Transcript Highlights:

• And then we have Keith King, board member, and we have Mark Flores, board president, and we have Naomi
• Concha, board member, and Dr.
• As a former school board member and former president of the New Mexico School Board Association, it's
• Association and a board member in Mesa Vista.
• So again, a warm welcome for all of our board members.

Transcript Highlights:

• If not, members, questions? measure? If not, members, questions?
• If not, members on this measure? If not, members questions.
• </c><00:30:00.880><c> Members</c> voting no? Members voting no?
• All members vote I chair. reservations? All members vote I chair.
• All other members vote I. reservation? All other members vote I.

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Summary: The joint hearing of the Senate Committees on Labor and Technology and Public Safety and Military Affairs considered three bills. SB 2141 would reclassify certain Department of Law Enforcement leadership and employees as Class A members for retirement purposes and adjust retirement benefit calculations. DLE supported the bill, saying it would address retirement classification without enhancing benefits, while the Employees’ Retirement System said it had no formal board position but wanted key provisions preserved. The Deputy Attorney General raised a potential title/subject issue and warned the bill could be vulnerable to challenge because the reclassification, contribution changes, and benefit calculations are in separate statutory sections. After questions about the number of affected employees and possible amendments, the committees deferred the bill. SB 2593 would exempt certain Law Enforcement Standards Board positions from civil service and collective bargaining. The board’s administrator said the positions would handle sensitive and confidential information and require specialized experience, and the board chair’s representative said the bill was important to meet certification deadlines. Opposition testimony from HGA argued exempt employees are at-will and suggested civil service protections should remain, with any staffing issues handled through reclassification or other personnel tools. Committee members questioned whether the positions could instead be civil service but excluded from bargaining, and staff explained the distinction between civil service exemption and collective bargaining exclusion. The committees ultimately recommended passing SB 2593 with amendments, including a deferred effective date of January 1, 2077, and the recommendation was adopted. SB 2824 would create a bribery-related reporting duty for public servants. Supporters, including Indivisible Hawaii, said it would establish a clear duty to report known or suspected bribery and strengthen public trust. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, saying it would criminalize an affirmative duty to report another person’s misconduct. After limited discussion, both committees voted to pass SB 2824 with amendments, including a deferred effective date of July 1, 2050, and the recommendation was adopted. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The committee is comprised of 20 members.
• Hello, members of the board. Thank you for having me and thank you for your work.
• And I really wanted to highlight for the board, I think a key issue I hope board members will take time
• And so I really encourage members of the board.
• Our members need it.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Summary: The Select Committee on Pension Policy opened its 2025 interim with roll call, approval of the prior minutes, and a brief administrative update on meeting procedures, new members, and a planned change to hold officer elections in June rather than immediately. Staff then presented a high-level recap of the 2025 legislative session, focusing on pension-related bills affecting Plans 1, 2, and 3, including the failed Plans 1 COLA and month-of-death bills, enacted changes on retire/rehire rules, state actuary appointments, service credit purchases, excess compensation, and a budget proviso directing study of proposed LEOFF 1 merger/termination concepts. Staff also highlighted ESSB 5357, which changes funding policy and the assumed rate of return, and noted that a deeper briefing on that complex bill may be needed. The committee then received an interim kickoff presentation explaining the SCPP’s role, membership, meeting structure, public participation, and the typical process for studying issues. Staff reviewed the draft interim work plan, which will be shaped by statutory studies, annual agency reports, legislative outcomes, stakeholder requests, and committee goals. Key upcoming work includes the mandated study of LEOFF 1 merger and termination concepts, the state actuary’s odd-year economic assumption recommendations, annual updates from DRS, OSA, the LEOFF 2 Board, and the State Investment Board, and other recurring reports such as the DRS benchmarking study and actuarial valuation materials. Members also discussed the importance of understanding asset smoothing and long-term funding impacts, and staff said updated contribution projections will be available later in the fall. During public comment, several speakers urged the committee and the State Investment Board to address climate-related financial risk and divest from fossil fuels, arguing that current coal, oil, and gas holdings are too large and that existing screening methods undercount exposure. One commenter also asked the committee to consider climate risk in the upcoming long-term economic assumptions study. Another public commenter, representing school retirees and administrators, urged continued study of COLA proposals and asked the committee to review the recently enacted funding bill and a separate bill related to COLA financing. The meeting concluded with a short break and adjournment of the full committee portion before the executive committee session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The members of the previous district boards must continue to serve as the governing board of the newly
• The members of the previous district boards must continue to serve as the governing board of the newly
• The students are, and the no fault of the board members out there, we're trying to...
• This bill came out of a genesis of—I'm a former school board member to a current school board member—and
• Members, this was brought to me by some constituents, some school board members in Yuma that are quite

