Transcript Highlights:

• . defective date of Longhorn Beetle. defective date of 713000. 713000. 713000.
• The defective date is 7/1/3000. DIR is providing comments.
• It already has a defective date.
• It already has a<01:00:22.559> defective<01:00:22.960> date.
• It will go next to a defective date.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met on February 13 and heard several bills, with most testimony focused on House Bill 2340, an emergency appropriation for the University of Hawaii to expand and sustain the Maui wildfire exposure study and Maui Health Registry. Supporters described the program as a critical, community-based response to the Maui fires that provides health screenings, mental health support, referrals, and workforce training. Testifiers said the study has identified serious health issues, including respiratory problems, heavy metal exposure, high blood pressure, diabetes, and anemia, and several emphasized that the program has saved lives and should be expanded to reach more children and underserved residents. Committee members also noted broad written support from medical, public health, and community organizations. The committee then heard House Bill 65, HD1, on human and community resilience, which would fund development of a Human and Community Resilience Institute. The dean testifying for the University of Hawaii said the institute would take a data-driven, community-based approach to food and nutritional security, especially given Hawaii’s high food insecurity rate and the loss of SNAP-related positions. House Bill 6005, also on the agenda, drew testimony in support from the Hawaii Farm Bureau and others, though the transcript excerpt does not include the bill’s full description. The committee also heard House Bill 1605, HD1, expanding the Hawaii National Guard state tuition assistance program to graduate degrees; the Department of Defense, Hawaii Army National Guard, and University of Hawaii supported it, and members clarified that it is a state program separate from the federal GI Bill, though it may sometimes be combined depending on eligibility. Later, the committee heard House Bill 1967, HD1, on permitting workforce development, which would implement recommendations of the speed task force by creating a permitting workforce pipeline with community colleges and coordinating with state and county permitting agencies. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development and the University of Hawaii supported the measure. House Bill 2139, HD1, on invasive species, would fund research on treatment methods for the Queensland Longhorn Beetle; DLNR, the Farm Bureau, CGAPS, University of Hawaii at Hilo researchers, farmers, and others supported it, citing damage to native trees, culturally important plants, and crops such as cacao, and noting promising early results from nematode biocontrol trials. The final bill heard was House Bill 2383, HD1, establishing a statewide workforce PELL grant framework for short-term training programs; the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Workforce Development Council, and the University of Hawaii testified, and a committee discussion followed about how responsibilities would be divided among DIR, WDC, and the governor’s certification role. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:53.280> effective penalties and has a defective effective penalties and has a defective
• It has a defective effective date.
• has a defective has a defective effective<00:56:57.280> date.
• <01:20:03.760> defective<01:20:04.560> date biocurity has a defective defective date
• biocurity has a defective defective date and<01:20:07.360> we<01:20:07.600> had<01:20:

Bills: SB2885, SB2174, SB2925, SB2798, SB2320, SB2800, SB1230, SB2706, SB3233, SB2405, SB2350, SB2169, SB3320

Keywords: coconut rhinoceros beetle, invasive species, biosecurity, green waste, environmental management, agriculture, quarantine, pest control, transport regulations, Hawaii Revised Statutes, coconut trees, tax credit, natural management, Hawaii, environment, agricultural enforcement, agricultural theft, farm theft, crop theft, commodity theft

