Transcript Highlights:

• before we get started, while we have advocated for, with the exception of one topic, which is an active
• The initial site we're looking at is just because of the activation timeline of being able to activate
• timeline of being able to activate.
• They spent years remodeling the house. and redoing it as an active rental.
• We're vital to our tourism economy. We are not asking for special treatment.

Committee: Joint Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This money, of course, is for their tourism and parks. It's got a four-year repealer.
• tourism tourism and<00:04:03.080><c> parks.
• This is the 2% taxes on the rooms rentals of hotels for parks, recreation, and tourism.
• This is the tax on restaurant food for the purpose of parks and recreation and tourism.
• </c><00:10:12.640><c> and</c> for the promotion of tourism and for the promotion of tourism and recreation

Committee: Joint Local and Private

Keywords: Local and Private - Room 210, 24 March, 2026; 10:45 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of Tourism.
• , while reauthorizing the Tourism Supplemental Revenue Fund to maintain Division of Tourism operations
• If a tax is collected via the tourism tax, it's put into the special fund to be used to reinvest in tourism
• I'd like to thank the ranking minority member of the Super Committee on Tourism and the tourism members
• Tourism is important to the state, Mr. Speaker. Viva la tourism. With that, I renew my motion.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for Port Tampa Bay, a major seaport for energy products and a cargo port, also with some cruise activity
• So we're actively looking at that and going to be going after some financing for that.
• Pete, and western southwest Florida, we are also impacting tourism.
• So it's a significant hub of economic activity. That's a lovely picture of the copper coming in.
• When I got off active duty, I was in the CBs. I was in a cargo handling battalion in Jacksonville.

Summary: The Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee held a panel discussion focused on Florida seaports and their role in the state economy. Florida Ports Council CEO Mike Rubin opened with statewide figures from a 2023 economic impact study, saying Florida seaports support about 1.2 million jobs, generate roughly $195 billion in economic value, and produce about $7.4 billion in state and local taxes. He emphasized that ports are critical for fuel, food, medical supplies, construction materials, and hurricane response, and argued that continued state and federal investment is needed to expand capacity and move projects forward faster. PortMiami Director Heidi Webb described Miami’s cruise and cargo operations, noting the port generated about $61 billion in economic impact and 334,000 jobs. She highlighted record cruise activity, major private investment by cruise lines, the launch of shore power at cruise terminals to reduce emissions, and ongoing capital projects including a new Royal Caribbean terminal, berth reconstruction, and an inland port concept to reduce congestion. Members asked about security, hurricane procedures, AI use, infrastructure planning, collaboration among ports, and smuggling prevention; Webb said the port uses layered security with local law enforcement, CBP, Coast Guard, and radiation monitors, and that hurricane planning is coordinated in advance with county and federal partners. Port Tampa Bay’s Raul Alfonso said Tampa is the state’s largest port by land area and a major energy hub for Central Florida, with an estimated $34.5 billion economic impact. He discussed diversification into containers, food distribution, fertilizer, and construction materials, along with major needs such as a deep-dredge project and more warehouse space. He also addressed resilience and fuel distribution during hurricanes, and said the port is preparing for future LNG and alternative-fuel demand through partnerships, land planning, and education. Jaxport’s Nick Primrose then described Jacksonville’s container, auto, breakbulk, aggregate, military, and LNG businesses, including 1.3 million TEUs last year, major state-funded crane purchases, harbor deepening, auto-processing expansion, and its role as a strategic military port. He said Jaxport is a leader in marine LNG and has trained all employees on human trafficking awareness. The discussion ended with Port Panama City being introduced as a smaller but important Panhandle economic engine, with Rubin noting its cargo, manufacturing, and infrastructure projects and its continued need for state and federal support.

Transcript Highlights:

• perspective, will this detract from the tourism side of it?
• I just wanted to make a suggestion for my colleague here who was talking about tourism.
• I just wanted to make a suggestion for my colleague here who was talking about tourism.
• So it shouldn't have any effect on tourism. Do you have a very, very, very, very brief response?
• So the tourism is much more complicated than they're from out of the area.