Committee: Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several education-related bills. SB 1572, the Return to Civics Instruction Act, would require Freedom Week, civics instruction on the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and a Declaration recitation for grades 3-12; it passed 3-2 after some members argued schools already provide civics instruction and that the legislature should not mandate curriculum. SB 1798, as amended, would require each high school to designate a FAFSA point person, post contact information, and implement a FAFSA awareness strategy; the Arizona Board of Regents supported it, while some members raised concerns about mandates on charter schools and staffing burdens. The committee also passed SB 1711, which directs the State Board of Education to develop and post age-appropriate resources on preventing and recognizing inappropriate contact, with testimony split between support for parent-accessible safety materials and concerns about sex-education compliance issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a technical amendment which first separates the requirement in statute that board members and
• I've been blessed with incredible team members, incredible team members.
• This bill establishes a recall framework for elected Board of Supervisor members that is similar to what
• This bill establishes a recall framework for elected Board of Supervisor members that is similar to what
• Under current statute, residents have very limited options to hold CDD board members accountable.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including guests from the press, Florida State women’s soccer, and former Senator Janet Cruz. Members also announced there would be no conference that weekend. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and began taking up a series of bills, often substituting House companions and proceeding quickly to third reading and final passage. Among the measures approved were bills modernizing trust settlement and trustee discharge procedures; revising military affairs laws, including leave protections, retirement eligibility, and assistance programs; creating uniform cash-rounding rules as Florida prepares for the end of the penny; refining podiatric medicine rules on cellular/tissue-based products and informed consent; expanding veterans’ court access statewide; clarifying RV park special assessments; establishing concurrent state-federal jurisdiction for juveniles on military installations; reauthorizing alcoholic beverage loss deductions; and revising bail bond and pretrial release laws, including training, electronic notices, forfeiture timing, and related procedures. Members also passed bills on eyewear insurance licensing, expanding the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund into health science education, streamlining recovery residence regulation, enhancing felony battery penalties, and updating child welfare rules to reduce repeated background checks, make the Step Into Success program permanent, and create a best-practices program. Several bills drew brief supportive remarks, especially those affecting veterans, the National Guard, foster youth, and military families. One bail bond bill prompted questions about charitable bail bonds, with the sponsor stating the current statute would remain unchanged. Most bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously; the bail bond measure passed 36-1, while the others noted here passed with no or minimal opposition. The Senate also adopted an amendment to the military affairs bill and a delete-all amendment to the military-installation jurisdiction bill before final passage. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to honoring Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman on her farewell. Members from both parties offered extended remarks praising her leadership, preparation, collegiality, advocacy on issues such as voting rights, women’s rights, Israel, anti-Semitism, breast cancer, school safety, and family law, and her effectiveness in committee and on the floor. Berman delivered an extended farewell speech reflecting on her 16 years in the Legislature, her family, her district, and her legislative priorities, and the Senate ordered her remarks spread upon the journal before recessing and later returning to continue the calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members of the committee.
• It's a four-member council. Two new people just came on board a few weeks ago.
• Library directors and board members are uniquely fit to face these large ethical burdens based on expertise
• Maintaining authority for board members over library leadership keeps our libraries running smoothly
• Board members and library directors provide levels of knowledge that city councils simply do not have

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• a regional board. the Birmingham Water Board a regional board.
• SB330 doubles the pay for Birmingham Waterworks Board members. See lines 262-267.
• Currently, the board is comprised of nine members.
• Under the proposed legislation, it would become an eight-member board with one appointed by the mayor
• And that's what we're looking for in these new board members.

