Transcript Highlights:

• Point of order, Mr. Speaker. State your point of order.
• Point of order, Mr. Speaker. State your point of order.
• any of the actual operative provisions of<00:14:29.600><c> the</c> of the of the uh<00:14:30.640><c>
• </c> that'd be a lot of fun. that'd be a lot of fun.
• I also think the statement that it will be the wild west and not a good use of our time is a choice.

Transcript Highlights:

• So far, we've received interest from a young couple of recent college graduates who plan to get married
• all this, and I think it'd be interesting for me offline to see just how much of that $220,000 per unit
• :38.720><c> of</c> with nearly hundreds of thousands of with nearly hundreds of thousands of people<00
• So it's more of a statement than a question.
• </c><01:29:10.280><c> a</c> for housing um so it's more of a for housing um so it's more of a statement

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm so interesting.
• I'm so interesting.
• evidence of physical injury as one of the exceptions to the rape shield statute.
• provisions to a civil penalty of either $250,000 or 50% of the fair market value of the interest in
• As part of the testing of election equipment, the bill would require the Secretary of State to test the

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of Senate bills spanning elections, transportation, health care, criminal justice, housing, water, and local government. Early discussion focused on SB 1037, which would tighten security and custody requirements for electronic voting systems, and SB 1568, which would require testing of election equipment timekeeping functions. Members also discussed several election-related measures, including SB 1687 moving the primary date to May starting in 2028 and SB 1825 changing the process and deadline for filling precinct committeeman vacancies. Some members raised concerns about whether election-related bills had testimony from people who actually work elections. Several transportation, land use, and local-government bills were summarized, including SB 1024 on roadable aircraft, SB 1205 on motor vehicle booting, SB 1473 on assisted living occupancy limits, SB 1566 on penalties for malicious permit delays, SB 1787 on exactions and appeals, and SB 1419 on solar installation and roof integrity requirements. Members flagged SB 1624, which caps photo-enforcement civil penalties at $75 and bars points and insurance impacts, as well as SB 1478, a liquor omnibus bill with cider-related changes. There was also discussion of water and land issues, including SB 1200 on commingling effluent in water systems, SB 1447 extending a Pinal County groundwater fee diversion, SB 1560 increasing the Water Supply Development Revolving Fund loan cap, SB 1075 creating a foreign entity review commission for land conveyances, and SB 1280 prohibiting transport of Mexican gray wolf pups into Arizona. Health and human services bills included SB 1095 and SB 1094, both related to gender transition care for minors, which drew strong opposition from members who called them harmful and unnecessary; both were pulled from consent for further discussion. Other health-related measures included SB 1165 on breast cancer screening cost-sharing, SB 1253 allowing newborn surrender at hospitals, SB 1446 reducing dialysis documentation requirements, SB 1561 on assisted living notices and vulnerable adult study work, SB 1162 and SB 1164 on health care institution licensing and ownership-change claims processing, and SB 1178 expanding naturopathic IV drug administration authority, which was noted as having mixed votes and was pulled for closed caucus discussion. The caucus also reviewed criminal justice and public safety bills such as SB 1092 on probation for dangerous crimes against children, SB 1239 on sex-offender registration prosecutions, SB 1240 on probation success incentive payments, SB 1493 on reinstatement costs for law enforcement officers, SB 1502 on unlawful flight and reckless endangerment, SB 1512 on vulnerable adult theft definitions, SB 1520 on immigration data sharing, SB 1540 on motor fuel theft, SB 1635 on warning someone about an imminent arrest, and SB 1669 on rape-shield evidence rules. Several bills were pulled from consent, some were noted as split votes or controversial, and the meeting ended with plans to move into closed caucus for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• So in terms of the number of investigations, we can't really get too much into that because of confidentiality
• of matters?
• plants and a lot of out-of-state workers.
• They've got a lot of out-of-state workers, a lot of Texas, a lot of Texas workers, and if we've got a
• First, a statement, or I guess mainly a statement, but it was kind of mentioned about not being able

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• SO THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT OF OUR COMPARISON OF THE TWO.
• THESE OF ALL OF THE SAME RULE TRACK. ON NOVEMBER 19 WE HAD A WORKSHOP.
• THE NEXT FEW SLIDES PROVIDE A BREAKDOWN OF THE ALLEGATION STATEMENTS AND HIGHLIGHT THE TOP 10 SERVICE
• LIFE OF THE CONTRACT WE ASSESSED DAMAGES FOR LOTS OF VARIOUS REASONS.
• THESE AREN'T SECOND GRADERS, THESE ARE CORPORATIONS MAKING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF TAXPAYERS

Transcript Highlights:

• And at the beginning of the step of entering into universities, we trust the threshold of a placement
• second page of that.
• of the library.
• Again, I go back to one of my earlier statements.
• because of bad actors.

