Transcript Highlights:

• you because you know<00:49:08.640><c> uh</c><00:49:08.760><c> we</c><00:49:08.880><c> were</c><00:49
• </c><00:49:11.359><c> they're</c><00:49:11.559><c> going</c><00:49:11.799><c> in</c><00:49:12.200><c>
• 00:49:14.720><c> to</c><00:49:15.720><c> that</c><00:49:16.280><c> um</c><00:49:16.920><c> it</c><00:
• be<00:49:17.520><c> by</c><00:49:17.920><c> request</c><00:49:18.520><c> of</c><00:49:19.000><c> who
• </c><00:49:19.960><c> me</c><00:49:20.760><c> uh</c><00:49:20.920><c> so</c><00:49:21.079><c> one</c>

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:44 Attendance Roll Call: 00:55 SB 193 (Sen. Girdler): 01:53 SB 9 (Sen. Higdon): 03:22 SB 257 (Sen. Tichenor): 34:14 Adjournment: 50:57, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government first took up Senate Bill 193, a simple measure described as restoring wallet cards for jailers to carry when they are outside the jail. The sponsor noted the fiscal impact was essentially zero, there were no questions, and the committee approved the bill 9-0 for passage to the Senate floor. The committee then heard Senate Bill 9, sponsored by Senator Higdon, which would change how the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) treats sick leave, personal leave, and annual leave in retirement calculations. The sponsor argued the bill is intended to address TRS’s financial challenges by standardizing leave rules statewide, limiting TRS retirement credit to 10 sick days and 2 personal days per year, preventing annual leave from being rolled into sick leave, requiring districts to pay the actuarial cost for any leave beyond the cap, and adding reporting and oversight requirements for participating agencies. He also said the bill would add 30 days of maternity leave, allow voluntary district contributions for tier four teachers, and direct the state auditor to audit TRS and report on agencies. Committee members asked about how overages would be audited and billed, the cost of a sick day, and how the bill would interact with local leave policies, including paid parental leave in some districts. The sponsor clarified that existing accumulated leave would not be affected, that the bill applies going forward, and that districts could still offer more leave but would bear the added cost. Members also discussed whether the maternity leave language set a cap or a minimum, and one senator noted the bill was intended to preserve personal days while stopping annual leave from being converted into pension credit. No vote on Senate Bill 9 was shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• :49:05.119><c> the</c><00:49:05.280><c> house</c><00:49:05.559><c> position</c><00:49:05.880><c> is</
• 49:07.880><c> with</c><00:49:08.040><c> Lottery</c><00:49:08.440><c> to</c><00:49:08.559><c> see</c>
• </c><00:49:09.119><c> need</c><00:49:09.319><c> any</c><00:49:09.520><c> changes</c><00:49:09.920><c>
• :49:46.520><c> up</c><00:49:46.680><c> to</c><00:49:46.799><c> date</c><00:49:47.000><c> on</c><00:49
• :49:55.240><c> uh</c><00:49:55.359><c> it</c><00:49:55.480><c> was</c><00:49:55.640><c> the</c><00:49

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a budget presentation from New Hampshire Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre and CFO Jim Durus. McIntyre said the Lottery has more than tripled its return to the Education Trust Fund since 2011, from $62 million to $207 million in FY 24, while keeping expenses relatively flat over time. He explained that the Lottery operates like a business, is heavily audited, and that the governor’s budget raises the FY 26-27 revenue estimate to $185 million, up about $12 million annually from prior estimates. He attributed FY 24’s unusually strong results to record Powerball sales driven by a spike in billion-dollar jackpots tied to higher interest rates, and said scratch tickets still make up most gross sales, though Powerball is the highest-margin product. Members questioned the Lottery about the difference between gross revenue and profit, the steep rise in operating expenses, and the reasons for requested budget increases. McIntyre said the main drivers were payroll, benefits, advertising, added regulatory responsibilities from expanded gaming, and a new Salesforce customer-tracking system. He also described requested capital needs, including an outdated security system, building access and ADA improvements, and upgrades to the front office for employee safety. He said the security system is still running on an old Windows 7-based setup and that the requested upgrade would modernize cameras and add redundancy. The discussion also covered staffing and gaming expansion. McIntyre said the Lottery has 84 employees including three commissioners, with 13 funded vacancies, and that it plans to fill positions as two new gaming rooms come online in Rochester and Derry. He said the Lottery’s revenue estimates were revised upward because sports betting in Massachusetts had less impact than expected and historic horse racing machines have been more profitable than forecast. He also explained the governor’s proposal to shift historic horse racing toward slot-style machines, saying the physical machines would look largely the same but the content and math would change, and that the state’s revenue share would increase under the proposal. No votes were taken; the committee mainly asked questions and received explanations about the Lottery’s budget and revenue assumptions.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> it</c><00:49:19.119><c> can</c><00:49:19.200><c> be</c><00:49:19.359><c> tied</c><00:49:19.599><
• </c><00:49:28.960><c> Well</c><00:49:30.079><c> uh</c><00:49:30.800><c> similarly</c><00:49:31.440><c
• </c><00:49:39.839><c> in</c><00:49:40.160><c> and</c><00:49:40.400><c> trying</c><00:49:40.640><c> to
• ><c> the</c><00:49:41.359><c> assets</c><00:49:42.240><c> because</c><00:49:42.559><c> it's</c><00:49
• </c><00:49:48.319><c> a</c><00:49:48.480><c> right</c><00:49:49.440><c> uh</c><00:49:49.680><c> to</c

