Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, this prohibits claims for refunds, reimbursements, or other payments authorization for which is
• The process of filing complaints and case status information and orientation to such procedures.
• Um And then on this section 658H-10 issue that was raised, we'll accept the 658H-10 process as opposed
• , This prohibits claims for refunds, This prohibits claims for refunds, reimbursements,<01:15:19.200
• to lose trust in the election process to lose trust in the election process because<01:20:45.120

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard several Senate bills. SB 2149 would exempt paternity proceedings involving allegations of domestic abuse from mediation and clarify the domestic abuse mediation exemption in divorce cases. The Department of the Attorney General and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence supported the measure but recommended technical and conforming changes, including updating references from HRS Chapter 584 to 584A and aligning the language more closely with the Uniform Mediation Act. Members discussed whether the bill’s wording could limit who may bring a support person to mediation, and the chair suggested the intent was to preserve survivor choice while avoiding ambiguity. No vote was taken in the portion heard. SB 2203 would create an offense for law enforcement officers using masks or personal disguises. The Office of the Public Defender, ACLU of Hawaii, Legal Clinic, and many other supporters argued the bill would improve transparency, accountability, and public trust, while still allowing safety exceptions. Law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Law Enforcement, Honolulu Police Department, and the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office, raised concerns about operational needs, undercover and auxiliary units, body cameras, and possible supremacy clause issues if the bill is aimed at federal officers. The chair noted the bill appeared likely to move forward and asked agencies and advocates to work on possible amendments; testimony count was reported as 114 in support, 3 opposed, and 2 comments. SB 2251 would appropriate funds for the victim witness assistance program in the City and County of Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The prosecutor’s office supported the bill, saying it would replace shortfalls from declining federal funding and help maintain victim services and rights information. A former program director also testified in support. When asked, the office said it would not object to a simple reporting requirement. The committee then moved on to SB 2311, which would address claims against the state and add reporting and timing requirements; the Department of the Attorney General testified with concerns and recommendations, and members began questioning current practices for handling claims and settlements.

Transcript Highlights:

• requires the Director of ADOA to provide a question-and-answer period outside of the procurement process
• requires the director of ADOA to provide a question and answer period outside of the procurement process
• and makes the questions and answers. ...a question-and-answer period outside of the procurement process
• And, in effect, members, what this does is it subjects all power plants to the line siting process.
• time for voters because of the extra processing time for some counties.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee worked through a very long minority caucus calendar covering a wide range of bills, with many items being described and then either left on consent, pulled from consent, or noted for votes. Topics included bullion and state depository proposals, a produce incentive appropriation, a biennial budget change, veterans services funding, driver licensing and traffic enforcement measures, procurement and public records changes, school board and school facilities rules, SNAP work requirements and verification, child welfare and juvenile justice provisions, housing and homelessness measures, energy and fuel policy, election administration, and several tax, commerce, and licensing bills. Members repeatedly raised concerns about constitutionality, federal preemption, duplication of existing law, and whether some measures were policy priorities that had been vetoed in prior sessions and were returning unchanged. Several bills drew extended debate. Members objected to English-proficiency requirements for commercial drivers and motor carriers, arguing federal law and the supremacy clause would bar them. Earned wage access regulation prompted strong opposition over consumer harm, overdraft cycles, and high effective APRs. School-related bills were criticized for overregulating public schools while not imposing similar requirements on ESA/private-school programs, especially on fingerprint clearance and reporting. SNAP-related bills were also opposed as setting unrealistic mandates and repeating vetoed proposals. Other contested measures included a drag-show criminalization bill, a bill restricting photo enforcement, a bill limiting local regulation of unmanned aircraft, and a bill conforming Arizona tax law to federal changes, which members said would benefit wealthy taxpayers and corporations without a clear funding source. The committee also heard a number of supportive or less controversial measures, including bills on veterans awareness, dementia care telemonitoring, Braille transcription funding, CPA licensure pathways, cash acceptance by retailers, and some child safety and court administration changes. Several bills were pulled from consent for further discussion, while others were noted as having unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The meeting ended with caucus announcements, including an affordability award presentation, an upcoming Latino Caucus discussion on community land trusts, and an invitation to African American Legislative Day activities, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was about choosing discipline when it was hard, showing up with consistency, and trusting the process
• Not in there now, but there will be a mechanism for a refund. That's a very good idea.
• To sign a contract that they're willing to refund the money if someone's exonerated.
• of the GPS monitoring, and how does imposing that cost on an unconvicted individual align with due process
• We have the emergency measure because the way contracts are entered into with teachers really that process

