Transcript Highlights:

• > to<00:36:35.920> move Members, the recommendation is to move Members, the recommendation
• The recommendation is STR 55 and SR37.
• Uh, members, the recommendation is to defer indefinitely.
• Members, the recommendation workforce.
• Mahalo. recommendation is to pass un amended, recommendation is to pass un amended, noting<00:39:42.720

Keywords: 912, senate, all

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Recommendations adopted. Thank you, CPN. Same recommendation. Any discussion?
• vote Yes Senator Dort I recommendations vote Yes Senator Dort I recommendations adopted<00:02:27.080
• <00:02:29.120> any<00:02:29.360> discussion recommendation any discussion recommendation
• Recommendations adopted.
• CPN member, same recommendation. recommendation of the chair will be to recommendation of the chair will

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate committee hearing considered HB 472 HD1 on digital identification and HB 1097 HD1 on public housing evictions, followed by HB 1325 HD3 on housing redevelopment and tenant relocation rights. HB 472 would require digital IDs to be accepted under certain conditions and allow law enforcement to use them as proof of identity; the committee heard limited testimony, then adopted a recommendation to pass with amendments, including changing “shall” to “may” and adding effective and defective dates. HB 1097 would shorten the storage period for unclaimed personal effects after a public housing eviction; the Hawaii Public Housing Authority supported the bill, while some members raised concerns about the impact on displaced families. The committee moved the bill forward with discussion of the agency’s eviction process, waitlist size, and the need to free units sooner for other applicants. HB 1325 HD3 drew extensive testimony and discussion. The bill would require developers of certain HHFDC affordable housing projects to provide displaced tenants with a right of first refusal for a comparable unit or relocation assistance, along with information, tracking, and enforcement provisions. HHFDC supported the measure but suggested amendments to require both relocation assistance and a right of first refusal, without requiring the same rent as the prior unit. Legal aid, housing advocates, community organizations, and many tenants testified in strong support, emphasizing displacement during public housing redevelopment, inadequate communication, accessibility problems, and the need for enforceable rights to return. Several tenants described confusing notices, unsuitable replacement units, and hardship for elders, disabled residents, and children. The discussion also highlighted concerns about developer compliance and the need for state-level enforcement. No final vote on HB 1325 was shown in the transcript excerpt, but the hearing included substantial questioning of the housing authority and testimony from affected residents. The committee also discussed the broader redevelopment context, including large-scale public housing demolition and replacement plans, and the potential consequences for families if relocation and return rights are not clearly enforced.

Transcript Highlights:

• The recommendation is adopted. Thank you. For HHS, same recommendation to pass with amendments.
• Recommendation adopted. For HHS, same recommendation to pass with amendments. Chair votes aye.
• Recommendation adopted.
• The recommendation is adopted. For Health and Human Services, same recommendation.
• Recommendations adopted. Thank you.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Committee on Education and Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs heard Senate Bill 422, which would authorize the Department of Education to award a high school diploma to qualified people whose schooling was interrupted by military service or wartime practices during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. The Department of Education testified in support, noting a prior law that created the Kono diploma program before it sunset in 2020. Several members of the public also testified in support. Both committees later recommended passage of SB 422 without amendments, and the recommendation was adopted by voice votes. The committees then heard Senate Bill 530 on Braille literacy. The bill would establish Braille literacy as state policy, require Braille-related literacy assessments for eligible blind and low-vision students, authorize DOE rulemaking, create a Braille Literacy Resource Center, and appropriate funds. DOE and the Department of Human Services supported the measure, as did the National Federation of the Blind, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and a blind testifier who described the importance of early Braille instruction. The Attorney General’s office raised concerns about statutory language requiring yearly assessments and suggested revisions so annual decisions remain with IEP teams. The committees voted to pass SB 530 with amendments, including the Attorney General’s suggested changes, and adopted the recommendation. The next measure was Senate Bill 532, which would allow school staff and agents trained by a licensed clinician to volunteer to administer medication to students in public schools under certain conditions and clarify who may prescribe such medication. DOE and Department of Health testimony supported the bill. The Attorney General recommended replacing the term “licensed clinician” with the defined term “health care professional.” The Hawaii Academy of Physician Assistants supported the bill but asked that physician assistants be included among providers who may prescribe medications for school administration. After questions about current school health aide duties and field-trip medication procedures, the committees voted to pass SB 532 with amendments, including the Attorney General’s terminology change, and adopted the recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
• recommendation and with a recommendation recommendation and with a recommendation that<00:29:10.080
• House Bill favorable recommendation.
• Whole with favorable recommendation. Whole with favorable recommendation.
• It was recommended that we continue to regulate this space.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the corrected journal, and received committee reports advancing several measures, including House Bills 1237, 1081, 1208, and Senate Bill 103. The chamber also adopted a motion to proceed out of order for moments of personal privilege, during which members welcomed students from Fort Lewis College, Colorado State University, and Adams State University, as well as Volunteers of America and Zonta International, and recognized Volunteers of America’s 130th anniversary. On third reading, the Senate passed House Bill 1120 on mobile home taxation and delinquent property tax collection after adopting a technical amendment, and passed House Bill 1007 on distributed energy resources after debate focused on safety, UL listing, utility coordination, and affordability. It also passed House Bill 1253 on disconnection of property from a statutory municipality and House Bill 1145 on water quality in mobile home parks, though the latter drew more opposition. House Bill 1044 on maternal health equity was amended to change language from a “statement of rights” to a required notice and to revise task force language, then passed after sponsors emphasized disparities in maternal mortality and provider training. The Senate then adopted the Committee of the Whole report, which placed House Bills 1186 and 1044 on the calendar for third reading and laid over Senate Bill 134 and House Bills 1071 and 1084 until April 6. The chamber also confirmed three governor’s appointments to the State Board of Parole: Katherine Rodriguez, Rodrigo Luévano, and Greg Size. The meeting ended with announcements, including committee meeting notices and a brief personal privilege about the Artemis 2 launch, followed by a recess until noon.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then in October, we're going to come up with a Senate recommendation and a House recommendation.
• And then hopefully they'll be the same recommendation, come up with a joint recommendation to present
• We present those recommendations, and then historically those recommendations have been acted on in the
• recommendations, which will be for fiscal years 2028 and 2029.
• So my recommendation—do you have another question besides ALE? Okay. So my recommendation...

Summary: The joint education committee continued its adequacy study with a detailed Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on resource allocation, covering how Arkansas school districts and charters spend foundation and other funds on matrix and non-matrix items. Staff explained the methodology for mapping expenditures, the district and school categories used in the analysis, and key findings showing that districts spend more per student from all fund sources than the foundation amount alone. The presentation highlighted that classroom teachers account for the largest share of matrix spending, while operations and maintenance, student support staff, nurses, and other lines also drew significant attention. Members asked for additional breakdowns by district type, size, rural/urban status, and trend data, and several questions focused on how waivers affect funding and spending, especially for library media specialists and other positions. The committee then discussed non-matrix spending, including instructional aids, non-technology-related facilities, school safety, mental health services, dyslexia support, food service, gifted and talented, career and technical education, and other items not explicitly defined in the matrix. Staff reported that non-matrix spending exceeded $2 billion in 2025, with most of it coming from other fund sources, and that the top superintendent-identified unmet needs over recent surveys were mental health services, school safety, and dyslexia support. Members raised concerns about dyslexia identification and funding, possible over-identification, and whether some support costs are being coded in ways that obscure the true spending picture. There was also discussion of facilities funding, the building fund, and the Department of Education’s partnership program for school construction and maintenance, with staff agreeing to provide more information and potentially bring department officials back for a future meeting. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly requested more granular data and clarifications, including waiver counts and funding impacts, trend lines for superintendent-reported needs, district-by-district spending spreadsheets, and definitions for certain matrix and accounting terms such as salary enhancement, LEA indebtedness, and other employee health insurance. The chair noted that the committee would continue the adequacy process over the coming months and use the worksheet in the binder to develop recommendations for the next biennium. No votes were taken during this portion of the meeting; instead, the committee received the report, asked for follow-up data, and agreed to continue the discussion at future meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we are trying to make sure that we have the ability to recommend those or follow those recommendations
• We will develop unified public health position statements, policy recommendations, and guidance, and
• When they speak on recommendations, there's a lot of weight and authority behind their recommendations
• So we'll continue to have those discussions and bring recommendations. So next slide, please.
• So we'll continue to have those discussions and bring recommendations forward.