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 2885 SD1, which would create mandatory handling and storage rules for commercial and residential coconut rhinoceros beetle host material beginning in 2027, with penalties and an effective date. Support came from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, DLNR, Maui County Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Testifiers generally said the bill would help reduce CRB spread, though some urged additional science-backed methods, better coordination, and technical or cost-share support for smaller operations. Hawaiian Earth Recycling recommended amendments to align the bill with existing Department of Health/EPA composting rules, add other materials that can harbor CRB, allow future approved treatment methods, and replace the bill’s 60-day turning requirement with existing pathogen-reduction standards. One individual supported the goal but argued the state’s CRB strategy has lacked community and cultural consultation and should include a cultural advisement role. Department witnesses said enforcement would rely on inspection and an educate-before-regulate approach, and they noted the challenge of creating enough drop-off sites, especially in rural areas. The committee then took up SB 2174 SD2, which would authorize the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to declare an emergency quarantine, halt operations in affected areas for 96 hours with possible extension, quarantine suspected pest areas, issue notices and compensation to affected farmers, and adopt interim transportation rules for materials that may harbor high-impact invasive species. The department and DLNR supported the measure, emphasizing the need for fast action in the first hours of an invasion. Hawaii Farmers Union supported the compensation provisions but asked for stronger communication with producers and a post-action report to the Board of Agriculture after about 90 days to evaluate effectiveness and economic impacts. In response to questions, department staff said the bill would be a short-term, department-only quarantine authority distinct from the governor-declared biosecurity emergency authority enacted previously, and that it could serve as an intermediate step. They also said outreach would need to be done through farm organizations such as Farmers Union, Farm Bureau, and Cattlemen’s groups. The final measure discussed was SB 2925 SD1, relating to coconut trees. The bill would recognize coconut trees as a source of food and water and a cultural treasure, require rules for coconut tree seed banks, require signage identifying landscape palms where applicable, set labeling standards for non-consumable landscape palms, and create an income tax credit for consumable coconut trees maintained through natural management practices. The transcript ended before testimony or action on this bill was completed, and no vote was taken on any of the measures discussed in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:31:06.520> the for all measures when I say defect the for all measures when I say defect
• For this one, just technical amendments: defect the date and then note in the committee report blank
• Just technical amendments and defect the date. Members, are there any questions or comments?
• I recommend just defecting the date. Members, are there any questions or comments?
• <01:38:40.719> the and I recommend just defecting the and I recommend just defecting the date

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several Human Services measures focused on Medicaid access, long-term care benefits, home health reimbursement, SNAP administration, trauma-informed child welfare, and child abuse reporting. HP 702 would increase funding for Medicaid in-home services if federal matching funds are secured, and testimony from disability advocates supported the measure as needed to help people with disabilities cover medical expenses. HB 1477, described as a correction to a prior session’s mistake, would clarify that the monthly needs allowance for certain long-term care residents does not replace state supplemental payments and would raise the ceiling by $25 to fix the prior issue and by an additional $20 as a new benefit; DHS supported it with amendments, and the committee indicated it would amend accordingly. HB 713 would fund a DHS rate study for home health services, with the Healthcare Association of Hawaii strongly supporting it and describing rising labor costs, losses on Medicaid patients, and access concerns if agencies cannot keep serving Medicaid clients. HB 1099 would appropriate emergency funds to DHS after a USDA penalty tied to SNAP response times, with supporters including Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and others arguing the money should be reinvested in staffing and systems to improve access and avoid further penalties. HB 1079 would direct the Office of Wellness and Resilience and DHS to create trauma-informed assessments and training for Child Welfare Services staff; testimony from state offices and advocacy groups supported it, citing the Mālama ʻOhana Working Group, staff burnout, and the need for a sustainable train-the-trainer model. Finally, HB 239 would narrow when failure to provide a child’s needs constitutes abuse or neglect, but DHS raised concerns that the current wording could broaden abuse findings and leave families in poverty without a clear safety net, while the Honolulu prosecutor’s office opposed it, warning it could weaken mandatory reporting and hinder investigations of child abuse. No formal votes were taken in the portion provided, though the chair said HB 1477 would be amended and several measures were left open for further questions and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• So like to add a um defective forward.
• as defecting the effective date. as defecting the effective date.
• and also defecting the effective date. and also defecting the effective date. questions,<02:17:56.639
• adolescence and also add a defective adolescence and also add a defective date.<02:19:29.679>
• <02:22:06.160> the language as well as defecting the language as well as defecting the effective

Bills: SB2175, SB2410, SB2080, SB2276, SB2277, SB2282, SB2413, SB2425, SB2491, HB2315, HB2562, HB1532, HB1857, HB2209, HB1961, HB2343, HB2160, HB2505, HB1537, HB1562, HB1731, HB1853, HB1973, HB1974

Keywords: environmental protection, waste management, disposable electronic smoking devices, plastic pollution, lithium-ion batteries, public health, electronic smoking devices, e-liquids, certification, FDA compliance, penalties, directory, mental health, telepsychology, interjurisdictional compact, psychology regulation, LGBTQ+ youth, access to care, professional licensing, surgical assistant

