Transcript Highlights:

• </c> whims, the legal fabric of our island whims, the legal fabric of our island cannot<00:25:48.480>
• ,</c> 25-year-old James Fen of Hawaii, 25-year-old James Fen of Hawaii, 19-year-old<07:29:47.200><c>
• </c> congratulating the Long Island congratulating the Long Island Association<07:35:40.958><c> on</c
• </c> the 100th anniversary of the Long Island the 100th anniversary of the Long Island Association.<07
• We must work together to Islanders.

Transcript Highlights:

• 14.320><c> an</c> every country in the world, even for an every country in the world, even for an island
• that had nothing but penguins on island that had nothing but penguins on it.<02:07:17.360><c> And</c
• At this time, I'd like to yield two minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island, Mr. Magazer.
• two minutes to the gentleman from yield two minutes to the gentleman from Rhode<02:45:46.160><c> Island
• </c><02:45:47.600><c> Gentleman</c> Rhode Island, Mr. Magazer. Gentleman Rhode Island, Mr. Magazer.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm calling from Hawaii this morning, but I was really excited to testify for this.
• state agency that represents the vibrant Asian and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander
• Asian and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities across Washington state,

Bills: HB2447 , HB1364 , HB2632 , HB2637 , HB2520 , HB2235 , HB2401 , HB2574

Committee: House State Government & Tribal Relations

Keywords: shark conservation, marine life, state symbol, ecological importance, biodiversity, bingo, raffles, charity, nonprofit, amusement games, revenue threshold, licensing, fundraising, citizenship, immigration, terminology, rights, legal status, public records, public disclosure

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> allowing the University of Hawaii allowing the University of Hawaii Community<00:05:25.360><c> Design
• In Hawaii, we do have both the DCR and the federal detention centers, yeah.
• In Hawaii, we do have both enforcement.
• One of the factors was the projected population of Hawaii during that particular year.
• He puts on an from Worknets Hawaii.

Bills: SR185 , HB2452 , HB2329 , HB2272 , HB2273 , HB2335 , HB1656 , HB2207 , HB2289 , HB1854 , HB2581 , HB20 , HB2296 , HB1707 , HB2297 , HB1890 , HB2241 , HB2474 , HB1688 , HB2546 , HB1574 , HB1546 , HB2218 , HB1163 , HB1514 , HB1749 , HB2385 , HB1576 , HB1974 , HB2022 , HB1973 , HB2005 , HB1894 , HB1515 , HB1718 , HB1591 , HB2475 , HB1721 , HB1864 , HB1946 , HB1920

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we actually reached that point where we actually exceeded cost in Hawaii and Alaska around 1994
• </c> &gt;&gt; Is it my understanding three Mile Island &gt;&gt; Is it my understanding three Mile Island
• So in states like Hawaii, Connecticut, regulators have adopted or proposed performance-based rate making
• So in states like Hawaii, Connecticut, regulators have adopted or proposed performance-based rate making
• The New Hampshire California and Hawaii.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:20:06.039><c> do</c><00:20:06.240><c> eastn</c><00:20:06.799><c> West</c> districts on hav island
• The outer island, they have a more tendency to be by the water and see the canoes, versus more of our
• like you know the I the coast kids the like you know the I the coast kids the OU<00:26:00.000><c> Island
• they have a more tendency to OU Island they have a more tendency to be<00:26:01.840><c> by</c><00:26
• So that's kind of, yeah, but that's not going to work on the neighbor islands.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, and members on behalf of the California Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus
• Most notably, iconic musical artists who came from Asian Pacific Islander and Latin American backgrounds
• She was born on the island of Maui, Hawaii, in 1936, to a large and extended family.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, opened with a Native American prayer/song and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then handled a series of procedural motions. Members voted on multiple appeals and referrals involving SB 280 and ACA 8; the Speaker’s rulings were sustained on several points, and motions to re-refer the measures to different committees were ultimately adopted or rejected as noted. The Majority Leader also secured unanimous-consent and roll-call motions to suspend rules and file-notice requirements so the Elections and Appropriations Committees could notice ACA 8 and SB 280 for hearings and reporting deadlines. The chamber then took up several resolutions and concurrence items. Senate amendments were concurred in for AB 829, AB 463, AB 493, and AB 1387, each passing with unanimous or near-unanimous roll-call votes. The Assembly also adopted ACR 102 recognizing California Native American Day and the California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference, after extensive remarks from members of multiple caucuses and a Native American Day ceremony honoring tribal leaders, a judge, a councilwoman, a tribal chairman, and Clovis Unified students who defended their right to wear regalia at graduation. ACR 100 honoring India’s Independence Day was likewise adopted with broad support, and HR 48 marking the 105th anniversary of the 19th Amendment passed after debate about voting rights and women’s suffrage. Members also recognized guests from the music industry in support of ACR 105, and later adopted HR 44 honoring homeless service providers, with speakers emphasizing the scale of homelessness and the work of frontline workers. Additional guest introductions included representatives from Pakistan and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. The day concluded with adjournment-in-memory tributes for Joel Nilsen and Grace Kojima, followed by announcements of the next session dates and adjournment under the call of the Speaker.