Summary: The committee first welcomed new DSHS Secretary Angela Ramirez, who introduced herself and described her background in public service, federal and state legislative work, and health and human services leadership. Members emphasized the importance of building strong relationships with her and noted her focus on protecting services, using strategic approaches in a tight budget environment, and improving partnerships with the Legislature. Ramirez said she wanted to keep communication open and that her priorities would be shaped by what she learns from lawmakers and agency partners. The next work session focused on the West Coast Health Alliance and the broader Governor’s Public Health Alliance. Department of Health and governor’s office staff said the West Coast alliance, involving Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii, was formed to coordinate science-based public health guidance, especially around vaccines, return-to-work guidance, and responses to federal changes. They said the alliance is intended to reduce confusion, counter misinformation, and preserve access to evidence-based recommendations, with early actions including vaccine guidance for COVID-19, flu, and RSV, a statement rejecting any vaccine-autism link, and preparation for possible ACIP changes. Members asked about workload and coordination with other regional alliances, and staff said there is informal coordination but no formal regular meetings. The committee then heard from the Washington State Health Benefit Exchange about open enrollment and the effects of federal policy changes. Exchange leaders said the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, HR1 provisions, and immigration-related eligibility changes are affecting affordability and enrollment, with some customers facing large premium increases and some counties becoming harder to serve. They reported early open-enrollment traffic increases, nearly 10,000 new sign-ups, and nearly 12,000 active coverage drops so far, while noting that many more people may disenroll later if subsidies are not extended. They also described mitigation efforts such as silver loading, Cascade Care Savings, outreach through navigators and community partners, and planning for future HR1 requirements like ending auto-renewal and adding verification steps. In the final work session, staff from the Health Care Authority and Insurance Commissioner’s office reviewed Washington’s health reform history and the state’s current affordability and access efforts. They highlighted past ACA-related coverage gains, continued work on prescription drug affordability, PBM oversight, primary care and behavioral health access, and a pending legislative proposal to preserve access to preventive services. They also discussed federal changes affecting Medicaid and the exchange, including work requirements, six-month redeterminations, and the need to coordinate across agencies to implement new rules. Members raised concerns about network adequacy, provider access, and the complexity of the health care system, while staff said they are trying to mitigate harm, simplify administration, and keep coverage and access as stable as possible.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh recommendation is Member Dort. Hi.
• <00:48:13.119> Uh, recommendation to pass with a CD.
• Uh, recommendation to pass with a CD.
• <00:49:17.119> the<00:49:17.280> House recommendations to um adopt the House recommendations
• Member Dort, recommendation is adopted, and we have a bill for this one.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• so amended recommends do pass.
• Representative Vagnes-Lead Chairman recommends amendments and so amended recommends do pass on engrossed
• amended, recommends.
• The committee, Representative Vigesaa, Chairman, recommends amendments and, so amended, recommends do
• I recommend we concur. Sponsor. They are good with this bill. I recommend we concur.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, pledge, and roll call, establishing a quorum. It then took up a series of appropriations and policy bills, with the most extensive debate centered on Senate Bill 2025, the Department of Veterans Affairs budget. The House approved amendments that shifted governance of the department and veterans’ home from ACOVA to the governor, citing concerns about ACOVA’s salary-setting actions and broader appropriation oversight. Members opposed to the change argued ACOVA had studied compensation and acted within its role. The amended bill passed 57-34, and the final bill passed 69-22 with the emergency clause carrying. The House also passed Senate Bill 2001, the legislative branch budget, which funds the 2027 session, legislative staff, chamber upgrades, IT improvements, and salary adjustments for legislative leaders; the bill passed 62-29, but the emergency clause failed. Senate Bill 2019, the Career and Technical Education budget, passed 82-10 with emergency clause. Senate Bill 2021, the Information Technology Department budget, passed 75-17 after discussion of data center migration, service automation, mainframe transition, ERP study, and DPI’s move from PowerSchool to Infinite Campus. Other measures passed included Senate Bill 2228 for rural grocery store sustainability grants, Senate Bill 2390 creating a rural catalyst community grant program, Senate Bill 2188 adjusting the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, and Senate Bill 2265 authorizing a veterans national cemetery grant and line of credit with added reporting safeguards. Several House bills returned from the Senate were concurred in and then passed, including House Bill 1361 on mandatory minimum sentences for human trafficking offenders, House Bill 1017 for the Game and Fish Department, House Bill 1588 on firearms and dangerous weapons provisions, House Bill 1429 on harassment and stalking involving robots, House Bill 1591 on county fair resiliency grants, House Bill 1537 on service agreement protection for water projects, House Bill 1203 on edible medical marijuana products, and House Bill 1027 transferring administration of the State Fire and Tornado Fund from the Insurance Commissioner to OMB. The House also rejected a motion to reconsider Senate Bill 2307, which dealt with library materials and obscenity-related restrictions, by a vote of 48-51. In addition, the chamber appointed conference committees on several House and Senate measures where concurrence had failed, and laid over Senate Bill 2340 for two legislative days.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 54N is recommended for OTP. House Bill 54N is recommended for OTP.
• So I'm recommending IPO. 97 as written. So I'm recommending IPO.
• And with that, recommendation is to ITL.
• I will close the recommendation of ITL.
• <00:41:28.079> ITL<00:41:28.800> for recommending ITL for recommending ITL for Thank<00

