Keywords: HI Senate YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lFg9jQehW8, 2026-07-02T01:22:43+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, Today's meeting is also being broadcast with closed captioning on ‘Olelo Community Media's channel 49 and on the online stream: http://olelo.granicus.com/player/event/5589?view_id=13 Just press the CC button when you hover your mouse over the video screen. Meeting of the Special Committee Senate State of Hawaii COVID-19 Monday, March 30, 2020 Agenda The special committee will convene to assess and advise the Senate regarding the State of Hawaii's COVID-19 plans and procedures to include, but not limited to: 1) Confirm the development of the state departmental plans and procedures; 2) Review and assess current state departmental plans and procedures; 3) Review and assess whether state departmental plans and procedures are properly and timely implemented to safeguard public health and safety; and 4) To communicate and disseminate information obtained therefrom. The special committee will be meeting with the following: 1:00 p.m. Office of the Governor Ms. Linda C. Takayama, Chief of Staff 1:30 p.m. Department of Budget and Finance Director Craig Hirai 2:00 p.m. Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Director Scott Murakami 2:30 p.m. Department of Human Services Director Pankaj Bhanot, 912, senate, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Transcript Highlights:

• 'Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it.'
• House Bill 437 by Representative Marcelle is an act to amend the Code of Civil Procedure and Code of
• An independent contractor engages in manual labor.
• It went through labor committee. That's correct.
• It is an act to amend Title 18 relative to the Louisiana Election Code to make provisions to the code

Bills: SR110, SR109, SCR58, SCR59, SCR12, HB198, HB225, HB508, HB512, HB599, HB632, HB763, HB909, HB971, HB989, HB1066, HB1171, HB1204, HB1231, HB1246, HB1248, HB1250, HB221, HCR41, HCR63, HCR76, HCR77, HCR86, HCR92, HCR93, HCR58, SB83, SB135, SB143, SB155, SB157, SB202, SB237, SB261, SB276, SB295, SB388, SB450, SB465, HB17, HB21, HB42, HB45, HB51, HB55, HB74, HB106, HB108, HB133, HB140, HB159, HB168, HB215, HB226, HB263, HB296, HB299, HB322, HB324, HB364, HB519, HB535, HB538, HB568, HB571, HB622, HB635, HB676, HB772, HB784, HB821, HB823, HB1006, HB1018, HB1033, HB1034, HB1043, HB1070, HB1134, HB1237, HB1239, SB162, SB382, SR93, SCR40, SCR30, SB35, SB65, SB215, SB228, SB246, SB249, SB268, SB269, SB282, SB283, SB296, SB323, SB338, SB363, SB369, SB408, SB431, SB474, SB484, SB490, SB492, SB500, SB501, SB513, HCR6, HCR31, HB297, HB305, HB336, HB337, HB351, HB436, HB594, HB789, HB956, HB957, HB995, HB1040, HB50, HB117, HB120, HB122, HB139, HB148, HB149, HB185, HB247, HB271, HB286, HB301, HB358, HB359, HB384, HB413, HB428, HB450, HB462, HB547, HB613, HB631, HB657, HB669, HB675, HB680, HB691, HB712, HB716, HB720, HB723, HB727, HB728, HB735, HB747, HB759, HB825, HB842, HB845, HB846, HB903, HB904, HB907, HB923, HB929, HB941, HB962, HB965, HB1036, HB287, HB370, HB515, HB521, HB570, HB1200, HB29, HB39, HB58, HB67, HB73, HB76, HB77, HB82, HB112, HB121, HB125, HB132, HB134, HB151, HB154, HB155, HB161, HB166, HB187, HB191, HB207, HB211, HB224, HB238, HB241, HB242, HB250, HB260, HB265, HB275, HB300, HB320, HB338, HB339, HB349, HB379, HB399, HB427, HB463, HB464, HB468, HB545, HB550, HB551, HB565, HB588, HB639, HB725, HB782, HB805, HB808, HB834, HB847, HB853, HB858, HB861, HB883, HB916, HB937, HB977, HB1012, HB1027, HB1044, HB1054, HB1091, HB1117, HB90, HB127, HB138, HB150, HB201, HB268, HB273, HB285, HB315, HB354, HB355, HB360, HB376, HB445, HB506, HB606, HB649, HB665, HB681, HB721, HB746, HB757, HB781, HB835, HB844, HB857, HB872, HB886, HB889, HB892, HB972, HB982, HB987, HB1037, HB1068, HB1072, HB1078, HB1085, HB1132, HB1137, HB1167, HB1174, HB1232, HB1238, HB36, HB119, HB126, HB129, HB245, HB280, HB677, HB726, HB850, HB966, SB68, SB149