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:49:09.839><c> Uh</c><00:49:10.079><c> I</c><00:49:10.240><c> had</c><00:49:10.480><c> heard</
• c><00:49:15.520><c> time</c><00:49:15.839><c> Nate</c><00:49:16.160><c> Trudale</c><00:49:16.800><c>
• <00:49:29.520><c> And</c><00:49:29.680><c> here's</c><00:49:29.920><c> what</c><00:49:30.000><c> what
• ><00:49:31.359><c> time</c><00:49:31.839><c> was</c><00:49:32.160><c> you</c><00:49:32.319><c> had</c
• 49:35.680><c> to</c><00:49:35.839><c> we've</c><00:49:36.160><c> talked</c><00:49:36.400><c> about</c

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> you</c><00:49:25.280><c> know</c><00:49:25.440><c> any</c><00:49:25.680><c> additional</c><00:49
• <00:49:27.760><c> come</c><00:49:27.920><c> out</c><00:49:28.040><c> of</c><00:49:28.280><c> that</c>
• </c><00:49:29.640><c> would</c><00:49:29.839><c> be</c><00:49:30.640><c> processed</c><00:49:31.119><
• ><c> as</c><00:49:39.319><c> noted</c><00:49:39.640><c> in</c><00:49:39.760><c> our</c><00:49:39.920>
• 49:42.960><c> to</c><00:49:43.240><c> consider</c><00:49:44.240><c> uh</c><00:49:44.359><c> if</c><00

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Transportation held a hearing on several traffic safety and transportation bills. HB 1163 would update commercial driver licensing rules to meet federal requirements and allow limited-term non-domiciled commercial learner’s permits and licenses; the Department of Transportation supported it as a fix to an FMCSA-identified issue, while Frank Schultz testified in opposition. HB 1166 would appropriate funds for the automated speed enforcement program; the Department of Law Enforcement, Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization, and Edgardo Diaz Vega supported it, while Chad Taniguchi opposed and Frank Schultz offered support. The committee then heard HB 1231, which would prioritize photo red light cameras in school zones and direct related fine revenue to the Safe Routes to School fund; DOT supported the intent but cautioned against limiting placement decisions, Judiciary raised concerns about added court workload, and several advocacy groups and individuals supported the bill as a pedestrian and school safety measure. The committee spent substantial time on HB 1471, which would fund traffic-actuated signals, including leading pedestrian intervals and accessible pedestrian signals, and add a $5 vehicle registration fee for the Safe Routes to School special fund. DOT supported the bill with comments, saying its older signal controllers make LPIs harder to implement but that statewide upgrades are underway; the Department of Health also supported the safety and Vision Zero goals and said it is working with counties on public education. Testimony in support came from Hawaii Appleseed, Hawaii Bicycling League, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Path People for Active Transportation Hawaii, the Hawaii Self-Advocacy Advisory Council, and others, with one opposition noted among many supporters. Members asked questions about whether LPIs would address “beg buttons,” how red-light and speed-camera programs interact with county roads, and whether speed humps might be more effective in school zones. DOT explained that LPIs improve visibility but do not solve every signal issue, that newer adaptive signals use camera-based sensing, and that the department coordinates with counties and communities on crash mitigation and enforcement priorities. Officials also discussed the status of Safe Routes to School programs, noting that the federal program remains but is difficult to use and that the state program had been moved out of DOT; county coordinators and related coalitions were said to still be active. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• :00.079><c> of</c><00:49:00.319><c> the</c><00:49:00.559><c> cakey</c><00:49:01.359><c> only</c><00:49
• hungry<00:49:10.880><c> you</c><00:49:11.160><c> can't</c><00:49:11.559><c> learn</c><00:49:12.160><c
• States</c><01:49:02.280><c> in</c><01:49:02.400><c> the</c><01:49:02.520><c> next</c><01:49:02.719><
• those decision<01:49:16.560><c> makers</c><01:49:17.520><c> right</c><01:49:17.960><c> it</c><01:49:
• ><c> for</c><01:49:23.480><c> a</c><01:49:23.560><c> number</c><01:49:23.760><c> of</c><01:49:23.880>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:49:43.040><c> how</c><00:49:43.160><c> to</c><00:49:43.280><c> handle</c><00:49:43.640><c> that
• </c><00:49:44.280><c> And</c><00:49:44.400><c> I</c><00:49:44.440><c> And</c><00:49:44.720><c> from</
• :49:47.800><c> to</c><00:49:47.840><c> be</c><00:49:47.960><c> honest,</c><00:49:48.840><c> when</c>
• </c><00:49:56.600><c> I</c><00:49:56.720><c> I</c><00:49:57.000><c> I'm</c><00:49:57.240><c> pretty</
• <00:49:58.840><c> Captain</c><00:49:59.320><c> Chang</c><00:49:59.680><c> that</c><00:49:59.920><c> he