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened a work session on 17 retained bills and moved through several measures, often with motions to ought to pass or inexpedient to legislate. House Bill 54, allowing alternative treatment centers to operate for profit, was supported as a way to improve efficiency and potentially lower costs for medical cannabis users, and it was recommended OTP by a 9-0 vote. House Bill 97, an appropriation for wastewater infrastructure, drew mixed views: supporters said the Senate’s reduced funding still met the bill’s intent, while opponents argued the funding was inadequate for critical infrastructure needs; the committee voted 5-4 to ITL. House Bill 111, extending the Right to Know Ombudsman and exempting certain assistance from unauthorized practice of law, was recommended ITL 9-0. House Bill 197, concerning state payment of a portion of local retirement contributions, was discussed as a recurring issue; members noted an amendment could fund it starting in fiscal 2027, but the committee ultimately voted 5-4 to recommend the bill itself rather than ITL. House Bill 215, requiring landfill permit applicants to submit a harms-and-benefits report, was amended to narrow its scope to future privately owned landfills only; the amendment and the bill as amended both passed 9-0. House Bill 216, on workers’ compensation credit toward retirement service, was ITL’d 9-0 after the sponsor said the proposal was too open-ended and could affect unknown numbers of people.

Transcript Highlights:

• It makes recommendations to people.
• <00:48:34.480> us should wait for the LSO to recommend us should wait for the LSO to recommend
• With<00:57:00.320> the<00:57:00.440> recommendation With the recommendation With the recommendation
• it do so with a favorable recommendation it do so with a favorable recommendation of<01:29:19.160
• Signed, Senator Brennan, Chairman. recommendation that it do pass. recommendation that it do pass.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• recommend that spayneuter is required. recommend that spayneuter is required.
• recommendation is adopted. recommendation is adopted.
• The recommendation is adopted. Purrick. The recommendation is adopted.
• The recommendation is adopted. The recommendation is adopted.
• The recommendation is Any no votes? The recommendation is adopted. adopted. adopted.

