Transcript Highlights:

• offenses; HB 486, referral agencies; HB 488, escrow agents; HB 487, barber left memorial; HB 488, commercial
• bill available offenses 485 referral agencies 48 86 escrow agents 487 barber left memorial 48 88 commercial
• established to advance the state's leadership in space science exploration, national security, and commercial

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My whole family's been in construction, commercial, residential.
• My whole family's been in construction, commercial, residential. We've had some.
• My whole family's been in construction, commercial, residential.

Summary: The committee first addressed a procedural dispute over House Bill 280, with one member arguing it had already been heard and tabled in another committee earlier that day. The chair ruled the bill was properly before the House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee because it had been assigned there and published in the notice. HB 280 would create a three-year pilot program to support paid internships for students through grants to school districts, nonprofits, and tribal entities, with the Department of Workforce Solutions administering the program, collecting data, and reporting outcomes. Supporters said it would help build a sustainable funding source for school-year internships, expand access in rural and tribal communities, and connect internships to graduation credit and workforce pathways. Committee members asked about administrative costs, student selection, matching funds, program duration, and whether government entities and land grants could participate. The bill was described as flexible enough to allow different local program designs, including stipends or payroll arrangements. The committee voted do pass on HB 280. The committee then heard House Memorial 46, which honors the Hurley family, especially Major General Patrick Hurley and his son Wilson Hurley, for military service and public contributions to New Mexico. The memorial highlighted Patrick Hurley’s service in World War I and World War II, his diplomatic roles, and his decorations, as well as Wilson Hurley’s military service and later career as an artist. There was no opposition, and the memorial received a do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 270, a public works apprenticeship bill that would require contributions to apprenticeship and training programs or the Public Works Apprentice and Training Fund on most public works construction projects, while exempting trades with no approved program. Supporters argued the bill would close loopholes, strengthen workforce development, and ensure contractors benefiting from public projects contribute to training. Opponents from asphalt, utility, and contractor groups said they already support existing training programs, warned the bill could raise costs and create participation problems for contractors without access to suitable programs, and noted the Transportation Committee had already considered the bill earlier that day. Sponsors responded that the earlier Transportation action was a procedural glitch and that the bill was a cleanup measure to make the existing law more effective and fair. After extended debate over costs, workforce shortages, and the effect on highway contractors, the committee voted do pass on HB 270 by a 5-3 tally.

Transcript Highlights:

• parcel would be appropriate for park, and maybe another parcel would be appropriate for housing or commercial
• But much of that land is available and is used for commercial activity.
• economies through recreation and hunting and fishing, and also have public lands that are used for commercial

Summary: The House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee met on February 5 and heard three measures. House Bill 246 would provide state matching funds for local governments already approved for federal flood mitigation assistance to buy out and rehabilitate floodplain properties, especially in Lincoln County, to reduce repetitive flood damage and restore land to a more natural floodplain. Supporters included county officials, emergency management, and a racetrack lobbyist, all emphasizing public safety, reduced disaster costs, and community recovery. Some members raised concerns about pre-flood property valuation and anti-donation issues, but the bill passed on a do-pass motion. House Bill 271 would appropriate funds through the Office of Natural Resources Trustee for natural resource recovery and public land access, including disaster recovery projects and expansion of recreational opportunities. Supporters argued it would help restore watersheds, improve access to public lands, and support hunting, fishing, and local outdoor economies. Several members questioned whether the bill was too open-ended, whether it could affect grazing or other existing rights, and why the trustee’s office was the right vehicle; the sponsor and trustee said the office has a transparent public process and that the bill would not create new eminent domain authority or adverse changes to existing rights. The committee approved the bill 9-1, with one member explaining support but noting lingering concerns. House Bill 254 would allow investor-owned electric utilities to count avoided greenhouse gas emissions when evaluating the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency programs under the utility cost test. The sponsor and utility witnesses said this would help expand programs such as heat pumps, HVAC upgrades, and all-electric development, while opponents worried it could function as a rate increase or “double dipping” because customers already pay fees supporting efficiency programs. The committee passed the bill 7-3. Finally, House Joint Memorial 3 would ask the Environment Department to study PFAS exemptions and report back during the interim as rulemaking on the PFAS Protection Act proceeds. The memorial drew both support and opposition, with critics saying it conflicted with existing statute and was unnecessary, while supporters said it would ensure a thorough review of federal changes and consumer-product exemptions. The memorial passed 8-2, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're a commercial business. We're a little different. We're a commercial business.
• to incur 9, 10, 25% Customer without having to incur 9, 10, 25% interest rates you might see on commercial