Bills: HB2950 , HB2978 , HB3132 , HB3242 , HB3467 , HB3700 , HB3701 , HB4115 , HB4274

Committee: House Education Oversight

Summary: The Education Oversight Committee heard several bills focused on higher education, school library materials, military student transfers, women’s privacy, academic grading standards, program review, and teacher professional development. HB 2950, by Rep. Woolley, would remove the ACT requirement for homeschool students seeking Oklahoma’s Promise and bar colleges from imposing extra homeschool-specific hurdles; supporters said it would treat homeschoolers the same as other students, while opponents raised concerns about oversight and taxpayer-funded aid. The committee also heard HB 3132, which would direct higher education institutions to seek accreditors that do not impose DEI mandates, and HB 3700, which would require colleges to grade students only on academic criteria rather than opinions or beliefs. HB 3701 would codify regents’ procedures for reviewing and acting on low-performing degree programs, and HB 4115 would cap required teacher professional development hours, with the sponsor emphasizing local control and that the bill is permissive rather than mandatory. The committee also considered HB 2978, which would prohibit public school library materials from including descriptions or depictions of sexually explicit conduct. Supporters framed it as protecting children and aligning library collections with community standards, while opponents worried the language could limit access to materials that help students understand abuse and safety. HB 4274, a cleanup bill on military student schooling and school choice, would restore omitted transfer language, clarify in-district enrollment timing, and align the six-month relocation requirement with the Open Transfer Act. HB 3242, dealing with privacy for women in schools, universities, and domestic violence shelters, drew questions about how gender would be verified and how the bill would affect transgender students and shelter access. Most bills advanced on motions for due pass after committee discussion. HB 2950, HB 2978, HB 3132, HB 4274, HB 3242, HB 3700, HB 3701, and HB 4115 all received due pass recommendations. HB 3467 was laid over until the next meeting, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of those 200, we have helped 125 of them get copies of their birth certificates and their IDs.
• or not there's undue influence, ethical problems, conflicts of interest, etc.
• They would just go on suspense and fill out a statement of residence when they're going to vote, but
• Folks are always, all of us are interested in making sure that the equipment is working as it should
• The names, there was a true interpretation off of it, off of what was printed in terms of who they had

Bills: SB801 , SB1200 , SB1410 , SB1717 , SB1862 , SB1863 , SB2216 , SB2681 , SB506 , SB2626 , SJR63 , SB 3

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• and who meets one or more of the outlined criteria in point 1B of your caucus sheet.
• of surveillance, so yeah.
• evidence of physical injury as one of the exceptions to the rape shield statute.
• to a civil penalty of either $250,000 or 50% of the fair market value of the interest in the real property
• As part of the testing of election equipment, the bill would require the Secretary of State to test the

Summary: The caucus reviewed a long list of Senate bills covering elections, transportation, health care, land use, water, criminal justice, and local government. Several election-related measures were described, including SB 1037 on voting equipment custody and internet/port restrictions, SB 1568 on election system software timekeeping, and SB 1687 moving the primary date to May starting in 2028. Members also discussed bills on photo enforcement fines, roadable aircraft registration, motor vehicle booting, assisted living occupancy limits, and municipal permit and exaction rules. A number of measures were noted as third-read consent items, while others were flagged for further discussion or amendments. Health and public safety bills drew substantial discussion. The committee heard bills on insurance coverage for breast cancer screening, safe-haven hospital surrender of newborns, dialysis documentation, behavioral health licensing compliance, naturopathic IV drug administration, traumatic event counseling for public safety employees, sex offender registration limitations, and probation rules for dangerous crimes against children. Members raised concerns or requested removal from consent on several items, including SB 1095 and SB 1094 related to gender-affirming care for minors, SB 1346 on AHCCCS claims processing, and SB 1178 on naturopathic drug administration. There was also debate over SB 1520 on immigration data sharing and SB 1635 on warning someone about an imminent arrest, with objections citing civil liberties and First Amendment concerns. The committee also considered multiple property, water, and development bills. These included measures on effluent water use for landscaping, groundwater fee diversion in Pinal County, increasing the Water Supply Development Revolving Fund loan cap, creating a foreign entity review commission for real property transfers, and restricting transport of Mexican gray wolf pups into Arizona. Members discussed SB 1419 on solar roof inspections and financing disclosures, and SB 1787 on municipal exactions and appeals, with an amendment proposed to limit it to commercial property. Several members explained their votes or asked to pull bills from consent, and some items were noted as having split votes or anticipated floor amendments. The caucus ended with Rhonda’s election-related bills and a note that the group would move immediately into a closed caucus afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> state of New Hampshire owns 275 dams. state of New Hampshire owns 275 dams.
• of negotiations more of a the beginning of negotiations that<00:19:34.320><c> we</c><00:19:34.480><c>
• share of FICA and Medicare and the employee's share of both of those, plus the employee withholdings
• </c> interest and penalties. interest and penalties.
• </c><00:41:50.240><c> of</c> also picks a more reasonable level of of also picks a more reasonable level

