Transcript Highlights:

• First, a quick the commission to hear.
• </c><00:49:24.000><c> um</c> has been I'm sure you'll hear um has been I'm sure you'll hear um opposition
• </c><01:37:51.840><c> this</c> and the commissioners for hearing this and the commissioners for hearing
• We thank you for hearing this bill.
• I'm hearing Senator How correctly?

Transcript Highlights:

• 02:12.560><c> the</c><00:02:12.760><c> same</c><00:02:13.200><c> set</c> One of the key phrases we hear
• this session is waste, fraud, and abuse, and we are also hearing that in Washington, D.C., where the
• would participate in that public hearing.
• <01:20:23.040><c> the</c><01:20:23.159><c> bill</c> hearing the bill hearing the bill sir<01:20:26.000
• </c> action items I'll take after the hearing action items I'll take after the hearing thank<01:53:04.159

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• We are commencing as the ESTM Committee for our hearing on January 13th. Welcome.
• For our hearing on January 13th. Welcome. Sergeant, please call absent members.
• over those briefly, although, just to skip ahead a little bit, this is going to be a really short hearing
• Great, so that matter is out with a seven-zero vote, and this hearing is adjourned.
• Great, so that matter is out with a seven-zero vote, and this hearing is adjourned.

Committee: House Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials

Transcript Highlights:

• :31:23.160><c> first</c><00:31:23.720><c> part</c> hearing agreement on that first part hearing agreement
• I'm not hearing consensus.
• I mean, I'm just hearing, hearing, you know, keep this coming back or something not agreeable.
• I mean, I'm just hearing consensus.
• I mean, I'm just hearing, hearing, hearing, um,<01:01:44.760><c> you</c><01:01:44.840><c> know,</c><01

Transcript Highlights:

• We are holding our subcommittee hearing here at the State Capitol, Room 113.
• I can't hear you. Sorry about that.
• Thank you for the opportunity to participate in today's hearing.
• often hear of, at the local level, BIDs.
• We hear of some cultural preservation fees.

Summary: The subcommittee first received an informational update on the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement (GoServe), including California Volunteers, the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications, and the Youth Empowerment Commission. GoServe reported strong participation in College Corps, Youth Service Corps, and Climate Action Corps, along with outreach results from OCPSC and the Trusted Messenger Network. The Department of Finance said the programs remain a priority but noted prior budget reductions, while the LAO said it had no new recommendations. Committee members raised questions about program diversity, geographic reach, administrative costs, and whether the programs duplicate existing volunteer opportunities; one member criticized the programs as costly and duplicative, while another emphasized the value of volunteerism and asked about the men’s service challenge. The item was informational only. The committee then heard an overview of the Board of Equalization’s property tax responsibilities and its first budget proposals since the 2017 reorganization. BOE described its role in county assessment oversight, state-assessed property valuation, and related tax administration. Members asked about BOE’s interaction with counties, property tax reassessments, and local tax notices; BOE explained it mainly works with county assessors and handles technical property tax questions, while local special district charges are generally outside its scope. The committee also considered a BOE proposal to implement SB 293, which would give additional time for certain intergenerational property tax transfer claims after the 2025 wildfires. BOE requested $154,000 for guidance, public materials, and inquiry response work, saying the change is urgent for wildfire-affected families, especially in Altadena. The LAO had no concerns, and the item was held open. BOE also presented an information technology modernization proposal for its state-assessed property program, seeking $3.2 million in 2026-27 and $3.1 million in 2027-28 to replace a 30-year-old mainframe system. BOE said the current system relies heavily on manual data entry and paper processes, creating inefficiencies, cybersecurity risks, and delays, while modernization would free staff for more audits and valuation studies. The LAO supported the need but urged a high bar for new IT projects; Finance said the project met the threshold of necessity. Members generally supported the upgrade but asked about audit gains, revenue impacts, and implementation risks, and the item was held open. Finally, CDTFA gave its department overview and then discussed a proposal to require all delivery network companies, such as Uber Eats and DoorDash, to be treated as marketplace facilitators for sales tax purposes. CDTFA said the current carve-out creates confusion for restaurants and small businesses because some DNCs collect and remit tax while others do not, and the change would improve compliance and shift reporting to larger platforms. Members debated whether the proposal amounts to a tax increase for consumers, with CDTFA and Finance arguing it is a consistency and compliance measure rather than a new tax, while others said it would likely raise consumer costs. The committee also discussed broader CDTFA issues, including local sales tax districts, revenue-sharing agreements, and the growth of special taxing jurisdictions. No votes were taken, and the agenda items were informational or held open.

