Video & Transcript Research : 'fiscal notes'
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development - Subcommittee on Veterans - 02/10/25
Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development - Subcommittee on Veterans
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, I do have some questions about the fiscal note for this.
- So those are sort of the options the bill provides, and what the fiscal note, I think, speaks to.
- um the fiscal note then is representing um the fiscal note then is representing what<01:03:46.799
- So that is, you know, and the fiscal note reflects the cost that it currently is.
- The fiscal note reflects the cost that it currently is.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs (02/05/2025)
Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- it looking at the fiscal note where it's it looking at the fiscal note where it's it it<00:55:04.920
- >
note <00:55:19.520>we <00:55:19.839>we to take a look at the fiscal note we we - And Jenny has already mentioned the fiscal note.
- note on it bill does there's a fiscal note on it um<03:08:18.520>
and <03:08:19.040>um - /c><03:09:52.479>
there <03:09:52.640>would fiscal note thinks that uh there would fiscal
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Health and Human Services (03/05/2025)
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, fiscal note on this? No. Yeah, I want you to come up because I can't hear anything unless...
- So there's no fiscal note attached to this bill.
- this there's no fiscal note attached to this there's no fiscal note attached to this bill<00:08:
- So I have here that it is going to be approximately a $300,000 fiscal note. Yep.
- Did they have a fiscal note on the amendment? We do have a fiscal note on the amendment.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:27:31.600>
says <00:27:32.600>it's the fiscal note on the bill says it's the fiscal - and so we had that also in the fiscal and so we had that also in the fiscal note<00:30:31.000>
- note to $2 that change the fiscal note to $2 million<00:42:05.280>
to <00:42:05.720>uh - know that uh we can't change the fiscal know that uh we can't change the fiscal note<00:42:26.440
- fiscal note group one received fiscal note group one received $10.75<01:16:36.520>
million - note to $2 that change the fiscal note to $2 million<00:42:05.280>
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- learners beginning in fiscal year 2028. learners beginning in fiscal year 2028.
- fiscal year 2029 and the fiscal year 2027 appropriation would be available through fiscal year 2030.
- fiscal year 2026. fiscal year 2026.
- You'll recall that the fiscal note for this shared that it was possible that there would be an increase
- in fiscal year 2027. in fiscal year 2027.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- fiscal year 2027 recommendation.
- is projected to be spent for fiscal year 2026, knowing that we are not quite at the end of fiscal year
- For fiscal year 2026, knowing that we are not quite at the end of fiscal year 2026.
- I know my good friend and I share a love for fiscal discipline and a commitment to fiscal discipline.
- It's fiscally responsible.
Summary:
The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, adopted two commendatory resolutions honoring the Plimpton Historical Society’s Deborah Sampson Day recognition and Megan’s Light’s Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month observance, and suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer several House petitions to committee. The chamber also briefly recognized Diane Talk of the South Shore Regional Emergency Communication Center on her retirement after 30 years of dispatch service. Later, the Senate passed two local bills to enactment: House No. 4006, authorizing Dartmouth to grant an additional all-alcoholic beverages license, and House No. 473, relating to the charter of Westwood.
The main business was the Senate Ways and Means presentation of the fiscal year 2027 budget, totaling about $63.3 billion. The chair described the budget as balanced, with no new taxes or tax cuts, based on a consensus revenue estimate of $986 million in growth over FY26 (2.4%), and including about $15.8 billion in federal financial participation and roughly $2.7 billion from the Fair Share surtax. The budget emphasized record local aid, including $1.376 billion in unrestricted general government aid, $7.66 billion for Chapter 70 education aid, increased minimum school aid, higher regional school transportation reimbursement, rural aid, and the revival of the Foundation Budget Review Commission. It also highlighted major investments in MassEducate free community college, food security, housing, and support for vulnerable residents.