Keywords: youth fitness, school achievement, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana Governor's Games, elementary education, Louisiana Arts Day, arts and culture, cultural heritage, artists, musicians, writers, performers, culture bearers, tourism, creative economy, economic impact, cultural sector, Louisiana Partnership for the Arts, festivals, visual arts

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard a prayer from Dr. Michael Sprague, and recited the pledge. The body then suspended the rules to welcome House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who highlighted federal-state cooperation and credited Louisiana lawmakers with helping advance policies such as no tax on overtime, expanded energy development, and major business investment in the state. The chamber also recognized several visiting groups and observances, including Leadership Lafayette, the new Orleans Parish sheriff, Pro-Life Day at the Capitol, Recreation and Parks Day/Month, Main Street Day, LMA Day, and Links Day, with multiple resolutions adopted or concurred in for those recognitions. On legislation, the Senate handled a mix of committee reports, House messages, and floor action. It concurred in House Concurrent Resolution 92 and 93, adopted SCR 60, SR 11, SR 93, and SCR 40, and advanced or adopted numerous bills and resolutions. Notable measures included workers’ compensation bills SB 162, SB 382, and SB 408; SB 500 on medical review panels and certificates of merit; SB 268 and SB 228 on lead service line replacement and use of public funds; SB 338 on school bullying prevention; SB 431 on towing and storage access; HB 297 on lease termination for stalking and cyberstalking victims; HB 305 on child sexual abuse material evidence handling; HB 336 on post-conviction relief timelines; HB 436 allowing veterans to serve as park police/wardens; HB 594 designating SCN2A Day; HB 957 on prisoner transfer notifications; HB 995 on videotaped statements; HB 1040 on juvenile detention board membership; HB 117 reauthorizing the Department of State; HB 120, HB 122, HB 139, HB 247, and HB 286 creating or adjusting local districts; and HB 185 clarifying independent contractor coverage in workers’ compensation. Several bills were amended on the floor before passage, including SB 382, SB 500, SB 431, SB 338, and HB 185, while some measures were returned to the calendar or referred to committees. The Senate also received and referred a large number of House bills and concurrent resolutions on topics including health care reimbursement, criminal procedure, education, insurance, natural resources, transportation, and local governance. Votes recorded in the transcript were generally favorable, with many measures passing unanimously or by wide margins, though a few drew opposition, such as HB 185 and HB 957.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, your Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, to which has been referred House Bill 128
• Speaker, your Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, to which has been referred House Bill 285
• Speaker, your Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, to which has been referred House Bill 285
• Speaker, your Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, to which has been referred House Bill 128
• Speaker, he was a pro bono attorney for the Navajo Code Talkers. Mr. Michael Gross.

Bills: HB111, HJR1, HB61, HB8, HB30, HB43, HB156, HJM2, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50, HB70, SB3, HJM3

Keywords: water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order, water rights, overdiversion, illegal diversion, groundwater storage and recovery, well license, permit violation, water enforcement, New Mexico water code, irrigation district, conservancy district, water diversion, unauthorized water sales, measuring device, district court appeal, water resources, water compliance