Transcript Highlights:

• , I'm just going to take Staten Island, but it could be any of the...
• Staten Island.
• I'm just going to fix Staten Island, but it could be any of the boroughs in New York.
• This is the cause of—oh, and by the way, there was an overcount in Hawaii. Should note that.
• Especially for Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders and American Indian Alaska Natives.

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on the Census

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census met on December 8 at 9:32 a.m. to examine the dynamics that drive census undercounts and overcounts, with testimony first from Joseph Salvo and then from Susan Strait of the UMass Donahue Institute. Salvo explained the Census Bureau’s two main evaluation tools: demographic analysis, which uses vital records, migration estimates, and Medicare data to produce a national benchmark, and the post-enumeration survey (PES), which compares a separate sample-based count to the census. He said the 2020 census showed a small national net undercount, but larger age- and race-based disparities, including the highest undercount among children ages 0 to 4, higher undercounts for men, substantial undercounts for Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations, and overcounts among some older and college-age groups. He also described how self-response, non-response follow-up, administrative records, proxy responses, and imputation affected data quality, arguing that proxies and imputation were especially weak and that outreach remains critical for 2030. Committee members asked Salvo to clarify the methods and error bands, the role of international migration estimates, and how the PES differs from the census address list and LUCA. He explained that PES is based on a separate sample of blocks and can add units within sampled blocks, but it does not measure units missed entirely from the original address list; LUCA matters because it improves that list before enumeration. He also discussed age heaping, duplicate responses among older adults, and why group quarters and COVID-related disruptions complicated the 2020 count. Senator Driscoll briefly interrupted to describe Randolph’s successful appeal of its 2020 count after an undercount in disability care homes, and Salvo noted that the post-census group quarters review helped correct some missed facilities. Susan Strait then focused on Massachusetts-specific results. She said Massachusetts’ 2020 count was strong overall, with population growth above the national average and a PES-based finding that the state was overcounted by 2.24 percent, though she emphasized that this did not mean all areas were accurately counted. Using demographic analysis, she said Massachusetts had an estimated 4.15 percent undercount of children ages 0 to 4, with the largest county-level undercounts in Hampden, Suffolk, and Essex, and she linked higher child undercounts to lower educational attainment and female-headed households. Strait also reviewed operational metrics showing that Massachusetts had relatively strong internet self-response, but that non-response follow-up relied heavily on household interviews, administrative records, proxies, and imputation in different counties. She highlighted higher proxy use in college-heavy counties such as Hampshire and Suffolk, and said counties with more minority residents were more likely to have population-count-only cases and other indicators of harder-to-count populations. The hearing ended with discussion of how these findings could inform outreach and census planning for 2030.