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 3123, which would treat free tuition or school-conditioned enrollment at private educational institutions as a conditional gift rather than a contractual obligation unless otherwise agreed in writing. The Office of the Governor supported the bill, and Kamehameha Schools and the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools strongly backed it, saying it would protect donor intent, preserve school-ohana relationships, and help maintain tuition assistance and educational access for families. A committee member commented favorably on the unity among school organizations, and there were no objections raised before the committee moved on. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2438, which creates a civil cause of action for interference with constitutional and statutory rights through threats, intimidation, or coercion, with private and government enforcement options and protections for constitutionally protected speech. Testifiers from the Community Alliance on Prisons and a know-your-rights educator supported the measure as a civil rights protection grounded in the Hawaii Constitution. No opposition testimony was presented during the hearing, and the measure appeared to receive general support from those who testified. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 3142, which establishes offenses for dangerous and habitual dangerous intoxication and allows civil protective custody and emergency examination in lieu of arrest in certain cases. The Attorney General, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of Health, and Department of Human Services supported the bill as a treatment-oriented diversion tool for people who are dangerously intoxicated and at risk to themselves or the public. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, warning it could expand police discretion, burden emergency rooms, and function as a loss of liberty without sufficient treatment resources, while committee members questioned whether the bill would simply cycle people through emergency rooms and back onto the street. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided; the chair said decision-making would occur at the end of the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• > RFQ</c><00:49:03.119><c> was</c><00:49:03.319><c> issued</c><00:49:03.720><c> on</c><00:49:04.400><
• :49:07.319><c> two</c><00:49:07.559><c> months</c><00:49:07.920><c> to</c><00:49:08.599><c> to</c><00
• :13.799><c> that</c><00:49:14.319><c> uh</c><00:49:14.599><c> we're</c><00:49:14.960><c> a</c><00:49:
• </c><00:49:18.359><c> had</c><00:49:18.520><c> to</c><00:49:18.720><c> submit</c><00:49:19.319><c> at
• c> that</c><00:49:21.960><c> gave</c><00:49:22.160><c> us</c><00:49:22.319><c> four</c><00:49:22.599>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees considered a large number of Senate bills, with many measures advanced either unamended or with technical or substantive amendments. Early action included SB 88 and SB 11 SD1, both passed unamended, and SB 562 SD1 and SB 642 SD1, which were passed with amendments reflecting agency testimony. SB 1133 SD1 was amended to remove duplicative county requirements and clarify tax credit carry-forward eligibility, while SB 1569 SD1 on sports wagering was deferred. Later, SB 933 on nonprofit/federal funding support drew strong testimony from nonprofit and health advocates emphasizing the risk of federal funding freezes and the importance of protecting services such as early learning, domestic violence support, housing, and workforce supports; the committee recommended amendments to define eligible organizations, require reporting, and include the Judiciary. SB 934 and SB 935 were also amended, with SB 934 tying mass transit funding to Honolulu project milestones and SB 935 revising retirement-system language to change “fewer than five years” to “five or more years.” The committees then took up additional measures with targeted amendments. SB 1033 was amended to clarify that the bill applies to legal entities, not individuals, though members noted concerns about closely held family corporations and asked that the issue be reflected in the committee report. SB 1166, SB 1249, and SB 1256 were advanced with amendments or committee-report notes reflecting concerns from the Attorney General, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and Hawaii Farmers Union United, respectively. SB 1432 and SB 137, both relating to electric utilities, were amended to require retention of covered employees after mergers or acquisitions and to direct the PUC to consider whether proposed transactions further state policy goals. SB 157 on antitrust was narrowed to focus on coordinator conduct in rental housing markets, SB 252 on invasive species received a defective effective date, and SB 336 on defense of state employers and employees passed unamended. SB 536 on the Hawaii Community Development Authority was deferred to a later hearing, and SB 1064 on medical cannabis was heavily amended to authorize cultivator licenses with limits on canopy size, license counts, physician fees, and a special-fund appropriation for enforcement. In the Ways and Means portion, the committee passed several bills unamended, including SB 19, SB 124, SB 264, SB 345, SB 422, and SB 741 and SB 747 later in the agenda. SB 361 was amended to remove references to the attorney general and delete an appropriation section, SB 438 was amended to redefine buffer zones and landfill-unit language, and SB 441 and SB 494 were amended to blank appropriations and, in SB 494, assign charter-school audit responsibility to the state auditor. SB 659 was substantially amended to promote local procurement, including county-level geographic preferences and higher thresholds for locally sourced purchases, and SB 732 was amended to adjust film tax credit provisions, including the streaming-platform definition and sunset-related language. SB 819 was amended to replace references to “educators” with “teachers.” Throughout, most measures were adopted without recorded opposition, though several members noted reservations on particular bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:49:19.839><c> then</c><00:49:19.960><c> we've</c><00:49:20.119><c> been</c><00:49:20.240><c>
• ><c> I</c><00:49:21.200><c> I</c><00:49:21.520><c> can't</c><00:49:21.680><c> think</c><00:49:21.799>
• <c> of</c><00:49:21.920><c> how</c><00:49:22.040><c> long</c><00:49:22.200><c> we</c><00:49:22.400><c
• ><c> but</c><00:49:23.119><c> we</c><00:49:23.240><c> get</c><00:49:23.359><c> a</c><00:49:23.440><c>
• ><c> of</c><00:49:31.640><c> folks</c><00:49:32.640><c> um</c><00:49:32.960><c> with</c><00:49:33.160