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee held a work session on buy now, pay later (BNPL) transactions, focusing on how the products work, how they are used in Washington, and whether existing state law adequately protects consumers. Department of Financial Institutions staff described BNPL as short-term, usually no-interest installment financing offered at checkout, often with automatic payments, late fees, and varying credit-reporting practices. Members asked how BNPL compares with payday lending and earned wage access, whether it is effectively a loan or credit product, and whether Washington law already covers it. DFI explained that some BNPL structures may fall into a legal gray area under the Retail Installment Sales of Goods and Services Act because pay-in-four products may not meet the statute’s “more than four installments” language, while other structures may be covered; they also noted the Attorney General can enforce the act. DFI and committee members discussed consumer risks such as overextension, automatic debits, and lack of standardized disclosures, and DFI said it would follow up with additional data on defaults and related issues. Molly Gallagher of the Poverty Action Network and Nadine Chabrier of the Center for Responsible Lending argued that BNPL can help consumers but also poses significant risks, especially for lower-income consumers and consumers of color who already carry debt or use other alternative financial products. They said BNPL use has grown rapidly, often involves multiple simultaneous loans across providers, and can lead to overdrafts, late fees, and difficulty tracking obligations because payments are spread across different schedules. They emphasized concerns about weak disclosures, limited dispute protections, automatic payment structures, credit reporting inconsistencies, consumer overextension, and data privacy/dark-pattern marketing. They also described federal retrenchment, including the CFPB’s withdrawal of an interpretive rule that would have treated BNPL like a digital credit card, and pointed to state responses in places like New York, California, and Maryland. Committee members signaled interest in possible Washington legislation and stronger state oversight. Retail and business witnesses offered a more favorable view of BNPL as a cash-flow and sales tool. A Washington Retail Association representative described BNPL as an evolution of layaway and credit-card-style installment purchasing, noting that merchants receive payment up front minus fees while consumers get goods or services immediately and repay over time. A representative from a business using deferred-payment financing said the tool helps customers obtain equipment and helps the business manage inventory and cash flow, while NFIB said small businesses also use BNPL to bridge expenses and avoid higher-interest credit card debt. Members asked about merchant fees, consumer education, and whether BNPL is being used for impulse purchases or essential expenses like rent, car repairs, medical care, and travel. The chair concluded by saying the committee intends to pursue regulatory language and continue working with stakeholders, while also hearing from retailers to avoid eliminating legitimate financing tools.

Transcript Highlights:

• submit reports to the legislature summarizing safety-related information for general aviation and commercial
• requesting DOT to submit reports regarding safety-related information for general aviation and commercial
• 50 request DOT to submit reports regarding safety-related information for general aviation and commercial

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Transportation and Culture heard a series of resolutions covering cultural preservation, civic education, dark-sky protection, Taiwan relations, aviation safety reporting, waterborne cargo subsidies, and Maui transportation planning. Testimony on the Hawaii Theatre resolutions (SCR 131/SR 110) came from the Hawaii Theatre Center in support, with a question about whether acquisition funding was in the current budget; the witness said he was not aware of any such funding. The state archivist strongly supported SCR 169/SR 138 on expanding public outreach and civic engagement, and a student testifier supported the measure while urging stronger language to include Indigenous culture and closer work with Native communities. On STR 12/SR 8 recognizing International Dark Sky Week, testimony emphasized light pollution’s effects on birds, marine life, human health, and astronomy, and suggested stronger lighting ordinances and possible dark-sky reserve efforts. STR 31/SR 17 on Taiwan received support from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, while STR 180/SR 150 on aviation safety reporting drew support from Blue Hawaiian Helicopters but opposition from the Department of Transportation, which said much of the requested information falls under FAA jurisdiction and would be voluntary at the state level. STR 150 on waterborne cargo subsidies was supported by DOT, Young Brothers, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association, with DOT asking that the working group be smaller to speed a report to the 2026 session. STR 37/SR 21 and STR 38/SR 22 on Kihei road planning drew support from the Kihei Community Association, which described severe congestion and safety concerns in South Maui. In decision-making, the committee advanced SCR 131/SR 110 on the Hawaii Theatre as introduced. SCR 169/SR 138 was advanced with amendments to address comments about Indigenous culture. STR 12/SR 8 on International Dark Sky Week was deferred for further discussion until the following Tuesday. STR 31/SR 17 on Taiwan was advanced with technical, non-substantive amendments. STR 180/SR 150 and STR 150 were both deferred to the same later decision-making date to allow further work on possible amendments and jurisdictional issues. STR 37/SR 21 was passed as introduced, and STR 38/SR 22 was passed with technical, non-substantive amendments. In each vote taken, the measures were adopted without recorded opposition from the members present.