Bills: SJR47, SB1491, SB1579, SB1806, SB1552, SB483, SB63, SB137, SB346, SB514, SB1344, SB1360, SB1380, SB1437, SB1189, SB1217, SB1221, SB1262, SB1272, SB1325, SB1339, SB201

Keywords: voter ID, elections, constitutional amendment, Oklahoma, proof of identity, presidential electors, vacancies, oath of office, political party, property tax, valuation increase, taxpayer rights, homestead, protest process, foster care, adoption assistance, transitioning youth, Department of Human Services, voluntary services, county home rule charter

Transcript Highlights:

• that applicants need to have a plan for asset depreciation so that we're not constantly having to refund
• that applicants need to have a plan for asset depreciation so that we're not constantly having to refund

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:15 HB 503 Discussion 00:01:30 HB 503 Vote 00:05:30 HB 651 Discussion 00:07:15 HB 651 Vote 00:10:25, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Appropriations and Revenue met on March 3, 2026, with a quorum present and took up two bills. First, the committee considered House Bill 503, the legislative branch budget, as amended by committee substitute PHS 1. Sponsors and presenters described it as a continuation of recent budget approaches for the smallest of the three branches. One member asked about language in the substitute related to capital and capital annex construction expenditures and why certain statutes would not apply; the response was that the provisions were standard in recent years and intended to give the legislative branch flexibility for ongoing capital projects. The committee adopted PHS 1 and then passed HB 503 out favorably by a vote of 19-0, with no nays or passes. The committee then took up House Bill 651, which makes changes to the Kentucky Waters program created in 2024. Representative Josh Bray explained that the bill, in consultation with the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority, updates project selection criteria to better target distressed districts and applies only to the next funding cycle. The committee substitute adds requirements for applicants to have an asset depreciation plan and ties that concept into best management practices, with the stated goal of avoiding repeated funding of the same projects as they wear out. Members clarified that the bill addresses the program’s structure rather than annual funding allocations, and Bray confirmed that annual project funding continues to be implemented through separate resolutions and KIA evaluation. The committee adopted PHS 1 and reported HB 651 favorably by a vote of 20-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:20:54.880> but<00:20:55.120> the process of doing that, but the process of doing
• Is there a fiscal note in process?
• Is there a fiscal note in process?
• just your own IRB process in this? just your own IRB process in this?
• reciprocal licensing process. reciprocal licensing process.

Bills: HF4438, HF4467, HF4379, SF3402, HF4349, HF4064, HF84, HF85, HF3804

Keywords: healthcare, WIC, community health, licensing, speech-language pathology, audiology, contract term limits, healthcare services, provider enrollment, disenrollment, premium payments, medical assistance, substance use disorders, mental health, children's mental health, early childhood, early intervention, consultation grants, Head Start, child care

Transcript Highlights:

• The whole process will begin over again.
• so by creating a transparent process so by creating a transparent process allowing<00:23:30.480>
• <01:06:20.799> are have been out of the school process are have been out of the school process
• <01:55:43.760> House to merchant processing agreements.
• House to merchant processing agreements.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House convened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, then established a quorum with 96 members present. The chamber excused absent members, suspended rules to allow bill and resolution co-sponsorship and vote modifications, approved the previous day’s journal, and received Senate messages announcing passage of Senate Bills 101, 129, 162, and 170. The clerk then reported second-reading bills and favorable committee reports, which were ordered to first reading and placed on the calendar. The House then took up several bills on third reading. House Bill 521, relating to stalking, was presented as a modernization of Kentucky’s stalking laws and passed 95-0 after debate; a motion to reconsider was tabled. House Bill 220, relating to pension spiking in the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority systems, was amended by House floor amendment 1 to move the effective date back to July 1, 2021 to capture additional employees, then passed 95-0 and the clincher was applied. House Bill 510, relating to organ donation safety, passed 97-0 after explanation that it would require a pause and restart if anyone in the process believed there were indications of life. House Bill 467, relating to real property, passed 96-0 after adoption of a committee substitute; it creates a process for local governments to identify abandoned or underutilized state-owned property and sets procedures for review, notice, and disposal. House Bill 190, relating to licensed child care centers, passed 96-0 after a committee substitute that adjusts square-footage calculations for certain school-aged child care areas and excludes infants and toddlers. House Bill 141, relating to type 1 diabetes, passed 96-0 after a committee substitute removed an annual distribution requirement and instead made informational materials available in school offices; members spoke in support, including one describing a family experience with the disease. House Bill 518, relating to collection of local business taxes and fees, passed 91-3 after a committee substitute that allows electronic filing while preserving local control, creates an advisory committee, and phases in implementation through July 2029. House Bill 497, relating to post-secondary tuition waivers, was explained as addressing waiver costs to universities and was amended with House floor amendment 3 to expand and clarify eligibility, including up to 128 hours for eligible students and additional provisions for certain groups; discussion was underway when the transcript ended. The meeting also included committee reports on bills covering wildlife depredation, light pollution, limited commercial driver’s licenses, prison educational programs, civil rights, respiratory care, dietitians, temporary structures, controlled substances prescribing authority, the Athletic Trainer Compact, children of military families, local boards of education, youth health services, and class sizes for exceptional children and youth.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, veterans have to wait up to seven months to complete the VR program intake and processing
• Yet, due to a processing error, the VA did not deposit the funds until after Mr. Peltz's passing.
• And what was amazing about this process, while mourning the loss of their father, Charles Peltz shared
• And what was amazing about this process, while mourning the loss of their father, Charles Peltz shared
• also allow service members and veterans who paid into the Montgomery GI Bill to receive their $1,200 refund

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, February 2, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then from this competitive application process, we select the applicants that give us the most jobs
• She helped kick off our 4.0 regulation process and led a months-long stakeholder outreach process which
• Through these meetings and formal comment process we have certified regulations to move forward with
• So, the process of evaluating our applicants is still the same.
• She's been in a bit of a role as chair of this committee and really managing a process.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• types of permit permitting processes types of permit permitting processes there<00:49:40.359>
• <01:58:08.040> and those areas input into the process and those areas input into the process
• drafting process.
• under the the program the the process under the the program the the process that's<02:06:43.280>
• <02:07:13.520> we it got lost in the drafting process we it got lost in the drafting process

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from the Department of Environmental Services on proposed changes in House Bill 2 and related technical changes in House Bill 1 tied to the governor’s permitting realignment initiative. The proposal would move environmental review staff from Fish and Game and DNCR to DES to create a more centralized “one-stop shop” for applicants needing DES permits, especially for wildlife and natural heritage reviews. DES said the goal is to speed permitting, support a 60-day review clock, and improve coordination among agencies while keeping the substantive review work in place. Members asked about staffing impacts, the scope of the transferred duties, and whether the change would create redundancy or weaken the other agencies. DES said most of the affected staff work primarily on these reviews, though Fish and Game staff also handle other state and federal reviews, which is why the proposal was adjusted to keep one of the four Fish and Game positions there and move three to DES, along with two positions from DNCR. DES also described a new supervisory position in HB 2 to manage the transferred staff within its land resources bureau. Officials said the reviews would still be done by specialists, but under DES supervision, and that the agencies would continue to coordinate recommendations on species impacts and mitigation. The committee also discussed fee increases intended to offset costs, including a 50% increase in wetlands fees and a 100% increase in alteration-of-terrain fees, with the department saying the changes would cover the new positions. Members raised concerns about impacts on private homeowners, possible incentives to work without permits, and whether fines should be used more as a revenue source or for mitigation. DES said wetlands permits are roughly split between homeowner-related and commercial projects, that permit-by-notification already creates a two-tier structure for smaller projects, and that enforcement relies partly on public complaints and online permitting systems. The department also said most fines currently go to the general fund and vary widely year to year, with about $75,000 budgeted, and that the proposal would also create permit-by-notification authority for alteration-of-terrain projects between 100,000 and 150,000 square feet, mirroring language in Senate Bill 110. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• A couple proposals for property tax refunds.
• A couple proposals for property tax refunds.
• <00:12:04.680> tax A couple proposals for property tax A couple proposals for property tax refunds

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a good opportunity for you to see a lot of things up here and how the process works.
• The process is Game right now. The process is cumbersome. Some feel like it's harassment.
• This streamlines the process that, you know, during COVID, we saw that parental voices were muted, and
• Um, just simply streamlines the process.
• And the process is already there. This just streamlines it, makes it easier for the parent to do.