Bills: SB330

Committee: House Commerce and Small Business

Keywords: water management, regional boards, municipal governance, ethics compliance, public utility

Transcript Highlights:

• And this made sense, as no other member of the Land Board has attorneys in the Department of Lands.
• The Attorney General was the only board member on the land board that had attorneys in the Department
• of the board became so much they needed more than just some staff members to do it.
• the members of the board are the governor, superintendent of public instruction, secretary of state,
• And then the Land Board members voted again last June to implement this policy, and there was another

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• I saw a photo of your meeting today, and congratulations to the new board members.
• We had board training since most members had never served on a regulatory board before, and Counselor
• We'd be happy and appreciate the board members introducing themselves.
• </c><01:02:21.760><c> members</c> like for each of the new board members like for each of the new board
• </c><01:02:35.920><c> introducing</c> appreciate the board members introducing appreciate the board members

Committee: Joint Public Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, Chair and members.
• , a UC executive, to serve the company's interests as a board member while also bidding on or renewing
• members on the... ...behind closed doors or privately that have board members on there, on those companies
• about paid board versus unpaid board, I think the example that's being used is a board member who actually
• I, as a former board member of several nonprofits in the Bay Area, also had to resign the... ...board

Summary: The Senate Education Committee heard several bills related to school nutrition, campus safety, college financial aid, and UC contracting ethics. SB 1058 by Senator McNerney would remove price as the primary factor in school nutrition procurement grants, allowing districts more flexibility to prioritize quality, local sourcing, cultural responsiveness, and healthier meals. Supporters from school nutrition and education groups said it would help districts better serve students and local farmers without increasing state costs. After questions about vendor selection and safeguards against favoritism, the bill was moved do pass and later approved 7-0. SB 1140 by Senator Ashby, sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers, would require school safety plans to address access control during construction, maintenance, and repair projects. Supporters said the bill closes a gap that can leave gates or doors unsecured and could help prevent unauthorized access to campuses. There was no opposition, and the committee approved the bill unanimously. SB 959 was also taken up on consent and passed. SB 1006 by Senator Padilla would raise the Cal Grant B Access Award and tie future increases to inflation using the California Consumer Price Index. Supporters said the current award has lost most of its value and does not cover basic needs like housing, food, transportation, and books, affecting hundreds of thousands of students. Members discussed the fiscal impact and the need to keep aid aligned with rising costs; the bill was moved forward and later approved 7-0. SB 1141 by Senator Wahab would bar UC contracts with businesses that pay UC executives or where executives serve in paid roles, aiming to prevent conflicts of interest. UC and the Chamber of Commerce opposed the bill as too broad and potentially disruptive to operations, while supporters argued existing rules are insufficient because many contracting decisions happen outside public view. After extended debate over recusal, transparency, and the scope of the restrictions, the committee passed the bill 4-2 and then finalized all bills on the agenda before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also want to thank Chancellor Christian, the Chancellor's Office, fellow board members, and my partner
• So it's three Board of Education members and three BOG members.
• That was the title, school board members, but Mr.
• I'm the Communications Director for Equality California and here supporting our Board of Advisor member
• J.D. as member to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors. I will entertain a motion.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• And really the job of a credit union board member isn't dissimilar to a bank board member.
• So compensating board members for the time makes sense.
• And really the job of a credit union board member isn't dissimilar to a bank board member.
• </c> board members for the time makes sense. board members for the time makes sense.
• board members that are with a lot of the board members that are now<00:25:22.000><c> they</c><00:25:

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on Senate Bill 25, which would allow state-chartered credit unions to compensate board members if the membership approves it. Prime sponsor Senator Dan Innis said the bill is enabling only, intended to help credit unions recruit and retain qualified directors and align New Hampshire with other states that already allow such compensation. Credit union representatives from the Cooperative Credit Union Association and St. Mary’s Bank supported the bill, saying board service has become more complex because of cybersecurity, asset-liability management, and other regulatory demands, and that compensation could be modest and take forms such as meeting fees or educational reimbursement. In response to committee questions, they said compensation would be set by the membership, disclosed in advance, and subject to bylaws and internal policies; they also noted that board members must be credit union members and that voting procedures vary by institution, with some using mailed ballots rather than proxy voting. Members raised questions about why credit union boards were historically excluded, what kinds of compensation were contemplated, whether there would be a cap, and how voting and confidentiality would work. Testimony explained that the historical rationale was the nonprofit, volunteer mission of credit unions, but witnesses argued that the modern environment and competition for talent justify a change. They also said the bill would not mandate compensation and would not create a salary structure comparable to banks, but would allow members to approve modest compensation or reimbursements. After no further testimony, the chair closed the public hearing on Senate Bill 25. The committee then opened a public hearing on Senate Bill 26, sponsored by Senator Howard Pearl, concerning the definition of deposits in land sales and escrowed accounts. Pearl said the bill would clarify that buyer funds for upgrades and luxury items in new-home construction are not treated as refundable deposits that must be held in escrow, arguing that the current Attorney General interpretation raises builder costs, increases home prices, and can limit buyer choices. He said the proposal would allow those upgrade funds to be paid directly to builders for construction, with signed disclosures making clear that the buyer requested the items and bears the risk if financing falls through. The hearing on Senate Bill 26 had just begun when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're adding members to the Commerce Board from the legislature. That's the second component.
• consecutive years as a governing board member for the school district on the first day of the term of
• for the school facilities oversight board by adding that the member who is a registered professional
• And they also want any sort of training from international associations, and school board members go
• Madam Whip, members, House Bill 2384 prohibits a school district governing board from leasing school