Transcript Highlights:

• stating findings of the legislature and honoring the sacrifice of Idaho civilians who served on Wake Island
• When I first ran for office in 2016 and I went out into Hawaii County, which was then District 23, it
• When I first ran for office in 2016, and I went out into Hawaii County, which was then District 23, it

Transcript Highlights:

• After his military service, Hawaii.
• </c> Rhode Island seek recognition? Rhode Island seek recognition? &gt;&gt; Mr.<05:57:50.958><c> Mr.
• AMO of Rhode Island moves to &gt;&gt; Mr.
• :58:24.080><c> is</c> &gt;&gt; Gentleman from Road Island is &gt;&gt; Gentleman from Road Island is recognized
• We won't miss you as you leave the island and take your big exit.

Transcript Highlights:

• So people moving in from New York, Rhode Island, California, New Hampshire, Florida, so on and so forth
• in the Greater Boston area, with some clusters in the Pioneer Valley and the South Coast, Cape and Islands
• But again, also pockets in western Mass. and on the islands in Cape.
• West Virginia, New Mexico, Hawaii, losing population? Vermont, California.
• And then we're also looking for certain regions, especially the Cape and Islands and Western Mass., where

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on the Census

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census heard presentations on Massachusetts population trends and how they affect state housing planning. Susan Strait of the UMass Donahue Institute reviewed recent Census Bureau estimates, saying Massachusetts grew strongly over the last decade but that growth has slowed sharply in the newest estimates, largely because net international migration has fallen from a post-pandemic surge. She also described the four components of population change—births, deaths, domestic migration, and international migration—along with aging trends, declining fertility, the importance of the millennial cohort, and the role of foreign-born residents in births and the labor force. Committee members asked about college students in group quarters and about counting incarcerated people, and Strait explained the Census Bureau’s current methods and noted that some issues remain under discussion. Jesse Guerrero of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council then explained how MAPC uses UMass Donahue population projections to build household and local land-use forecasts for MassDOT and the statewide housing plan. He said the earlier transportation projections anticipated slower statewide growth and regional decline in western Massachusetts and on the Cape, with more growth in eastern Massachusetts. He also described how household formation, development patterns, zoning, and affordability are modeled, and noted that newer housing-plan scenarios use updated Census data and different assumptions about migration. Senator Miranda raised concerns about Cape Cod population loss and whether seasonal residents are being counted, and Guerrero and Strait said the projections focus on permanent residents, not seasonal populations. Tim Reardon of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities tied the demographic forecasts to the statewide housing plan, saying housing demand exists even under low-growth or slight-decline scenarios. He said the plan estimates about 115,000 homes are needed to address existing shortages, including doubled-up households, shelter families, seasonal conversion losses, and the need for healthier vacancy rates, plus additional units tied to future household formation. He added that the state’s total housing target is about 222,000 units, or as high as 262,000 under a higher-growth scenario. Senators pressed him on whether the scenarios are now too high given the recent drop in immigration, on affordability and out-migration, and on whether the housing plan adequately reflects homelessness and overcrowding in Boston and elsewhere. Reardon said the plan includes production, rental assistance, shelter prevention, and preservation strategies, and noted that HLC is also using grant programs and MBTA Communities-related infrastructure funding to support housing production statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• average, with White falling just below the statewide average and then multiracial and Asian or Pacific Islanders
• And then Hawaii, I would say, has been in a similar position where they've had multiple sessions where
• I'm a councilmember from the beautiful city of Mercer Island.
• I'm here testifying on behalf of the Mercer Island City Council in support of SB 6110 with amendment.
• Like many cities in Washington, Mercer Island has seen a dramatic increase in the usage of e-motorcycles