Summary: The committee opened a hearing on multiple health-related bills and first took up HB 2315, which would create a Department of Health pilot program allowing eligible employees to defer unused vacation leave in exchange for a payout to help with home purchase assistance. The Department of Health testified in support, saying the proposal could aid recruitment and retention, and United Public Workers also supported it as a creative, cost-effective benefit that could help employees become first-time homebuyers. The chair likewise praised the department’s effort, and there were no questions or opposition before the committee moved on. The committee then heard HB 2562 on workplace violence in health care settings. The Department of Health said it preferred requiring licensed hospitals to adopt workplace-violence prevention policies and public reporting rather than creating a new state program. The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations said it appreciated the intent and explained that, absent a specific standard, enforcement would rely on OSHA’s general duty clause, guidance, and inspections. Nurses and the Hawaii Nurses Association gave emotional testimony describing harassment, threats, doxxing, and fears for patient and worker safety, arguing that existing processes were too slow and that hospitals needed immediate, enforceable requirements. The committee discussed current hospital alarm systems and OSHA enforcement, and Labor said it does inspect hospitals and can receive complaints from employees. HB 1532, concerning importation of large cigars and pipe tobacco, was announced as deferred at the request of the bill’s author so it could be refined with proponents and the Attorney General. The committee also discussed HB 1857, a very large measure redefining qualified health care provider and making extensive changes to health care law; the chair said the House would likely pass it without substantive changes and instead defer the effective date while using the Senate companion bill as the vehicle. Testimony on HB 1857 was generally supportive, including from the Hawaii Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and a certified genetic counselor, though both referenced proposed amendments. Finally, the committee heard HB 2209, which would require insurers to honor a patient’s written assignment of benefits to a substance use disorder treatment provider. The Insurance Division and HMSA opposed the bill as drafted, arguing it would create a special class of providers, raise fraud and litigation concerns, and potentially increase premiums. Treatment providers and advocates strongly supported the measure, saying insurers often refuse direct payment even when patients assign benefits, forcing families to front large sums and delaying access to residential treatment; they argued the bill would improve access and help keep care in Hawaii. A psychiatrist testified that he had not seen fraud in Hawaii and that the bill could help address long wait times for life-saving treatment. The committee also received written support from multiple individuals and organizations, and members began asking questions about HMSA’s network size and wait times, with follow-up information requested."}】【。final json to=commentary 天天中彩票出票 to=commentary code 彩神争霸邀请码 to=commentary 彩票平台招商 to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary ುತ್ತಾರೆ to=commentary

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to defect the effective date to July 1st, 3000.
• I would like to defect the style.
• I would just like to defect the effective date to July 1 and move it out.
• I recommend we defect the effective date, July 1, 3000, and pass it out as an HD1.
• It already has a defective date.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1768, which would prohibit state and county law enforcement agencies and officials from entering into federal immigration-enforcement agreements under 8 U.S.C. 1357(g) and from assisting in certain immigration enforcement actions except in limited circumstances. The Office of the Public Defender, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the Legal Clinic, and the ACLU of Hawaiʻi all testified in strong support, arguing the bill would protect due process, reduce fear in immigrant communities, preserve trust in local police, and keep local resources focused on public safety. Testifiers said cooperation with immigration enforcement can chill court attendance, crime reporting, and cooperation with police, and they emphasized that the bill would not stop federal enforcement or affect other deputization agreements for environmental or other criminal matters. Committee members asked whether any 287(g) agreements currently exist in Hawaiʻi; testifiers said they were unaware of any and believed the bill would maintain the status quo. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up House Bill 1548, which would reduce the maximum sentence for misdemeanors from one year to 364 days and allow people previously sentenced to one year to seek sentence modification. The Office of the Public Defender, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Legal Clinic, the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the ACLU of Hawaiʻi, and the William S. Richardson School of Law immigration clinic all supported the measure, saying the one-day change could prevent severe immigration consequences such as detention, removal, and bars to relief that can be triggered by a sentence of 365 days or more. Testifiers stressed that the bill would not change criminal liability or public safety, but would align Hawaiʻi law with similar reforms adopted in other states. Members questioned whether the change would affect citizens or create an automatic immigration process; witnesses responded that the issue is the federal immigration consequence tied to the maximum sentence, not actual time served, and that citizens would not face that consequence. The transcript ends during continued discussion of HB 1548, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• in a defective date of 2015. 2015. 2015.
• We're just going to have a defective date of 2050.
• We're just going to have a defective date of 2050.
• We're just going to have a defective date of 2050.
• chair, and I recognize the defective chair, and I recognize the defective date<00:53:41.680>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services opened its first hearing of the 2026 session and heard testimony on several bills, with the chair emphasizing one-minute testimony, written submissions, and live streaming. For SB 768, relating to an alternative water source income tax credit, the Department of Taxation said a drafting issue needed clarification on the $500 cap and estimated a revenue loss of $6.8 million per year beginning in fiscal year 2028. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Libertarian Party opposed the bill as an unnecessary subsidy and tax-code complication, while one supporter was noted. A member questioned the size of the projected loss and suggested future analysis of net fiscal impacts and methodology. The committee then heard SB 389, which expands a general excise tax exemption to additional health-related providers and purchases. The Department of Taxation said the change would be a minimal code adjustment but would require public education; the Tax Foundation said the bill should be framed in light of the original physician-shortage rationale for the exemption. The Hawaii National Guard and Aloha Care supported the measure, along with several other organizations and individuals, while the Libertarian Party opposed it as favoritism and tax-code complexity. A member asked about administrative burden and potential tax impact, and the department said it did not yet have a calculation but was working on one. The committee also heard SB 877, which would appropriate funds to increase Medicaid in-home services if federal matching funds are maximized, and SB 1139, which would direct DHS to expand Medicaid eligibility for children from birth to age five regardless of household income. DHS stood on written testimony for both bills, and Aloha Care, the Hawaii Medical Association, disability advocates, children’s advocates, and CARES testified in support, arguing the measures would improve access and family stability. The Libertarian Party opposed both bills, warning of higher long-term costs, entitlement growth, and reduced private-sector options. Members questioned the fiscal and programmatic differences between crisis and warm-line services during discussion of SB 787, a bill to fund a Department of Health warm line; the department said the warm line would serve noncrisis callers more cheaply than crisis staffing, and that about 34.7% of 2024 Hawaii CARES contacts were mild issues that could have been routed to a warm line. Supporters cited mental health needs after the Lahaina wildfire and the affordability crisis, while opponents argued the service duplicated existing resources and expanded government involvement.