Bills: HR119, HR120, HR121, HR122, HR123, HR124, HR125, HR126, HR127, HR128, HR129, HR130, HR131, HR132, HCR53, HCR54, HCR55, HCR56, HR115, HR116, HR117, HR118, SCR19, SCR26, SB102, SB222, SB255, SB270, SB273, SB314, SB418, SB420, HB21, HB24, HB29, HB31, HB39, HB45, HB49, HB77, HB136, HB150, HB211, HB263, HB273, HB299, HB315, HB324, HB376, HB377, HB422, HB431, HB444, HB450, HB519, HB533, HB538, HB549, HB559, HB562, HB663, HB664, HB715, HB717, HB805, HB822, HB823, HB834, HB864, HB867, HB1011, HB1017, HB1018, HB1068, HB1134, HB1137, HB1234, HB1235, HB1236, HB310, HCR6, HCR19, HCR10, HR74, HCR26, HCR35, HCR7, HB51, HB82, HB143, HB145, HB160, HB180, HB192, HB393, HB430, HB445, HB506, HB515, HB521, HB565, HB590, HB614, HB638, HB670, HB672, HB685, HB692, HB752, HB773, HB781, HB799, HB860, HB874, HB887, HB917, HB937, HB956, HB965, HB972, HB977, HB982, HB1006, HB1010, HB1044, HB1072, HB1088, HB1179, HB1200, HB76, HB132, HB181, HB210, HB250, HB265, HB275, HB291, HB322, HB342, HB475, HB486, HB616, HB635, HB639, HB690, HB740, HB757, HB761, HB774, HB808, HB855, HB872, HB883, HB886, HB903, HB949, HB962, HB996, HB1003, HB1036, HB1054, HB1071, HB1076, HB1078, HB1113, HB1132, HB1146, HB1232, HB1233, HB140, HB750, HB911, HB52, HB154, HB400, HB463, HB570, HB631, HB637, HB870, HB952, HB961, HB399, HB868, HB905, HB401, HB901, HR20, HB9, HB58, HB151, HB193, HB284, HB459, HB476, HB577, HB582, HB605, HB615, HB682, HB733, HB915

Keywords: condolences, public service, environmental justice, sustainability, local government, military service, World War II, veteran, community, Italian Festival, cultural celebration, Tickfaw, Italian-American, community pride, heritage, Miss Louisiana Teen USA, Heaven Riley Breaux, recognition, youth empowerment, community service

Transcript Highlights:

• So, this changes two sections of the trust code.
• this this changes two sections of the this this changes two sections of the trust<00:40:50.640> code
• And again, the goal here is trust code.
• into<00:41:37.359> into<00:41:37.760> conformity<00:41:38.319> with trust code
• into into conformity with trust code into into conformity with those<00:41:38.880> best<00:41

Bills: SB309, HB192, SB178, SB179, SB237, HB10, HB107, HB189, HB37, HB226, SB309, HB192, SB178, SB179, SB237, HB10, HB107, HB189, HB37, HB226

Keywords: automated driving systems, oversized vehicles, transportation, regulations, permits, HB192, international wire transfer, wire transfer fee, remittance fee, money transmission business, Alabama Securities Commission, Department of Revenue, Education Trust Fund, ELL instructors, English Language Learner, ESL teachers, income tax credit, remittances, international money transfer, migrant families

Transcript Highlights:

• Authorized under subchapter D of the education code. So it already exists. It already exists.
• Charter schools authorized under subchapter D of the Education Code was codified in 1995.
• The newest category of charters to be added to the code governs adult charter high schools.
• So how does this make that part different than what already in the Education Code or is it more of a
• You know, this bill is sort of a labor of love for, I think, a lot of us.

Bills: HB4, HB54, SB 10, SB 24, HB4, HB54, HB775, HB850, HB 1122, HB 1249, HB1405, HB2336, HB2757, HB3372, HB3622, HB4442, HB4687, HB4893, HB5089, HB5515, HB5606, SB10, SB24, HB1573, HB3369

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, citizenship, U.S. citizen, non-citizen, public office, advisory board, task force, state government, local government, political subdivision, commission board, appointment eligibility, officeholder qualifications, public service, naturalization, Texas Government Code

Transcript Highlights:

• I've learned more about the Texas Education Code than I have in the past three decades, and frankly,
• I respectfully ask you to amend the Texas Education Code to make it crystal clear that if detachment
• The code requires that this process be started either by a petition from you all or by a resolution of
• The court would have to abide because the code doesn't actually mention the resolution when it talks
• I think it could be resolved by just striking the resolution process side in the Texas Education Code

Bills: HB4, HB54, HB775, HB850, HB 1122, HB 1249, HB1405, HB2336, HB2757, HB3372, HB3622, HB4442, HB4687, HB4893, HB5089, HB5515, HB5606, SB10, SB24, HB1573, HB3369, HB4, HB54, SB 10, SB 24

