Transcript Highlights:

• The Lily reflection pool, featuring the historical Victorian water platters, which first appeared in
• The Lily reflection pool, featuring the historical Victorian water platters, which first appeared in
• The Lily reflection pool, featuring the historical Victorian water platters, which first appeared in
• The Lily reflection pool, featuring the historical Victorian water platters, which first appeared in
• The Lily reflection pool, featuring the historical Victorian water platters, which first appeared in

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• conspire to trespass or damage critical infrastructure such as pipelines, utility lines, substations, water
• conspire to trespass or damage critical infrastructure such as pipelines, utility lines, substations, water
• </c> lines and substations as well as water lines and substations as well as water and<00:04:47.320><
• </c><00:36:20.040><c> protectors</c><00:36:20.800><c> or</c> with them like other water protectors or
• </c> responsibility to care for the water responsibility to care for the water land<00:36:52.800><c>

Bills: HF7

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: public safety, criminal justice, sentencing guidelines, Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, public sentencing database, felony dismissals, prosecutor reporting, bail notice, bond posting, law enforcement data, arrest data, public records, sex trafficking, human trafficking, mandatory minimum sentence, peace officer assault, police assault, fleeing police, vehicular flight, stolen motor vehicle

Transcript Highlights:

• bill back of the bill; healthcare, budget, budget and projects; ag and natural resources, budget, and water
• Healthcare budget, budget and projects; ag and natural resources budget and water projects.

Summary: The conference committee on appropriations was called to order and members were reminded to silence phones. The chair announced that the House had submitted additional public offers for several items, including justice, healthcare, agriculture and natural resources, budgets, budget-and-projects, provisos, implementing language, and water projects. The offers were presented for consideration without individual explanation. There was no public testimony. A brief comment noted the long hours spent on the budget process over the past two months. The chair announced that there would be no further meetings that night or on the following day, and that public meetings would resume Sunday afternoon on one-hour notice. With no further business, Senator Hooper moved to adjourn, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• back of the bill; healthcare, budget, budget, and projects; ag and natural resources, budget, and water
• Healthcare, budget, budget, and projects; ag and natural resources, budget, and water projects.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• back of the bill; health care, budget, budget, and projects; ag and natural resources, budget, and water
• Health care, budget, budget, and projects; ag and natural resources, budget, and water projects.

Summary: The conference committee on appropriations was called to order and members were reminded to silence phones. The chair announced that several House offers had been publicly noticed and were being presented for consideration, including offers related to justice, health care, and agriculture/natural resources, covering budget items, projects, provisos, and implementing language. No individual explanations of the offers were given at that time. There was no public testimony. A brief comment noted the long hours spent over the past two months. The chair then announced there would be no further meetings that night or on the following day, and that public meetings would resume Sunday afternoon on one-hour notice. With no further business, Senator Hooper moved to adjourn, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm calling the Triple C Triple Committee hearing on Health and Human Services, Water and Land, Cultural
• Um, present with me are my co-chairs: Senator Lee for Water and Land, Culture and the Arts; Senator Richards
• Co-chairs: Senator Lee for Water and Land, Culture and the Arts; Senator Richards for Hawaiian Affairs
• Same recommendation. >> Chair's recommendation to the Committee on Water and Land, Culture and the Arts
• And not that I don't think we need to have water for the Hawaiian homes, because I'm actually working