Committees: House Water, Parks and Wildlife , House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• emergency personnel have attempted to contact the rail system to stop approaching trains... ...during active
• Gillian Kahn from the Arizona Office of Tourism. Ooh. Not Gillian Kahn. Yeah. I’m Jillian. Howdy.
• My name is Jillian Kahn on behalf of the Office of Tourism.
• Thank you so much for bringing this to all of you, tourism, and But I love this.
• Thank you so much for bringing this to all of you, tourism.

Summary: The committee first took up HB 2669, which would limit railroad train length in Arizona to 8,500 feet. The sponsor and several witnesses argued that very long trains create public safety risks, block rural crossings, delay EMS and fire response, and can worsen hazardous materials incidents, citing derailments and blocked crossings in places such as El Mirage, Holbrook, Sanders, and Santa Cruz County. Railroad representatives opposed the bill, saying train length does not cause derailments, that railroads already use tracking and crossing-management systems, and that shorter trains would increase congestion and delays. After debate, the committee voted 7-0 to give HB 2669 a do-pass recommendation, though some members said they supported the safety concerns but had constitutional concerns about interstate commerce. The committee then considered HB 2369, as amended, which requires photo-enforcement citations to be signed by the presiding judge, with the amendment limiting the requirement to photo-enforcement citations and allowing an electronic signature. The sponsor said the bill was prompted by a Mesa issue involving thousands of citations signed by the wrong judge after that judge had left the bench. A Paradise Valley court representative said their photo citations already include a judge/clerk signature and that the form had long been approved. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill 7-0. HB 2256, a technical cleanup bill for salvage auction dealers, was also passed unanimously. It allows a salvage auction dealer to receive title to an abandoned vehicle tied to a denied or unpaid insurance claim and sets out notice and title-release procedures; the amendment clarified that insurers may request actions rather than taking possession of a vehicle and that storage fees must be paid. HCM 2007, which urges renaming sections of State Route 69 in honor of veterans from five former wars, also received a 7-0 do-pass recommendation, with members discussing whether World War I should be included and how the memorial highway designation would work alongside the existing route number. HB 2772, which would place a pre-hospital medical care directive indicator on driver licenses and state IDs, generated extended discussion and was ultimately held over after a recess. Supporters said it could help first responders and families quickly identify a DNR/advance directive, while opponents and committee members raised concerns about liability, whether first responders or bystanders would be protected, whether the bill should instead reference advance directives, and whether ADOT and EMS stakeholders had been fully consulted. The committee then heard HCR 2004, a proposed voter-approved prohibition on photo enforcement systems. The sponsor argued photo radar is unconstitutional and cited Mesa and Paradise Valley problems with erroneous or dismissed citations. Scottsdale and Phoenix police opposed the resolution, saying photo enforcement reduces serious injury and fatal crashes, supports local traffic safety efforts, and is especially useful amid officer shortages. The Phoenix commander noted the department has more than 600 sworn vacancies and said automated enforcement helps augment roadway safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• My running blade, which this bill defines as an activity limb, allowed me to step onto the field with
• Each activity limb gets me a chance to join in instead of watching from the sidelines.
• I can't do very much with them, but with prosthetics that are activity-related, I can do lots of stuff
• So we're going to plan first, we're going to measure first, and then we're to activate the plans.
• And municipal commuter rail funding partners with tourism development tax revenue.

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill clarifies that routine activities such as replacing structural components or using stronger
• These maintenance activities are critical to ensuring the structural integrity of advertising displays
• , particularly These maintenance activities are critical to ensuring the structural integrity of advertising
• These maintenance activities are critical to ensuring that structural integrity of advertising displays
• Tourism in Santa Cruz County is... Tourism is the leading industry in Santa Cruz County.

Committee: House Governmental Organization

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Simply put, it is a bill that will stimulate the continued growth of tourism in that area.
• The trail area is one of the major arteries for tourism attraction in that area.
• resiliency, mechanical and structural improvements, and on-site infrastructure modernization to activate
• of Eloy, Coolidge, and Casa Grande, and we look to bring commercial development to those areas to activate
• of Eloy, Coolidge, and Casa Grand, and we look to bring commercial development to those areas to activate