Members then engaged in extended colloquy on the budget’s major cost drivers and policy choices. Questions focused on debt service, pension and OPEB liabilities, MassHealth caseload and rising per-enrollee costs, child care funding, and program integrity in DTA and other benefit programs. The chair said debt service would be about $2.67 billion, pension payments would be $5.1 billion, OPEB would receive a $150 million payment, and MassHealth enrollment was projected at about 2 million with costs driven by acuity and medical inflation. He also said the budget includes no collective bargaining agreements and no state tax changes. Senators supporting the budget praised its investments in education, local aid, homelessness prevention, public health, libraries, and housing, while minority leaders and others stressed the need for fiscal discipline, transparency, and further work on affordability and municipal support. The Senate also received a House message on House No. 5316, which the House had nonconcurred in, and a conference committee was appointed on the disagreement.
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- The fiscal note on H.519 can be found on the bill page on the GA site as well as on the House Ways and
- Madam Speaker, the fiscal note on H.519 can be found on the bill page on the GA site as well as on the
- > the<02:18:29.440>
bill fiscal notes associated with the bill fiscal notes associated with - The Joint Fiscal Office prepared a fiscal note regarding H. 921 dated March 13th, 2026, which can be
- a fiscal<02:31:33.800>
note <02:31:34.080>regarding <02:31:34.560>H.
Summary:
The House resumed consideration of H.606 on firearm procedures and first took up Section 3 and its effective dates. A member from Northfield spoke at length in support, arguing the provision is narrowly tailored, based on actual dangerousness rather than mental illness alone, and is more limited than federal law because it applies only to specific court findings and is temporary, with rights restorable upon recovery. The House then approved Section 3 and its effective dates, approved the remainder of the Judiciary Committee report, and ordered third reading.
The chamber then moved through third readings and passed H.385 on remedies and protections for victims of coerced debt, H.556 on exceptions to the state minimum wage, H.559 on the parole board, H.723 on posting of land, and H.757 on manufactured homes and limited equity cooperatives. On H.814, relating to neurological rights and AI in health and human services, the House adopted an amendment offered by the member from Burlington that required the advisory council to include proposed definitions for neurotechnology, artificial intelligence, and related terms in its report; the House Health Care Committee reported the amendment favorable 11-0-0, and the bill then passed. H.816, regulating the use of artificial intelligence in the provision of mental health services, also passed, as did H.927, technical corrections for the 2026 session.
The House then took up H.930 on chronic absenteeism. The committee member from Manchester described the bill as an AOE proposal responding to high post-pandemic absenteeism rates and their impact on learning, and outlined provisions adding definitions, updating compulsory attendance language, requiring a state model policy, strengthening notification and truancy procedures, and preserving existing penalties. The member said the Education Committee heard from a wide range of education and child welfare witnesses and passed the bill 11-0. After a brief clarification on the absences section, the House proceeded toward third reading of H.930.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Your notes reflect all of the other points? There's only one remaining point about the fiscal note.
- The fiscal note? Yes. Do you want to finish it?
- Yeah, the fiscal note just doesn't reflect a level of resources that would be adequate for actually doing
- You think the fiscal note needs to be higher? There's no money in the fiscal note.
- Chairman, I see that the fiscal note shows $0 cost to the state, but in fact, it's anticipated that it
Keywords:
carbon sequestration, environmental policy, Texas, energy, climate change, regulatory council, geothermal energy, workforce development, education and training, energy industry, apprenticeship, energy production, energy policy, renewable energy, state council, administrative law, public information, transparency, government accountability, judicial process
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Revenue Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- life just a little bit easier for some of our most vulnerable residents, especially in difficult fiscal
- life just a little bit easier for some of our most vulnerable residents, especially in difficult fiscal
- He noted that in the current fiscal environment, cities and towns are feeling pressure from override
- He noted that some communities have already done this through home rule petitions, including Reading
- She added that people were passing notes about the local option senior tax deferral when deciding how
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hearing on bills related to senior and disability property tax relief, with a focus on helping older adults and people with disabilities remain in their homes. Testimony supported H. 3968, which would make certain senior and disability property tax exemptions permanent so eligible residents would not have to refile annually, and H. 3198, which would expand the senior circuit breaker tax credit by indexing income and credit limits to cost of living and raising the home valuation cap from $1.1 million to $1.5 million. Representative Scanlan also testified in favor of several additional bills, including a local option motor vehicle excise tax exemption for low-income seniors and veterans, a local property tax cap for low-income seniors, an expanded senior property tax exemption, and a senior property tax deferral program designed to be revenue neutral over time.
