Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, the next bill, House Bill 2339 HD1/SD1, relating to the University of Hawaii revenue bonds for

Bills: SB2876 , SB3253 , SB2125 , SB2781 , HB549 , HB1768 , SB2053 , SB2494 , SB2851 , SB3073 , HB1678 , HB1721 , HB2475 , HB2246 , HB1667 , HB1516 , SB2532 , SB3131 , SB3154 , HB2297 , HB1737 , SB2143 , SB2398 , SB2623 , HB1740 , HB1920 , HB1682 , SB2153 , SB3140 , HB1515 , SB2835 , HB2282 , SB3083 , SB2031 , SB2519 , SB2667 , SB2140 , SB2544 , SB2069 , SB2697 , SB874 , SB2043 , SB888 , SB2721 , HB2152 , HB1334 , HB2385 , HB1643 , HB2314 , HB1688 , HB1692 , SB2568 , SB2983 , SB2108 , SB3136 , HB1959 , SB3156 , HB1511 , HB1753 , HB1824 , HB2137 , HB1810 , HB2279 , HB2309 , HB1548 , HB2078 , HB2293 , SB3262 , SB2169 , SB2607 , SB2964 , SB3255 , HB2576 , HB1481 , HB1864 , HB1550 , SB2818 , SB3067 , SB2061 , HB1728 , HB1881 , HB2361 , HB2395 , HB1823 , SB2050 , SB2397 , SB2175 , SB2852 , SB847 , SB3001

Transcript Highlights:

• us by your power, draw us closer to you, and, in doing so, bind us together in a firm and faithful bond

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the previous day’s journal by a 126-0 roll call, and then heard several points of personal privilege, including recognition of National Fentanyl Awareness Day and a moment of silence for journalist Ray Hartman. Members also introduced numerous student groups, interns, and other guests in the gallery. The chamber then took up conference committee action on House Bills 2637 and 3155, a large public safety/criminal justice package. Debate focused on juvenile justice changes, including narrowing prosecutorial authority to seek juvenile certification, provisions for juvenile detention facilities, assisted outpatient mental health treatment, cyberstalking, drone restrictions, and related sentencing and sex-offender registry provisions. The House adopted the conference committee report 124-13, passed the bill 119-18, and then adopted an emergency clause for the drone-related sections by 125-15. Members also passed Senate Bill 834, a consumer protection and mortgage-related bill covering mortgage modifications and sale-leaseback disclosures, by 139-1, and Senate Bill 937, a land transfer measure authorizing the governor to dispose of certain state properties, by 137-2-1. Senate Bill 938, which raises recording fees to support the Missouri land survey program and recorder of deeds offices, passed 121-21-2. Senate Bill 973, dealing with wholesaler disclosures and adding land bank provisions while removing a school property right-of-first-refusal section, passed 110-36. The House then moved to announcements, noted upcoming committee meetings and Kentucky Derby Hat Day, and adjourned until April 30, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• But for me, I think that this is actually a really great way to honor the original intent of the bond

Bills: SB514 , SB346 , SB1593 , SB1782 , SB1366 , SB1497 , SB366 , SB1895 , SB2048 , SB2005 , SB2006 , SB710 , SB1480

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met for deadline week and first recognized guests and updates, including a report from Senator Devers on the Elgin school bus crash and recognition of 2025 Teacher of the Year Melissa Yvonne and visiting students from UCO and Darnaby Elementary. The committee then took up a series of education bills, with several authors explaining that some measures were work in progress and striking title on those bills to continue negotiations. Among the measures advanced were SB 514, clarifying alternative education programming through charter and virtual charter schools; SB 346, expanding school-to-school notification requirements about allegations or investigations involving teachers; SB 1593, updating outdated statutory references for the OSU-Tulsa board; SB 1366, using the Teacher Empowerment Fund to reward top teachers; SB 1497, correcting graduation standards to comply with IDEA and clarify alternate diplomas; SB 366, creating a process for charter schools to be notified about district facilities and lease or purchase opportunities; SB 1895, requiring districts to report whether they participate in the Community Eligibility Provision and why not; SB 2048, allowing the statewide charter school board to pay travel-related expenses for conferences and training; SB 710, allowing multiple grants under the Teach Forward teacher-prep program; and SB 1480, creating a pilot youth apprenticeship program. Most of these bills passed on bipartisan votes, often after questions about implementation, fiscal impact, or scope. Two of the more debated measures were SB 1782, which would end new tenure plans for higher education employees and move new hires to five-year contracts, and SB 2005, which would restructure the OSSAA board. SB 1782 passed 6-4 after extended debate over constitutional authority, academic freedom, recruitment, and litigation risk, with supporters arguing it would increase flexibility and accountability and opponents warning about legal and retention concerns. SB 2005 failed 4-6 after members split over whether the legislature should intervene in OSSAA governance; supporters said the association was not responsive enough to member schools and families, while opponents argued the issue should be left to the organization and that the bill risked government overreach.

