Transcript Highlights:

• </c> fisheries are now sustainably managed. fisheries are now sustainably managed.
• </c><02:09:00.079><c> us</c> who has created and who sustains us who has created and who sustains us
• </c> our legislative package this week. our legislative package this week.
• </c> bills included in this package. bills included in this package.
• In fact, one of bills in this package.

Transcript Highlights:

• We were Washington State's nonprofit advocate for safe, sustainable, and equitable transportation.
• I want to close out by highlighting our concern with the sustainability of the transportation budget.
• I want to close out by highlighting our concern with the sustainability of the transportation budget.
• But there's a piece that goes to the sustainable aviation fuel account.
• But there's a piece that goes to the sustainable aviation fuel account.

Bills: HB2306 , HB2711

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: transportation budget, capital budget, operating budget, appropriations, Washington State Department of Transportation, WSDOT, Washington State Patrol, Department of Licensing, ferry funding, state ferries, highway maintenance, road preservation, bridge replacement, tolling, express toll lanes, traffic safety, speed cameras, ignition interlock, transit grants, public transit

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, obviously we know what the usual components are of a tax package. Added to the tax package.
• It doesn't belong in the tax package.
• It was in the tax package from the very beginning.
• It is germane to the tax package.
• It's in the F&D package is taxes and the use of money.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing guests, interns, public safety officials, and a doctor of the day. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and took up several bills, with some measures temporarily postponed and others substituted with House companions before final passage. No committee reports, governor messages, or House messages were on the desk at the start of the regular order of business. The first major bill passed was CS/CS/HB 355 on health care patient protection, which requires hospitals with emergency departments to have evidence-based pediatric emergency care policies, training, pediatric equipment, a designated pediatric emergency care coordinator, and participation in the National Pediatric Readiness Assessment. Senators also passed CS/CS/HB 1113 on public records, clarifying confidentiality protections for victims and for law enforcement officers who become victims in the course of duty, though that bill drew questions about access to information in misconduct cases and received four no votes. The Senate then passed CS/CS/HB 1085 on local government cybersecurity, creating a Florida Digital Service-administered program to help local governments obtain cybersecurity services and grants, with amendments shifting the grant-award deadline and rejecting House differences such as locating the program at USF and adding a sunset date. The chamber also passed CS/CS/HB 925 on clerks of court, allowing clerks to retain all revenue above Article V projections and revising related fee distributions, despite concerns from some senators and municipalities about revenue shifts. Additional bills passed included CS/CS/HB 679 modernizing trademark registration, and CS/CS/CS/HB 589 on septic system permits, which addresses long permit delays and clarifies liability if construction begins before a permit is issued. Several other bills were taken up, including elections legislation (SB 1334/HB 991) that generated extensive debate and multiple failed amendments on voter ID, citizenship verification, student and senior IDs, and implementation timing; the transcript ends while that bill is still under consideration, after the Senate adopted one amendment and rejected several others.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, obviously we know what the usual components are of a tax package. Added to the tax package.
• There's a lot of tax policy that goes into the tax package.
• It doesn't belong in the tax package.
• It was in the tax package from the very beginning.
• It is germane to the tax package.

Transcript Highlights:

• created a strain on the city's budget, so this legislation grew out of recent efforts to chart a more sustainable
• departures per day, along with large-scale operations for Ren Whitney, Cardinal Health, Unified Packaging
• Cardinal Health, Unified Packaging, and Frida L.A.