Summary: The meeting covered a long series of bills, mostly in health, education, commerce, federalism, and government. In health, members discussed radiology technology updates (HB 2050), a tribal Medicaid waiver/drawdown measure with no state cost (HB 2177), an emergency medicine study committee (HB 2183), fetal death certificate and remains-transfer requirements (HB 2184), a physician assistant licensure compact (HB 2190), dementia care telemonitoring funding (HB 2202), SNAP error-rate reduction and fraud/eligibility oversight bills (HB 2206, HB 2442, HB 2797), child welfare protections like credit freezes and recorded interviews (HB 2321, HB 2322), and podiatric licensure compacts (HB 2438). Several of these were described as consent-calendar items, while HB 2206 and the SNAP-related measures drew discussion about fraud reduction, administrative burden, and work requirements. In commerce and finance, the committee heard bills on mobile food vendors and local permits (HB 2118), earned wage access services with fee caps and disclosure rules (HB 2309), CPA licensure changes (HB 2476), cash acceptance for retail purchases under $100 (HB 2555), drone delivery and unmanned aircraft guardrails (HB 2875), timeshare salesperson licensing (HB 2877), and a prohibition on state-mandated social credit scoring in lending decisions (HB 2903). The tax and retirement-related items included 529 plan conformity and Roth IRA transfer rules (HB 2477), annual tax conformity to the Internal Revenue Code (HB 2785), ASRS technical and disability-related changes (HB 2089, HB 2090, HB 2092), and a bill on employee health insurance definitions (HB 2089). The Arizona Commerce Authority bill (HB 2754) would add legislative members to the board and shift more control over trade offices and Arizona Competes Fund spending to the legislature. The education section focused heavily on school governance and finance. Bills included patriotic youth group presentations in schools (HB 2312), school board term limits (HB 2318), mandatory training for governing board members (HB 2379), independent municipal advisors for bond elections (HB 2320), restrictions on districts buying operating charter/private school sites to game enrollment formulas (HB 2376), conflict-of-interest limits for school facilities board architects and engineers (HB 2378), public meeting and travel transparency rules for districts (HB 2380), limits on long-term school property leases and reporting requirements (HB 2384), tighter bidding rules for school construction job orders using Building Renewal Grant funds (HB 2482), and a voluntary computer science proficiency seal (HB 2764). Sponsors repeatedly framed these as transparency, accountability, and anti-abuse measures, while some opposition centered on local flexibility, housing use, and existing training providers. In federalism and government, the committee heard bills to give counties more time to mail sample ballots (HB 2006), require courts to identify veterans at first appearance for possible veterans court referral (HB 2226), study veterans’ awareness of benefits (HB 2406), broaden military leave protections (HB 2663), require SAVE verification for voter registration and certain state services (HB 2806), require U.S.-sourced voting machine components by 2029 (HB 2901), affirm the Electoral College (HB 2902), and establish due process protections for justice of the peace courts against outside administrative action (HB 2976). Government committee items included a later deadline for library trustees’ annual reports (HB 2129), a two-year limit on certain adult protective services reports to the Attorney General (HB 2228), and an exemption for public and semi-public cold plunges from ADEQ spa rules (HB 2439). Several bills were reported as consent-calendar items, and a number of sponsors noted committee votes, fiscal neutrality, or favorable testimony in support of the measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members.
• Chairman and members.
• So every aspect of the members and the members in the I know.
• He was a great board member, and that's... I was wondering if you were going to get that.
• He was a great board member, and that's... I was wondering if you were going to get that, yeah.

Committee: House Retirement

Summary: The Retirement Committee met on March 19, 2026, adopted prior meeting minutes without objection, and then heard a series of retirement-system bills. Representative Wiley presented three bills for the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Pension and Relief Fund: HB 33 would expand the back deferred retirement option program from four to five years for members with 35 years of service; HB 34 would allow certain members to retire at age 50 with an actuarially reduced benefit instead of waiting until 55; and HB 35 would allow up to 3% of employer contributions to be credited to the fund’s deposit account to help manage future costs and benefit increases. Witnesses for the sheriffs’ fund described its strong financial condition, including assets over $6 billion and a funded ratio above 90%, and said the bills were intended to reward long service, aid recruitment and retention, and provide flexibility in managing the fund. All three measures were reported favorably without objection. Representative Baralt presented HB 15 and HB 47 for the Assessor’s Retirement Fund. HB 15 sets procedures for correcting administrative errors in benefit payments, including interest on underpayments and repayment terms for overpayments. HB 47 revises the fund’s cost-of-living increase rules and funding deposit account provisions; Baralt noted the system has no unfunded liability and that the changes are tied to pre-funded COLAs. Both bills were reported favorably without objection. Representative Ilg presented HB 17, HB 18, and HB 19 for the District Attorneys’ Retirement System. HB 17 adds the Louisiana District Attorneys Association to the definition of employer and addresses reemployed retirees, with amendments removing a local funding restriction, requiring reporting of reemployed retirees, and adding a sunset in 2031. HB 18 staggers trustee elections so no more than two board seats are up in a year, and HB 19 removes references to the State Medical Disability Board because the system now works directly with physicians. All three bills were amended where applicable and then reported favorably. Representative Bacala presented HB 8, HB 48, and HB 22. HB 8 allows legislative staff designated by the committee to attend executive sessions of state and statewide retirement boards for a term-based authorization. HB 48 allows Louisiana Supreme Court court criers commissioned with the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office to participate in the Sheriffs’ Pension and Relief Fund, with amendments allowing an election between systems and clarifying employer responsibilities. HB 22 revises the Clerks of Court Retirement and Relief Fund’s COLA rules, raising the maximum COLA to 3% under certain funding conditions and tying increases to the fund’s deposit account; a technical amendment adjusted the timing language. All three bills were adopted favorably, with amendments where offered.

