Transcript Highlights:

• For instance, I visited with the commission there on Friday after their meeting.
• For instance, I visited with the commission there on Friday after their meeting.
• Um, just so you have some very clear numbers because I did visit with the good folks that oversee our

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:24:02.799><c> site</c> committee a few months ago on a site committee a few months ago on a site visit
• </c><00:24:05.039><c> the</c><00:24:05.360><c> um</c><00:24:05.520><c> family</c> visit to your Yep.
• the um family visit to your Yep. the um family learning<00:24:06.080><c> center</c><00:24:06.320><c>

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committees heard testimony on HB 1872, which would create an early learning apprenticeship grant program to help early childhood providers participate in approved apprenticeship programs, require annual reporting, and appropriate funds. Testifiers in support included the University of Hawaiʻi, the Executive Office on Early Learning, the City and County of Honolulu, Commit to Keiki, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi, the Commission on the Status of Women, Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network Speaks, Parents for Public Schools of Hawaiʻi, and Kīʻoka Family Learning Centers. Supporters said the bill would reduce financial barriers, strengthen recruitment and retention, improve compensation and career pathways, and help address child care shortages and workforce instability. The committee then voted to pass HB 1872 with amendments, including an HD1 and a defective date to allow further discussion. The committee next took up HB 2489, which would appropriate funds for the University of Hawaiʻi to establish a bachelor’s degree program in American Sign Language interpretation, with a longer-term plan for a master’s program. Testimony in support came from the Disability Communication Access Board and the University of Hawaiʻi, and members also heard detailed support from DECAP and other advocates describing a statewide shortage of ASL interpreters, long waiting lists for ASL courses, and the need for locally trained interpreters who understand Hawaiʻi’s cultural and community needs. Witnesses said the shortage affects schools, courts, hospitals, emergency services, and other settings, and that the program could be expanded through articulation with other campuses. The committee voted to pass HB 2489 with amendments, again using an HD1 and defective date. After those two measures, the committee moved to HB 441 on campus safety, which would require students, including transfer students, to complete training on federal laws and university policies regarding sexual misconduct before initial registration and would change how often training is provided to students and employees. The University of Hawaiʻi stood on its written testimony, while supporters including IMUA Alliance and other testifiers urged passage, citing survivor experiences, national best practices, and the need for prevention before harm occurs. No vote on HB 441 was reached in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We know the science of reading is working, and it's because I got to go visit Monroe Elementary School
• We know the science of reading is working, and it's because I got to go visit Monroe Elementary School
• During that time, she made home visits, found jackets and clothing for her students in need.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• May</c><00:17:53.600><c> 20th</c><00:17:54.559><c> to</c><00:17:54.799><c> go</c><00:17:55.039><c> visit
• </c> field trip around May 20th to go visit field trip around May 20th to go visit UNH UNH UNH uh<00:

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up a Senate message on HB 179, relative to hazardous waste accident fees. Members reviewed the Senate amendment, which would cap the daily non-payment penalty at no more than $1,000 per day and limit the cumulative penalty to 25% of the cost, with no additional daily penalty if the responsible party is following an agreed payment plan. Members discussed the change from the committee’s earlier version, which had allowed penalties up to 100% of the damages, and agreed the revised language was reasonable. The committee voted to concur with the Senate amendment and indicated the bill could be placed on consent. The committee then recessed SB 302, requiring background checks for solid waste facility owners, because a late request for an additional change had not yet been fully reviewed. It next voted on SB 229, relative to the sale of uninspected bison, red deer, and elk meat. Supporters said the bill would expand retail access to these meats, support New Hampshire farms, and improve food security. Members also noted the Department of Agriculture did not object, that the bill would remove a sunset and keep more workable inspection rules in place, and that the animals involved are largely from closed herds. The committee voted unanimously to pass SB 229 and agreed to place it on consent. Finally, the committee considered SB 50, establishing a committee to study the regulation of private animal boarding facilities. Members described disturbing testimony about missing, injured, or dead dogs and the lack of clear oversight, licensing, or even a reliable list of kennels in the state. They discussed possible study topics including licensing, inspection authority, standards, penalties, and protections for both pet owners and boarding operators, including disclosure of medical conditions. The committee voted unanimously to pass SB 50 and also agreed to place it on consent. After the executive sessions, the committee heard a presentation from the New Hampshire Food Alliance on the state’s first food and agriculture strategic plan, introduced by director Nicole Cardwell, with participation from advisory committee members including Rep. Bixby and Commissioner Sean Jasper.