Bills: H5426 , H5434 , S3084 , S3087 , S3088 , S3092

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hybrid hearing on several local bills and home rule petitions. The first major item was Senate Bill 3092, authorizing the city of Newton to issue pension obligation bonds or notes. Senator Cindy Cream and Mayor Mark Laredo’s chief of staff, Dana Hansen, testified in support, saying the measure would help Newton manage its unfunded pension liability, preserve its AAA bond rating, and create about $10 million in budget flexibility over five years. Senator John Keenan supported the bill but cautioned that pension obligation bonds depend heavily on market timing and assumptions about future funding and hiring. The committee then heard testimony on a Boylston bill, Senate Bill 3088, allowing the town to contract for a newly created police lieutenant position. Boylston officials said the town’s growth and public safety needs justify a second-in-command role with supervisory, internal affairs, and emergency command duties, and that a contract is needed because of the position’s management-level responsibilities. Representative Wells asked why a lieutenant position required a home rule petition, and the chief explained that town counsel advised the arrangement functioned more like an employment contract than a standard personnel-plan position. Next, the committee took up House Bill 5426 for North Attleboro, a charter amendment package. Town Manager Mike Borg said the bill makes limited local changes: correcting charter language, expanding the Board of Health from three to five members, and requiring write-in candidates to meet a minimum vote threshold comparable to ballot candidates. The committee then heard Senate Bill 3087 for Walpole, which would create a water and sewer advisory board and change the governance structure for the town’s water and sewer system. Town officials supported the bill as a way to improve planning and accountability, but several elected water and sewer commissioners and a town meeting member opposed it, arguing it would abolish an elected board, reduce voter representation, and concentrate power in appointed officials. After testimony concluded, the committee adjourned without taking a vote in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, fabulous rural health package that we have continued to talk about.
• Um, fabulous rural health package<00:12:00.399><c> that</c><00:12:00.640><c> we</c><00:12:01.200><c>
• we have continued to talk package that we have continued to talk about.<00:12:02.880><c> I</c><00:12
• Hospital sustainability was up there. People were not asking for facilities by any means.
• Um hospital sustainability was up there. Um hospital sustainability was up<00:48:11.599><c> there.

Bills: HB0004

Committee: House Labor, Health & Social Services

Transcript Highlights:

• The Permanent School Fund was established when we became a state in 1858 as a self-sustaining perpetual
• We had multiple conversations about doing memorial packages that we're going to be able to get together
• We had multiple conversations about doing memorial packages that we're going to be able to get together
• are coming together and they've come through different committees that are going to constitute a package
• Different committees that are going to constitute a package of bills that serve as a memorial to the

Committee: Senate Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Christian Casillas, and I am the Executive Director of the Coalition of Sustainable Communities
• On behalf of the Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico, we urge a due pass for SB 55. 55.
• My name is Glenn Schickbauer, and I am the Executive Director for New Mexico Sustainable Business and
• New Mexico Sustainable Business has consistently advocated for utility-scale community and rooftop solar
• We actually got that into the tax package that was the.

Bills: SB101 , SB58 , SB55

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll also find in the package the announcement that CDAC and HLC made in April.
• . these serve as part of their project financing packages.
• of homes that are affordable for people with low and moderate incomes and to foster diverse and sustainable
• Planning must be intentional to design vibrant, affordable, inclusive, and sustainable neighborhoods.
• climate goals, we need to decarbonize them, and we need to make sure that all new buildings are sustainable

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Housing

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing opened its second hearing of the session with remarks from Chairs Haggerty and Cyr emphasizing that the hearing was a broad look at Massachusetts’ housing crisis rather than a single bill. They highlighted topics including zoning, permitting, rental assistance, public housing, homelessness prevention, and housing production. The first witness, Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Augustus, reviewed implementation of the Affordable Homes Act and the state’s new housing plan, citing a 1.6% vacancy rate, a projected need for 222,000 new homes over 10 years, and ongoing efforts such as ADUs by right, fair housing enforcement, eviction record sealing, seasonal communities planning, and new funding for affordable housing, public housing, and the Momentum Fund. He also discussed infrastructure support for municipalities, technical assistance for ADUs, and concerns about possible federal funding cuts. Committee members questioned the secretary about ADU financing and technical assistance, the likely unit yield from the Affordable Homes Act, infrastructure barriers in suburban and rural communities, public housing waitlist management, supportive housing, and federal budget risks. MassNAHRO then testified that public housing authorities are facing rising operating and capital costs, a statewide waitlist nearing 300,000, and uncertainty over federal Section 8 and HUD funding. Witnesses described recent state support for operating subsidies, capital improvements, vacancy turnover teams, and resident service coordinators, while warning that proposed federal cuts could sharply affect voucher issuance and agency operations. CDAC’s executive director Roger Herzog described the agency’s role as a quasi-public source of early-stage financing and technical assistance for nonprofit housing developers, noting its loan capital, supportive housing bond programs, home modification loans, and preservation work under Chapter 40T. He said CDAC has helped produce or preserve more than 55,000 units and stressed the importance of patient capital and preservation tools. CHAPA CEO Rachel Heller urged the committee to focus on production, preservation, planning, and political will, supporting goals for affordability, supportive housing, and homeownership, and endorsing policy changes such as YIGBY, clearer site plan review rules, stronger fair housing funding, and more support for vouchers and public housing. MassHousing then outlined its financing role, including mortgage lending, down payment assistance, the Community Climate Bank, and the Momentum Fund, while noting that permitting delays, capital gaps, and possible federal changes could affect production. Members also asked about transparency, prevailing wage compliance, and a recent internal restructuring related to diversity and business engagement.