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Triple C committee heard SB 2799, relating to the Kalopa settlement. Testimony was largely supportive, with several individuals and homestead organizations urging passage and asking that Hawaiian Homes Commission, HHCA beneficiaries, and community representatives be included in transition planning. The Department of Health opposed the added reporting requirement as unnecessary and argued its role is limited to patient care, while committee members pushed back and emphasized the need for broader community input and landowner participation, especially from DHHL and DLNR. The chair recommended passage of SB 2799 unamended, with a committee report noting that the required May report should include the interagency transition working group timeline, proposed budget, and proposed procedures. The recommendation was adopted unanimously by the committees present. The joint agenda also took up SB 2887, which would expand the important agricultural land qualified agricultural tax credit to include Hawaiian homelands used for subsistence or agricultural/pastoral purposes and broaden eligible costs to include orchard or fruit-bearing crops and clearing former sugar and pineapple lands. The Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the concept but requested amendments; the Department of Taxation and Department of Agriculture provided comments and information on administration and existing claims. The Hawaii Farm Bureau supported the intent but argued the bill should create a new tax credit in Chapter 235 rather than fold DHHL lands into the existing IAL credit. After discussion, the chair recommended passage with the Hawaii Farm Bureau’s amendments and technical changes, and both committees adopted that recommendation. The Hawaiian Affairs committee then acted on several bills. SB 1406, SB 521, and SB 1654 were deferred indefinitely because the chair said related work was already underway and the committee wanted to avoid duplicative paperwork. SB 3247, relating to Mona Ala/Royal Mausoleum, was amended to convert the proposal into a Royal Mausoleum Working Group with periodic reporting and stakeholder input, and it passed with amendments. SB 112, SB 131, and SB 2443 were advanced with amendments that primarily deferred effective dates to keep the measures moving while discussions continue. The committee also noted that some measures were being deferred or reshaped to align with ongoing administrative or companion-bill processes, and the amended recommendations were adopted by the members present.

Transcript Highlights:

• growth in to support growth in our communities, again especially water infrastructure, where growth
• growth in to support growth in our communities, again especially water infrastructure, where growth
• Are you talking about clean water? Are you talking about coastal communities or both?
• You're talking about clean water or are you talking about coastal communities or both?
• areas because there's water availability is just not there, right?

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The joint budget hearing opened the FY27 budget process with remarks from the Senate and House Ways and Means chairs, who described the fiscal outlook as challenging because of slow revenue growth, rising health care and other costs, and uncertainty from federal policy changes. Governor Healey and Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz then presented House 2, a $62.8 billion budget that they said grows by about 1% and does not raise taxes or fees. They emphasized affordability, fiscal discipline, protection of core services, and continued investment in education, transportation, housing, child care, health care, and public safety. The administration also discussed a separate bill to delay and phase in certain federal tax-code changes from the so-called OB3 law, especially research and experimental expense provisions, to reduce immediate budget impacts and preserve competitiveness. A major portion of the hearing focused on education and municipal aid. The administration said House 2 provides about $7.6 billion for Chapter 70 aid, fully funds the final year of the Student Opportunity Act, increases special education circuit breaker funding, and raises rural school aid. Senators and representatives from both parties raised concerns that Chapter 70 and other aid formulas are not equitable for small, rural, and low-wealth communities and are not keeping pace with inflation, and several called for broader review of the formula and related funding streams. The governor and secretary said they are open to further discussion, pointed to additional support through rural aid, special education, transportation reimbursements, and minimum aid, and said total Student Opportunity Act investment would reach about $2.1 billion over the life of the law. Transportation, housing, and fair share spending were also central topics. The administration said fair share revenues are being used holistically, with education-heavy spending in the operating budget and transportation-heavy spending in the supplemental budget, and estimated the overall split to date at roughly 57% education and 43% transportation. They highlighted MBTA stabilization, regional transit authority support, microtransit, fare-free regional transit, and bridge and commuter rail investments, while noting the MBTA remains a major fiscal concern. On housing, the governor stressed production, permitting reform, ADUs, down-payment assistance, and support for public housing authorities, while lawmakers pressed for more funding for local housing authorities and for ways to address out-migration, energy costs, and affordability. The governor also said the administration will not withhold fire safety grants from communities over MBTA Communities Act noncompliance and will handle such issues case by case. No votes were taken at the hearing; it was an informational presentation and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• want to get somebody who's probably surrounded by forest coming over here and telling us about our water
• want to get somebody who's probably surrounded by forest coming over here and telling us about our water
• want to get somebody who's probably surrounded by forest coming over here and telling us about our water
• Water and whatnot, and we want to get somebody who's probably surrounded by forest coming over here and
• telling us about our water.