Transcript Highlights:

• doing just straightforward marketing of getting heads and beds, getting sales done, getting people to visit
• brand marketing, you know, really pointing out that California, Los Angeles, they're great places to visit
• brand marketing, you know, really pointing out that California, Los Angeles, they're great places to visit

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Tourism met on April 1 to consider GM 510, the confirmation of Todd Aio to the board of directors of the Hawaiʻi Convention Center Authority. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from HTA representatives and numerous individuals. Supporters described Aio as a strong leader with experience in tourism, development, nonprofit work, and public service, including his time on the city council and work with Disney’s Aulani, Ward Village, and the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation. In his remarks, Aio said he would bring legal, development, and corporate governance experience to the board. He emphasized the need for the authority to better define its role, oversee contractors, and help guide the relationship between destination management and branding/marketing contractors. He also said community engagement and cultural considerations should be central to tourism planning, and that the board should work to stabilize the agency during its transition. Members questioned him about board conflicts, the lack of a permanent HTA CEO, and how to measure the success of cultural and branding campaigns such as mālama and kuleana messaging. Aio said conflicts are inevitable when board members come from industry backgrounds, but they must separate their “work hats” from their board duties. He supported replacing the interim leadership with a permanent CEO once compensation legislation is finalized, and said success should be measured through better data, including possible exit surveys and other technology-based tools. He also said he would oppose replacing Hawaiian protocol with another cultural protocol, while supporting inclusion of other cultures alongside a Hawaiian sense of place.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:54.959><c> opportunity</c><00:14:55.560><c> to</c><00:14:56.440><c> uh</c><00:14:56.600><c> visit
• </c><00:14:56.880><c> the</c> I had the opportunity to uh visit the I had the opportunity to uh visit

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the Market at Malcolm Yards near the University of Minnesota, and also I hope you've had a chance to visit
• Thank you, and I am happy to respond to any questions. had a chance to visit and see how our had a chance
• to visit and see how our food<00:18:37.360><c> Hall</c><00:18:37.840><c> operates</c><00:18:38.840><

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• online, and Bob Kerney, a historian, I think we've heard from you before in the past, and I think we visited
• with you when we visited the school.
• Those members visited and toured our beautiful 400,000-square-foot historic Hibbing High School.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• provide parents with notice of standard questions the provider will ask the minor as part of the health visit
• provide parents with notice of standard questions the provider will ask the minor as part of the health visit
• </c> ask ask the minor as a part of the ask ask the minor as a part of the health<00:16:31.079><c> visit

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And, you know, we visit organizations that are helping homeless youth, and boy do they really make a
• And, you know, we visit organizations that are helping homeless youth, and boy do they really make a
• would likely cost the taxpayer about $82,000 per year, based on high Medicaid use and 9 to 12 ER visits

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Human Services and Homelessness met on February 6, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures. HB 44, which would appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services to work with community-based organizations on social services needs, drew broad support from nonprofit providers and coalitions that said contracts and reimbursement rates have not kept pace with the actual cost of services, leaving agencies unable to retain staff or meet demand. DHS said it supported the bill’s intent but asked for clarification because the language was broad and did not specify which organizations or how funds should be allocated. Committee members and the bill’s introducer discussed how to make the measure more specific and equitable, including whether to set a percentage increase, use a baseline date, and direct DHS to distribute funds among different program areas; the True Cost Coalition and DHS agreed to follow up in writing with proposed language and a funding number. The committee then heard HB 1349, which would authorize Medicaid/CHIP coverage for income-qualified pregnant persons and children regardless of immigration status. Supporters, including the Legal Clinic, Aloha Care, and the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, said the bill would improve prenatal and child health, reduce the chilling effect of immigration enforcement on care-seeking, and help prevent premature or underweight births by ensuring earlier access to providers. DHS provided comments and the committee asked where the measure would fit in the budget; the department identified the relevant budget code. Written testimony in support came from multiple advocacy and health organizations and dozens of individuals. Finally, the committee heard HB 613, which would appropriate funds to DHS for emergency shelter and services for unaccompanied homeless youth. The Office of the Public Defender, the Statewide Office of Homelessness and Housing Solutions, the Office of Youth Services, Rise, the Hawaiʻi State LGBTQ+ Commission, and others supported the bill, emphasizing youth homelessness, the need for coordinated shelter and outreach, and the high share of LGBTQ+ youth among homeless minors. OYS asked that the committee consider funding its existing Safe Spaces pilot rather than creating a new program, while DHS said it supported the intent but wanted clarification because multiple department programs could be implicated. No votes were taken during the hearing; the chair instead requested follow-up language and funding information for HB 44 and continued the measures for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• We wouldn't get to the point where that consultant would say to me, "Rick, you should go visit and look
• We wouldn't get to the point where that consultant would say to me, "Rick, you should go visit and look
• We wouldn't get to the point where that consultant would say to me, "Rick, you should go visit and look
• could</c><05:35:51.920><c> easily</c><05:35:52.320><c> see</c><05:35:52.480><c> our</c> hospital visits
• , we could easily see our hospital visits, we could easily see our gas<05:35:53.040><c> prices</c><05

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I want to acknowledge that date because we also have folks here that are visiting to acknowledge
• 10.000><c> are</c> because we also have folks here that are because we also have folks here that are visiting
• c> to</c><00:53:11.040><c> acknowledge</c><00:53:11.440><c> the</c><00:53:11.680><c> passage</c> visiting
• to to acknowledge the passage visiting to to acknowledge the passage of<00:53:12.240><c> this</c><00
• deaf-blind community are absolutely critical for every part of their lives, whether it’s a medical visit