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held a work session on impaired driving, beginning with data from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and a discussion of a proposed reduction in the legal per se blood alcohol concentration limit from 0.08 to 0.05. Mark McKekney presented crash and fatality data showing that about half of traffic fatalities involve an impaired driver, that alcohol remains the most common substance involved, and that impairment is strongly associated with speeding and higher crash risk. He also summarized a Washington/AAA survey finding support for lowering the limit rose from 54% to 71% after respondents received information about safety impacts, and he said the most persuasive arguments were that the change would save lives and reduce impaired driving. Committee members asked about how much alcohol can produce a 0.05 BAC, enforcement practices, blood testing in fatal crashes, and whether other states or countries use lower limits. The committee then heard emotional testimony from Joshua Jackman, who described severe injuries and long-term consequences from being struck by a drunk driver in 2007, and said the proposed law could help prevent similar tragedies by encouraging people to plan ahead. A panel followed with testimony from AAA Washington, the Washington State Patrol, and the Department of Transportation. AAA supported a 0.05 standard and cited research and international experience showing fewer fatalities and serious injuries without major effects on arrests or the hospitality industry. The State Patrol said the bill is intended to prevent crashes rather than increase arrests and would not change stop standards or DUI investigative practices. WSDOT described the safety, work-zone, congestion, equipment-damage, and liability costs caused by impaired driving, including recent crashes involving snowplows and road crews. No vote was taken on the impaired-driving discussion. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5234, which would raise snowmobile registration fees from $50 to $75 and vintage snowmobile fees from $12 to $18, with additional revenue going to the snowmobile account for grooming, plowing, sanitation, and other State Parks snowmobile programs. State Parks said the program has seen declining registrations and reduced services, while supporters from the snowmobile community said the increase is needed to stabilize the program and keep trails open. Some testimony supported the need for more revenue but opposed the fee increase as the wrong solution, arguing the program needs broader reform and that many snowmobiles remain unregistered. The hearing record noted 3 people signed in pro and 105 con. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6110, which would clarify the definition of e-bikes, exclude vehicles capable of exceeding 20 mph solely on motor power or easily modified to do so, and direct the Department of Licensing to convene a work group to develop recommendations for regulating electric motorcycles. Committee discussion focused on the distinction between legal e-bikes and faster e-motos, with questions about wattage, speed, youth use, and whether the bill should define e-motorcycles more directly. Students, local officials, city representatives, trail advocates, and bicycle groups testified in support, describing safety concerns, injuries, and confusion in enforcement, while also emphasizing that true e-bikes improve mobility and access. Several local government and advocacy witnesses asked for a clearer statutory definition of e-motorcycles and a civil enforcement path for juveniles. No final action was taken on the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Almost 10 million people live on the island of Cuba. They go to school and they work.
• They go to school and island of Cuba. They go to school and they<00:41:16.079><c> work.
• </c> Washington tell Cubans on the island Washington tell Cubans on the island that<00:43:11.440><c>
• For 41 days, he battled to Hawaii.
• Patrick became the first of Hawaii.

Transcript Highlights:

• For what purpose does a gentleman from Rhode Island seek recognition?
• To do so, I would like to yield to the gentlewoman from Hawaii, Miss Takuda. Mr.
• And like so many other Japanese, Filipino, Chinese families in Hawaii...
• Japanese, Filipino, Chinese families in Hawaii, agriculture and the plantations were the gateway that
• Her grandfather was a railroad worker on the Rock Island for 10 years before he was able to bring his

Transcript Highlights:

• One might have a licensure, like Ohio has licensure, and Hawaii didn't have a process specifically, but
• unfortunately and ironically coincidentally testifying today from a veterinary clinic on Whidbey Island
• am unfortunately and ironically coincidentally testifying today from a veterinary clinic on Woodby Island
• Coincidentally, I am also on Whidbey Island. I am a veterinarian based in Oak Harbor.

Bills: HB2340 , HB2155 , HB2531

Committee: Senate Health & Long-Term Care

Keywords: HB 2340, nursing assistants, nurse aide, substance use disorder monitoring program, monitoring program, credentialing, licensure, disciplinary records, enforcement action, public disclosure, privacy, third-party website, stipend program, financial assistance, treatment costs, drug testing, peer support, recovery, rehabilitation, board-approved program

Transcript Highlights:

• It creates this island kind of effect where, when we need fuel, we'll either have to produce it in California
• few slides, is PAD 5, which includes California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Alaska, and Hawaii
• year, and now the San Pablo Pipeline can't bring any of that to the north, so they're still on an island

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Transcript Highlights:

• During World War II, General Simon Bolivar Buckner called the Aleutian Island chain, which obviously
• terms of where ADAC sits, it's about 2,900 nautical miles from Okinawa, while our good friends in Hawaii