Witnesses from the City of Boston, the Massachusetts Municipal Association, and the Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers generally supported local-option property tax relief measures and said they would help seniors age in place while giving municipalities flexibility. Committee members raised concerns about possible abuse or fraud if exemptions became permanent, and about how assessors would verify continued eligibility without annual reapplication. Supporters responded that eligibility could still be tied to real estate transactions and other documentation, and that the current annual filing requirement causes many eligible seniors to miss out on benefits. Mass Senior Action Council members testified that many seniors are struggling with rising property taxes, insurance, and other costs, and urged broader reforms such as freezing assessed values, improving outreach, strengthening the work-off program, and allowing more flexible payment or deferral options. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded after testimony and questions.
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 101 Apr 24th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- For example, the fiscal note.
- “The fiscal note, if you look at the fiscal note put together, it says that the bill will range in cost
- So the fiscal note, if you fiscal note.
- , look at uh the fiscal note put together, look at uh the fiscal note put together, it<01:36:04.800
- As you can see, the fiscal note is zero. As you can see, the fiscal note is zero.
Summary:
The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal from April 23, and then moved through announcements and recognitions before taking up third-reading business. Members recognized a guest connected to the Mason Museum and Learning Center in Aurora, honored the family of a bicyclist killed in a 2021 hit-and-run, and heard reminders about open enrollment and an upcoming Auctioneer Day fundraiser for nonpartisan staff. The chamber also welcomed guests from Concerned Women for America and celebrated a pair of birthdays with the capital choir.
On legislation, Senate Bill 95, concerning measures to support victim survivors of certain crimes without changing substantive criminal offenses, passed third reading 58-0 with five excused. House Bill 1132, which would increase pollinator habitats through conservation of native plant materials on state lands, passed 43-18 with four excused. House Bill 1130, requiring baby diaper changing stations in public restrooms, drew extensive debate: supporters said it would improve accessibility for parents and that small businesses were exempted or given flexibility, while opponents argued it was an unfunded mandate that would burden small businesses, raise installation and liability costs, and create safety and maintenance concerns. The bill ultimately passed 35-28 with two excused.
The chamber also passed Senate Bill 136, requiring reporting of missing livestock to the Department of Agriculture, by a vote of 63-0 with two excused, and House Bill 1287, continuing certain Division of Real Estate regulatory functions under the sunset process, by a vote of 49-14 with two excused. Senate Bill 43 was laid over until Monday. At the end of the excerpt, the House began receiving committee reports from Appropriations, listing several bills recommended for referral onward.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education May 1st, 2025
S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education
Transcript Highlights:
- note on this bill this morning after this bill has been filed as number 11079 for quite a while, and
- they use the same fiscal note as the last time that this bill came up, which is a ridiculous amount
- note.
- note.
- That's probably the culprit on your fiscal note if it is written.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Municipal and County Government (02/27/2025)
Municipal and County Government
Transcript Highlights:
- So let me start with the fiscal note. The new fiscal note basically says what OLS put on the...
- /c><01:56:33.599>
fiscal the the fiscal note uh the new fiscal the the fiscal note uh the new - And I realized that the fiscal note was updated, and that the fiscal note that we received first is no
- <02:49:34.359>
note bills that it was a you know fiscal note bills that it was a you know - be is not the fiscal note that should be is not the fiscal note that should be accompanying<02:50
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 093 Apr 17th, 2026
Colorado Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And<01:09:47.640>
the <01:09:47.720>fiscal <01:09:48.080>note <01:09:48.359>it - <01:09:48.480>
lists <01:09:48.720>33 And the fiscal note it lists 33 And the fiscal - information and fiscal notes from our on information and fiscal notes from our on our<02:01:48.200
- There is no fiscal note attached to that. God bless them.