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:04:55.000> date um we're going to put a defective date um we're going to put a defective
• And then defecting the date.
• <02:09:14.880> the language and then defecting the language and then defecting the date<02
• <02:11:01.360> the consistency and style and defect the consistency and style and defect the
• relating to Green bonds we will defect relating to Green bonds we will defect the<02:11:58.840><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1077, a governor’s administration bill to increase transient accommodations tax revenue and split it between two new special funds: a climate mitigation and resiliency special fund and an economic development and revitalization special fund for tourism/resort areas. Supporters, including the Governor’s Office, recovery and resilience staff, climate and conservation groups, and several state agencies, said the bill would create a dedicated, more reliable funding stream for wildfire mitigation, coastal resilience, land clearing, infrastructure, and community-led projects. Some supporters also urged changes to the bill, including moving the fund to DLNR, adding DHHL and OHA representation, clarifying community grants, and ensuring the fund can support both state-led and community-led resilience work. The Attorney General’s office flagged a drafting issue, noting that the bill references fees deposited into the new fund even though the new chapter does not authorize fee collection, and recommended deleting that language or adding fee authority. The Climate Advisory Team representative also suggested adding DHHL to the decision-making body and requiring at-large members to have climate, resilience, conservation, or infrastructure expertise. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Kohala Coast Resort Association opposed the measure, arguing that the special fund structure does not meet statutory criteria, that the bill functions as a tax increase, and that the transient accommodations tax is not being collected equitably across all lodging types before any increase is imposed. Other opponents, including tourism and lodging interests, warned that hotels and timeshares already bear most of the tax burden and that raising the TAT could hurt an already struggling visitor industry and drive tourists away. Supporters countered that current funding is far short of what is needed and that a dedicated revenue stream is necessary to address climate impacts now. Committee members questioned why the Legislature should cede spending decisions to a separate executive-branch process, and the administration responded that the bill is intended to create a transparent, recurring mechanism for funding priorities that can be adjusted over time. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• , affecting the overall construction costs for housing in California.
• temporarily freezing the standards by which people need to meet to construct their home.
• freezing the standards by which people need to meet to construct their home.
• Standards by which people need to meet to construct their home. It is about affordability.
• Now one in five new homes constructed in the state are ADUs.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then took up a series of procedural motions and a large third-reading file focused heavily on housing, wildfire recovery, insurance, and related regulatory changes. Early actions included a successful motion to place Senate Concurrent Resolution 1 on the third-reading file, followed by a unanimous vote on SB 26, a cleanup measure related to lemon-law civil discovery procedures and automaker opt-outs from the AB 1755 framework. The chamber then moved through a package of urgency bills tied to the January 2025 Los Angeles-area wildfires and broader housing affordability concerns. Measures approved included AB 311 allowing displaced tenants to temporarily house wildfire victims and pets, AB 299 extending hotel/motel/short-term rental stays beyond 30 days for disaster-displaced families, AB 226 giving the California Fair Plan access to bond financing in catastrophic-loss scenarios, AB 253 allowing third-party plan checks when local review exceeds 30 days, AB 301 aligning state permitting timelines with local deadlines, AB 306 imposing a six-year pause on new residential building-code updates, AB 462 exempting certain ADUs in Los Angeles County coastal zones from coastal development permits, AB 493 requiring interest to be paid to homeowners on insurance proceeds held by lenders, and AB 597 tightening rules on public adjuster solicitation, fees, and contract transparency. Each of these urgency bills passed, generally with strong bipartisan support and mostly unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The Assembly also approved several non-urgency measures, including AB 293 on groundwater transparency and board disclosure, AB 251 on elder abuse litigation standards when evidence is intentionally destroyed, AB 59 removing a sunset on Reclamation District 108’s hydropower authority, AB 417 streamlining EIFD and CRIA financing tools, and AB 312 updating procedures for agricultural theft proceeds. In addition, ACR 6 was adopted by voice vote, recognizing Black April Memorial Month and the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, with extensive remarks from Assembly Member Ta and support from other members. The consent calendar was adopted, and the body later heard adjournment-in-memory tributes for David Myers and Olivia Guerrero before adjourning to April 3, 2025. Several vote changes were announced after adjournment, including changes on AB 251 and AB 417.