Committee: House House Rural Economic Development Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee began with a presentation on modernization of the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. Testimony from local officials and port authority representatives described the port as outdated, flood-prone, and a major congestion and safety concern because CBP equipment and officers are positioned near the international boundary and stormwater/sewer infrastructure. Speakers said the port is vital to local and state commerce, estimated modernization could cost $1.5 billion to $2 billion, and requested state support and letters of support for federal advocacy. Committee members discussed the economic and safety impacts, and leadership said a joint letter would be prepared. The committee then considered several bills. HB 2237 would appropriate $4.5 million for Apache Junction’s Superstition Trails and a visitor gateway; it passed 4-2. HB 2926, the Workforce Housing Accelerator Act, would create expedited permitting for workforce housing, exempt the state portion of prime contracting tax for such projects, and adjust bond-related rules; after an amendment, it passed 6-1. HB 2113 would require RUCO to intervene in utility rate cases when proposed residential rate increases are 100% or more; testimony focused on large rate hikes in rural areas versus RUCO’s limited staff and budget, and the bill passed 5-1 with some members asking for continued discussion about RUCO’s priorities. The committee also passed HB 2824, which authorizes local governments to establish voluntary C-PACE programs for financing commercial property improvements through special assessments, with supporters saying it would help attract investment without using state general funds. HB 2939, the “Lucid bill,” would add a rural-location tax credit tied to large qualifying investments and new jobs; Lucid Motors testified that it would support advanced manufacturing and rural job creation, and the bill passed unanimously. The committee adjourned after noting HB 2950 would be held due to time and heard first at the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• represent all communities, all constituents, including DC's, and as a reminder for our community to be actively
• SGA has been active at TCU since the 1910s.
• structures located near a national wildlife refuge for of the Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism
• Culture, recreation and tourism.
• relating to the use of political subdivision for public funds of lobbying and certain of their activities

Transcript Highlights:

• And interscholastic extracurricular activities. Good Lord.
• You don't think that that's going to hurt tourism.
• In the end, that could be better economically because it's better for tourism.
• You don't think that that's going to hurt tourism.
• In the end, that could be better economically because it's better for tourism.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and included several member introductions recognizing guests, interns, firefighters, and a doctor of the day. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and began taking up a series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate measures before final passage. The first major bill, health care patient protection, required hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric emergency care policies, training, a pediatric emergency care coordinator, and readiness assessments; it passed 36-0. A public records bill protecting victim identities and temporarily exempting the name of a law enforcement officer who is a victim also passed after questions about access for victims of police misconduct, with a 33-4 vote. The Senate next approved a local government cybersecurity bill creating a state-administered program through Florida Digital Service to help counties and cities strengthen cyber defenses, with priority for rural and fiscally constrained governments; after amendments, it passed 37-0. A clerks of court bill allowing clerks to retain all revenue above projections and, through a House amendment, revising legal notice and traffic citation distribution provisions, passed 38-0 despite debate over impacts on municipalities and law enforcement. The chamber also passed a trademark modernization bill and a septic system permit bill intended to reduce delays for builders; the septic bill was amended to align the House and Senate versions and passed 38-0. The longest and most contested item was the elections bill, which updated citizenship verification procedures using REAL ID and state databases, changed candidate qualification rules, and altered election administration provisions. Numerous amendments were offered and rejected, including proposals to exempt certain seniors, preserve student and retirement-center IDs, allow attestations in place of documentary proof of citizenship, and require human review over automated systems. One amendment to delay implementation until July 1, 2027, was also debated. The transcript ends while debate is still underway on the elections measure, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we're going to take up tab 12, SB 624 on batterers' intervention program activities.
• SB 624 on batterers' intervention program activities.
• However, no participant may be required to participate in a faith-based activity while in the program
• For a reasonable period of time during an active, ongoing, and good-faith investigation of a claim of
• This body has done a lot of good work in the past few years in limiting illegal gambling activities.