Transcript Highlights:

• That hearing occurs, I believe it was in late August or September.
• They, at that hearing, because there was a lot of consternation at that hearing.
• </c> entire conduct. they at that hearing entire conduct. they at that hearing because<00:09:15.120><
• Uh Miss Anderson, there at that hearing.
• </c> I mean, the county clerks in our hearing I mean, the county clerks in our hearing in<00:21:46.159

Bills: HB0086

Committee: Senate Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for hearing it, and hope that you can pass this bill.
• Thank you for hearing Important matter.
• </c><00:33:20.880><c> this</c> measure for an early hearing this measure for an early hearing this session
• We will absolutely continue. >> I hear you.
• </c><01:20:53.199><c> that</c> another bill we're going to hear that another bill we're going to hear

Bills: HB644 , HB1802 , HB1569 , HB1619 , HB1620 , HB1730 , HB1749

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Summary: The committee heard several environmental and energy bills, beginning with HB 644 on single-use plastics. DLNR and DOH supported the measure, and environmental advocates said it would reduce plastic waste in oceans and landfills. Testifiers urged the bill to avoid weakening existing county ordinances, and some supported delaying implementation to use up inventory, while Upstream opposed compostable-plastic exemptions and urged prompt passage. Committee members asked whether reusable and refillable foodware could be added to the PFAS prohibition, and Upstream said that would be consistent with the bill’s goals. The committee then took up HB 1802 on conservation mitigation banks, HB 1569 on microfiber filters for newly manufactured washing machines, and HB 1619 on electric vehicle infrastructure. HB 1802 drew mostly agency testimony from DLNR, with opposition testimony noted from environmental groups, and members discussed whether suggested amendments would address concerns. HB 1569 received limited testimony, with support from the Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition and opposition from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. HB 1619 was supported by the PUC, Hawaiian Electric, the Department of Transportation, and several advocacy groups; Earthjustice said the bill was needed to address a widening EV charging shortfall and described the funding increase as relatively small compared with the benefits. The committee also heard HB 1620, which would increase the barrel tax to fund the EV charging rebate program. The State Energy Office and PUC offered comments, while the Tax Foundation of Hawaii opposed the special-fund approach and said the bill should also address the non-petroleum fossil-fuel portion of the barrel tax. Earthjustice and youth transportation advocates supported the measure, and the chair asked for information on unused hydrogen fueling subaccount funds; PUC said no hydrogen program funds had been deployed and estimated the balance was likely around $2 million, with exact figures to be provided later. Finally, the committee heard HB 1730 on wastewater systems, which would create a wastewater technical advisory group and fund positions at DOH. DLNR, DOH, OPSD, UH, and several environmental groups supported the bill, emphasizing cesspool pollution, affordability, and the need for more staffing and technical assistance. Testifiers suggested amendments to create a separate cesspool conversion implementation working group and debated the size and composition of the advisory group, including whether to include outside engineers and whether SHIP should be on the panel. No votes were taken during the hearing segment provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you hear me OK? So, uh, first of all, welcome to Housing New Mexico and our new building here.
• So you're not just hearing from staff, but you're hearing about some of our partners that are doing the
• So that you don't have to hear just from me.
• It's a little bit of a rant, but, um, thank you for hearing me, man.
• I mean, you addressed some of the things that I was hoping that we would hear today.

Committee: House Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Nice to see you all again, and you can hear me.
• So I hear, and to go off of what I've written, to hear somebody say, it's in my city so you don't deliver
• And thank you so much for hearing us tonight.
• So they wanted to hear more about it.
• So they wanted to hear more about it.

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Summary: The committee heard and acted on a long agenda of local, housing, education, construction, and claims bills. It first took up SB 1730 on affordable housing/Live Local changes, adopting an amendment that narrowed and clarified several provisions, including density, height, parking, attorney fees, and exclusions for certain protected areas, then reported the bill favorably. It also approved SB 1674, which clarifies that local investment restrictions cannot block Israel bonds, after a clarifying amendment. SB 140 on charter schools was reported favorably after significant debate over school conversion, teacher contracts, local control, and the use of surplus school property for housing or other public purposes; several speakers opposed it as harmful to public schools, while the sponsor said it preserved district authority and added options for municipalities and job creation. The committee also passed SB 96 and SB 4, two local claims bills, and SB 1714, which allows SHIP funds to help mobile home owners with lot rent and requires local housing plans to address mobile home park closures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for joining us today for the AEN-HOU hearing.
• Uh, somehow this hearing is cut short.
• Uh, somehow this hearing is cut short.
• Okay, hearing none, we'll move on to decision making.
• Hearing none, moving on to SB 1395.