Transcript Highlights:

• want to make sure that we also provide supports so that they are able to keep their doors open and sustain
• were looking at, and I don't know where it falls, but in addition to the healthy foods, we want to sustain
• We also discussed with them our Trails Plus program because they're interested in maybe sustainable tourism
• Other states are starting to prepare large state financing packages. in order to try to incentivize R
• their intention for a one billion dollar state package.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Just recently, Coal Chain Technologies, a packaging company based in Franklin, announced it was moving
• And I agree that this needs to be part of a comprehensive package, but here's something that can be right
• But sustaining this work takes resources, and right now our capacity is stretched too thin.
• Environmental responsibility entails reducing pollution, utilizing resources sustainably, and minimizing
• These resources are vital for sustaining the essential resources, services, and infrastructure our state

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue, chaired by Senator James Eldridge and Representative Adrian Madaro, opened its hearing with a moment of silence for the late Lowell State Senator Ed Kennedy and reviewed hearing procedures and deadlines. The committee then took testimony on several corporate tax bills, including S. 2033/H. 3110 on offshore tax avoidance, H. 3248 on a manufacturing tax exemption, H. 3057 on a tiered corporate minimum tax, and S. 2041 on a corporate tax haven blacklist, along with a separate business interest deduction bill. No votes were taken during the hearing. Supporters of S. 2033/H. 3110, including labor unions, health care workers, educators, public health advocates, seniors, and several legislators, argued that Massachusetts needs new revenue to offset federal cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, health care, education, and other services. They said the bill would raise roughly $400 million annually by increasing the share of offshore profits included in the state tax base from 5% to 50%, and they framed it as a fairness measure that would require large multinational corporations to pay more while leaving most local businesses and workers unaffected. Testimony emphasized risks to MassHealth, PCA services, adult dental care, hospitals, schools, and public health programs if new revenue is not raised. Opponents, including the Mass Taxpayers Foundation and the Council on State Taxation, argued the proposal is poor tax policy and likely unconstitutional because it would tax foreign-source income without allowing foreign tax credits or a comparable apportionment method. They said Massachusetts should take a broader, coordinated approach to federal tax changes rather than a standalone bill, and warned of litigation risk and possible double taxation. Supporters such as MassBudget and former tax counsel Don Griswold countered that the bill is a reasonable rough-justice approach, consistent with federal and neighboring-state treatment, and that it would primarily affect a small number of very large multinationals. On S. 2041, the Global Business Alliance opposed the proposed tax haven blacklist, while supporting a separate bill allowing business interest deductibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• sort of the absolute responsibility of my agency to reduce the payment error rate so that we can sustain
• So, I would encourage you all to think about sustaining the investments where you can, really trying
• You typically have benefits, so you can kind of trim down your benefit package.
• Market, you know, they may need to sort of... it may be that we don't have enough population to sustain
• But on top of that, the reconciliation package has a lot of overlap with that.

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• On line 404 is the child care assistance program integrity package.
• <c> integrity</c> child care assistance program integrity child care assistance program integrity package
• :48.000><c> given</c><00:14:48.280><c> its</c><00:14:48.480><c> name,</c><00:14:48.800><c> it</c> package
• Obviously, given its name, it package.
• funding for HCMC, long-term sustainable funding for HCMC, and<01:44:41.480><c> that</c><01:44:41.640

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:01.960><c> while</c> due to physical injuries sustained while due to physical injuries sustained
• </c><00:05:23.160><c> nine</c> on to the future due to sustaining nine on to the future due to sustaining
• </c> That was a carefully negotiated package That was a carefully negotiated package and<00:13:22.880
• </c> wound sustained wound sustained in<00:35:31.000><c> service</c><00:35:31.440><c> to</c><00:35:31.520
• </c><00:37:20.560><c> in</c> consequences of injury sustained in consequences of injury sustained in