Transcript Highlights:

• bills and resolutions regarding the authority of the Board of Regents of the Texas A&M System to construct
• HB 3712 by Ian Rilling regarding the funds reserved for certain construction materials for the Committee
• HB 3720 by Thompson relates to the construction of bridges in Harris County for the Committee on Transportation
• HB 3779 by Lauterbach relates to the imposition of concurrent constructive student sentences for certain
• HB 3847 by Canales relates to certain construction defect litigation, referred to the Committee on Judiciary

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• took our net new construction down to zero.
• Chair, is a large influx of new construction.
• So a lot of that was new construction.
• We had negative $170 million worth of new construction.
• We had negative $170 million worth of new construction.

Summary: The Committee on Finance and Tax met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from the Property Appraisers Association of Florida on ad valorem valuation, exemptions, and the property tax process. Lauren Levy reviewed the legal and historical framework of Florida property taxation, including Save Our Homes, the 10% cap on non-homestead assessments, portability, tangible personal property exemptions, TRIM notices, and the distinction between taxable value and millage rates. He emphasized that property appraisers are independent constitutional officers who assess just value, administer exemptions, and are overseen by the Department of Revenue, with values and exemptions generally determined as of January 1 and subject to challenge through the Value Adjustment Board or circuit court. Mike Twitty described the mass appraisal process in Pinellas County, explaining how property appraisers value large numbers of parcels using the same core approaches as fee appraisals but with statistical testing, field reviews, aerial imagery, and technology. He discussed the importance of budget, staffing, and the January 1 valuation date, and noted that recent hurricanes caused significant damage, increased petitions, and required new procedures to help property owners with value reductions and FEMA-related issues. Paul Polk focused on Department of Revenue oversight, explaining sales ratio studies, uniformity measures such as COD and PRD, time adjustments, sales qualification reviews, and in-depth studies that can lead to corrective action if assessment standards are not met. He also noted that the Department reviews property appraiser budgets to preserve independence from county pressure. Senators asked about the supersized homestead concept, DOR review and rejection standards, value trends, and the impact of storms and new construction on taxable value. Twitty and Polk said value growth has been driven by a mix of new construction, market appreciation, cap resets, and storm-related adjustments, while noting that some counties saw market value decline even as taxable value rose. They also said some property tax relief proposals would be easier to implement than others depending on how local tax bills are structured, especially where law enforcement millage is separately identified. No votes were taken on legislation, and the committee adjourned after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, first bill: SB 1448, emergency appropriation for the state hospital construction defects.
• Finally, add a defective date. Questions, comments, concerns?
• Also, technical amendments for clarity and consistency, and adding a defective date.
• Also, technical amendments for clarity and consistency, and adding a defective date.
• Also, technical amendments for clarity and consistency, and adding a defective date.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1494 on hearing aids. Testimony was generally supportive of expanding hearing-aid coverage, with the Insurance Division raising concern about possible federal defrayment issues, SHPDA supporting the goal of hearing augmentation, DCAB strongly supporting the bill as an important access issue, and health plans and insurers asking for amendments. Kaiser Permanente and the Hawaii Association of Health Plans requested changes to add a medical-necessity standard and clarify annual notice language, while HMSA suggested the proposal should be studied by the auditor. The chair noted concerns about federal preemption and the lack of an audit, and deferred the bill in favor of a related resolution calling for a study. The committee then heard SB 1448, an emergency appropriation for the Hawaii State Hospital. DAGS and the Department of Health supported the measure, with the hospital administrator saying the funding would improve the environment of care, support cleaning, and allow a third-party review of the building. Committee members questioned the size of the request and the status of litigation against the design-builder. Administration witnesses said they were pursuing a comprehensive study involving destructive testing, had made a demand on the design-builder to fund the study, and were using different processes than before. They also said the roof work would be handled through a separate CIP request. No final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee next heard SB 1432, relating to the future responsibilities of the Department of Health and land issues at Kalaupapa after the last patient dies. DOH supported the bill in part but said its long-term role would be limited mainly to environmental cleanup, with