- <02:52:17.160>
note interesting when you get a fiscal note interesting when you get a fiscal
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, approved the prior day’s journal, and then took up a large third-reading consent calendar containing many House bills, most of them dealing with appropriations, fund transfers, repeals of programs or cash funds, and related budget adjustments. The calendar included measures affecting broadband infrastructure, early childhood prevention services, school food programs, reading and assessment programs, higher education funding, human services funding models, disaster and transportation funds, public safety communications, and several other state cash funds and reserve requirements. Most of the bills passed with broad support, though several drew recorded no votes from individual senators on specific measures.
Before the consent calendar vote, Senator Catlin recognized a Montrose leadership class visiting the chamber. The Senate then adopted the consent calendar, with the clerk recording numerous individual no votes on particular bills. Among the more notable measures passed were bills related to the Healthy School Meals for All program, the state education fund, the Affordable Housing Financing Fund, kinship care, judicial discipline, public defender/prosecutor behavioral health support, public safety personnel health benefits, multimodal transportation funding, unclaimed property transfers, tobacco education funds, and preschool funding. Several bills were approved unanimously or near-unanimously, while others had more divided votes.
The chamber then debated Senate Bill 90, which exempts critical infrastructure from the Consumer Repair Bill of Rights Act. Senator Snyder explained that the bill had been revised after stakeholder discussions with opponents, the governor’s office, and the attorney general’s office; the amendment L006 was described as narrowing and defining the exemption, giving the Attorney General rulemaking authority, and preserving district court review. Senator Carson supported the amendment and said it clarified that the bill focused on business-to-business and business-to-government equipment rather than retail consumer products. The amendment was adopted 35-0, and the bill then passed 22-13.
The Senate also passed House Bill 1351 on the Healthy School Meals for All program, with Senator Kirkmeyer saying it repays money previously transferred from the state education fund and does not reduce program funding or transparency. House Bill 1353 on state-administered social studies assessments passed 25-10, and House Bill 1359 on school land mineral revenues passed 28-7. The final portion of the transcript shows additional House bills being read and passed, including measures on housing financing, reserve reductions, cash fund transfers, child welfare subsidies, kinship care, judicial discipline, public safety benefits, multimodal transportation, unclaimed property transfers, tobacco education funds, and preschool funding, with several senators recording no votes and Senator Kirkmeyer noting concerns about transparency in cash fund balances during the debate on House Bill 1405.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
March 19, 2025 - 10:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- Despite having 39% more cases on our plate during this fiscal year than during the same period last fiscal
- Despite having 39% more cases on our plate during this fiscal year than during the same period last fiscal
- So this particular fiscal year, I'm sorry, this particular fiscal year, we anticipate spending about
- 30% of the allocated fiscal budget.
- They've attended almost 40 meetings this fiscal year—no, not this fiscal year, sorry, this calendar year
Summary:
The subcommittee heard presentations from the Department of Financial Services and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, then returned to its ongoing budget workshop with the Department of Management Services. DFS’s Division of Risk Management described its role as the state self-insurance fund, covering about 200,000 employees and 27,000 vehicles, paying roughly $150 million in claims last year, and managing a pilot ETS treatment program for veterans and first responders that had 49 patients and 804 treatments as of the latest report. The Division of State Fire Marshal outlined its fire prevention, training, emergency response, and grant programs, including hurricane deployments, the Florida State Fire College, and several capital and grant requests for roof, courtyard, memorial, and equipment needs. The Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation explained how it handles insolvent insurers under Chapter 631, currently administering 14 estates with $1.2 billion in assets and $3.7 billion in liabilities, and said no new receiverships had been opened since February 2023. Members asked about grant backlogs, fire truck procurement delays, memorial repairs, and whether affiliate transfers were occurring in insurer liquidations.
Secretary Griffin then updated the committee on DBPR’s implementation of House Bill 1021 on community associations. He said the department had used the new authority to expand education, complaint handling, and ombudsman services, including 10 free standardized courses, a new condo website, and a four-hour board certification course that had already drawn more than 12,000 attendees. He reported that outreach to condominium communities had increased by more than 60%, that complaint filings were up 39% while jurisdictional dismissals dropped to 11%, and that about 81% to 82% of the 65 new positions had been filled. Members pressed him on whether the department had enough authority and funding, how condominium counts are determined, how self-reported structural integrity reserve study data is verified, and whether more public-facing complaint tracking and better reporting from local governments or developers would improve the system.