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a piece of this overall school sustainability.
• , so it's a way to create jobs and help to sustain these jobs.
• PRIM's stewardship and sustainability committee has put the organization PRIM's Stewardship and Sustainability
• Committee has put the organization on the forefront of sustainable investing.
• This funding sustains the everyday functions of our 13 departments and agencies.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The hearing opened the FY27 budget process with remarks from the Senate and House Ways and Means chairs and testimony from Governor Healey and Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz. The chairs emphasized fiscal caution amid choppy revenue growth, rising health care and education costs, and federal uncertainty, while the governor framed House 2 as a $62.8 billion budget that grows spending by about 1% without new taxes or fees and aims to protect core services while advancing affordability. The administration said the budget uses efficiencies, program integrity, and Fair Share surtax revenue to support education, transportation, housing, child care, health care, and public safety, and it also filed a supplemental Fair Share bill using surplus FY25 funds. Much of the questioning focused on the federal “OB3” tax law and the administration’s separate proposal to delay or phase in certain corporate tax changes, especially research and experimental deductions, to avoid in-year budget shocks. Members also pressed the administration on Fair Share allocations, with the governor and secretary explaining that operating-budget surtax spending is weighted more toward education while supplemental spending is more transportation-focused, and that combined spending is roughly balanced overall. The administration highlighted Chapter 70 aid, special education circuit breaker funding, rural school aid, local aid, child care, the MBTA deficit, regional transit authorities, and a new HHS transportation line item as part of the broader transportation strategy. Several members raised concerns about Chapter 70 equity, rural districts, municipal overrides, out-migration, housing affordability, public housing repairs, and the MBTA Communities Act. The governor and secretary said they are open to further discussion on school funding formulas, PILOT, and municipal aid, and stressed housing production, energy affordability, and workforce development as key responses to out-migration. On energy, the governor defended an all-of-the-above approach, including renewables, gas, and exploration of nuclear, while saying she would continue pushing utilities and regulators to reduce ratepayer costs. The governor also said fire safety grants would not be withheld for noncompliance with the MBTA Communities Act, and members discussed public safety, housing, and local grant impacts in that context. Other topics included the Bright Act and higher education capital investments, with the administration saying it is preparing to support campus infrastructure across the public higher education system and that the bill is intended to strengthen Massachusetts’ competitiveness and retain graduates. Members also questioned cuts to the PCA program and EAEDC, and the governor responded that the state’s PCA program remains strong but is under pressure from large federal health care reductions. No votes were taken; the session was a hearing on the governor’s budget proposal and related policy bills, with the administration taking questions and offering explanations of its recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fortunately, with everything in the SP are components that we already have, but we want to package it
• </c><00:05:20.960><c> into</c><00:05:21.199><c> a</c><00:05:21.360><c> a</c> have, but we want to package
• it into a a have, but we want to package it into a a standard<00:05:22.000><c> practice.
• I think we want to have everything packaged first, and we want to be able to have the training ready
• Eggno charter schools. sustainability of the pension system sustainability of the pension system itself