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up SB 2045 relating to combat sports and recommended passage with SD1. Members adopted requested changes from DCCA and the boxing commission, including clarifying that the onsite medical professional must be a licensed physician, specifying when a deputy combat sports commissioner must file a written report, removing the combat sports registry language and ambulance requirement, clarifying promoter payment requirements, and requiring advance coordination with the nearest emergency room or hospital. The bill also makes technical amendments and sets an effective date of July 1, 2050. The measure passed unanimously among members present, with Senators Fukunaga and Kim excused. The joint hearing then considered SB 2187 relating to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Testimony was brief and largely in support, and the committees agreed to pass the bill with SD1, making technical non-substantive amendments and changing the effective date to July 1, 2050. The committees voted to adopt the recommendation, with members present voting aye and some senators excused. A longer portion of the hearing focused on several economic development measures, including SB 2072 on tourism, SB 3049 on a trade-oriented production capacity grant program, and SB 3166 and SB 3167 involving technology development and the blue economy. SB 2072 drew questions about cost, benefit, and the practicality of promoting Michelin-star restaurants in Hawaii. SB 3049 received broad support from DBEDT, HTDC, chambers, and industry groups, but members questioned whether a new grant program was needed, why DBEDT could not do it without legislation, and whether the state should instead use existing entities like HTDC; the discussion also covered matching funds, likely beneficiaries, and administrative capacity. SB 3166 and SB 3167 were supported by technology and ocean-sector witnesses who said the state needs coordinated planning, specialized expertise, and support for advanced manufacturing and ocean innovation, but members raised concerns about relying on third-party consultants, duplication of existing public capacity, ethics, cost, and whether the work should instead be done by state staff or existing institutions. No final votes on the later bills were captured in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• In another sense, it doesn't have running water or power on a continuous basis.
• In another sense, it doesn't have running water or power on a continuous basis.
• </c><00:15:11.839><c> I</c><00:15:12.079><c> mean,</c><00:15:12.440><c> water</c><00:15:13.440><c> water
• I mean, water water, you getting used.
• I mean, water water, you know,<00:15:14.160><c> a</c><00:15:14.320><c> well</c><00:15:14.560><c> and<

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on proposed improvements to the New Hampshire State Police gun range and training facility. Commissioner Robert Quinn and Major Brendan Davy said the range is used for realistic, scenario-based training that cannot be replicated at a standard static range, including movement, use of cover, vehicle-based drills, elevation, and training under elevated heart rates and stress. They said the facility is important not only for state troopers but also for local and federal partners, and that it is used regularly for qualifications, requalification, and special unit training. Members asked about specific limitations and costs. Major Davy said the PSTC range is handgun-caliber only because the backstop is not rifle-rated, and local law enforcement can use the State Police range for qualification. Representative Kazinski questioned the size and cost of the project, and Public Works Director Theodore Copper then explained the estimate: $1.5 million for building and site work, plus soft costs, utilities, design, and inflation, bringing the total to $2.3 million. He said the proposed facility would include office space, two classrooms, restrooms, and heating and air conditioning, and that the estimate was reasonable. The committee also heard from Milford School District Superintendent Christy Misho in support of CTE funding. She said Milford has been working for years to secure support for an applied technology center renovation, that prior local bond efforts fell short of the required threshold, and that the district now plans a CTE-only local bond of about $4 million while seeking $10 million from the state. She argued the investment is needed to modernize outdated equipment and support workforce training, and said the district remains committed to the project. In work session action, the committee corrected a prior vote on the Pease Development Authority warehouse removal and replacement project, increasing the amount by $353,300 to $1,973,300 and raising the agency subtotal to $4,155,300. The committee also approved adding two Community College System items: $500,000 for an energy management system and $1.3 million for critical maintenance, for a total addition of $1.8 million. No objections were raised to these motions.