The committee then resumed questioning Secretary Allende of DMS about outstanding budget and operations issues. Members focused on the delayed People First contract extension required by statute, with the secretary saying the delay involved technical and contractual complexity in moving a legacy hard-coded system to the cloud. They also revisited the state data team and data catalog project, asking why a statutory 2022 deadline had not been met, how the four-person team and broader data staff were organized, how many applicants were considered for key positions, and what each role was doing. The secretary said the catalog work was being simplified into six metadata fields and supported by a broader community of practice, but no firm completion date was given during the exchange.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Rep. Jon Koznick Press Conference 3/18/26
Transcript Highlights:
- note on that.
- note on that.
- note on that.
- note on that.
- note on that.
Summary:
House Republicans held a Transportation Committee press event to promote several bills they said would make driving cheaper and transportation more innovative. The main measures discussed were House File 3526, which would reduce vehicle tab fees; House File 3513, which would legalize automated driverless vehicles with regulatory guardrails; and a bill to consolidate metro-area bus operations and reduce administrative overhead and subsidies. They also said other transportation-related bills, including a school bus stop-arm clarification and a distracted-driving bill, were scheduled for the House floor on Monday.
Representative Patti Anderson argued that Minnesota vehicle registration fees have become unaffordable, citing examples of high costs for newer and older vehicles, and said the state should roll fees back to pre-2023/2024 levels. On automated vehicles, Republicans said the bill had been revised after concerns from committee members, MnDOT, and stakeholders, adding a weight limit to avoid autonomous trucking, accessibility provisions for wheelchair users, a U.S.-based support person requirement, a labor/economic/congestion study, and tighter permitting. They said the bill should advance to the next committee and rejected delaying implementation for further study.
On transit, Republicans said the metro has too many separate bus systems and that consolidation would save taxpayer money by cutting redundant service and administrative costs. They cited high per-ride subsidies and claimed combined reserve funds and reduced waste could save tens of millions of dollars. In questions, they defended using general-fund dollars for transportation, said the system benefits all residents, and argued that autonomous vehicles and related industries would create new opportunities even if some driving jobs are displaced. No formal votes were taken in the press event, though the speakers said they expected committee action on the automated-vehicle bill and that other bills would move to the floor or other committees.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 04/09/25
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:03:06.239>
year fiscal year fiscal year 2029.<00:03:08.239>Um <00:03:08.640>and - Senator Abeler, I did make a note.
- Is there a fiscal note, or how did we come up with that number, Mr. Vessel?
- Is there a fiscal note, or how did we come up with that number, Mr. Vessel?
- Madam Chair, Senator Aki, the fiscal note for that bill is in process.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Health and Human Services (02/06/2025)
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- the department was at in its understanding when creating the fiscal note.
- But also, a fiscal note would be very helpful. Thank you. No further questions? Right?
- But also, a fiscal note would be very helpful. Thank you. No further questions? Right?
- <02:56:43.560>
for <02:56:44.479>the the fiscal note is he accounting for the the fiscal - <03:00:59.439>
you <03:00:59.640>with fiscal note worksheet and leave you with fiscal
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Full Formal with Calendar) Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- In upcoming federal fiscal years, states with error rates above 6% will be required, federal fiscal years
- In fiscal year 2024, DTA’s error rate was 14% and is expected to be 11% in fiscal year 2025.
- So this amendment is also a fiscally responsible one.
- All those in the privacy I have post note. The ayes have it; the amendment is adopted.
- Tarr, 90-day notice to legislature on decoupling and fiscal impact. Senator Tarr. Thank you, Mr.
Summary:
The Senate considered a supplemental appropriations bill and a series of amendments focused on education, health, transportation, tax administration, and oversight. Senator Kennedy spoke in support of increasing funding for DTA caseworkers to improve SNAP access and reduce delays, but then withdrew the amendment by unanimous consent. Senator O’Connor’s amendment adding $500,000 for Free Period to provide free menstrual products in public schools was adopted, as was Senator Miranda’s $1 million METCO transportation and student support amendment. Senator Collins briefly proposed extending paid family and medical leave and unemployment insurance coverage to graduate student workers, but withdrew that amendment for later discussion.