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met with a quorum present and heard a long agenda of bills, beginning with CS/SB 62 on candidate qualification, which would create an enforcement mechanism for party-affiliation qualification requirements and allow challenges by qualified candidates or political parties. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard CS/SB 156, the Officer Jason Raynor Act, which would clarify resistance-to-officer language and impose a mandatory life sentence for manslaughter committed against a law enforcement officer; the sponsor and local law enforcement supporters emphasized the Raynor case, while criminal defense lawyers objected to deleting existing force-limit language and to the mandatory life penalty. Despite the opposition, the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved several open-government sunset review bills extending or preserving public records exemptions, including CS/SB 7014 on social media platform investigations, SB 7016 on small business loan program records, CS/SB 7012 on Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles investigations, CS/SB 7000 on emergency shelter recipient information, CS/SB 7002 on Department of Military Affairs records, SB 7004 on conviction integrity unit reinvestigation materials, SB 7006 on Florida Public Service Commission records and meetings, and SB 7008 on Florida Gaming Control Commission records and meetings. Other measures reported favorably included SB 624 allowing optional faith-based activities in batterers’ intervention programs, HB 167 protecting former phosphate mining lands from certain strict-liability claims, CS/SB 48 on accessory dwelling units and housing supply, SB 288 on rural electric cooperatives, CS/SB 364 modernizing CPA licensure, SB 292 creating a records exemption for appellate court clerks and families, CS/SB 296 expanding domestic violence safety tools and address confidentiality protections, CS/SB 298 as the public-records companion, SB 386 on farm equipment lemon-law style protections, and SB 168 expanding public nuisance law to include gambling houses. Several bills drew supportive testimony from local governments, advocacy groups, industry groups, and affected families, with some opposition on SB 156 and SB 290. For CS/SB 48, the committee adopted two amendments before reporting the bill favorably. SB 290 on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services was temporarily postponed after the chair allowed public testimony but no final action was taken. At the end of the meeting, senators recorded their votes on selected bills, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent the town of Arlington, the city of Medford, and I'm the co-chair of the Tourism, Arts, and
• partnering with Takeda Pharmaceuticals on a series of MA 250 videos that promote the six regions in tourism
• On July 4th, America 250 will have a team in Boston that will be featuring all the activity taking place
• Faneuil Hall, which the city of Boston manages, and then in the afternoon, they will film Harborfest activities

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The special commission on the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution met without quorum, but proceeded with updates on major upcoming 250th events. Chair Sean Garballey and Senator Paul Mark opened the meeting, then Dusty Rhodes gave a detailed overview of Sail Boston and the Tall Ships festivities, including ship arrivals on July 9-10, the opening ceremony on July 10, the parade of sail on July 11, public boarding, harbor fireworks, and the Sail Boston festival. He noted the event will involve 20 countries, about 60 ships, multiple anchorages, and significant coordination with pilots, tugboats, and public safety agencies, with a budget of more than $5 million. Director Kate Fox and Sheila Green reported on Massachusetts 250 campaign efforts, including website and social media performance, merchandise sales, grant-funded exhibits and murals across the state, multicultural outreach, and July 4th programming tied to the Boston Pops Spectacular. They highlighted a series of MA 250 promotional videos, the I-Civics “We Declare” student reading project, the America 250 time capsule submission, the national reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, the Great American Block Party in Boston, and the flag sojourn that will bring a ceremonial flag to several Massachusetts sites before it is sent to Washington, D.C. They also mentioned upcoming MA 250 signage at MassDOT service plazas and a new schools-and-farms partnership announced by state secretaries. Jonathan Lane of Revolution 250 updated the commission on Bunker Hill-related events, the Gloucester battle reenactment, Treaty Day in Watertown, and the Declaration of Independence project. He said Revolution 250 secured funding to reprint the Ezekiel Russell Declaration of Independence for distribution to all Massachusetts cities and towns, using an 18th-century press and handmade paper. The commission then discussed creating a Massachusetts-specific time capsule, with members offering to help identify objects and suggesting it include both historic and contemporary items. The meeting ended with general thanks, an invitation to an upcoming Mass Humanities screening, and a motion to adjourn, which passed unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bills from the Committee on Rules will be placed on the active calendar.
• Here’s how it works: lodging businesses petition to create a tourism improvement area in the community
• Lodging businesses petition to create a tourism improvement area in the community.
• Over 220 active TIAs across 25 states have driven more visitors, more nights, and more revenue back into

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent the town of Arlington, the city of Medford, and I'm the co-chair of the Tourism, Arts and
• partnering with Takeda Pharmaceuticals on a series of MA 250 videos that promote the six regions in tourism
• On July 4th, America 250 will have a team in Boston that will be featuring all the activity taking place
• Faneuil Hall, which the city of Boston manages, and then in the afternoon, they will film Harborfest activities