Transcript Highlights:

• And remember, HOA boards have the authority to foreclose on their members, and some do.
• The board and then the association members.
• Board members aren't the ones mailing the notices or dealing with these situations.
• way I would sign on the dotted line to be a board member ever.
• She said that, to the point about board member participation, that's the whole point of having a board

Committee: Senate Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and members of the House Business Committee, my name is Ryan Bernard.
• Rules of the Public Works Contractors Board.
• Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Ryan Bernard.
• The Building Code Board seeks to make permanent the temporary rules.
• Can you give us the fund balance of this board? Mr. Bernard: Mr.

Committee: House Business

Transcript Highlights:

• Our confirmation process on various appointees to the boards, on the board of trustees of our state colleges
• As a new board member, I think it's best for me first to listen and learn, and to further support Dr.
• And we also have several members of the Board of Trustees, I believe, and other representatives.
• And we also have several members of the Board of Trustees, I believe, and other representatives.
• Also, as a member of the county school board, we award two vocational scholarships there.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Higher Education Appropriations Committee met with a quorum present and announced that the budget rollout would be postponed until the following week. The committee first considered SB 1246, which expands the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund to support health science workforce shortages in addition to nursing. The bill, as amended by a strike-all, broadened eligible uses of the fund, allowed matching contributions from non-health-care partners, prioritized health-care partner contributions, and updated reporting requirements. Testimony in support emphasized that the program has already reduced hospital vacancy rates and should be expanded to allied health fields. The committee adopted the amendment, passed the bill favorably, and recorded the chair’s affirmative vote. SB 720 was temporarily postponed at the sponsor’s request after the chair noted it had been incorporated into a larger committee bill. The committee then heard confirmations for numerous trustees of state colleges and universities, including Chipola College, Tallahassee State College, Pensacola State College, Palm Beach State College, Pasco-Hernando State College, and St. Petersburg College. Appointees generally described their backgrounds and emphasized visions centered on affordability, student success, workforce training, dual enrollment, and alignment with local labor needs. Several highlighted strong nursing outcomes, including high NCLEX pass rates and job placement, while others pointed to expanding programs in welding, plumbing, electrical, cybersecurity, aviation, and other technical fields. Trustees from Tallahassee State and Pensacola State also discussed veterans’ services and health care coverage for college employees, respectively. After hearing from the appointees, the committee took up the confirmations as a block. Senator Calatayud moved to recommend confirmation of all appointees on the listed tabs, Senator Leek seconded, and the motion passed by roll call. The meeting concluded with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• members sitting on that same board foundation.
• Is there a relation to board members and this one company?
• Because, you know, they're board members.
• Board members currently, current board members also currently serve on a foundation for that same district
• So that those board members, those current board members, who also sit on the foundation as the leadership