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing focused on a bill reorganizing Hawaiʻi’s biosecurity and invasive species framework, including moving or renaming responsibilities within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and clarifying the role of the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council (HISC). Testimony from the Hawaiian Invasive Species Council, DLNR, Oʻahu and Big Island invasive species committees, the Sierra Club, farmers, and community members generally agreed that invasive species management is critical, but many opposed consolidating HISC or broader biosecurity functions into a single department. Supporters of the existing interagency model emphasized HISC’s statewide coordination role, its links to DLNR and other agencies, and its ability to fill gaps with federal funding and cross-agency collaboration. Several testifiers raised concerns that the bill could weaken existing authority or create unintended legal and operational problems. The Sierra Club and others warned about possible interstate commerce issues, loss of authority to regulate movement of infested material within an island, and the need to preserve HISC as an independent or elevated coordinating body rather than placing it inside one agency. Community testimony described real-world impacts from little fire ants, coqui frogs, and landscaping-related introductions, and argued that the current system has produced service gaps and duplication when funding or responsibilities shift. One testifier also urged removing hemp movement reporting provisions, saying they do not aid biosecurity and should be treated like other crops. DLNR and Department of Agriculture representatives said they support the overall goal of stronger biosecurity but stressed that invasive species work is broader than agriculture alone. They noted that DOA, DLNR, and other partners each have different missions and capabilities, and that staff safety, terrain, and training matter when responding in remote areas. The department said it was recruiting for new positions, with some of the 44 funded positions still being finalized, and that implementation would require phased rulemaking, standards, training, and outreach. Members asked about the bill’s practical impact, staffing needs, and whether inspectors are prohibited from hiking; the department said no blanket prohibition exists, but staff use judgment based on safety and terrain. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• c> a</c><00:49:23.040><c> billion</c><00:49:24.040><c> coming</c><00:49:24.280><c> to</c><00:49:24.440
• <00:49:29.880><c> interesting</c><00:49:30.880><c> okay</c><00:49:31.559><c> all</c><00:49:31.720><c>
• right so go<00:49:32.559><c> ahead</c><00:49:32.799><c> yes</c><00:49:32.920><c> we</c><00:49:33.040
• so this<00:49:44.880><c> is</c><00:49:45.040><c> an</c><00:49:45.240><c> estimate</c><00:49:45.720><
• <00:49:51.760><c> um</c><00:49:52.000><c> $12</c><00:49:52.400><c> million</c><00:49:53.040><c> in</c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session on the Department of Business and Economic Affairs budget, with testimony from Chase Hegman and Kathy Frederickson. Early discussion focused on staffing and vacancies, including a senior planner position tied to FEMA requirements, a program assistant funded by federal ORID dollars, a program specialist being considered for reclassification, two Housing Champions positions to be funded in the next biennium, and temporary welcome center positions. Members also reviewed the commissioner’s office, indirect cost recoveries tied to federal program administration, and the structure and staffing of rest areas and welcome centers, including the Turnpike-funded locations and seasonal staffing patterns. Members then moved through economic development and federal grant-related accounts. Hegman explained that a large share of the agency’s funding is federal, with some programs requiring state match, including the Apex Accelerator, which supports government contracting assistance for businesses. He described Apex as a small team that helps businesses with DOD and other contracting opportunities through webinars, matchmaking, and one-on-one support. The Office of Workforce Opportunity was described as largely federally funded through Commerce-related workforce programs and subrecipients, with some general fund support for agency-wide needs. The Northern Borders Regional Commission dues and capacity grant were also discussed, with officials explaining the state’s required contribution and the federal funds used to administer the program. A major point of discussion was the proposed reduction to the Small Business Development Center, which officials said provides one-on-one technical assistance to new and small businesses and has a strong return on investment. Members questioned the cut, the federal funding sources, and whether there was a waiting list for services; officials said they would provide more detail on matching requirements and funding. The committee also reviewed travel and tourism accounts, including the joint promotional grant program and tourism advertising funds, both of which are proposed to increase. Officials said the tourism marketing formula is based on a percentage of meals and rooms tax revenue and argued that the spending generates significant visitor spending and tax revenue, citing an outside ROI study and examples of advertising in test markets. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• &gt;&gt; So,<00:49:15.400><c> for</c><00:49:15.560><c> the</c><00:49:15.680><c> last</c><00:49:16.120
• The<00:49:24.360><c> last</c><00:49:24.720><c> mile</c><00:49:25.200><c> is</c><00:49:25.440><c> in</
• 00:49:28.040><c> the</c><00:49:28.160><c> connection,</c><00:49:28.720><c> or</c><00:49:28.840><c> do
• <c> you</c><00:49:33.320><c> do</c><00:49:33.480><c> both</c><00:49:33.920><c> where</c><00:49:34.120
• /c><00:49:36.080><c> I</c><00:49:36.160><c> think,</c><00:49:36.400><c> are</c><00:49:36.520><c> the<