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 241, which would provide information about alternative pain treatments rather than mandate services. Members cited support from the prime sponsor, medical organizations, insurers, and other stakeholders, and noted there was no fiscal impact. The committee voted unanimously, 7-0, to ought to pass the bill. It then took up House Bill 629, which raises a boat decal fee and dedicates the revenue to the dam maintenance fund. Members described the state’s deteriorating dam infrastructure, noting the large number of dams, the high-hazard sites, and the much larger funding need, while saying the bill would provide only a modest start. They also said boat owners generally did not strongly object to the fee. The committee voted 7-0 to ought to pass. House Bill 1042, concerning an increase in the unified contingent credit limit for New Hampshire Business Finance Authority projects, drew more divided discussion. Supporters said the higher cap would provide needed flexibility and liquidity for business development and that the state treasurer and BFA had explained the credit structure and low historical loss rate; opponents warned the increase would raise state exposure too much, too soon. After debate, the chair postponed the bill, then later returned with an amendment lowering the proposed limit from 450 million to 400 million, which the committee adopted unanimously. The committee then moved to ought to pass as amended. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 1411, which would have allowed withholding payments to the federal government in response to federal actions. Members opposing the bill argued that withholding employee-related funds would be unlawful and ineffective, while supporters said it could serve as a statement and suggested interim study instead. The committee rejected the bill on a 4-3 vote and voted to inexpedient to legislate.

Transcript Highlights:

• The cross-section of members you see here reflects widespread interest in bringing safety...
• The cross-section of members you see here reflects widespread interest in bringing the safety and many
• Chairman, in the interest of time, you can get back to us later on this. But, um, Thank you, Mr.
• Chairman, in the interest of time. You can get back to us later on this. But, Mr.
• Traditionally, you're going to be securing statements from the drivers involved, statements of witnesses

Summary: The committee held a work session on autonomous vehicles, beginning with an overview from the Washington State Transportation Commission on the state’s five-year AV work group. The commission described its 2018 legislative mandate, the 35-member executive committee and seven subcommittees, and the resulting 29 recommendations and “roadmap to the future.” The presentation emphasized six policy “building blocks” for Washington: agency readiness, public outreach, equity, safety, testing and pilots, and a path to deployment. It also noted current Washington law requires AV testing companies to self-certify with the Department of Licensing, carry $5 million in liability insurance, report collisions and violations, and notify local law enforcement before testing; three companies are currently certified. State regulators from California and Arizona then outlined their AV frameworks. California described its long-running permit system for testing with and without a safety driver and for commercial deployment, its current rulemaking to expand use cases to heavy-duty trucks and passenger shuttles, and new requirements for mileage, operational assessments, and more detailed crash and incident reporting. California also said it is creating a new enforcement tool allowing citations to be issued to manufacturers for moving violations by AVs. Arizona described its executive-order-based approach, later codified by statute, which allows testing and driverless operations through self-certification, law enforcement interaction plans, quarterly meetings with companies, and reporting of crashes or near misses; Arizona also said it tracks crashes monthly and has not recorded fatalities attributed to AVs. Industry representatives from Waymo, Zoox, and the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association argued that AVs can improve safety, accessibility, and mobility while creating jobs. They described extensive sensor systems, community outreach, first-responder engagement, and current operations in multiple cities. Waymo cited more than 127 million rider-only miles and said its data show large reductions in injury-causing and pedestrian crashes; Zoox said it operates in Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Seattle and stressed its purpose-built electric robotaxi and local jobs; AVIA said its members have driven more than 145 million autonomous miles and that 26 states now expressly authorize driverless operations. Members asked about public education, crash and fatality tracking, enforcement, weather, school zones, first-responder interactions, and labor impacts. Labor and public-safety witnesses from the Teamsters, firefighters, and driver unions opposed commercial AV deployment without stronger safeguards. They argued Washington should not be an unregulated testing ground, especially for heavy trucks and hazardous materials, and warned of job losses for drivers, taxi and rideshare workers, and related occupations. Firefighters and driver representatives raised concerns about AVs interfering with emergency scenes, blocking responders, and creating risks in dynamic roadway incidents. Committee members also asked for comparisons to human-driven vehicles, data on citations and crashes, and more information on how AVs interact with pedestrians, first responders, and workers.