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The committees heard several agriculture and food-system bills. SB 1562 would create a Combined Housing Operational Agricultural Mobilization Program to help bona fide farmers live and farm on agricultural lands and provide a tax credit for donated land. Testimony generally supported the goal of housing for farmers and farm workers, but raised concerns about placing the program within the Department of Agriculture, possible constitutional and drafting issues, land-quality standards, lease structure, and whether another agency might be better suited. The committees recommended passing SB 1562 with amendments, including clarifying DOA authority to acquire agricultural lands and establishing an advisory committee within the department; the recommendation was adopted. The committees also heard SB 1171 on providing monofilament netting through hardware stores to help slow coconut rhinoceros beetle spread, SB 1186 on creating a statewide interagency food systems coordination team and working group, SB 1250 on a Farm to Families program, SB 1303 on agricultural loans, SB 1395 on a climate mitigation and resiliency special fund, SB 504 on a local agricultural transportation cost reimbursement program, SB 1185 on reviewing and repealing obsolete agricultural laws, and SB 187 on funding permanent agricultural biosecurity positions. Most testimony on these measures was in support, with some suggested refinements: for SB 1186, a youth advisory seat and clearer performance benchmarks; for SB 1250, broader eligibility for food pantries, cold storage, and staffing support; for SB 1303, support for lower interest rates and expanded loan tools; for SB 1395, debate over the fund’s structure and revenue source; for SB 504, clearer eligibility for small and beginning farmers, cooperatives, and food hubs; and for SB 1185, interest in joining the working group but concern about overbroad deregulation. No roll-call votes were taken on the other measures in the excerpt, but the chair reported testimony counts on some bills, including 89 in support and none opposed for SB 1250, 13 in support and one opposed for SB 504, and 14 in support with one comment for SB 1395. SB 1303 and SB 187 also drew supportive testimony from the Department of Agriculture, farm groups, food banks, and industry organizations, with SB 187 emphasizing the need to make Act 231 biosecurity positions permanent and fully funded.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> &gt;&gt; I'm sorry I didn't hear you. &gt;&gt; I'm sorry I didn't hear you.
• </c> Number two, I didn't hear that at all. Number two, I didn't hear that at all.
• Thanks for hearing this.
• them, see them, they could see us, hear them, see them, they could see us, hear<03:39:13.039><c> us<
• I think we heard what we need to hear.<04:58:40.480><c> Thank</c><04:58:40.638><c> you.</c> hear.

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• Mahalo nui for hearing this bill, and we hope the committee supports it.
• </c> have a session um following this hearing have a session um following this hearing if<01:59:14.480
• May you never hear those words. May I never speak them again.
• May you never hear those words. May I never speak them again.
• Yes, can you hear me? Yes, thank you so much for hearing my testimony.

Summary: The joint hearing opened with House Bill 1462 on crisis services. Testimony from the Department of Law Enforcement, the Community Alliance on Prisons, and the Department of Health supported expanding behavioral health crisis services as an alternative to arrest or incarceration. Witnesses said additional crisis sites would help divert people in mental health crisis to appropriate care, and the Department of Health described its current crisis center in Ewa, including the need for renovations such as a padded room and the time required to get the facility operational. In response to questions, the department estimated the Ewa center’s budgeted cost at about $4.3 million, not including rent or startup repairs, and said a second site’s cost would depend on whether it was freestanding or attached to an existing facility. The committee then heard House Bill 700 on cognitive assessments. The Executive Office on Aging supported the bill’s intent but asked that it be amended to make assessments optional rather than mandated, to pilot the program first, and to allow flexibility in handling HIPAA-protected data. SHPDA also supported the measure but said it should not be mandatory and suggested that payers reimburse for assessments when requested by patients, families, or physicians. The Alzheimer’s Association and caregivers strongly supported standardizing cognitive assessments to improve early detection and access to newer treatments, while noting the existing opt-out provision. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities supported the bill but asked that the age 65 threshold be removed because cognitive decline can begin much earlier for people with Down syndrome, autism, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and related conditions. In response to a question, the Office on Aging said a pilot project could likely be done for about $150,000, with data security being the main added cost. The final bill discussed was House Bill 237 on peer support programs. Testimony from Family Hui Hawaii, Early Childhood Action Strategy, peer support workers, and families described peer-to-peer programs as a cost-effective way to reduce isolation, strengthen families, and provide long-term community support. Speakers said these programs help parents and caregivers navigate crises, child welfare involvement, addiction recovery, and other challenges, and can have lasting benefits for children’s development and family stability. Several witnesses tied the bill to broader state goals, including infant and early childhood mental health, trauma-informed care, and child welfare reform. Written testimony from about a dozen organizations and individuals was also noted in support.