Bills: SB3179 , SB2872 , SB2391 , SB3282 , SB2836 , SB2181

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The joint committee first heard SB 3179, which would require the Department of Education and charter schools to report harassment incidents involving educational workers and adopt procedures for handling them. DOE supported the bill, while the Attorney General recommended clarifying amendments to limit the measure to harassment directed at workers because of their position, to limit DOE legal assistance to temporary restraining order actions, and to clarify whether the harassment must come from outside the school system. Members also discussed whether the bill should cover non-DOE individuals on campus, whether investigations could be handled in-house, and whether training should be embedded in existing workday or school-year training rather than added as a separate requirement. The committee later voted to pass the bill with amendments as SD1. The committee then took up SB 2872, which would require retired teachers or administrators rehired into shortage or hard-to-fill positions to be paid the entry-level salary for that position. DOE supported the bill, and the Attorney General requested clarifying language about its effective date and that it would not affect already matured rights and duties. The Employees’ Retirement System administration emphasized that the bill should retain a 12-month break in service to preserve the pension system’s tax-exempt status and noted the importance of consistent classification of eligible positions. Members expressed support for using retired educators to help fill staffing gaps, but no final action was taken in the portion provided. The committee also heard SB 2391, which would provide annual step increases for public school teachers under bargaining unit 5, subject to funding. The Attorney General said the bill could conflict with collective bargaining procedures and Chapter 89, while DOE said unit 5 includes more than teachers and asked that the benefit be considered for other bargaining units as well, with funding provided if enacted. HSTA strongly supported the measure, arguing that annual step movement is already recognized in the collective bargaining agreement as a recruiting and retention tool. Testimony totals were noted as 16 in support, two in opposition, and three comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 3282, which would establish a statewide framework for the federal workforce Pell Grant program to fund short-term workforce education and training. The Attorney General suggested clarifying that the matter is one of statewide concern because UH is involved. UH and the Chamber of Commerce supported the bill, and DLIR testified that it is coordinating with DOE, the Workforce Development Council, and national groups on implementation. Members questioned whether the Workforce Development Council or DLIR should handle rulemaking and administration, and DLIR said the council is advisory while the department has grant administration expertise. The committee then moved into decision-making after discussion of possible amendments and implementation concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• The 2023 state government omnibus bill provided MMB sustainable funding in 2024 and 2025 to stabilize
• </c><00:16:19.720><c> funding</c> Bill provided MMB uh sustainable funding Bill provided MMB uh sustainable
• Our next request is for an oversight package.
• Portions of this package were included in the governor's fraud prevention proposal that was released
• um portions of this oversight package um portions of this package<00:27:10.880><c> were</c><00:27:11.240

Bills: HF10

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So those do need to be factored into the complete compensation package.
• Chair, this package, this bill, Senate Bill 177, really is, you know, we used to term circular, but I
• By anchoring a large industry that could be, again, one day worth trillions, we help sustain that economic
• Are there any other technologies in this package that have ramifications on large amounts of energy or
• Chair, yes, I think one of the other main focuses of this package is advanced energy, but with a specific

Committee: Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Summary: The committee first discussed the state budget and employee compensation, focusing on the 1% pay increase proposal and the broader cost of state employee raises and benefits. Members noted that over the past several years the state has invested heavily in payroll, pension contributions, pay studies, and band realignments, and several senators argued that the 80/20 health insurance change and other benefit improvements amount to significant compensation increases even without an additional raise. Others cautioned that recurring revenue is limited, that recent revenue collections were weaker than expected, and that the state should be careful about committing to ongoing costs given possible economic slowdown, federal uncertainty, drought, wildfire risk, and the possibility of future budget pressure. The committee then heard extensive testimony on SB 177, a major economic development proposal centered on quantum computing, advanced energy, robotics, synthetic biology, and related technologies. Supporters described the bill as a large strategic investment intended to leverage New Mexico’s national laboratories, universities, and existing quantum workforce to attract companies, create high-wage jobs, and diversify the economy. Testimony emphasized that much of the quantum workforce would be skilled trades and technicians rather than Ph.D.-level researchers, and members asked detailed questions about whether the state would receive long-term returns, how intellectual property and clawbacks would be handled, and whether the package included recurring costs. Witnesses also explained the bill’s trade association and workforce-development components, and several senators raised concerns about energy use, water use, guardrails, and ensuring the state does not subsidize outside interests without benefits returning to New Mexico. After debate, the committee moved to table SB 177 indefinitely, with members noting that the funding and structure were already incorporated into House Bill 2. The motion passed on an 8-0 vote, with several members excused. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We think that's more sustainable instead of saying all employees.
• We think that's more sustainable instead of saying all employees.
• We think that's more sustainable instead of saying all employees. >> Yeah.
• I mean, couldn't we put that in this, make this a really holistic package rather than here's some more
• So, thank you for governor's package.