Bills: HB491, SB85

Keywords: HB491, public schools, K-12, school nutrition, school lunch, cafeteria, artificial dyes, food additives, food coloring, synthetic dyes, Red Dye No. 3, Red Dye No. 40, Yellow Dye No. 5, Yellow Dye No. 6, Blue Dye No. 1, Blue Dye No. 2, Green Dye No. 3, school fundraising, vending, snacks

Transcript Highlights:

• Filing process in the middle of April at least allows people to see what I've been doing for a second
• So currently, the way the process works is in advalom reimbursement.
• Otherwise, that amount is refunded back.
• Two basic questions: Is there any Kind of appeals process for this when this is put in place.
• Chairman, you could allow Representative Fugate to Rephrase as far as the appeals process.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But as a result of, you know, we've had one year of the non-refundable carryforwards, and now we're entering
• But as a result of, you know, we've had one year of the non-refundable carryforwards, and now we're entering
• you know we've had one year<00:45:29.040> of<00:45:29.440> the<00:45:29.839> non-refundable
• <00:45:30.760> carry year of the non-refundable carry year of the non-refundable carry forwards

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> There are maybe a couple others that are in the process.
• Uh Pacific Biodeiesel in the process.
• It's really legislative process.
• Chair recommends restore refundability.
• Chair recommends adding language to allow this act to restore refundability.

Bills: HB1813, HB2429, HB2423, HB1996, HB1851, HB2546, HB2028, HB2583, HB2490, HB2545, HB2114, HB1859, HB2534, HB2474, HB1863, HB2475

Keywords: taxation, general excise tax, use tax, exemptions, Hawaii Revised Statutes, tax expenditure, tax expenditure evaluation, tax credit review, tax incentive, tax exemption, use tax exemption, income tax credit, DBEDT, Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism, Department of Taxation, fiscal oversight, budget accountability, tax policy, revenue loss, public spending

Summary: The committee opened with HB 1813 on taxation and HB 2429 on tax expenditure evaluation, taking mostly written testimony and limited oral discussion. On HB 2429, the Tax Foundation and Department of Taxation raised privacy and federal-law concerns, warning that the bill could require taxpayers to file duplicative returns and could risk disclosure of federal tax information if released publicly. Members and witnesses discussed using anonymized or summary reporting instead of individual public release, with the department saying summarized data would be preferable and that the state can ask for the information as a policy matter, but individual public release could create problems. The committee then heard HB 2423 HD1 on biodiesel, where Pacific Biodiesel said it can supply all biodiesel needed for B5 in Hawaii without imports and asked to move the implementation date earlier to November 2027 to allow rollout planning. HB 1996 HB1 on hearing aids drew broad support; a disability access representative said earlier insurance-based efforts had run into administrative problems and that this bill would immediately lower costs for consumers. HB 1851 HD1, also related to hearing aids, received support from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, while the Tax Foundation argued the program would be better funded directly rather than through the tax system, citing overhead costs and blank provisions that should be filled in before passage. On HB 2546, the research activities tax credit, HCDC said the credit supports long-term R&D and should be converted from a first-come, first-served system to proration so more applicants receive some benefit; the agency described the credit as helping companies move from idea to commercialization and noted the state is leaving potential jobs and federal dollars on the table. HB 2028 HD1, relating to Labor Day for construction workers, drew support from labor representatives who said it recognizes construction workers and helps offset cost-of-living pressures, while the Tax Foundation opposed it as an industry-specific subsidy and flagged technical issues with undefined terms and blank credit amounts. The committee also heard HB 2583, HB 2490, HB 2545, HB 2114, and HB 1859 HD1. HB 2490, concerning coastal erosion at Mokuhiki Bay, received strong support from a temple representative who described severe shoreline loss, years of temporary emergency work, and the need for a long-term, nature-based solution in coordination with state agencies. HB 2545, involving HCDC and SBIR commercialization, was supported as a way to turn R&D into economic development; HCDC said it had more applications than it could fund and that the bill could help create high-wage jobs. HB 2114, the Hawaii Benefits Hub, received comments from ETS and DHS emphasizing support for the concept but cautioning that operational, policy, cybersecurity, and data-sharing standards must be carefully aligned. HB 1859 HD1 on workforce development drew strong support from workforce and philanthropic groups, who said Hawaii faces a long-term gap between projected living-wage jobs and the number of young people entering the workforce, and argued the bill would create durable infrastructure for coordination and long-term planning. No formal votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our thought process there was...
• We don't get involved in the contracting process.
• involved in the Contracting process involved in the Contracting process so<00:33:58.399> I
• <01:45:09.159> at<01:45:09.320> the Financial processes at the Financial processes
• <02:19:25.519> in<02:19:25.719> place process in place process in place now<02:19:27.920

