
• ><00:05:17.960><c> those</c><00:05:18.160><c> are</c><00:05:18.400><c> abbreviated</c> different schedule
• those are abbreviated different schedule those are abbreviated Ty<00:05:19.880><c> and</c><00:05:20.160

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• example, its new Acela train service for the Northeast Corridor is more than three years behind schedule
• example, its new Acela train service for the Northeast Corridor is more than three years behind schedule
• example, its new Acela train service for the Northeast Corridor is more than three years behind schedule
• example, its new Acela train service for the Northeast Corridor is more than three years behind schedule

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, cannabis is illegal federally because it's a Schedule I drug, and transportation or any other, um
• Um, cannabis is illegal federally because it's a Schedule I drug, and transportation or any other thing
• </c><01:39:00.159><c> one</c> government because it's schedule one government because it's schedule one
• This is House Bill 737, which I believe has a committee of conference scheduled for tomorrow.
• Uh, I think we're scheduled back at 10:00. Is it tomorrow? I believe so.

Summary: The committee of conference on HB 1 and HB 2 reviewed comparison documents and worked through a long list of House and Senate positions, agreeing on some technical or already-enacted items while setting aside others for later discussion. Early on, members agreed to delete a House Bill 2 section tied to a bill already passed into law, and a representative explained a technical amendment to the EFA provisions clarifying enrollment-cap repeal language and compulsory attendance rules for EFA students. That amendment was discussed but a vote was postponed because not all members were present. The committee also noted that the overall EFA budget numbers had already been settled separately. Several items were either agreed to or held for further negotiation. Members agreed to delete sections already covered by other enacted bills, including BTLA-related language, and to accept a technical amendment changing "municipalities" to "political subdivisions" in a section affecting funding eligibility. They also agreed on some items involving workers’ compensation second injuries, certain pilot-program language, and some sections related to state loan repayment and other technical corrections. In contrast, they set aside or disputed items involving site evaluation, lottery-related provisions, opioid abatement, the Commission on Aging, Granite Advantage premium costs, renewable energy/offshore wind funding, special education funding, and several education trust fund and unique-fund provisions. The committee spent substantial time on policy disputes. The House side argued against keeping money in dedicated Fish and Game funds rather than increasing the main Fish and Game fund, while the Senate side defended its approach and raised concerns about fee impacts, including one tied to the fishing license. The members also discussed a housing appeals board proposal, with one member suggesting a possible compromise that would preserve some function while shifting duties and possibly sunsetting the arrangement later; the contracts for the positions were noted as running through June 30, 2028 and June 30, 2029. Another extended discussion concerned the child advocate records-access section, which one side wanted removed as policy that should go through the normal bill process, while another member asked to hold it and suggested a possible middle-ground, time-limited approach. Later, the committee agreed to remove sections already handled in other bills, including House sections 254 and 255, and discussed but did not resolve disputes over liquor licensing functions, cannabis-related language, cost containment, special education, and several fee and fund provisions. The Senate explained its position on the governor’s commission language, saying opioid abatement trust funds could not be used for that purpose and that the commission should continue to be funded through 5% of gross liquor profits; it also described renaming the body the Commission on Addiction Treatment and Prevention and expanding its scope to include problem gambling. The meeting ended with several major items still open for later negotiation.

Transcript Highlights:

• It has permitted capacity until 2034, and the department accomplishes that by a depletion schedule.
• They have a depletion schedule so that it guarantees that the state has capacity to 2034.
• They have a depletion schedule so that it guarantees that the state has capacity to 2034.
• They have a depletion schedule so that it guarantees that the state has capacity to 2034.
• They have a depletion schedule so that it guarantees that the state has capacity to 2034.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:19:47.360><c> a</c><00:19:47.679><c> agreed</c><00:19:48.080><c> upon</c><00:19:48.559><c> schedule
• </c><00:19:48.880><c> with</c><00:19:49.120><c> a</c> they have a agreed upon schedule with a they have
• a agreed upon schedule with a school<00:19:49.919><c> district</c><00:19:50.320><c> in</c><00:19:50.559
• Due to staffing cuts, all our teachers and paraprofessionals were scheduled... important thing.
• </c> Professionals were scheduled bell-to-bell.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not just you request a hearing and the court will schedule the hearing when they have time.
• This here has specific time frames that the court has to schedule and have this property returned by,
• the<04:04:00.640><c> court</c><04:04:01.000><c> has</c><04:04:01.199><c> to</c><04:04:01.920><c> schedule
• c><04:04:02.720><c> and</c><04:04:03.479><c> have</c><04:04:03.680><c> this</c> the court has to schedule
• and have this the court has to schedule and have this property<04:04:04.319><c> returned</c><04:04:04.640

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, sorry, we're behind schedule this morning. I know you're on a tight time frame.
• If you want to go, just go at your leisure, and I'm just want to get us back on schedule.
• They have nothing to do with determining the vaccine schedule.
• They have nothing to do with determining the vaccine schedule.

Committee: House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, but I wanted to let you know that's why our schedule in Finance has been a little bit in flux.
• The bills scheduled for 2 p.m. in STR 357 are Senate Bill 183, Senate Bill 191, House Bill 104, House
• will not be hearing a couple of the bills that made it onto today's calendar when we were trying to schedule
• ><03:27:28.880><c> like</c><03:27:29.439><c> trying</c><03:27:29.680><c> to</c><03:27:29.920><c> schedule
• </c> when we were like trying to schedule when we were like trying to schedule last<03:27:30.479><c>