Transcript Highlights:

• out of order for moments of will proceed out of order for moments of &gt;&gt; one<00:25:41.679><c> moment
• Their mission statement is that the Colorado Association of Realtors empowers members as industry and
• Their vision statement is that they advocate for a sustainable marketplace for the benefit of consumers
• </c> Six years of enforcement of this policy. Six years of enforcement of this policy.
• of the committee of report to the comm of the committee of the<01:34:00.480><c> whole.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nicole Wardleman, on behalf of the Orange County Board of Supervisors and on behalf of the cities of
• This perfect storm of high electricity costs, rising interest rates, elimination of federal tax credits
• And I appreciate that the companies are stepping up, providing some of that financial incentive.
• to bring together, over the last year, a broad group of stakeholders from every segment of interested
• stakeholders from every segment of interested parties.

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• ...and the fact that, as of July of next year, because of all of the compounding effects of all these
• In terms of economic development and in terms of the connection of L-SERPs and SERPs and tying that to
• the needs of all of the industries, it was important to take those amendments, and we did. ...all of
• the needs of all of the industries.
• And Why Nothing Works is, and I have no financial interest in the book, by the way.

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Transcript Highlights:

• And so here we are, 10th anniversary of the 2016 flood, which affected all of the state of Louisiana
• standards for the regulation of emission-control devices, to provide for the approval of out-of-state
• I think the example is kind of thinking of Carvana and thinking of you saying that.
• And so this is only one man's opinion, which has numerous conflicts of interest.
• And my statements today are more for all of you to know just a little bit about Justin, so I'd like to

Summary: The committee met on March 30 and first took up House Resolution 1, which approves the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s annual State Integrated Coastal Protection Plan for fiscal years 2026-2027. CPRA leaders described the plan as a roughly $1.54 billion coastal investment, with most funds directed to construction and project implementation. They outlined funding sources including GOMESA, BP settlement dollars, state surplus, and new coastal sediment revenues, and reviewed major work across the coast such as marsh creation, barrier island restoration, levees, pump stations, shoreline protection, and nonstructural flood mitigation. Members asked about specific regional concerns, including the Sabine River area, the Chafalaya Basin, Bayou Sorrel, and tidal flooding in inland parishes. The committee heard public support cards and then reported H.R. 1 favorably without objection. The committee then considered House Bill 838, as substituted, dealing with vehicle inspection stickers and related inspection requirements. The bill would repeal inspection requirements for assembled vehicles, adjust inspection rules for commercial and student transportation vehicles, allow out-of-state inspections in some cases, and move toward a QR-code-based system tied to the vehicle identification number. OMV officials said the QR code would contain only the VIN and would be used by law enforcement through existing or upgraded ticketing systems, with the change taking effect January 1, 2027. Members asked about privacy, local law enforcement compatibility, unsafe vehicles, and the annual fee structure. The committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably via substitute. Next, the committee heard House Bill 888, also with amendments, on temporary dealer plates and temporary registration plates. Supporters said the bill cleans up last session’s temporary tag law, increases security features for print-on-demand plates, clarifies placement rules for dealer tags, extends certain temporary tag periods from five to ten days, and delays fee changes until the electronic issuance system is implemented. A question was raised about whether the new plates would be readable by license plate recognition cameras, and the sponsor said that would be checked with State Police. The committee adopted the amendment set and reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee also advanced House Bill 885, which authorizes electronic titles, electronic lien recordation, and electronic signatures for motor vehicle transactions. The sponsor and industry witnesses said the bill is intended to modernize vehicle sales, reduce duplicate paper signatures, and make the process more secure and efficient, while preserving anti-fraud protections and allowing the OMV to set rules. Members asked whether the process would be mandatory, how fraud would be handled, and how identity would be verified; the sponsor said the system would become mandatory for participating commercial entities once implemented, with security standards and good-faith protections. The committee reported the bill favorably via substitute. Finally, the committee approved House Bill 723, as amended, allowing certain two- and three-wheeled motorcycles and mopeds to proceed through a red light when sensors fail to detect them. The sponsor framed it as a safety measure to avoid riders being stranded at malfunctioning signals and to reduce rear-end collision risk. The committee also took up House Bill 882 on outdoor advertising, which would increase spacing between billboards on state highways from 150 feet to 1,000 feet, with an amendment preserving certain nonconforming signs rebuilt after acts of God. Supporters said the change would reduce billboard clutter and improve aesthetics, while opponents argued it would hurt smaller billboard owners, shift power to larger companies, and override local control. The committee adopted the amendments and continued debate on the bill, with testimony focused on its economic and local-government impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Communities of interest. Say it with me: communities of interest.
• :09:07.680><c> intact</c> Keeping communities of interest intact Keeping communities of interest intact
• the</c> with a community of interest that the with a community of interest that the court<03:25:06.000
• </c><03:32:04.479><c> interest</c> communities of interest communities of interest that<03:32:07.920>
• </c> interest of all Alabama, especially interest of all Alabama, especially folks<04:47:04.000><c> in