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 KCNA Request for Proposal Process 00:00:01 Overview of KWIC Board and Funding of Kentucky Wired Network Refresh 00:18:10 Zayo Network Services 00:34:40 Discussion of Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Funding 00:57:32, 958, all

Summary: The committee first focused on a disputed KCNA procurement for a statewide network-related RFP. Members questioned why the RFP had been labeled non-technical, whether COT should have reviewed it, and whether the KCNA board could direct that it be withdrawn. Finance and Administration Cabinet counsel Barbie Dickens said the RFP was authorized by KCNA working with procurement services after termination of the prior contract and breach notices, was issued in November 2025, paused during a protest, later resumed, and remained an open procurement. She said the agency—not the board—directs the procurement process, though she acknowledged an agency and OPS could cancel or reissue an RFP if needed. Legislators pushed back, citing KRS 154 and House Bill 314 as evidence that the KCNA board controls contracts and operations, and one member said the board had requested the RFP be withdrawn. Dickens said she could not predict the outcome and was not KCNA’s counsel. The discussion also touched on whether the current director had asked to stop the RFP and whether that request had been denied, with no final action taken during the exchange. The committee then turned to Kentucky Wired Infrastructure Corporation and the Kentucky Wired refresh project. Jim Barnhart described the structure of the nonprofit corporation, the role of Quick and Quack in the financing and operations arrangement, and the board membership, noting that the refresh funding had been approved in the 2024-26 capital budget. He said the equipment upgrade is necessary because of end-of-life hardware and software support issues, and that the refresh would expand capacity, lower risk, and reduce operating costs. Barnhart said some equipment had already been received, the rest would be purchased later, and the project should begin before September and take about a year to complete. When asked about contract disputes involving Ledcor and whether the vendor had an ongoing contract, Barnhart and the authority representative said they had not been notified of any issues and were not directly involved in that contract dispute. Committee members also raised concerns about a prior market test and whether a lower-cost bidder had been blocked from a previous RFP process. Barnhart said he understood Quack could make that decision and that the Commonwealth did not have input so long as the network was maintained, but he was not involved at the time. A legislator then read from the KCNA statute and argued that the board, not agency staff, is supposed to direct KCNA contracts and operations, saying House Bill 314 did not change those duties. The chair agreed the committee’s intent was for the board to control KCNA and direct contracts, and the discussion ended with a transition away from the KCNA dispute toward future testimony, including a presentation from Zayo Networks on open access networks and broadband infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:49:09.400><c> agency</c><00:49:09.720><c> will</c><00:49:09.960><c> use</c><00:49:10.160><c> our</
• c><00:49:13.280><c> agency</c><00:49:14.119><c> but</c><00:49:14.319><c> most</c><00:49:14.520><c> of
• </c><00:49:17.440><c> contracts</c><00:49:18.440><c> um</c><00:49:18.680><c> and</c><00:49:18.839><c>
• ><00:49:24.440><c> Farm</c><00:49:24.760><c> as</c><00:49:24.880><c> you</c><00:49:25.000><c> think</
• </c><00:49:31.400><c> um</c><00:49:31.520><c> in</c><00:49:31.640><c> our</c><00:49:31.720><c> mail</