operations expected to continue under the National Park Service and land-use decisions left to DHHL and beneficiary consultation. DHHL asked that the measure reflect that any land-use or zoning changes on homeland lands require commission approval and beneficiary consultation. Testifiers from Kalaupapa and Maui County, including Degra Vanderbilt-Papa and Council Member Keani Rollins-Fernandez, supported deferring the bill, saying there had been no meaningful community discussion about provisions affecting Kalaupapa’s future management and possible transfer of responsibilities to Maui County. The committee also read into the record written testimony from Gloria Marks emphasizing that Kalaupapa stakeholders must be included in future discussions. Finally, the committee heard SB 955 on fitness-to-proceed examinations. The Judiciary and the Public Defender’s Office both supported raising pay and standardizing expectations for private examiners, but opposed reducing felony fitness evaluations from three examiners to one and opposed expanding use of expedited reports. They argued that a single examiner would reduce reliability, create a more adversarial process, and likely increase costs and contested hearings, while expedited reports do not contain enough information for a proper fitness determination. The Department of Health also supported the bill’s intent but asked to preserve a three-examiner framework and said the goal was to reduce the number of people sent to the State Hospital, where admissions have reportedly risen about 20% year over year since Act 26. The bill remained under discussion in the excerpt, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• defective<01:24:51.440> date.
• Adopt the HD1 defect defective date. Adopt the HD1 defect defective date.
• HMSO will defect the effective date and draft amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.
• HMS will defect Start, Sanheis, and AAA.
• HMS will defect the<01:31:05.600> effective<01:31:06.000> date.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation heard several vehicle and traffic safety measures. HB 2347, which would require the director of transportation to adopt rules allowing mobile vehicle safety inspections, drew support from DOT and individual testifiers who said it would add convenience and efficiency for passenger vehicle owners. Committee members questioned how home or driveway inspections would handle safety standards such as headlight checks and whether added convenience would come with higher costs; DOT also said it would follow up on inspection fees and audit procedures. HB 182, which would exempt motorcycles and passenger cars from safety inspections, received opposition from DOT, the Hawaii Police Department, and the City and County of Honolulu Department of Customer Services, with Grassroot Institute in support. HB 2022, which would equalize county and state annual vehicle registration fees, was opposed by the Hawaii Transportation Association because it would raise costs that would likely be passed on to consumers. The committee also took testimony on HB 1708, which would make operating a vehicle under the influence at a high intoxication level a class C felony and add probation requirements. Prosecutors, police, DOT, and the Honolulu customer services department supported the bill, while the Public Defender’s Office opposed it, arguing that it would increase court workload, require more defense resources, and create collateral consequences, including possible immigration impacts. Several witnesses and members discussed a proposed HD1 that would change the bill to a graduated penalty structure, making a first offense a misdemeanor and a second offense a felony, while also addressing deferred pleas and DUI deferrals. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office supported the bill’s intent but warned that Oahu lacks a reliable electronic or telephonic warrant system, which could lead to more refusals and additional court impacts. HB 2086, which would amend negligent injury in the first degree to include injuries negligently inflicted by intoxicated drivers, received support from DOT, county prosecutors, police, and the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office. Honolulu’s prosecutor supported the bill but recommended against the attached HD1, saying the current drafting better preserves negligent injury as a lesser included offense and avoids blending it with a separate statutory scheme. HB 2154, which would create a framework for intelligent speed assist technology and require a report to the legislature, was supported by DOT, county police, Smart Start LLC, AAA Hawaii, and others, with the Alliance for Automobile Innovation offering comments and proposed amendments. A testifier described the bill as a way to prevent repeat speeding by limiting vehicles from accelerating beyond the speed limit. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 569 by BC relating to an opportunity to correct certain defects in early voting mail ballot voted
• of the assessed value of a person's property that is attributable to the installation and the construction

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• add a defective date of July 1st, 3000. add a defective date of July 1st, 3000.
• <01:17:10.400> Uh a defective date of July 1st 3000.
• Uh a defective date of July 1st 3000.
• Adding a defective date of July 1st, 3000. Members, any comments?
• a defective date of July 1st, 3000. Members, any comments?