Transcript Highlights:

• New Orleans sewage and water board.
• You see in 2018, $10 million given to the sewage and water board.
• So that current bill is for New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board. We're showing $3 million.

Bills: HB2 , HB3 , HB799 , HB1039

Committee: Senate Revenue & Fiscal Affairs

Keywords: capital outlay, budget, infrastructure, appropriation, general obligation bonds, bond authorization, capital improvement, financial management, state treasury, boiler safety, inspection, licensing, state fire marshal, operating certificate, regulations, local sales tax, local use tax, sales and use tax, tax audit, local collector

Transcript Highlights:

• extend the renewal period for secretarial designee health care authorizations relating to the Red Hill water
• extend the renewal period for secretarial designee health care authorizations relating to the Red Hill water
• <c> light</c> So again, uh, making sure that we mitigate as best as we can to keep PFAS out of our water

Bills: HCR43 , HCR154 , HCR165 , HCR186 , HCR200 , HCR202 , HCR206

Committee: Senate Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: pedestrian safety, raised crosswalks, Honolulu, traffic infrastructure, school zone, HCR154, Hele-On, Hele-On Shared Ride Program, County of Hawaii, Hawaii County, Mass Transit Agency, shared ride, paratransit, accessible transportation, ADA, mobility devices, wheelchair accessible, kupuna, seniors, elderly

Summary: The Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs reconvened on April 21 and took up a series of House Concurrent Resolutions, with no public testimony. Members first approved HCR 43, urging raised crosswalks near Ala Wai Elementary at University Avenue, Malkiki Street, and Kamoku Street to improve student safety, and HCR 154, asking Hawaii County to expand the Heleon shared ride program islandwide, including rural and underserved areas. They also passed HCR 165, calling for permanent pickleball nets and court lighting at Kamilo Iki Community Park, and HCR 186, urging the U.S. Department of Defense and Defense Health Agency to extend health care authorization renewals for people affected by the Red Hill water contamination crisis. The committee then approved HCR 200, which urges the Department of Defense to reassess prior CERCLA-related closure decisions in light of evolving PFAS science. Members said the measure was intended to help keep PFAS out of the water system. HCR 202, establishing a legislative task force on Hawaii’s future energy pathways, was amended before passage to expand the task force’s scope to include separation of generation from transmission and distribution, add Senate leadership representation, and include representatives from the Agricultural Development Corporation and the Farm Bureau. Several members supported the amended version with reservations, expressing concern about possible cost impacts from separating generation and distribution. Finally, the committee passed HCR 206 HD1, which requests the Hawaii State Energy Office to convene a working group to study the impacts of large data centers on utilities, ratepayers, natural resources, and climate goals. All measures were adopted by the committee, with HCR 202 passing with amendments and the others passing unamended. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 1 actually puts back in the soil and water conservation districts on the same election schedule
• It puts back in the soil and water conservation districts on the same election schedule as other elected
• Soil and water conservation districts have five supervisors elected in staggered terms.

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• "Edward Knight, Department of Transportation and Development, Public Works and Water Resources Division
• So, Josephine Waters. Congratulations. And then the trip to Bay St. Louis is pretty awesome, too.
• So Josephine Waters. Congratulations. And then the trip to Beluk Bay St.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works met on March 9, 2026, with a quorum present and approved the March 3 minutes without objection. The committee welcomed new members and then took up four priority program items: the statewide flood control program, the airport construction and development priority program, the port construction and development priority program, and the state highway priority program. Department of Transportation and Development staff explained that the highway packet reflected about $1.2 billion in total investment, including roughly $913 million scheduled for construction in the coming fiscal year, and included written justifications for projects discussed at road show hearings but not included in the program. Each of the four programs was approved without objection. The committee then heard a presentation from Amtrak on Louisiana service and the Mardi Gras route between New Orleans and Mobile. Amtrak reported that the new state-supported service, launched in August 2025, had exceeded its first-year ridership projection of 76,000 and had already carried more than 78,000 riders by late February, with strong customer satisfaction and high load factors. The presentation also described Louisiana’s broader Amtrak network, station ridership patterns, fares, and planned capital improvements funded through state matches and federal CRISI grants to improve rail fluidity and shorten travel times over time. Members focused heavily on rail crossing safety, asking about recent accidents and what was being done to reduce them. Amtrak said the crossings involved were generally equipped with gates and lights and that it was working with Operation Lifesaver, Norfolk Southern, and CSX on additional public safety messaging. Members also discussed the practical appeal of the service and asked a follow-up question about an emergency notification app used for railroad crossings. The meeting concluded with a motion by Vice Chair Carter to adjourn, adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• relating to finance, authorizing the New Mexico Finance Authority to make loans or grants from the Water
• Project Fund for certain water projects, declaring an emergency.
• Representative Kates, is an act making appropriations from the Public Project Revolving Fund to the Drinking Water