Committee: Senate Joint Legislative Audit

Summary: The committee began with a status report from the State Auditor on staffing and audit capacity, noting 14 audit supervisors, 14 audits in progress, several audits scheduled for release, and a planned high-risk review of state financial reporting. The committee then approved a consent calendar covering six audit requests, including topics such as kindergarten oral health assessments, prison infrastructure management, Los Angeles fires prevention and response, community college financial aid and enrollment, wildfire management at Chino Hills State Park, and the Chiquita Canyon landfill. The first major item was Assembly Member Gonzalez’s request for an audit of Coachella Valley Unified School District’s contract and fiscal management. Supporters described long-running fiscal mismanagement, a projected $60 million deficit, layoffs, concerns about contracting practices, foundation donations, and weak governance. District representatives said they were already working with Riverside County Office of Education and FICMAT, had adopted a fiscal stabilization plan, and were making cuts to restore solvency. The State Auditor said the proposed audit would examine the district’s financial condition over 10 years, ELOP spending, partnership agreements, foundation funds, and contracting practices. After extensive discussion and public comment, the motion to approve the audit failed because it did not receive the required votes. The committee next approved Senator Wahab’s request for an audit of East Bay transit agency administrative oversight. The senator argued that the Bay Area’s fragmented transit system creates duplication and wastes resources, while agency representatives and transit advocates said the agencies already face extensive oversight and are actively coordinating through existing regional efforts. The State Auditor outlined objectives focused on agency autonomy, coordination, ridership, finances, and the potential effects of consolidation. After debate and public comment, the audit was approved. Finally, Senator Archuleta introduced a request to audit excessive unrestricted reserves at selected California Community College districts and Calbright College, arguing that reserve balances have grown substantially and may be diverting funds from student services and instruction. He said the audit would examine why districts are holding large reserves and whether those funds are being used effectively for students.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also am currently serving as a school board member.
• When I first ran for school board in 2020, we were in the middle of COVID, and school board members then
• I also am currently serving as a school board member.
• When I first ran for school board in 2020, we were in the middle of COVID, and school board members then
• Now, if in the event that a school board member, or no one runs for the school board, then the county

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much, Chair. the most prepared members of the board the most prepared members of the board
• But with respect, the board members are the ones who instruct.
• </c><00:17:20.240><c> said</c><00:17:20.679><c> we</c> board member like chair Chang said we board member
• > doing</c><00:45:27.040><c> their</c> board members they're still doing their board members they're
• what</c> our staff our board members do know what our staff our board members do know what they're<00

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land heard confirmation nominations for several DLNR-related boards and commissions, including GM 530 for Karen Ono to the Board of Land and Natural Resources, GM 582 for Jay Kenan to the Natural Area Reserves System Commission, and GM 584 for Adrien Trulock to the Hawaii Historic Places Review Board. The chair repeatedly noted the volunteer nature of these positions and said the committee would take up decision-making after hearing all nominees. Testimony and comments for each nominee were generally supportive, with agency representatives praising their preparation, experience, and willingness to serve. For Karen Ono, DLNR and several supporters from Kauai testified in favor, describing her as highly prepared and effective on the board. Senators questioned her about DLNR land use, especially state lands near rail stations and whether they should be used for affordable housing rather than commercial development. Ono said she had not taken a board position on those specific proposals because they had not yet come before the board, but she acknowledged the importance of housing and infrastructure. She also responded to questions about DLNR’s management of transferred agricultural lands, saying concerns about the department’s ability to manage such lands had been raised before and remain relevant. One senator expressed strong reservations about the nomination based on the land-use answers. For Jay Kenan, the NARS Commission testimony focused on the commission’s role in advising on land management and conservation policy. Kenan said he hoped to continue helping evaluate properties and policies, and he identified funding and staffing as the main challenge. DLNR staff explained that the position supporting NARS had been abolished and that the department had limited capacity to restore it because other priorities, such as fire-related positions, were taking precedence. The committee also discussed a separate bill affecting Legacy Lands funding through conveyance tax revenues, with members and agency staff expressing concern that the measure could reduce support for land संरक्षण efforts. For Adrien Trulock, SHPD and DLNR staff strongly supported the nomination, citing her preservation background and experience with historic properties. Members discussed the importance of her expertise for reviewing nominations and appeals and for helping with preservation planning. The committee also raised broader concerns about delays in historic-place designations and the difference between state and federal review processes; SHPD explained that board approval places a property on the state register, while federal National Register review can still require revisions and cause delays. No final votes or confirmations were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.