Bills: HB1604, HB1713, HB1722, HB2270, HB2401, HB2515, HB1979, HB1593, HB1743, HB2122, HB1756, HB1837, HB1729

Keywords: agriculture, housing, workforce, land use, zoning, public-private partnerships, tax credit, school impact fees, impact fee exemption, school facilities authority, residential development, housing shortage, affordable housing, infill housing, land dedication, fee in lieu, school construction, developer exactions, fair share contributions, education contribution agreement

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1604, which would create an agricultural workforce housing group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to address shortages of farmworker housing. The department said it supported the bill’s intent but emphasized that the group’s early work should focus on gathering data and surveying farm operators to assess actual demand, to avoid “mission creep.” Testimony from the City and County of Honolulu Office of Economic Revitalization, Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Housing Hawaii’s Future, and the Maui Chamber of Commerce was in support, with one witness suggesting a housing advocacy nonprofit be added to the working group for balance. The committee then discussed HB 1713 on school impact fees, which would clarify exemptions for certain affordable housing projects and exempt new residential developments of fewer than 100 units. The Attorney General’s office said the bill should define “low to moderate income households” because that term is not defined in chapter 302A. HHFDC, the School Facilities Authority, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, and others supported the measure, arguing it would reduce administrative burden and remove barriers to housing. Members questioned whether the bill should instead repeal the school impact fee entirely; supporters said they also favored full repeal but viewed this bill as a more feasible step. The School Facilities Authority also explained that about $28 million in school impact fees had been collected across four districts and none had yet been spent, and discussed how recent nexus requirements limit how the funds can be used. HB 1722, relating to residential condominiums, drew extensive testimony and questioning. HCDA supported the bill and explained that it amends the 99-year leasehold pilot program created by Act 97 of 2023 by reducing owner-occupancy restrictions from 100% of units to 60%, allowing some rental or subleasing flexibility for the owner-occupied units, and permitting up to 40% of units to be sold to qualified residents after being on the market for more than 60 days. HCDA said the original restrictions, combined with rising construction costs, higher interest rates, and competition from nearby projects, made the pilot project difficult to market and finance; it said the changes are needed to make the project feasible and competitive. Supporters including AP Hawaii, Kila LLC, and project representatives said the amendments would help make the demonstration project in Kakaʻako viable. Some members raised concerns that the changes could weaken long-term affordability and questioned why certain ownership language was being deleted if rentals would still be restricted. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Your committee recommends that the Senate confirm this appointment. Confirm this appointment.
• And now to this very important recommendation for this regent's position.
• and create its own recommended list for the state.
• It's now recommended that there are much stricter criteria for this.
• As a mother of children, I also value the recommendations that are made.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2596 will be reported to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation.
• Senator Hagenbuch recommends the committee substitute for House Bill 2596 be recommended for the local
• The full Senate with a favorable recommendation.
• House Bill 48 will be reported to the full Senate with the... recommendation.
• Senator Hagenbuch recommends that House Bill 4885 be recommended for local non-contested.

Bills: HB33, HB45, HB48, HB1261, HB1465, HB1778, HB2596, HB5238, SB2969, HB45, HB48

Keywords: HB 48, oilfield theft, organized theft, petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, DPS, Department of Public Safety, Texas, Railroad Commission, criminal justice, energy resources, theft prevention, organized crime, border region, El Paso, law enforcement task force, asset recovery, pipeline theft, drilling equipment, equipment theft

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 2596 will be reported to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation.
• Chair Flores: Senator Hagenbuch recommends House Bill 2596 be recommended for local and noncontested
• House Bill 5238 will be reported to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation.
• Senator Flores: I move that House Bill 1261 be recommended for the local calendar.
• Senator Haganville recommends that House Bill 4885 be recommended for local non-contested Chair: calendar

Bills: HB 33, HB 45, HB 48, HB 1261, HB 1465, HB 1778, HB 2596, HB 5238, SB 2969

Keywords: HB 48, oilfield theft, organized theft, petroleum products, oil and gas equipment, DPS, Department of Public Safety, Texas, Railroad Commission, criminal justice, energy resources, theft prevention, organized crime, border region, El Paso, law enforcement task force, asset recovery, pipeline theft, drilling equipment, equipment theft

Transcript Highlights:

• The report recommends the same ought to be adopted. Joan B. Lovely for the committee.
• It is recommended by the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading.
• Reading a bill that's recommended by the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading. What?
• The Committee on Ways and Means, with the recommended new draft, Senate No. 2899, on Thursday, January
• No amendment shall be in order at the third reading of the bill, unless recommended by the Committee