Several amendments were debated and either adopted or rejected. Senator Tarr’s proposal to create oversight of the Group Insurance Commission and fund an Inspector General review was defeated after opposition argued existing oversight was sufficient. Tarr also offered amendments on MBTA deficiency fund withdrawals and on requiring 90 days’ notice before state tax code decoupling changes; both were rejected after standing votes. Senator Driscoll’s amendment for Randolph Public Schools restroom improvements was adopted, while his veterans student loan forgiveness amendment was withdrawn. Additional amendments were adopted for Bridgewater Middle School water filtration, Uffum’s Corner Health Center, and NeighborHealth’s pharmacy technician training program for local high school students.
A major discussion centered on school funding and enrollment declines. Senator DiDomenico withdrew an amendment that would have provided $100 million to address Chapter 70 funding losses tied to enrollment drops, but he and Senator Collins used the floor to argue that districts facing declining enrollment and rising costs need a broader state response. The Senate also adopted a new draft of the supplemental budget and then passed the bill to be engrossed by a roll call vote, with 35 members in the affirmative and 4 in the negative. The chamber then adjourned to meet again Monday, and did so in memory of Arthur H. Tobin, a former Quincy mayor, state legislator, and clerk magistrate.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
TRN Public Hearing - Tue Feb 10, 2026 @ 8:00 AM HST
Transcript Highlights:
- think um you know it's important to note think um you know it's important to note that<01:48:44.400
- The Chamber of Progress was noted in support. Enterprise Mobility was noted in opposition.
- And I want to note in the...
- I note the committee report.
- I note the committee report.
Summary:
The committee first heard HB 2021, a transportation measure creating a framework for electric bicycle and micromobility regulation. The bill would define electric bicycle and electric micromobility device, set age and helmet rules, restrict class 3 e-bikes from sidewalks, allow limited sidewalk use for class 1 and 2 bikes, prohibit high-speed electric devices and certain nonconforming devices in specified locations, update county tax definitions, and change related terminology. Testimony was largely supportive from DOT, police, Honolulu officials, Hawaii Bicycling League, AAA Hawaii, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, and several individuals, while DCCA’s Insurance Division asked for clarity on whether insurance would be required. Committee discussion focused on safety, enforcement, and the fact that no insurance market currently exists for these e-bike classes; members also discussed the need to target bad actors rather than ordinary riders.
The chair then proposed and the committee adopted amendments to HB 2021, including clarifying that road-legal, permitted, classified electric bicycles are not subject to insurance requirements at this time; allowing properly classified electric bicycles on sidewalks at 10 mph or less subject to county restrictions; barring high-speed electric devices and other nonconforming devices from public roadways; authorizing impoundment of non-road-legal or improperly registered devices; and requiring direct parental supervision for riders under 16 on class 2 or 3 e-bikes. The committee also made technical and effective-date changes. The recommendation to pass HB 2021 with amendments was adopted unanimously by the members present.
The committee next took up HB 1641, a related transportation bill addressing high-speed electric devices. The chair explained that the measure would prohibit the sale, lease, rental, distribution, possession, or operation of high-speed electric devices and establish penalties, but the committee’s version would narrow the focus to devices covered by HB 2021. The amended bill would prohibit offering high-speed electric devices for lease or rent, require sellers to comply with the new regulatory framework, ban operation on bicycle lanes, highways, roadways, and streets, and set a civil penalty of $250 to $1,000 per violation.
After no further questions, the committee voted to pass HB 1641 with amendments, and the recommendation was adopted. The meeting then moved to HB 1709, which would transfer regulation of the Hawaii Water Carrier Act from the Public Utilities Commission to the Department of Transportation and make conforming changes with an appropriation. DOT testified in support, while the PUC and DCCA’s Consumer Advocacy Division raised concerns about preserving consumer protections and the complexity of moving the regulatory framework. Young Brothers supported the bill and said the current system is outdated, but the discussion remained ongoing; the transcript cuts off before any final action on HB 1709 is shown.
MN