Transcript Highlights:

• Resources, Senate Bill No. 83, introduced by the Committee on Natural Resources, requires the issuance of bonds

Transcript Highlights:

• and the Secretary to roll back these anti-energy rules like the Mile City RMP and the unreachable bonding

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• traffickers more control over them, gives their traffickers and opportunity to have to say to them, I will bond

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:08.959><c> markets</c> and bond markets and bond markets &gt;&gt; and<00:16:11.440><c> again
• They face higher food prices and have limited transportation.
• When benefits limited transportation.
• </c> that we have today in, uh, a limited that we have today in, uh, a limited amount<03:08:10.479><c
• </c> and limit it to two to three minutes. and limit it to two to three minutes.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• between the parties, and each member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip limited
• between the parties, and each member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip limited
• between the parties, and each member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip limited
• For agencies already operating with limited staff and growing backlogs, that means people who should
• operating with limited staff and growing<02:48:35.439><c> backlogs,</c><02:48:36.399><c> that</c><02

Transcript Highlights:

• Since we have limited time to question, I would like to ask the others some questions.
• Is this going to impact their ratings when it comes down to bond deals?
• Further, provisions limit the court's right of judicial scrutiny.
• Access to the courts is expanded by limiting potentially burdensome penalties.
• To claim this bill protects doctors and hospitals, that's a lie. ...of limitation.

Bills: SB 8 , HB7 , HB15 , HB265 , HCR13 , SB8 , HB7 , HB15 , HB265 , HCR13

Transcript Highlights:

• We're limited by range time, basically.
• This bill provides a funding source in addition to GEO bonds and goes further to support student recruitment
• Generally, it takes a lot to move an established degree beyond its 120-credit-hour limit.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think like any body dealing with a limited resource like we're speaking about an allocation uh
• c><00:22:33.840><c> dealing</c><00:22:34.159><c> with</c><00:22:34.320><c> a</c><00:22:34.640><c> limited
• </c> like any body dealing with a limited like any body dealing with a limited resource<00:22:35.760>
• House Bill 5, oil and gas bonding pool investment and earnings, an act relating to oil and gas, sponsored

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> reviewed have some sort of limitations, reviewed have some sort of limitations, whether<01:21:11.520
• </c><01:31:23.760><c> group</c> we're talking about a limited group we're talking about a limited group
• We've talked with limited resources.
• These active intelligent speed assistants, or speed limiters, actively intervene to limit or reduce the
• or speed limiters um actively intervenes<03:20:08.960><c> to</c><03:20:09.359><c> limit</c><03:20:10.080