Transcript Highlights:

• will break for lunch, and then public hearings will resume at 1 p.m.
• And when the clerk is ready, we can begin our first hearing.
• Can you hear me? Yeah. Okay, sorry.
• hearings at 1 p.m.<02:22:25.760><c> thank</c> You.
• <03:34:21.040><c> on</c><03:34:21.359><c> House</c> hearing on House hearing on House Bill<03:34:23.840

Committee: House Municipal and County Government

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair hears none. Communications from the House.
• The chair hears none. The clerk will read the resolution.
• The chair hears none. The clerk will read the resolution.
• The chair hears none. Questions on the adoption of the resolution? Is there a discussion?
• The chair hears none. The question is on the adoption of the resolution.

Summary: The Senate briefly returned to business and received messages from the House concerning two concurrent resolutions. House Concurrent Resolution 1 invited the Governor to deliver an address to the legislature and called for a joint assembly; the Senate dispensed with committee reference, took it up immediately, and adopted it by voice vote. The Chair then appointed the Senate members to the joint assembly committee and directed that the action be communicated to the House. The Senate next considered House Concurrent Resolution 2, which amended Rule 31 of the Joint Rules of the Senate and House of Delegates. Again, the Senate waived committee reference, considered the resolution immediately, and adopted it by voice vote without discussion. After completing those actions, the Senate agreed to a motion to stand in recess until five minutes after the joint assembly, and the chamber recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, he can't hear. Paul's here. Bob. Bob, raise your hand. Alright. There we go.
• Hearing none, so ordered. The chair lays out a matter of pending business.
• Chair hearing none, so ordered. The chair lays out a matter of pending business.
• Chair hearing none, motions adopted. Senator Hancock moves that SB 2543 be substituted.
• Hearing none, the motion is adopted. We're done. We're done? Okay.

Committee: Senate Veteran Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, I want to welcome you to the first hearing of the Senate Committee on Administration.
• A copy has been shared with your offices before today's hearing.
• A copy has been shared with your offices before today's hearing.
• Hearing none, the rules are adopted.
• Hearing none, we'll stand in recess subject to the call of the chair.

Committee: Senate Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• We pride ourselves, Senator Kennedy and I pride ourselves, on making our committee hearings as accessible
• Okay, let me begin by thanking the committee for holding this hearing.
• Okay, let me begin by thanking the committee for holding this hearing.
• Livingston, thank you for being here today and hearing our testimonies.
• I hear them all the time. Families reach out to me constantly, even to this day.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities

Summary: The Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities held a hearing on a broad slate of disability-related bills. Topics included creating a permanent Acquired Brain Injury Advisory Board (H. 231/S. 134), establishing a system for compensating guardians who serve incapacitated, unbefriended individuals through MassHealth (H. 253/S. 154), expanding Nikki’s Law to require MassHealth day habilitation programs to use the abuse registry (S. 165 and related bills), modernizing and streamlining the Disabled Persons Protection Commission’s statute and procedures (H. 243/S. 139), updating the definition of developmental disability to align more closely with federal law and include people such as those with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (H. 276/S. 150), removing outdated and offensive terminology from the General Laws (H. 232/S. 137), and an autism education reform bill (H. 286). Several bills had no sign-ups, and the committee also noted related measures on cueing and prompting in PCA programs (H. 277/S. 157).

Transcript Highlights:

• And yet, in the same week, we hear an insult that cuts to the core.
• Seeing and hearing no further debate, Assembly Member Brian, do you wish to close?
• Seeing and hearing no further debate, Assembly Member Valencia, do you wish to close?
• Seeing and hearing none, the clerk will read the second day consent calendar.
• Seeing and hearing no further business, a motion to adjourn is in order.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to just kind of put it out there: the Senate is currently hearing a budget bill right now,
• and so since we are hearing Senate bills, there may be some delays.
• But I just wanted to give a heads up that there may be some delays throughout this hearing.
• That there may be some delays throughout this hearing.
• They can hear you. Oh, they can hear us talking. Oh, on the phone? Oh. Oh, it was?

Committee: House Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1350, McNerney, for their hearing scheduled on Wednesday, June 10th.
• McNerney, for their hearing scheduled on Wednesday, June 10th.
• Seeing and hearing no further debate, Assembly Member Gibson, do you wish to close? Yes.
• Seeing and hearing none, the Clerk will read the second day consent calendar.
• Seeing and hearing no further business, I'm ready to entertain a motion to adjourn.