Transcript Highlights:

• The key distinction, AFC supports a relatively uniform population where FRS supports individuals who
• The key distinction, AFC supports a The key distinction, AFC supports a relatively<00:05:10.840><c> uniform
• c><00:05:11.360><c> population</c><00:05:12.640><c> where</c><00:05:12.840><c> FRS</c> relatively uniform
• population where FRS relatively uniform population where FRS supports<00:05:13.640><c> individuals</

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Consumers respond best to take-back programs when standards are uniform to allow for clear and consistent
• 00:34:09.760><c> when</c><00:34:09.879><c> standards</c><00:34:10.320><c> are</c><00:34:10.440><c> uniform
• </c><00:34:11.000><c> to</c> programs when standards are uniform to programs when standards are uniform

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• employ and get out a concise, precise message as well as information to all the participants in a uniform
• 00:41:52.480><c> participants</c><00:41:53.080><c> in</c><00:41:53.160><c> a</c><00:41:53.200><c> uniform
• </c><00:41:54.200><c> It</c> the participants in a uniform way.
• It the participants in a uniform way.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• piece is found in subdivisions one and two on application to fully automated vehicles, as well as uniform
• 43:36.880><c> as</c> to fully automated vehicles as well as to fully automated vehicles as well as uniform
• </c><01:43:38.639><c> This</c><01:43:38.880><c> largely</c> uniform application.
• This largely uniform application.

Bills: HF3676 , HF3593 , HF3785 , HF3774 , HF4111 , HF3513

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: Safe at Home, address confidentiality, domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, victim privacy, survivor protection, confidential address, protected address, secret address, identity protection, residential confidentiality, program participant, nondiscrimination, court disclosure, protective order, service of process, driver's license, state ID

Transcript Highlights:

• taking the authority to finally coordinate statewide NMT services across the entire state with one uniform
• c><00:30:22.120><c> state</c><00:30:22.560><c> with</c><00:30:22.840><c> one</c><00:30:23.080><c> uniform
• </c><00:30:23.560><c> set</c><00:30:23.720><c> of</c> the entire state with one uniform set of the entire
• state with one uniform set of rules. rules. rules.

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• After he graduated last year, he came back before going home in his full uniform, and he said, 'I wanted
• his</c> came back before going home when his came back before going home when his full full full uniform
• 25:28.480><c> I</c><00:25:28.559><c> wanted</c><00:25:28.720><c> to</c><00:25:28.880><c> come</c> uniform
• and he he said I wanted to come uniform and he he said I wanted to come here<00:25:29.240><c> first<

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the election of municipal officers after incorporation or consolidation to be held on one of the uniform
• on</c><00:14:24.480><c> one</c><00:14:24.600><c> of</c><00:14:24.680><c> the</c><00:14:24.800><c> uniform
• </c><00:14:25.240><c> election</c> held on one of the uniform election held on one of the uniform election

Committee: Senate Elections

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• financial aid program, as I mentioned, so we look at not only the tuition and fees, but we also provide a uniform
• c><01:08:15.359><c> also</c><01:08:15.640><c> provide</c><01:08:15.920><c> a</c><01:08:16.120><c> uniform
• </c><01:08:16.560><c> living</c><01:08:16.799><c> and</c> but we also provide a uniform living and but
• we also provide a uniform living and miscellaneous<01:08:17.600><c> expense</c><01:08:17.920><c> allowance