Bills: SB3082, SB3110, SB3251

Keywords: military families, family leave, qualifying military exigency, Hawaii Revised Statutes, financial support, Hawaii National Guard, civil-military program, education, collective bargaining, exemption, SB3251, Hawaii public safety, ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol, law enforcement hiring, state employment ban, police powers, Department of Law Enforcement, DLNR

Transcript Highlights:

• Our members have noticed an increase in the use of equipment that has known safety defects.
• These defects pose a threat to both workers and the general public.
• These defects pose a threat to both workers and the general public.
• <00:03:15.640> threat<00:03:15.920> to defects these defects pose a threat to defects
• inspectors due to this safety defects inspectors due to this safety defects are<00:03:43.000>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:36:25.520> and residential construction and residential construction and development.<
• . construction. construction. persuant<00:57:16.079> to<00:57:16.160> an<00:57:16.400><
• them all off the top of my head, but does this person first of all suffer from a mental disease or defect
• them all off the top of my head, but does this person first of all suffer from a mental disease or defect
• them all off the top of my head, but does this person first of all suffer from a mental disease or defect

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a roll call establishing a quorum. Senators then adopted the prior day’s journal and excused absent members. A lengthy point of personal privilege followed, in which Senator Smith criticized the prior day’s handling of the special order calendar and argued that minority-party senators were denied the chance to speak, while Senator Coleman said Senate Bill 318 had been removed from the calendar and tied that to Child Abuse Prevention Month; she also noted Senate Bill 43, which would provide civil recourse for child sex assault survivors, had not advanced. The presiding officer also recognized guests in the gallery, including staff from the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The Senate then received multiple committee reports, largely on a unanimous or near-unanimous basis. Finance and Taxation Education reported favorably on House Bills 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 565, 517, and 98, and Senate Bill 380, with some substitutes or amendments; Finance and Taxation General Fund reported Senate Bill 378 favorably; County and Municipal Government reported House Bills 568, 499, and 433; Education Policy reported House Bills 8 and 380; Banking and Insurance reported House Bill 545; Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development reported House Bill 586 with two nays; Healthcare reported House Bills 533 and 605; Tourism and Marketing reported House Bills 513 and 626 and Senate Bill 357; and local legislation committees reported several Mobile County and Madison County bills, including Senate Bill 379 relating to Madison County and various House bills, all advancing to the next legislative day. In motions and resolutions, the Senate agreed to allow committee reports to be received at any time during the day. Several resolutions were introduced and referred to the Rules Committee, including Senate Joint Resolution 100 honoring Presley Skelton, SJR 101 commending Auburn University’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, SJR 102 establishing the Alabama Forest Products Retention and Pulp and Paper Mill Stability Study Commission, SJR 103 mourning Norman Wendell Arnold, and SJR 104 designating Alabama as the river state. The chamber also suspended the rules to take up Senate Joint Resolution 105, commending Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth for his service; the resolution included a lengthy recitation of his background and accomplishments and was read for immediate consideration with all senators added as sponsors.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we're working with this bill to simply clarify that defective, damaged, lost, or stolen IRP plates
• So, we're working with this bill to simply clarify that defective, damaged, lost, or stolen IRP plates
• plates once a failure has been defective plates once a failure has been identified.<00:45:59.600>
• ,<00:47:04.359> damaged, fees associated with defective, damaged, fees associated with defective
• , damaged, lost, or stolen IRP defective, damaged, lost, or stolen IRP plates<00:47:18.680> and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Bills: HB2240, SB896, SB2060, SB2152, SB2315, SB2544, SB2577, SB2580, SB99, SB2110, SB2115, SB2259, SB2382, SB2442, SB2485, SB895, SB2112, SB3019