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Administrative Services presented an overview of its budget and operations, emphasizing that it is the lowest-spending agency in state government and that its general fund allocation has declined since 2019. Commissioner Arling House explained that DAS also handles back-office functions for several administratively attached boards, which has affected staffing and spending comparisons. He said the department’s current general fund spending is roughly split between retiree health and other operations, and that the presentation was based on adjusted authorized spending rather than the original budget figures. A major portion of the meeting focused on retiree health benefits and the long-term effort to control costs. Deputy Commissioner Cassie Keane described how the state moved from a projected deficit in retiree health to savings through a series of changes, including higher premium contributions, co-pay adjustments, and shifting Medicare retirees into Medicare Advantage arrangements to capture federal reimbursement. She said the state has about 12,500 retirees and spouses on the plan, with roughly 10,906 Medicare retirees and 1,580 non-Medicare retirees, and that the savings have depended heavily on federal funding and procurement decisions. She also noted that Medicare retirees pay Part B premiums and that the state has grandfathered older retirees from some premium contributions. Members asked about what the expenditures cover, why the state offers retiree health instead of simply giving retirees a payment to buy coverage themselves, and whether out-of-pocket costs changed under Medicare Advantage. Keane said the plan covers actual health claims or insurance premiums, that co-pays and maximum out-of-pocket limits remain in place, and that the state has no authority to change benefit details without legislative action. She explained that retiree health is a long-standing employee benefit that wraps around Medicare and is not collectively bargained in the usual sense, though its eligibility rules and cost-sharing have been tightened over time to better target the benefit to long-term state service. The discussion also covered vendor performance problems. Keane said Anthem recently won the contract back from Aetna, but its pharmacy subsidiary, Caroline, caused serious service disruptions. DAS responded by withholding payments, assessing more than $2 million in performance guarantees, and hiring a third-party auditor to review the pharmacy processes. The current contract runs through the end of calendar year 2026, and officials said they are watching federal Medicare Advantage reimbursement changes closely because future savings are uncertain.

Transcript Highlights:

• And<01:49:09.840><c> then</c><01:49:10.159><c> the</c><01:49:10.560><c> fivepack</c><01:49:11.360><c>
• <01:49:29.040><c> $40</c><01:49:29.920><c> total</c><01:49:30.320><c> cost</c><01:49:30.719><c> $54.
• So, for<01:49:32.800><c> less</c><01:49:33.520><c> than</c><01:49:34.000><c> $80,</c><01:49:35.440><c
• > I</c><01:49:35.760><c> have</c><01:49:35.920><c> a</c><01:49:36.159><c> plethora</c><01:49:36.960><
• 49:22.080><c> the</c><03:49:22.239><c> city</c><03:49:22.479><c> of</c><03:49:22.960><c> was</c><03:49

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the hours<00:49:05.799><c> Monday</c><00:49:06.359><c> is</c><00:49:06.599><c> 12:</c><00:49:06.920>
• :09.680><c> so</c><00:49:09.920><c> Monday</c><00:49:10.599><c> to</c><00:49:11.280><c> um</c><00:49:
• ><00:49:13.680><c> to</c><00:49:14.280><c> 7:</c><00:49:15.280><c> uh</c><00:49:15.400><c> Wednesdays
• 9:</c><00:49:16.280><c> to</c><00:49:16.400><c> 4</c><00:49:16.960><c> Tuesdays</c><00:49:17.559><c>
• 49:31.079><c> again</c><00:49:31.280><c> we're</c><00:49:31.440><c> doing</c><00:49:31.720><c> an</c>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees heard Senate Bill 659, which would exempt the Department of Education from the electronic procurement system for purchases of fresh local agricultural products and local value-added processed agricultural or food products up to $100,000, and require geographic preference guidelines for locally sourced products. The Department of Education, Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and State Procurement Office all testified in support or support of the intent. DOE said the bill would give it short-term flexibility to buy local items not currently on the vendor list, such as poi and limu, while procurement staff said they would provide written comments and a corrected version of their testimony. Committee members questioned why the bill was needed, why the threshold would rise from the current $24,999 small-purchase limit to $100,000, and whether the department should instead amend its vendor list or RFP process. Members raised concerns about efficiency, administrative burden, whether the bill was a temporary fix for procurement planning gaps, and whether purchases would remain compliant with federal USDA rules if federal school-lunch funds were used. DOE responded that the measure would help it expand local purchasing, support farmers, and allow purchases of products not currently available through existing distributors, and said it was working with partners on food-safety certification and federal compliance. The committees then voted to pass SB 659 with amendments. The Joint Committee on Education approved it 3-2, and the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Environment later approved the amended measure 4-0. The chair noted an amendment and a deferred effective date, and the motion was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• we</c><00:49:03.440><c> would</c><00:49:03.680><c> prefer</c><00:49:03.960><c> to</c><00:49:04.200><
• <c> fill</c><00:49:28.319><c> the</c><00:49:28.480><c> gaps</c><00:49:28.839><c> if</c><00:49:29.000>
• <00:49:37.319><c> uh</c><00:49:38.319><c> compensation</c><00:49:38.839><c> for</c><00:49:39.040><c>
• that</c><00:49:39.760><c> we</c><00:49:40.079><c> we</c><00:49:40.240><c> just</c><00:49:40.440><c>
• can't compete with<00:49:43.200><c> well</c><00:49:43.400><c> again</c><00:49:43.640><c> L</c><00:49