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a roll call establishing a quorum of 35 senators. The journal was adopted without objection, absent senators were excused, and there were no house messages, committee reports, motions, or resolutions before the first bill was called. The main item of business was House Bill 1, described as a conditional measure to set a process for electing U.S. House candidates in Alabama’s congressional districts 1, 2, 6, and 7 if a federal court order lifts current injunctions. The sponsor said the bill would only take effect if the court order is issued and would allow quick compliance with federal rulings. Debate centered on whether the bill was truly responsive to the court or instead an attempt at mid-decade redistricting; opponents argued it would violate Alabama’s constitutional limits on elections and ignore the court’s redistricting orders, while supporters said they were trying to comply with the court and that the issue was partisan rather than personal. Much of the discussion focused on Allen v. Milligan, the Voting Rights Act, and the meaning of the court’s injunctions. One senator argued the bill would dilute Black voting strength and was being driven by national Republican politics, while the sponsor and others insisted the legislature was acting only conditionally and that the court had not ordered the specific action being debated. The exchange became lengthy and contentious, but no final vote or other action on HB1 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> fund has a balance as of the end of last fund has a balance as of the end of last year<00:01:25.159
• of being tainted by the disproportionate influence of wealth, wealthy donors, and special interest groups
• three of those offenses but not guilty of two of those offenses.
• ><c> of</c> those offenses but not guilty of two of those offenses but not guilty of two of those<01:
• That includes redaction of the case name and removal of the statement, “This record is not available