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then adopted an emergency preamble for Senate No. 2799, establishing a sick leave bank for a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education employee. The chamber also adopted a congratulatory resolution honoring the Warren Public Library on its 150th anniversary. Several local bills then advanced, including Senate No. 2509 on filling mayoral vacancies in New Bedford, House No. 4171 on vacancies among town meeting members in Milford (as amended), and House No. 4233 amending the Charter of the City of Malden, which was passed to be enacted and sent to the Governor. Senate No. 2799 was also passed to be enacted. The Senate adopted a committee report extending the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure’s reporting deadline to March 5, 2026. It also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer a House petition concerning the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code to the Committee on Financial Services. Multiple Senate orders were then adopted setting expedited procedures for Ways and Means consideration of several bills, including campaign finance reporting by state ballot question committees (Senate No. 507, new draft 2898), property tax bill shocks (Senate No. 1933, new draft 2899), municipal tax relief (Senate No. 1935, new draft 2900), property tax deferral (Senate No. 2713, new draft 2901), a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption (Senate No. 2036, new draft 2902), and honoring Blue Star Families (Senate No. 2903). The Senate also adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m. and dispense with printing a calendar. At the close of business, members moved to adjourn in memory of Mary Ann Lomba of Dorchester, with remarks noting her community service and family, and the motion prevailed. The Senate adjourned in her memory.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are at the point where it is time to dive into our recommended...
• We are at the point where it is time to dive into our recommended budget.
• This reflects an approximate 13% decrease from last year's IT budget recommendations.
• But with that, do we have any questions on the budget proposal as recommended?
• But with that, do we have any questions on the budget proposal as recommended?

Summary: The Information Technology Budget and Policy Subcommittee met to consider House Bill 369, relating to digital content provenance and AI-generated images, sponsored by Representative McFarland. McFarland explained that the bill is intended to address concerns about people being misled by AI-generated content, especially on social media, by preserving digital provenance data or watermark-like signatures attached to AI images. He said the measure is meant to support transparency without stifling innovation. A strike-all amendment was adopted that narrowed the bill in response to industry feedback. It removed an initial pilot program for the Division of Emergency Management, deleted provisions dealing with AI in elections, tightened definitions, and delayed the effective date to July 2026. Members asked about user control over provenance data, whether the data could include personal information, and how enforcement would work. McFarland said users may add extra information but are not required to, and that enforcement would begin with a complaint to the Attorney General, followed by notice and a 30-day cure period before possible action under the Fair, Unfair, and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Public testimony included support from an artist advocate, who said AI transparency is needed to protect creators, and support statements from Adobe and Comcast. TechNet appeared for information only and said it appreciated the changes, including the removal of the capture device, the 30-day cure period, and the delayed effective date. The amendment was adopted, and HB 369 was then reported favorably by a 17-0 vote. After the bill, the chair presented the subcommittee’s recommended 2025-2026 IT budget, totaling $528 million, including $146.5 million in general revenue and $382.2 million in trust funds. The proposal reflected a roughly 13% decrease from the prior year and emphasized funding for major ongoing projects such as the PALM/FLAIR replacement, the AHCA FX program, the Department of Revenue’s CAMS modernization, and the APD I-Connect system. No questions were raised, and the meeting adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair's recommendation is adopted. Thank you, Chair. For members of EIG, same recommendation.
• Richards I Senator FLL hi recommendation Richards I Senator FLL hi recommendation is is is adopted
• recommendation is adopted. Thank you.
• Fel recommendation is adopted thank you Fel recommendation is adopted thank you okay<00:27:33.200>
• same recommendation for the okay same recommendation for the Committee<00:27:35.000> on<00:27:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees first heard Senate Bill 151 relating to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and geothermal development on Hawaiian homelands. DHHL and Ulupono Initiative testified in strong support, saying the measure would help advance clean energy goals, create economic opportunities, and support DHHL’s mission. Fine Electric also supported the bill. Several members of the public testified in opposition, raising concerns about consultation with beneficiaries, water impacts, land issues, and the scale of the proposed spending. In response to questions, DHHL staff explained slimhole drilling, the permitting distinctions between water exploration and geothermal exploration, and said prior studies and geophysical testing had been done. The chair then recommended passage with amendments, including SMA technical amendments, a directive to establish a permitted interaction group to study geothermal options, removal of the appropriation language, and a new effective date. The committees adopted the recommendation and passed SB 151 with amendments, with one senator voting no and several excused. The joint committees then took up Senate Bill 371 on property damage to critical infrastructure facilities. The Department of the Attorney General supported the bill with amendments, recommending broader critical infrastructure language to cover systems such as transportation, gas, power, water, and oil, and suggesting additional changes to improve prosecution. Utility and other supporters also testified in favor. The chairs proposed adopting the AG’s amendments except one, and further expanding the bill to make manslaughter explicit when a death results from disruption of critical infrastructure, and to add water as a covered infrastructure category. The committees adopted the amended recommendation and passed SB 371 with amendments. Finally, the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs committee heard Senate Bill 585 on special purpose revenue bonds for Bana Pacific. The Attorney General noted a possible issue with the company’s entity status and the bill title, but Bana Pacific stated it was in the process of converting from an LLC to a corporation and was satisfied with the title. The State Energy Office supported the concept, and Bana Pacific described the project as an integrated biogas and green hydrogen facility that would support energy security, create jobs, and reduce emissions. The committee then moved on to Senate Bill 964 on waste-to-energy, where the State Energy Office offered supportive comments but many testifiers opposed the measure, arguing incineration is costly, polluting, and inferior to recycling. Written testimony showed more opposition than support, and public testimony focused on environmental and cost concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• . ...an item of our business for a recommendation for our September meeting.
• we need to do is consider a recommendation for an ad hoc COLA to the budget writers as a recommendation
• I think the person who recommended it will probably realize that maybe they... ...the person who recommended
• Yeah, to clarify, these are not necessarily my ideas or a recommendation from me.
• So I would recommend that I don't mind not taking action.