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• their own districts, defend their own constituents, or whether they will just be Daddy Donald Trump's water
• The rising waters don't care about your party affiliation, your gender, your sexuality, or your income
• come into session, the school system is failing, the road system is failing, the grid is failing, water

Transcript Highlights:

• next week: 2210, the study on watershed boundaries; 2267, the wastewater recycling; 2276, the Joint Water
• Resources Boards; 2339, the strict liability on wildfire mitigations; 2340, the study; and 2325, the high water
• And 2325, the high water mark on non-federal easements.

Committee: House Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Natural Resources Committee reconsidered Senate Bill 2159, which concerns a study related to nuclear energy and waste. Members discussed a proposed amendment to clarify that the study would address above-ground storage of nuclear waste, not underground storage, reflecting concerns raised by constituents about earlier nuclear-related proposals. The committee adopted the amendment and then gave SB 2159 a unanimous 13-0 do pass recommendation. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2245, described as a hunting-related bill, and recommended it do pass on a 13-0 vote after brief discussion with Game and Fish support noted. Senate Bill 2216, the duck stamp bill, was also advanced 13-0. Testimony on SB 2216 explained that it would help Game and Fish better track resident duck hunting participation and generate revenue for waterfowl habitat, PLOTS access, and possible federal matching funds. The most extensive debate centered on Senate Bill 2137, which addresses baiting rules and chronic wasting disease surveillance. An amendment was proposed to set a 50-gallon limit at a hunting location, require a 50-foot setback from property used for animal agriculture, and direct continued disease surveillance with a report due before December 31, 2028. After discussion about fence setbacks, livestock concerns, and the department’s authority to manage disease, the committee adopted the amendment by a 7-6 vote and then passed the bill as amended on an 8-4 vote. The committee also noted several remaining bills would be taken up the following week and adjourned, with no meeting the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• a general overview about the university's speech policies, so you could get a. a feel for how we regulate
• details around each of these will give you... you all a better sense of how speech and expression are regulated
• TV back there so when you go in there to get a sip of water or a cup of coffee or whatever we get to

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They just need to drink water for a moment. We all do. Thank you. I spoke for a long time.
• We looked at addressing impulse control, emotional regulation, and decision-making.
• What is the best place to start with better regulated firearms?

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, there have been reports that the water system is in need of repairs.
• Finally, the campus requires replacement of water and sewer mains and considerable updates to come into
• of the tour yesterday, and I have an understanding of some of the shortcomings with our sewer and water
• It's going to require water main replacement, sewer main replacement, fire panel replacement, about $2.6
• Fixing for HVAC and water and sewer things of that nature, roofs—that's not on HHS's bill; that's on

Committee: Unicameral Health and Human Services

Keywords: 956, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And yet and still, we are allowing—y'all continue to hold the water of a governor who is a lame duck
• And yet and still, we are allowing—y'all continue to hold the water of a governor who is a lame duck
• And yet and still, we are allowing, y'all continue to hold the water of a governor who is a lame duck
• In my district, Lake Clarke Shores families are relying on a failing water system with asbestos in our
• pipes, leaving a significant number of homes under continuous boil-water notices.

Keywords: 998, house, all