Keywords: appropriations, legislative expenses, auditor, legislative reference bureau, state ethics commission, ombudsman, government transparency, education, capital improvement, reporting, transparency, technical expertise, rental housing revolving fund, HHFDC, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, mixed-income housing, mixed-income rental project, affordable housing, low-income housing, housing finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll make some technical amendments for clarity, consistency, and style, and defect the date to July
• The chair will make some technical amendments for clarity, consistency, and style, and defect the date
• the date to stringent and we will defect the date to July<01:26:38.000> 1st<01:26:38.440>
• We will defect the date to July 1st, 3000.
• the date to July style we will defect the date to July 1st<01:31:23.400> 3000 1st 3000 1st 3000

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Energy and Environmental Protection Committee met on February 13, 2025, after a brief recess for a concurrent hearing. The committee heard testimony on several measures, including HB 332 on recycling and lithium-ion batteries, HB 256 on environmental protection and federal air standards, HB 348 on single-use plastics in lodging establishments, HB 810 on noise pollution and helicopter-related civil actions, HB 505 on Red Hill coordination, HB 975 on carbon sequestration incentives, and HB 974 on utility financing and step-in agreements. Testimony was generally supportive on HB 256, HB 348, HB 505, HB 975, and HB 974, while HB 332 drew both support and opposition, including concerns from the Consumer Technology Association about battery recycling policy. On HB 975, OPSD supported the program but urged language to prevent use for carbon offsets, and the committee discussed how the program would be monitored and reimbursed. On HB 974, the chair summarized extensive amendments addressing reserve fees, revenue definitions, trust funds, default procedures, and customer credits, while noting the Consumer Advocate’s changed view that a reserve fee may not be constitutionally required. In decision making, the committee adopted amendments and recommended passage for HB 332, converting it into a working group to study recycling of small- and medium-format lithium-ion batteries, with members from state agencies and industry and a note that an appropriation may be needed. HB 256 was passed with amendments to clarify compliance with federal law unless standards become more stringent. HB 348, HB 810, and HB 505 were each passed as is. HB 975 was passed with amendments, including language to prevent use of the program for carbon offsets and a note that dollar amounts would be blanked out and addressed in the committee report. HB 974 was also passed with amendments after the committee reviewed the proposed changes and discussed the reserve fee issue. The committee additionally noted that HB 1476 had previously been deferred and would remain deferred, and the meeting concluded with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition to that, we'll be adding a defective date of July 1st, 2050, to foster further discussion
• adding a defective date of July 1st 2050 adding a defective date of July 1st 2050 to<00:36:45.359>
• We'll also add a defective date of July 1st, 2050.
• We'll also add a defective date of July 1st, 2050. Colleagues, any questions or concerns?
• We'll also add a defective date of July 1st, 2050. Colleagues, any questions or concerns?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Labor and Technology heard testimony on several measures. Senate Bill 327, relating to internships, drew broad support from the Department of Education, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, University of Hawaiʻi, DBEDT, P20, HFIA, Hawaiʻi Electric, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, and the Chamber of Commerce, with suggested amendments to clarify the internship purpose, limit some responsibilities to the state executive branch, and address staffing and reporting details. The committee later recommended passing SB 327 with amendments, including changes to the internship language, private-sector references, work-hour limits, reporting requirements, and a deferred effective date for further discussion. Senate Bill 716, relating to the Hawaii Employment Security Law, received support from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations as a step toward modernizing unemployment insurance, and the committee recommended passage with housekeeping and technical amendments. Senate Bill 717, relating to collective bargaining, would allow certain exempt employees to grieve suspensions or discharges. The City and County of Honolulu and the Department of Human Resources Development said the issue should remain a collective bargaining matter, while HGEA and United Public Workers supported the bill. DHRD opposed changing the statute and pointed to existing internal complaint procedures. The committee nevertheless recommended passing SB 717 with amendments and deferred the date for further discussion. Senate Bill 742, relating to data sharing, would create a data sharing and governance working group within the Office of Enterprise Technology Services and include appropriations. OETS, the Executive Office on Early Learning, the University of Hawaiʻi, DOE, Hawaiʻi Kids Can, Hawaiʻi P-20, and others supported the measure, with OETS estimating a total cost of about $2.64 million, including software, consulting, and six FTE. The committee recommended passage with amendments and a deferred effective date, and noted the budget request in the committee report. The final measure, Senate Bill 855, relating to the Hawaii Retirement Savings Act, would shift the program from opt-in to opt-out and appropriate startup funds; former Senator Brian Taniguchi and AARP supported it, while Retail Merchants of Hawaiʻi and the Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi opposed it over costs and burdens on small businesses and concerns about adding mandates before the program is implemented. The committee recessed briefly on a proposed AARP amendment, then returned and indicated support for the opt-out language before taking the bill up for decision-making.