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs recessed briefly for a joint hearing, then reconvened and took up House Bill 2494, which would limit warrantless arrests for petty misdemeanors and violations, require officers to document arrest justification, expand citation-in-lieu-of-arrest use, and direct the Judiciary to create a standardized citation form. The chair also outlined hearing procedures and testimony time limits. Committee members later received an overview from the Policing Project about national trends in expanding citation use. Testimony was divided. Supporters, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, the Office of the Public Defender, the ACLU of Hawaii, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, and the Policing Project, argued the bill would reduce unnecessary arrests and pretrial detention, lessen jail overcrowding, save law enforcement time, and reduce harms such as job loss, housing instability, family disruption, and recidivism. They also said the bill preserves officer discretion through public-safety and flight-risk exceptions, and several supporters urged the committee to adopt a standardized citation form despite the Judiciary’s request for a delayed implementation date. Opposition came from the Department of the Attorney General, the Judiciary, county prosecutors, Honolulu Police Department, and other individuals. They argued the bill would unduly restrict law enforcement discretion, create administrative and data-processing problems, and make it harder to identify repeat or habitual offenders because of changes to citation information and fingerprinting. The Judiciary requested implementation no earlier than January 1, 2028 and said the citation form would need major changes. Opponents also warned the bill could increase litigation, suppress evidence, and not meaningfully reduce overcrowding because most jail populations are held on felony matters. The chair reported 14 testimonies in support, 21 in opposition, and one with comments; no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• he had received a couple of additional pink cards in the last few minutes and would lower the time limit
• he had received a couple of additional pink cards in the last few minutes and would lower the time limit
• couple of additional pink cards in the last few minutes, so he was going to have to lower the time limit
• couple of additional pink cards in the last few minutes, so he was going to have to lower the time limit
• We have a limited role in the realm of energy efficiency, so, as you know, the legislature has a very

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• And why I say I'm concerned, especially for counties who have tax-based limitations, is there is not
• And why I say I'm concerned, especially for counties who have tax-based limitations, is there is not
• </c><01:43:49.800><c> our</c> we talk about things that limit our we talk about things that limit our
• If it's bonding eligible, if we can utilize some of those funds from the previous expenditure and set
• If it's bonding eligible, if we can utilize some of those funds from the previous expenditure and set

Bills: HF25 , HF4

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:06:00.800><c> to</c> leaders in the minority whip limited to leaders in the minority whip limited
• When you limit access to knowledge, you limit freedom.
• When you limit access to knowledge, you limit freedom.
• When you limit access to knowledge, you limit freedom.
• When you limit access to knowledge, you limit freedom.

Transcript Highlights:

• All testimony comments are limited to the bill at hand.
• We'd like to limit the validity period to six months instead of a year.
• We'd like to limit the validity period to six months instead of a year.
• Specifically, AB 669's emphasis on limiting authorization for care is deeply concerning.
• These limitations have huge impacts across the state.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on April 22 and took up a special order of bills focused largely on prior authorization and utilization management in health care. The chair framed the discussion as part of a broader legislative effort to reduce delays and barriers to care, especially in behavioral health, chronic disease management, cancer treatment, and rehabilitation services. AB 384 by Assembly Member Connolly would prohibit prior authorization for inpatient mental health or substance use emergency admissions and related physician care; supporters said it would prevent dangerous delays in crisis care, while insurers and health plans warned about fraud, abuse, and ambiguity around residential treatment facilities. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended motion and passed the committee on a party-line style vote, with Republicans largely absent or not voting. The committee then heard AB 510 by Assembly Member Addis, which would require health plans, upon request, to provide a peer reviewer of the same or similar specialty when a treating provider appeals a prior authorization denial or modification. Supporters argued that specialty-matched review would make appeals fairer and more clinically informed; opponents said the requirement was too rigid and that timelines and electronic submission rules needed changes. After discussion about the need for timely, specialty-specific review, the bill was approved on a due pass as amended motion and placed on call. AB 539 by Assembly Member Schiavo would extend prior authorization approvals to one year or the duration of the physician’s prescribed treatment for chronic conditions; supporters cited repeated denials and treatment interruptions, while opponents raised concerns about overbreadth, fraud, and the need for shorter validity periods. The bill was also passed as amended and placed on call. The committee next considered AB 669 by Assembly Member Haney, which would bar concurrent and retrospective review for the first 28 days of medically necessary substance use disorder treatment and limit prior authorization for related outpatient medications. The bill was presented with a powerful personal story from Ryan Matlock’s mother about her son’s death after an insurer cut off treatment early; supporters said the measure would keep patients in care long enough to stabilize, while opponents argued it would reduce oversight and could allow lower-quality or non-evidence-based care. The bill was moved on a due pass as amended motion and placed on call. Finally, AB 512 by Assembly Member Harabedian would shorten prior authorization response times to 24 hours for urgent requests and 48 hours for non-urgent requests; supporters said delays can worsen outcomes, while opponents warned the timelines were unrealistic and could increase administrative burdens and safety issues. The bill was approved as amended and placed on call. AB 574 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez was then heard; it would allow up to 12 medically necessary physical therapy sessions for a new episode of care without prior authorization, with supporters emphasizing stroke and neurological recovery and opponents warning of reduced oversight and unnecessary care. The transcript ends during testimony on AB 574, before final action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh limited or decreasing population.
• </c><01:33:08.960><c> to</c> water includes but is not limited to water includes but is not limited to
• </c> being converted to time limited being converted to time limited miscellaneous<01:38:43.600><c> use
• And we we have rules limiting noise.
• </c> generations depend on limited generations depend on limited groundwater<03:03:35.600><c> supplies