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Retailers have endured this for years with Department of Revenue's unannounced visits and would welcome
• that even your home router, you can get it so it can give you a report that what web pages they're visiting
• report that who's what web pages you a report that who's what web pages they're<04:39:20.881><c> visiting
• </c> they're visiting. they're visiting.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But my husband and I are always questioning if we can truly afford the $250 urgent care visit.
• And I'll just never forget, um, in fact it was with you at a school we visited.
• you at<02:06:47.840><c> a</c><02:06:47.920><c> school</c><02:06:48.280><c> we</c><02:06:48.400><c> visited
• /c><02:06:49.480><c> Um</c><02:06:49.680><c> anyways,</c><02:06:50.040><c> any</c> at a school we visited
• Um anyways, any at a school we visited. Um anyways, any closing<02:06:50.920><c> comments?

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• privilege to introduce you to juniors from Milford High School who've been here before, actually visiting
• I was visited by a student from Dartmouth College this week.
• </c><00:42:01.359><c> I</c><00:42:01.680><c> was</c><00:42:01.839><c> visited</c><00:42:02.400><c> by
• I was visited by a student ID itself.
• I was visited by a student from<00:42:03.280><c> Dartmouth</c><00:42:03.760><c> College</c><00:42:04.160

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, when I visited Faith in the hospital after she had her bike accident, I will never forget walking
• know</c><04:00:16.239><c> later</c><04:00:16.479><c> on</c> Um, when she had her heart incident, I visited
• had her heart incident, when she had her heart incident, um<04:00:46.720><c> I</c><04:00:47.040><c> visited
• 47.760><c> her</c><04:00:48.000><c> in</c><04:00:48.160><c> the</c><04:00:48.399><c> hospital</c> um I visited
• with her in the hospital um I visited with her in the hospital and<04:00:51.840><c> um</c><04:00:52.319

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, when I was a kid, I went and visited the Vietnam memorial wall, and I remember I was pretty small
• I</c><01:07:24.799><c> I</c><01:07:25.039><c> went</c><01:07:25.200><c> and</c><01:07:25.359><c> visited
• ><01:07:26.000><c> um</c><01:07:26.160><c> the</c><01:07:26.559><c> Vietnam</c> kid, I I went and visited
• um the Vietnam kid, I I went and visited um the Vietnam uh<01:07:27.920><c> memorial</c><01:07:28.480
• 06.319><c> the</c><02:45:06.479><c> Germans</c> I am deeply honored to represent those who once a year visit

Keywords: 981, all

Bills: SB2256 , SB2053 , SB2090 , SB2169 , SB2245 , SB2519 , SB2765 , SB3055 , SB3102 , SB3118 , SB3144 , SB3248 , HCR43 , HCR69 , HCR188 , HB2300 , HB1605 , HB2094 , HB1166 , HB1970 , HB1969 , HB2050 , HB2165 , HB2271 , HB2338 , HB2339 , HB1972 , HB2208 , HB2310 , HB1801 , HB2498 , HB2443 , HB1976 , HB2246 , HB2319 , HB1541 , HB2606 , HB2343 , HB1853 , HB1840 , HB1785 , HB1952 , HB2551 , HB2171 , HB1661 , HB1802 , HB1663 , HB1838 , HB1960 , HB1815 , HB2599 , HB1769 , HB2315 , HB1860 , HB1891 , HB2104 , HB2158 , HB389 , HB1510 , HB2089 , HB2090 , HB2099 , HB1516 , HB1548 , HB1481 , HB2452 , HB2329 , HB2275 , HB1658 , HB2272 , HB2273 , HB2276 , HB2335 , HB1656 , HB2207 , HB2289 , HB1854 , HB2581 , HB20 , HB2296 , HB1707 , HB2297 , HB1890 , HB2241 , HB2474 , HB1740 , HB2472 , HB1688 , HB2345 , HB2546 , HB1574 , HB1546 , HB2218 , HB1163 , HB1523 , HB2021 , HB1524 , HB2020

Keywords: Brother Joseph Dutton, Kalaupapa, historic recognition, observance, Hawaii history, salvage vehicles, vehicle title transfer, electronic signatures, insurance, administrative efficiency, child custody, mental health, evaluations, licensed counselors, family court, SB2245, Hawaii ethics, revolving door, state employee ethics, cooling-off period

Transcript Highlights:

• And I go visit senior centers and help with, you know, elderly folks.
• you, but also for the wonderful uh visit you, but also for the wonderful support<01:32:10.800><c> uh
• If you have not had a chance to go down and visit that center, it's a beautiful center just three or
• to</c><01:44:41.920><c> go</c><01:44:42.080><c> down</c><01:44:42.239><c> and</c><01:44:42.400><c> visit
• </c><01:44:42.719><c> that</c> had a chance to go down and visit that had a chance to go down and visit

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> And I thank you for coming back to visit and for that cogent testimony. >> Anytime, Mr.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all