Keywords: 1212, all

Summary: The special commission on the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution met without quorum but proceeded with updates on upcoming commemoration activities. Chair Sean Garballey and Senator Paul Mark opened the meeting, then heard a detailed presentation from Dusty Rhodes on Sail Boston/Tall Ships, including the July 10–15 schedule, ship arrivals and parade of sail, harbor anchorage, public boarding, the Sail Boston festival, fireworks, and related public safety and logistics planning. Rhodes said the event will involve 20 countries, about 60 ships, and significant coordination among pilots, tugboats, hotels, sponsors, and 67 public safety agencies. Massachusetts 250 staff Kate Fox and Sheila Green reported on campaign outreach and programming. They highlighted strong website and email engagement, merchandise sales, grant-funded exhibits and murals across the state, the Boston Pops July 4 program, multilingual media outreach, and an I Civics “We Declare” student competition. They also described Massachusetts’ contributions to the America 250 time capsule, the July 8 national reading of the Declaration of Independence, the Great American Block Party in Boston, the flag sojourn, MA 250 signage at rest areas, and a new schools-and-farms partnership with the Department of Clean Energy and Environment and the Executive Office of Education. Jonathan Lane of Revolution 250 updated the commission on Bunker Hill-related events, the Gloucester battle reenactment, Treaty Day in Watertown, and the organization’s Declaration of Independence project to reprint the Ezekiel Russell broadside for distribution to Massachusetts communities. Members praised the work and discussed a possible Massachusetts-specific time capsule, with several offering to help provide objects or facsimiles and staff planning to solicit broader commission interest in a subcommittee. The meeting ended with brief announcements about an upcoming Mass Humanities screening and Freedom Trail’s 75th anniversary, followed by a motion to adjourn that passed unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and Central Avenue, where murals and public art reflect a deep-rooted tradition of creativity, activism
• And at a time when the federal administration is actively trying to erase Black history and undermine
• hard work and appreciate my colleague, because she chaired the Arts and Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism
• The motion is due pass amended to Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee. Gibson, aye.

Summary: The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee heard several bills, mostly related to Proposition 19, voluntary tax checkoffs, and local tax authority. SB 288 would clarify that the one-year residency and exemption deadline for inherited homes held in probate begins when legal ownership is established; it received support from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and others, no opposition, and was referred to suspense. SB 974 would explicitly include special needs trusts in Prop. 19-related inheritance rules; it had support from the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and passed 5-0 to Appropriations as amended. The committee also heard SB 575, which would restore the Sea Otter Voluntary Contribution Fund for voluntary tax return donations to sea otter conservation. Supporters cited sea otter recovery, research, and habitat protection needs; there was no opposition, and the bill passed 5-0 to Appropriations. SB 999 would delay the Franchise Tax Board’s annual report on the health care individual mandate from March 1 to June 1 to allow more complete data; Health Access California supported it, and it passed 5-1 to Appropriations. SB 762 would authorize certain cities and counties, including Hercules, Santa Cruz, and Santa Barbara, to seek voter approval for local transaction and use taxes to address budget pressures, public safety, infrastructure, and safety-net service cuts. Local officials, labor groups, and health advocates supported it, while the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association opposed it; the committee adopted the urgency clause and then passed the bill to Local Government with urgency, with some no votes. SB 1073 would create a voluntary tax contribution fund to support the Historic South Los Angeles Black Cultural District; arts advocates and community supporters backed it, and the bill passed unanimously to the Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and Central Avenue, where murals and public art reflect a deep-rooted tradition of creativity, activism
• And at a time when the federal administration is actively trying to erase Black history and undermine
• appreciate your hard work, and appreciate my colleague, because she chaired the Arts and Famous Sports and Tourism
• The motion is do pass amended to Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee. Gipson: Aye.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The tax is collected by a Shreveport-Bossier Tourism Bureau.
• Some of the hotel and tourism groups reached out to talk about maybe working.
• Representative Walters urges and requests the city of Shreveport to create an interest-free loan program for active
• Representative Walters urges and requests the city of Shreveport to create an interest-free loan program for active