Committee: Joint Select Water Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><04:33:32.400><c> on</c> did not put put a time limitation on did not put put a time limitation on
• >> No. >> I'd rather at least have access to a bond being set, you know, quickly.
• >> No. >> I'd rather at least have access to a bond being set, you know, quickly.
• It would not change profit limits, only the total amount they can sell.
• </c> barred by the statute of limitations barred by the statute of limitations or<06:30:56.638><c> uh

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:50.640><c> And</c><00:16:51.280><c> for</c> Except under limited conditions.
• It it makes very specific limited<00:36:25.720><c> exemptions.
• c> federal</c><00:53:10.480><c> collaboration</c> limiting state and federal collaboration limiting state
• So that would limit their ability to implement it unless they did receive funds.
• So that would limit their ability to implement it unless they did receive funds.

Committee: Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs

Summary: The joint hearing covered HB 1976, relating to dementia training for law enforcement, and HB 2443, relating to disaster services for people with disabilities and access or functional needs. For HB 1976, the Hawaii Law Enforcement Standards Board opposed the bill’s process and cost, arguing there was no documented training gap because existing CALEA accreditation already includes mental illness response training that covers dementia. Supporters, including the Alzheimer’s Association, AARP, disability advocates, caregivers, and several individuals, said dementia-specific training would help first responders better handle real-world encounters and avoid harmful misunderstandings. The committee later recommended passage with amendments, including changing mandatory language to permissive language in several places and removing a deadline for the first annual training cycle; the recommendation was adopted unanimously. For HB 2443, testimony was strongly supportive. The Disability Communication Access Board, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Office of Wellness and Resilience, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, and individual testifiers said the bill would strengthen emergency planning and response by adding a Disability Integration Specialist and better integrating people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs into disaster preparedness, sheltering, and FEMA coordination. Several speakers emphasized recent storms and rescues as evidence of the need. The committee recommended passage with amendments, including changes based on Attorney General comments and adding specialized communications and comprehensive communications planning provisions previously contained in another bill; that recommendation was also adopted unanimously. The transcript then moved to a separate mini hearing on HB 1768, relating to immigration enforcement. Supporters, including the ACLU of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, argued the bill would prevent local law enforcement from entering 287(g)-type agreements or otherwise participating in federal immigration enforcement, citing civil rights concerns, community trust, and the need for police to focus on local public safety. One testifier raised concerns that local cooperation could help avoid mistakes in enforcement, while supporters responded that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and that local agencies should not be deputized for civil immigration arrests. The excerpt ends amid extended member questions and discussion, without showing a final vote on HB 1768.

Transcript Highlights:

• Should be very careful and limited in how he shares information with federal agencies.
• That's all off limits.
• That's all off limits.
• Or the— This one is very specific and limited. I'm asking for a no on this amendment.
• So if the body is going to support these limitations, Mr.

Summary: The House debated a series of amendments to a major income tax bill, with repeated arguments over tax fairness, affordability, administrative feasibility, and the role of the Department of Revenue. Early motions to reconsider a failed child care amendment were rejected, and Amendment 2561, which would have restricted data sharing with the IRS, was also defeated after debate over privacy, federal relationships, and whether the proposal was administrable. Amendment 2579, which would have required annual reporting on the tax’s effects on filers, businesses, and charitable donations, likewise failed, with supporters emphasizing transparency and opponents arguing DOR was not the right agency and the report was too speculative. Amendment 2598, proposing to use half of new revenue for a broad sales tax cut, was rejected despite arguments that it would reduce regressivity and provide immediate relief; Amendment 2556, expanding sales tax exemptions for diapers and other child-care essentials to include adult diapers and earlier implementation, also failed after debate over scope and timing.