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills first. SB 51, a comprehensive public financing bill for candidates, drew strong support in testimony but also concerns from the Campaign Spending Commission that the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund has only about $2.2 million, far short of what would be needed, and that the program could not realistically start in 2026 because of staffing and system changes; the commission asked for a start date no earlier than 2028. SB 118, which would create a full-time investigator position at the Campaign Spending Commission, was supported by the commission, which said it has lacked staff growth since 1995 and that an investigator is needed to handle investigations instead of having the commission’s attorney do that work. SB 255, a housekeeping bill on excess cash campaign contributions, was supported by the commission and several county officials and would require excess cash contributions over the limit to be returned within 30 days or turned over to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. SB 345, which would expand the current partial public financing program, was supported by the commission but drew questions because it would still allow private fundraising; the commission said that under its assumptions the bill would provide more total public funds than SB 51, with a maximum of a little over $20 million versus a little over $15 million for SB 51. Testimony counts were reported as 125 support/48 oppose for SB 51, 26 support/0 oppose for SB 118, 30 support/49 oppose for SB 255, and 30 support/49 oppose for SB 345. The committee then discussed SB 176 on recount thresholds. The Office of Elections said it would stand on written testimony, and the East Hawaii Republican Party was listed but not present. The Office of Elections explained in response to questions that the bill’s recount trigger would be based on the final election-day count, not the early 6 a.m. tabulation, because the initial count is not complete until later in the day and cured ballots are counted later; the office said it does not want to begin recounts before all election-day ballots are counted. The reported testimony count was 4 support, 50 oppose, and 2 comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 260, the Judiciary’s biennial budget bill. Judiciary staff requested about $6.17 million in FY 2026 and $6.25 million in FY 2027 for operations, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, plus $11.9 million for capital improvements. The Judiciary said the request would support specialty courts such as Women’s Court, Truancy Court, and DWI Court, a new Wahiawa District Court unit, an additional district court judge in Kona, cybersecurity, the Criminal Justice Research Institute, and facility projects including South Kohala design work and a Kauai chiller replacement. Civil legal services providers, including Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, Kuikahi Mediation Center, the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Hawaii State Bar Association, and the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, all supported the bill but asked for an additional $1 million for the civil legal services line item, saying demand is high and the funding is spread across more providers than before. The Judiciary clarified that some of its requested positions would support Wahiawa and Women’s Court, and that the civil legal services funding goes to organizations serving low-income residents on issues such as immigration, domestic violence, evictions, and foreclosures. The committee also briefly took up SB 279 on fentanyl possession thresholds, where the prosecuting attorney’s office supported the bill and said fentanyl is already driving overdose deaths and that the proposed thresholds target distribution-level quantities rather than personal use.

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of people don't realize, Senator, and I think you would probably agree with this statement, is
• </c> makes a lot of sense. makes a lot of sense.
• It was interesting to learn even how some of our SNAP benefits can be used at local food farmers markets
• It was interesting to learn even how some of our SNAP benefits can be used at local food farmers markets
• So I am an enthusiastic aye. ...discussions, and it was interesting to learn even how some of our SNAP

Committee: House Health Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Any building level administrator shall have the right to request a written statement of reasons for non-renewal
• So the first part of this is they have the ability to request a written statement. I think nicely.
• So the first part of this is they have the ability to request a written statement. Renewal notice.
• So the first part of this is they have the ability to request a written statement.
• So if, in a perfect world, if we could pay for all of our students to take an ACT, is your interest in

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• All those in favor of adoption of A43.
• 00:21:15.760><c> directors</c> membership of the board of directors membership of the board of directors
• <00:26:40.240><c> of</c><00:26:40.400><c> economic</c><00:26:40.960><c> interest,</c><00:26:41.440><c
• > the</c> statements of economic interest, the statements of economic interest, the proposal<00:26:42.000
• And this relates to the distribution<00:27:03.360><c> of</c> distribution of distribution of um<00:27

Transcript Highlights:

• people who have interests, but I'm just wondering, um, looking at some of the testimony, like for example
• of both public, private employees and their interests?
• </c><00:12:47.279><c> but</c><00:12:47.600><c> I'm</c> of people who have interests but I'm of people
• of both public, private employees and their interests?
• Look at how we put together a program that would serve the interests of both public, private employees

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Summary: The Committee on Labor and Technology heard several resolutions focused on workforce shortages and program development. STR 145/SR 117 would create a legislative working group on paid family and medical leave; testimony from state agencies, labor groups, advocacy organizations, and others was overwhelmingly supportive, though some asked for broader representation and legal expertise. Members raised questions about prior studies, staffing estimates, and funding needs for administering a future program. The chair ultimately deferred decision making on this measure to March 28, 2025. The committee also heard STR 55/SR 37 on reviewing the boiler and elevator inspection branch to improve recruitment and retention. DLIR supported the measure, while the Department of Human Resources Development supported the intent but suggested labor should lead the study. Industry witnesses described long inspection wait times, backlogs, and difficulty recruiting inspectors, and several said higher pay and training pathways were needed. The committee voted to pass the resolution unamended. For STR 64/SR 49, which would establish a Hawaii State Fellows Program, the department supported the concept but said resources would be needed and should be included in the budget rather than a resolution; the committee recommended deferral indefinitely. STR 67/SR 51, addressing hiring shortages in the public mental health care system, drew support from the State Council on Mental Health and others, with requests for amendments to ensure broader cooperation and added agencies. The committee moved the measure as a Senate draft with amendments. STR 63/SR 48, proposing a Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award, received support from DLIR, and the committee later recessed and reconvened for decision making on the measures.