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• job, you know, Secretary of State really is the oversight that needs to be making sure that this is uniform
• </c><01:10:05.840><c> that</c><01:10:06.040><c> this</c><01:10:06.159><c> is</c><01:10:06.400><c> uniform
• </c> to be making sure that this is uniform to be making sure that this is uniform and<01:10:07.840><

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• insurance or has other uh commercial insurance or has other insurance<05:31:28.718><c> that</c><05:31
• , but we need to move it, and that involves moving power lines, moving the tank, bringing it up to code
• bringing<05:58:16.680><c> it</c><05:58:16.798><c> up</c><05:58:16.958><c> to</c><05:58:17.160><c> code
• /c><05:58:17.840><c> um</c><05:58:18.000><c> doing</c><05:58:18.280><c> some</c> bringing it up to code
• um doing some bringing it up to code um doing some grading<05:58:18.958><c> work</c><05:58:19.600><c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Administrative Services presented its capital budget process and priorities, explaining how agencies assess facility needs, rank projects, and submit requests to the governor’s office. DAS described its Plant and Property division, which maintains 96 state buildings, and Public Works, which develops detailed cost estimates for selected projects. Officials said the governor’s office has traditionally narrowed requests into priority tiers, but this year all projects were estimated, creating more work and less detail. They also emphasized that the capital budget book functions as legislative intent and can be binding on how approved funds are used. On the substance of the request, DAS highlighted several priorities: continued funding for the state ERP system upgrade to the cloud, with about $5 million requested for sustainability and related Treasury functions; emergency fund and annex renovation work; a sprinkler replacement at DMV; and elevator repairs at the main building. Karen Rocky also identified maintenance projects that rose in priority after a facility condition assessment, including HVAC work for Portsmouth Circuit Court and Coos County Courthouse, boilers and controls for Carroll County and Lebanon Circuit Court, brick repointing at the main building and annex, window replacement at Spalding, and Brown building elevator replacement. Officials noted that the governor’s proposed capital budget included fewer DAS projects than in past years and no projects for the Bureau of Court Facilities. The committee also discussed lapses and reprogramming of prior appropriations. DAS said the first eight projects approved in 2023 remain under construction and should be extended, while many 2021 projects are delayed because of ARPA-related workload and broader construction backlogs. Members reviewed a 2019 project list and agreed to lapse project number 49, the Spalding roof project, with about $81,000 remaining. DAS also said some small 2019 balances, including courthouse generators, a boiler, cooling and controls, roof and exterior repairs, and the State House Annex elevator, could be redirected through Capital Budget Overview toward the Hillsboro County South Cell Block project. The hearing ended with questions about project schedules, ARPA deadlines, and the division of authority between DoIT and DAS for the ERP system.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, this year our residential property valuation went up 11% to 12%, while commercial property
• That's a multi-million-dollar shift in property tax liability going from the commercial sector to the
• </c><01:01:13.359><c> property</c><01:01:13.799><c> values</c> up 11 to 12% commercial property values
• up 11 to 12% commercial property values went<01:01:14.400><c> up</c><01:01:14.559><c> just</c><01:01
• </c> tax liability going from the commercial tax liability going from the commercial sector<01:01:21.240

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it leads to it leads to commercial.
• The reimbursement for commercial was at commercial rates.
• </c><01:20:54.719><c> About</c><01:20:54.960><c> our</c> commercial plan coverage.
• About our commercial plan coverage.
• </c> can see that to start the commercial can see that to start the commercial which<01:21:18.400><c>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint informational briefing by the Health and Human Services and Commerce and Consumer Protection committees focused on projected impacts to Hawaii consumers from federal changes affecting Med-QUEST and the ACA marketplace, including the loss of ACA premium tax credits, OBVA/HR1-related Medicaid changes, immigrant eligibility restrictions, and new Medicaid work/community engagement requirements. Committee members noted the meeting was being streamed live and emphasized the need to explain potential coverage losses affecting a significant share of the state population. Med-QUEST administrators reported current enrollment at 390,766, about 27% of Hawaii’s population, and broke that down into major groups including roughly 128,000 ACA expansion adults and about 52,000 parent/caretaker relatives. They said the expansion adult population would be most affected by the new federal requirements, which will shorten renewal periods from 12 months to 6 months and impose community engagement rules beginning in late 2026 and 2027. They described the work requirement as 80 hours per month of work, community service, work program participation, or half-time education, with an income-based pathway tied to $580 per month at the federal minimum wage; they also noted a long list of exemptions, but said many details are still awaiting federal guidance and rulemaking. The administrators said federal changes to immigrant eligibility would eliminate Medicaid coverage for certain noncitizen categories, with an estimated 1,200 to 2,400 people affected, though about 200 may remain covered through a state-funded program for otherwise eligible individuals. They also said marketplace subsidies would no longer be available for some immigrants under 100% of the federal poverty level starting January 1, 2026, with further restrictions expected in 2027. For Hawaii overall, they estimated the new Medicaid work and renewal rules could push an additional 19,000 to 38,000 people into uninsured status, with another estimated 6,000 at risk from the six-month renewal process alone. Members asked about how exemptions would be determined, especially for medically frail and seriously mentally ill individuals, and administrators said they were still awaiting detailed federal rules and were working on data-matching and verification processes to reduce coverage losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• that most states are advocating for the federal government to try to create that interoperability, uniformed
• that most states are advocating for the federal government to try to create that interoperability, uniformed
• Uh, they're color-coded by provider, not by subsidy. Um, so you can see the different routes.