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism heard seven bills on consumer protection, DBEDT-related matters, and tourism/creative industry issues. On SB 2031, DCCA supported aligning state law with the FTC’s 2025 rule on hidden fees and pricing misrepresentations in live event ticketing and short-term lodging; hotel and financial industry witnesses also testified, and senators asked for complaint and enforcement data. On SB 2129, DBEDT and business groups supported a study of minimum wage impacts, with testimony emphasizing effects on hours, employment, prices, and business viability; a senator asked whether the study could also examine the gig economy and business closures, and DBEDT said that may be possible but would require more research and data access. On SB 2259, which would promote dementia-friendly businesses, DBEDT said the measure fit better with another agency and lacked the department’s expertise, while the Executive Office on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association supported the intent and offered to help with curriculum, branding, and training. Testifiers described dementia as a spectrum and said businesses should be trained to communicate effectively with customers and employees living with the disease; suggested amendments included changing the branding language and requiring at least 85% of employees to complete training rather than all employees. A senator also raised concerns about stigma and whether early-stage dementia should affect a person’s ability to function, and the witness responded that people can often function well in early stages. The committee also heard SB 2577 on sports tourism, which DBEDT and the Retail Merchants of Hawaii supported as a way to better understand which events draw visitors and economic benefits. SB 2578, creating a film commission, drew broad support from DBEDT, Creative Industries, SAG-AFTRA, the Hawaii Film Alliance, the Hawaii Film Office, and others, but several witnesses urged changes to the commission’s composition and authority, including more labor representation and limits on the commission’s ability to adjust the production cap. Senators questioned staffing, costs, and whether current film office employees should transfer to the new commission, and one senator proposed a friendly amendment to add musicians, SAG, IATSE, and Teamsters, though the department cautioned that too many members could make the commission difficult to manage. The transcript ends during discussion of the film bill, with no final votes or committee actions stated for the measures heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a governor's package anyway as well. Um yes, ma'am. >> Yes.
• </c> package anyway as well. Um yes, ma'am. package anyway as well. Um yes, ma'am.
• So algae-based sustainable aviation fuel...
• </c> So, algae-based sustainable aviation fuel— >> This isn't algae-based, though.
• So algae based sustainable to be sold.

Summary: The Committee on Transportation heard several bills, beginning with SB 2010, which would authorize impoundment of motor vehicles for certain alleged or committed traffic violations. The Department of Transportation supported the bill, while the Department of the Attorney General asked for clarification in section 4 on who could seek remedies and what remedies would be available. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, citing unclear officer-initiated impound criteria, potential strain on judicial or administrative resources, and concerns about hardship for families and indigent owners; the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office supported the bill with amendments, saying it should be limited to traffic offenses and could serve as an alternative to fines or imprisonment. The chair then recessed before moving to the next items. The committee next heard SB 2527 on commercial driver licensing, which would require state and county firefighters exempt from CDL requirements to be subject to an alcohol and substance abuse policy equivalent to or stronger than federal DOT standards. DOT, the Department of Human Resources Development, county officials, and the Hawaiʻi Firefighters Association all indicated support. SB 2697, which would prohibit driving on roadway shoulders except in limited circumstances, also drew DOT support, with the Attorney General, judiciary, and others submitting comments. SB 2812, requiring driver license applicants to be tested on the dangers larger vehicles pose to pedestrians and bicyclists, was supported by DOT but opposed by the Public Defender, who argued the excessive-speeding portion was too broad for first offenses and that the DUI-related language was unnecessary because DUI relicensing already requires re-examination. SB 291, clarifying that drivers whose licenses were revoked for certain alcohol-related offenses must undergo re-examination before relicensing, received DOT support. The committee then took up SB 3044, which would remove references to pedestrian countdown timers and the requirement that pedestrians begin crossing before the timer starts. DOT opposed the bill, but Hawaiʻi Appleseed supported it, arguing the current rule is confusing and can lead to citations even when pedestrians can safely cross. The Department of Health submitted late comments emphasizing the importance of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and physical activity, and the chair noted the split in testimony. Finally, SB 2995 proposed a zero-emissions rideshare rebate program funded by a rideshare fee and administered by DOT. Earthjustice strongly supported the bill, describing it as a fee-and-rebate structure to help rideshare drivers transition to zero-emissions vehicles. A witness for Tom Yamachika suggested that if the state wants to tax ridesharing, it should amend existing tax law instead of creating a new chapter, but the bill’s supporters said DOT was better suited to administer the rebate program and that similar models exist in California and Washington. The committee also heard SB 3153, which would authorize DOT to designate airport special district zones at airports statewide to improve security and enforcement; DOT’s airports deputy director supported the measure, saying it would clarify jurisdiction and help address trespassing and hazards, and senators asked about boundaries, mapping, and coordination with the Attorney General. No votes were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.