Committee: Senate Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee

Keywords: Transcom, logistics, military readiness, air refueling, KC-135, KC-46, strategic infrastructure, geopolitical threats, Alaska

Summary: During this meeting, the committee hosted an extensive discussion on the operations and logistical challenges facing the U.S. Transportation Command (Transcom). General Reid provided testimony on key areas including the importance of maintaining robust logistical capabilities in contested environments, particularly in relation to geopolitical threats posed by adversarial nations. Various members emphasized the necessity for modernization of the air refueling fleet, addressing issues such as the readiness of the KC-135 and the procurement of the next-generation KC-46 aircraft, which has experienced delays and technical challenges. The dialogue further extended to the strategic importance of U.S. ports and transportation infrastructure, especially in regions like Alaska which play a crucial role in military logistics and power projection.

Transcript Highlights:

• all of them have the California CRV value, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Hawaii
• hemp beverage, which contains THC and CBD, but this is the type of cannabinoid product that Rhode Island
• This one you could, and I’m assuming this brand also, but this was a colleague of mine in Rhode Island
• that has been successful in other states, including several states very close by to us like Rhode Island
• Pennsylvania and Illinois have a modified New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy

Summary: The Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy held its fourth hearing, with opening remarks from Senate Chair Adam Gómez and House Chair Dan Donahue emphasizing the committee’s broad agenda, including retail modernization, labor protections, advertising rules, sustainability, and financial resources. Testimony began with public health advocates supporting H.157/S.9 to ban cannabis billboard advertising, arguing that billboards normalize use for youth and are linked to cannabis-related harms such as psychosis, addiction, and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. Witnesses cited research, family stories, and court decisions in Mississippi and Virginia upholding similar restrictions, while committee members questioned the scope of the state’s authority to regulate billboards on private property and the relevance of federal highway funding and federal cannabis law. The committee also heard testimony on H.175, a proposal to allow cannabis drive-through sales. A dispensary operator argued drive-throughs would improve access, especially for disabled customers and veterans, and said security and ID checks could be handled with cameras and staff screening. Committee members pressed him on how employees would assess impairment, whether drive-throughs could increase access for minors, and whether the industry should be treated like alcohol, with the witness responding that staff already refuse service to intoxicated customers and that education, not prohibition, is the better approach. Another bill, H.3982, would apply the bottle deposit law to carbonated hemp- or THC-infused beverages; the sponsor said the measure would standardize recycling requirements for products already sold in dispensaries and other markets, and members asked about container types and recycling compatibility. A major portion of the hearing focused on labor peace agreements, with UFCW representatives, cannabis workers, and Sen. Lydia Edwards supporting S.77/H.161. They said the bill would require cannabis businesses to remain neutral when workers seek to organize, arguing that unions improve safety, wages, benefits, and job stability in an industry they described as underregulated and prone to retaliation. Witnesses cited workplace hazards, wage theft, and the death of a worker at a Holyoke facility as examples of why stronger worker protections are needed. Committee members asked how the proposal differs from existing labor law, whether tying LPAs to licensing and renewal could create legal or administrative problems, and how other states handle similar requirements. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now Californians are paying over 50 cents more per gallon than people are in Hawaii, which is an
• island state.
• </c><06:14:15.600><c> which</c><06:14:15.760><c> is</c><06:14:15.920><c> an</c><06:14:16.160><c> island
• </c><06:14:17.040><c> So</c> in Hawaii which is an island state.
• So in Hawaii which is an island state.

Transcript Highlights:

• IMGs has been introduced in 18 more states: Montana, Oregon, Maryland, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Hawaii
• , Missouri, Kansas, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Oregon, Maine, Nevada, Texas, Oklahoma, Indiana, Wyoming
• </c><00:10:17.760><c> Missouri</c> Dakota New Hampshire Hawaii Missouri Dakota New Hampshire Hawaii Missouri
• Kansas<00:10:18.920><c> Connecticut</c><00:10:19.399><c> Rhode</c><00:10:19.640><c> Island</c><00:10
• :20.000><c> Oregon</c> Kansas Connecticut Rhode Island Oregon Kansas Connecticut Rhode Island Oregon

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services