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony from Insurance Commissioner DJ Bettencourt on the New Hampshire Insurance Department budget. He said the department is self-funded through assessments on insurers based on New Hampshire premium volume, with about $8 billion in premiums written in the state and a department budget of roughly $15.5 million. He explained that the department has 88 authorized positions, eight vacancies, and that three full-time positions were unfunded after the governor’s requested 4% reduction exercise. He also said the department is trying to balance staffing needs with not overburdening carriers during a hard insurance market. A major topic was the department’s $2.6 million rebate to industry from the prior fiscal year, which Bettencourt described as a credit against the next assessment rather than a direct cash payment. Members questioned why that credit was not reflected as a reduction in the upcoming budget, and Bettencourt and staff explained that the budget assumes full staffing and full spending, with any year-end surplus returned to insurers. The commissioner said the department had added staff in recent years for succession planning and to preserve institutional expertise, and that the rebate reflects careful budgeting rather than excess spending. Members also asked about staffing changes by division, including positions unfunded in fraud, property and casualty examinations, life and health examinations, and tax. Bettencourt said fraud investigations remain strong and that the department can use outside contractors for examinations, with those costs billed to the company being examined. He also described the department’s examination process, including periodic financial exams and targeted market conduct reviews triggered by consumer complaints or trends. Additional questions covered OIT transfers, the department’s oversight of fully insured health coverage, the insurance premium tax and fines going to the general fund, and the department’s limited role in auto repair reimbursement disputes, where he said complaints have recently declined.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill makes certain other amendments regarding the organization and application process, requiring
• <00:08:27.520> requiring<00:08:28.080> captive application process requiring captive
• application process requiring captive insurance<00:08:28.879> to<00:08:29.039> do<00:08
• to patients if and requires refunds to patients if insurers<00:53:58.319> fail<00:53:58.640><
• And if they're below that, then they have to make refunds.

Bills: SB170, SB177, SB207, SB208, SB215, HB27, SB219, SB247, SB232, SB81

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So what Senate File 10 does is it creates a process by which the department can reimburse the sheriffs
• > which<00:08:39.599> uh<00:08:40.000> uh<00:08:40.320> the creates a process
• So for those people who that historic paper notification process is important to, it does not require
• processing processing and<01:50:02.159> it's<01:50:02.480> now<01:50:02.800> on
• Health so that they could refund county Health so that they could refund county uh<02:12:40.560> detainment

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• eventually reverse itself in process eventually reverse itself in five<00:29:28.080> 00<00:29
• And the reason for using a refundable tax credit mechanism is everybody would get the revenues.
• It doesn’t matter how much you make; it is refundable. If you have no income, that’s fine.
• And the reason for using a refundable tax credit mechanism is everybody would get the revenues.
• It doesn’t matter how much you make; it is refundable. If you have no income, that’s fine.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're here today to start talking about the budget process.
• These are not like refunds that they might be due because they're paying taxes legally.
• These are not like refunds that they might be due because they're paying taxes legally.
• I know they're going through the reconciliation process with the bills out there as well, but when you

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This assessment process for those farms is that they are reviewed on all parcels, all crops grown, all
• involved actually in sort of the process involved actually in sort of the process and<00:37:28.319
• She said nobody's ever tried to follow her thought process.
• <01:20:34.280> to<01:20:35.280> the credit to property tax refund to the credit to
• property tax refund to the farmers<01:20:36.000> but<01:20:36.199> you<01:20:36.440>

Keywords: 1183, house