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee approved the January 14 minutes and then considered a large agenda of contracts, including personal services contracts, amendments, memoranda of agreement, and Kentucky Entertainment Incentive Program items. The chair noted the agenda contained 240 items and emphasized the need for transparency in how contract approvals work. Several items were pulled for questions, while the rest were approved without objection. The first major discussion involved seven contingency-fee contracts for the Attorney General’s office. Committee members asked about the apparent $20 million maximum per contract, and staff explained that the amount was a ceiling, not a guarantee, and that under the statutory waterfall in KRS 45A.717 a $20 million fee would require roughly $355 million returned to the Commonwealth. Staff also said the new batch included some new firms, that these contracts are being handled in 6- to 12-month batches, and that no money had yet been spent from the prior cycle. The committee then approved those contracts. Members also questioned a Cabinet for Health and Family Services training contract, which officials said was needed because Finance provides only Kentucky-specific training, while the outside vendor offers broader procurement and federal-funds training; the committee approved that item. A University of Kentucky capital project contract for the State Capitol exterior renovation was approved after questions about the open-ended date, total project cost, and expected completion, with staff saying the overall project is projected for substantial completion by the end of 2026 and final warranty work could extend into 2027. A DCBS amendment for SSI eligibility determinations for children in out-of-home care was explained as an increase caused by a protest, a reissued RFP, and more children entering care; the committee approved it after discussion of the protest and scoring details. The committee also approved a Transportation Cabinet amendment for an I-71 widening and interchange project in Oldham County after staff explained it was a time extension with no additional funds, though the project had evolved due to traffic changes and now includes an eight-lane bridge design. Finally, the committee discussed two Finance Cabinet facilities and support services amendments tied to the Capitol renovation and juvenile justice facility retrofits. Staff said the Capitol project contract covered the full design team, with completion projected around 2029, while the juvenile justice amendments covered additional design work for McCracken and Breathitt facilities, with final bid documents expected in June or July and construction anticipated to begin in the latter half of 2025. Both items were approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:49:02.480><c> But</c><00:49:02.880><c> um</c><00:49:03.040><c> we</c><00:49:03.359><c> do</c>
• and</c><00:49:06.319><c> it's</c><00:49:06.559><c> on</c><00:49:06.800><c> page</c><00:49:07.040><c>
• </c><00:49:08.160><c> We</c><00:49:08.480><c> recommend</c><00:49:08.720><c> that</c><00:49:08.960><c
• </c><00:49:11.359><c> because</c><00:49:11.760><c> right</c><00:49:12.000><c> now</c><00:49:12.160><c
• :49:19.839><c> make</c><00:49:20.000><c> this</c><00:49:20.160><c> an</c><00:49:20.319><c> effective<

Bills: HB2227, HB1775, HB1560, HB1642, HB1647, HB2003, HB1640, HB2198

Keywords: eviction, housing stability, tenant screening, court records, writ of possession, foreclosures, public sale, eligible bidders, housing, downpayment, judicial foreclosure, digital financial assets, consumer protection, financial kiosks, refunds, transaction security, HB1642, Hawaii, cryptocurrency ATM, crypto ATM