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The House Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs Committee heard and advanced a series of local and statewide measures. SB 430 would renew, every 12 years by voter approval, the Shreveport-Bossier hotel occupancy tax that supports tourism and sports-related entities; SB 286 updates the New Orleans Downtown Development District statute by clarifying its status as a political subdivision, streamlining tax collection, removing staggered board terms, and clarifying bond-election boundaries; SB 198 requires government projects in historic districts to follow local historic district guidelines for new construction; and SB 172 expands a planning-commission provision so smaller municipalities can waive certain subdivision formalities and costly studies in limited family land-split situations. Each of these bills was described as largely technical or permissive, with supporters emphasizing efficiency, local control, or reduced costs. The committee also advanced SB 439 to add pre-screening for esophageal/Barrett’s esophageal cancer for firefighters and fire service employees, with firefighters’ representatives explaining the test can detect pre-cancerous cells and prevent later, more serious cancer. SB 458 would allow a local tax for a proposed St. Tammany Parish Inspector General/ethics entity to be allocated and, if excess remains, transferred to the district attorney’s office; members discussed the parish-wide referendum process and the connection to state-required funding obligations. SB 447 changes Bossier City Police Department promotional seniority and civil service classification from competitive seniority to promotional seniority, and SB 281 expands the Baker Economic Development District boundary to include additional commercial areas near the airport and support blight removal and growth. Additional measures moved favorably included SB 385, which changes appointments to the New Orleans City Park Improvement Association board and allows City Park to opt out of certain state insurance coverage because it carries private insurance; HR 84, which urges Shreveport to create an interest-free loan program for TSA agents at the regional airport during federal shutdowns; and SB 417, which adds two members to the St. Mary Parish Consolidated Gravity Drainage District No. 2A board. In each case, the committee heard brief testimony from sponsors and local officials or advocates, asked clarifying questions, and then approved the bills without objection. One member, Representative Murray, recused himself from the City Park bill because of his board membership. The committee then took a short recess, noting a few remaining bills would be deferred if sponsors did not appear.

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:25:00.080><c> shooter</c> initiated a countywide active shooter initiated a countywide active shooter
• </c><01:38:23.440><c> will</c> economic activity and projects will economic activity and projects will
• </c> to focus only on unreasonable activity. to focus only on unreasonable activity.
• <01:38:52.560><c> the</c> unreasonable activity is occurring, the unreasonable activity is occurring,
• </c> active on this issue of gun violence. active on this issue of gun violence.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He's a cultural expert with the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau and Aahu Tourism Authority, or
• Authority or I'm sorry, W Tourism Authority or I'm sorry, W Visitors<00:43:23.680><c> Bureau.
• We can endorse those activities.
• </c><01:17:14.320><c> So</c><01:17:14.800><c> that's</c> endorse those activities.
• So that's endorse those activities.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Culture and the Arts held an informational briefing on May 22 with the Hawaii Arts Alliance, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA), and the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission. Chair Capella said the purpose was to better understand the organizations’ work and strengthen relationships ahead of the interim and next session. The Hawaii Arts Alliance, led by Executive Director Gay Humphrey, described its mission to enrich Hawaii’s cultural fabric through arts education, advocacy, and community engagement, and highlighted its history tied to Alfred Price, including the creation of Hawaii’s 1% for art law and the alliance’s 45 years of service. The alliance outlined its current work, including administering SFCA-funded statewide programs such as Artist in the Schools and the new folk and traditional arts program, with 34 teaching partners serving more than 100 public and charter schools and Kumu Hawaii as the single grantee for traditional weaving instruction. It also discussed Arts First Partners, the incubation of Arts at Mark’s Garage, expanded advocacy efforts supported by Creative West grants, and new multi-year philanthropic support from the Hawaii Community Foundation and Atherton Family Foundation. The alliance said it is launching statewide listening sessions and an arts advocacy training program, and noted that most SFCA funds pass through the alliance to program partners, with the organization retaining 10 to 14 percent for administration. SFCA Executive Director Karen Ewald then described the agency’s role as the state arts agency, its strategic planning process, and its main programs, including Art in Public Places, the Capital Modern museum, Artist in the Schools, apprentice mentoring grants, community arts grants, the Hawaii State Poet Laureate program, a statewide cultural extension program, and the Hawaii Open Arts Program. She said SFCA has 21 staff with one vacancy, is awaiting a federal NEA partnership agreement, and is considering new revenue streams such as a cultural trust. She also noted that the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission was recently attached to SFCA, which has improved coordination and allows SFCA to provide funding for conservation and upkeep of the King Kamehameha statues statewide. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only, with questions deferred until after the presentations.