Summary: The Executive Committee of the State Committee on Pension Policy approved its June minutes and received updates from legal and actuarial staff. Counsel reported on two class-action matters: the Fowler/Probst case, where a court ordered the state to pay $118 million in additional interest to teachers and the state has appealed and sought a stay, and the Dawson case challenging last year’s HB 2034, where the complaint was amended to leave only a federal contract-impairment claim and the state plans to move to dismiss. The actuary also provided a brief educational update on asset smoothing and offered to provide more detailed follow-up, noting it affects funded ratios and contribution rates. The committee then discussed its interim work plan and September agenda. Members agreed to add a bill and fiscal analysis for a PERS/TRS Plan 1 ad hoc COLA, with discussion focused on whether it should be capped and how to frame the cost estimate. Staff also outlined a memo on possible approaches to a permanent COLA for Plan 1 retirees, including making it part of the base budget or otherwise structuring it so future budgets would address it; no action was taken, and the topic was deferred for further discussion. The committee also heard constituent correspondence supporting COLAs and raising concerns about survivor benefits. A representative of the Washington State Patrol Troopers Association testified in support of advancing survivor medical benefits, explaining that the smaller size of the State Patrol system makes new benefits more costly per member and that any new benefit would require member approval. Staff said a cost estimate could be prepared for September if the proposal excluded retroactive coverage, but October would be needed if retroactivity were included. The committee agreed to move the survivor medical issue to October, while keeping the LEOFF 1 medical study update, animal control officer eligibility, and the ad hoc COLA on the September agenda, along with preliminary 2027 meeting dates. The meeting adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I recommend Article 11 for this.
• And um I recommend adopt.
• I recommend Article 11.
• Um, so if the worker, if the subcommittee is interested in moving this recommendation, we would recommend
• I'm gonna recommend that we Article 11, both.

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not school recommendations.
• recommendation of bill ought to pass. recommendation of bill ought to pass.
• Speaker. recommendation of the New Hampshire recommendation of the New Hampshire State<03:45:42.319><
• It does not stop a recommendations.
• support the new ACP recommendations support the new ACP recommendations a<03:52:27.920> a

Keywords: 1189, house, all