Summary: The committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on February 5, 2026, and heard testimony on several bills, beginning with HB 227 relating to eviction records. Supporters, including the Public First Law Center and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, argued the bill would help people who prevail in eviction cases avoid long-term housing harm from online court records, while the Public First Law Center said keeping records off eCourt Kokua would not violate the First Amendment because the records would still be available in person. Members discussed access-to-justice concerns, and a witness said legal aid attorneys could still access the records through the attorney-only Jeff’s system and the court’s access-to-justice room. The chair also asked about precedent, and a witness cited a Hawaii Supreme Court case as supporting removal from the online database rather than sealing records entirely. The committee then took up HP 1775 relating to foreclosures, but the transcript only shows in-person opposition comments from the Hawaii State Bar Association Collection Law Section, the Hawaii Credit Union League, and the Hawaii Bankers Association. The credit union and banking groups said they had concerns about broader negative impacts on mortgage lending and other requirements, but no detailed discussion or action was captured before the committee moved on. The next measure, HB 1560 relating to consumer protection, drew support from the Office of Consumer Protection and cryptocurrency companies including Coinflip and America Digital, which said they already use wallet-pinning and other safeguards to prevent fraud. AARP Hawaii did not take a formal position but said the bill addressed a real problem, noting that Hawaii residents, especially in Kona, had lost more than $920,000 in 2024 to cryptocurrency ATM scams and arguing that stronger oversight was needed. The committee also heard HB 1642, which would ban cryptocurrency kiosks. The Office of Consumer Protection supported the ban as the best way to protect consumers from fraud, while Coinflip, Bitcoin Depot, and America Digital opposed it, arguing kiosks provide cash-based access to crypto, especially for unbanked or underbanked consumers, and that targeted regulation would be better than an outright ban. AARP Hawaii took no formal position but strongly emphasized the harm caused by scams, saying victims are often frightened into acting quickly and that kiosk transactions currently lack enough friction or intervention. Finally, HB 1647, also on consumer protection, would impose liability on host businesses that provide space for crypto kiosks. The Office of Consumer Protection warned small businesses might not understand the liability, while Coinflip, Bitcoin Depot, and America Digital opposed the bill, saying it would unfairly shift enforcement duties to host stores and could discourage businesses from hosting kiosks, effectively creating a de facto ban. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• and censure<00:49:13.119><c> that</c><00:49:13.440><c> exists</c><00:49:14.079><c> outside</c><00:49
• </c><00:49:17.200><c> of</c><00:49:17.760><c> walk</c><00:49:18.000><c> us</c><00:49:18.720><c> a</c>
• What what that might<00:49:20.800><c> be</c><00:49:21.440><c> and</c><00:49:21.680><c> and</c><00:49:
• 49:24.400><c> is</c><00:49:24.640><c> it</c><00:49:24.800><c> applied</c><00:49:25.200><c> in</c><00:
• Yeah.<00:49:34.960><c> So,</c><00:49:35.200><c> as</c><00:49:35.760><c> um</c><00:49:36.079><c> as</c

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , where<00:49:10.559><c> he</c><00:49:10.800><c> served</c><00:49:11.040><c> for</c><00:49:11.280><c>
• </c><00:49:30.720><c> Now,</c><00:49:31.119><c> we</c><00:49:31.359><c> have</c><00:49:31.599><c> a</
• </c><00:49:36.400><c> claimed</c><00:49:36.800><c> that</c><00:49:37.119><c> there</c><00:49:37.599><
• </c><00:49:48.160><c> Uh,</c><00:49:48.400><c> at</c><00:49:48.559><c> the</c><00:49:48.720><c> same<
• 49:23.840><c> you</c><04:49:24.000><c> as</c><04:49:24.160><c> well</c><04:49:24.560><c> to</c><04:49

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• with the A2 amendment<00:49:01.520><c> and</c><00:49:01.680><c> if</c><00:49:01.920><c> so</c><00:49
• if this<00:49:07.680><c> were</c><00:49:07.920><c> to</c><00:49:08.000><c> become</c><00:49:08.319><
• c> law</c><00:49:08.880><c> just</c><00:49:09.119><c> so</c><00:49:09.280><c> we</c><00:49:09.520><c>
• </c><00:49:18.400><c> No,</c><00:49:18.640><c> it</c><00:49:18.880><c> did</c><00:49:18.960><c> not</
• </c><00:49:24.079><c> the</c><00:49:24.559><c> there</c><00:49:24.800><c> was</c><00:49:24.960><c> no

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:49:33.280><c> it</c><00:49:33.440><c> was</c><00:49:33.599><c> defeated,</c><00:49:34.160><c> I
• </c><00:49:39.920><c> But</c><00:49:40.800><c> why</c><00:49:41.359><c> why</c><00:49:41.760><c> go</
• <00:49:42.880><c> Is</c><00:49:43.040><c> this</c><00:49:43.280><c> just</c><00:49:43.440><c> a</c><00
• :49:43.680><c> matter</c><00:49:43.920><c> of</c><00:49:44.480><c> let's</c><00:49:44.800><c> get</c>
• ><01:49:42.400><c> executive</c><01:49:42.880><c> director</c><01:49:43.119><c> of</c><01:49:43.199><

Keywords: 1189, house, all