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• objective with these preferences is to encourage the revitalization of downtown or neighborhood commercial
• objective with these preferences is to encourage the revitalization of downtown or neighborhood commercial

Committee: Joint Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences

Summary: The Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on May 7, 2025, with quorum present. The commission approved the October 22, 2024 meeting minutes and then received its annual open government refresher from the Attorney General’s office, which reviewed key requirements under the Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act, including record retention, response deadlines, exemptions, and meeting notice rules. Staff then provided a 2025 legislative session update, noting that the legislature passed 23 tax-preference-related bills, with several signed by the governor and others pending. Highlights included bills that extended or repealed certain preferences, added reporting requirements for newspaper and digital content exemptions, authorized JLARC to adjust its work plan when data is unavailable, and created a new exemption for zero-emission buses. The commission approved updates to the 2026 tax preference review schedule, which includes eight preferences in seven reviews, and approved unchanged testimony questions for 2025. The commission also received the 2025 expedited preference review report covering 52 tax preferences, presented as an interactive table drawing on prior JLARC reviews and Department of Revenue studies. Staff then outlined the process for developing the next 10-year review schedule for 2027-2036, including surveying the legislature, incorporating new and repealed preferences, and considering a possible rolling 10-year schedule. No public comment was registered. The meeting ended with acknowledgments of Ron Buing’s long service on the commission and an announcement that the next meeting would be held August 6, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• , before we get started, we do have a committee substitute, which simply adds language to allow commercial
• The committee substitute simply adds language to allow commercial insurers and DMS to include more specific

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:12 HB390 Discussion: 01:05 HB390 Vote: 02:35 HB233 Discussion: 04:18 HB233 Vote: 07:12 HB423 Discussion: 08:17 HB423 Vote: 10:51, 958, all

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 390, which would complete the Department of Transportation’s transition from the old AVIS system to CAVIS for insurance verification. Rep. Michael Meredith explained that the current insurance verification process still runs on the old system, creating a 30- to 45-day reporting delay that allows people to register vehicles by showing only an insurance card. Members voted to give the bill a favorable expression, with Chair Carpenter noting it would support real-time verification and could help reduce uninsured motorists. The committee then heard House Bill 233, a consumer protection measure aimed at post-disaster repair scams. Rep. Wade Williams said the bill expands existing protections to all contractors and tree removal companies, creates a five-day cancellation period after an insurer says some services are not covered, bars mechanic’s liens in certain consumer financial disputes while preserving them for work outside the insurance claim, and adds a $5,000 civil penalty enforced by the Attorney General. After questions about how it differed from Senate Bill 24, the bill also received favorable expression. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 423, with a committee substitute adopted at the outset to allow commercial insurers and the Department for Medicaid Services to provide more specific reasons for prior-authorization denials. Rep. Kim Moore and Cory Meadows of the Kentucky Medical Association described the bill as a long-negotiated prior-authorization reform that would create a gold-carding or exemption program for qualifying providers, reduce red tape, and speed patient care. The committee approved the substitute and then gave the bill favorable expression. At the end, Senator Yates corrected the record to be marked as voting yes on House Bill 390 and House Bill 233.