Keywords: non-human behaviors, education, Texas schools, policy, regulation, funding, teacher salaries, school districts, state budget, non-enrolled students, University Interscholastic League, participation, eligibility standards, school participation, academic standards, Texas education, interscholastic league, extracurricular activities, academic proficiency, AED

Transcript Highlights:

• The City of Albuquerque recently updated our entire code for traffic so that we could include vulnerable
• right at the beginning of a young driver's journey, and especially with Albuquerque's changing traffic code

Bills: SB23, SB73, SB210, SB234, SB243, SB244, SM16

Keywords: student use, wireless devices, public schools, policy implementation, education technology funding, driver education, driver's ed, driving school, motorcycle safety, traffic safety, vulnerable road users, pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, cyclist, bike lane, micromobility, scooter, moped, motorcycle training, DWI prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• department would be able to evaluate programs to certify that they are in compliance with the public school code
• school boards, superintendents, or principals if they are violating any element of the public school code
• believe a local school board member is willfully failing to perform a duty required by public school code
• When we're talking about misconduct, we're talking about violations of procurement, code of ethics, oath
• Yet if somebody does something that's not in accordance with the statute, they violated the code.

Bills: SB23, SB73, SB210, SB234, SB243, SB244, SM16

Keywords: student use, wireless devices, public schools, policy implementation, education technology funding, driver education, driver's ed, driving school, motorcycle safety, traffic safety, vulnerable road users, pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, cyclist, bike lane, micromobility, scooter, moped, motorcycle training, DWI prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• So simply on our end, the synopsis state sales and use tax, but the use tax code section was not referenced
• state sales and use tax, but the<00:08:20.160> use<00:08:20.400> tax<00:08:20.720> code
• <00:08:20.960> section<00:08:21.280> was<00:08:21.520> not the use tax code
• section was not the use tax code section was not referenced.<00:08:22.160> We<00:08:22.400>

Bills: SB125, SB123, SB124, HB38, SB125, SB123, SB124, HB38

Keywords: oyster shell, tax credit, recycling, restaurant, state revenue, environmental benefit, sales tax exemption, seafood, fishing industry, local government, municipal exemption, seagrass restoration, environmental policy, water quality, marine ecosystems, conservation efforts, marine conservation, environmental remediation, coastal ecosystems, state waters

Transcript Highlights:

• officers, school resource officers, and security personnel, as described in 37.081 of the Education Code
• officers, school resource officers, and security personnel, as described in 37.081 of the Education Code
• officers, school resource officers, and security personnel, as described in 37.081 of the Education Code
• tax rate formula to include those hotel funds if they are misspent outside of Chapter 351 of the Tax Code
• tax rate formula to include those hotel funds if they are misspent outside of Chapter 351 of the Tax Code

Bills: HB346, HB1851, HB2974, HB5596, HCR118, HCR127, HCR141

Keywords: expedited service, business records, veteran-owned businesses, franchise tax, fee schedule, surplus vehicles, law enforcement equipment, school districts, Texas Facilities Commission, economically disadvantaged areas, HB 5596, voter-approval tax rate, property tax, ad valorem tax, Tax Code, Texas municipalities, coastal municipality, eligible coastal municipality, municipal hotel occupancy tax, hotel occupancy tax revenue

Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee heard and laid out several measures focused on school safety, Texas-Taiwan relations, defense manufacturing, business formation, hotel tax policy, and NASA relocation. HB 1851 would allow surplus DPS vehicles and law enforcement equipment to be transferred to school districts in economically disadvantaged areas for use by school police and security personnel, with a two-year resale restriction. HCR 127 expressed support for the Texas-Taiwan relationship and trade ties, HCR 118 supported expanding warship manufacturing in Texas, HCR 141 urged Congress to move NASA headquarters to Houston, HB 346 (with a committee substitute) revised business filing and fee authority while making permanent a franchise tax exemption for new veteran-owned businesses, HB 2974 was an omnibus hotel occupancy tax and qualified hotel project bill, and HB 5596 addressed accountability for municipal hotel occupancy tax revenues in coastal communities. Witnesses generally supported the measures, including the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association on HB 2974 and resource witnesses from the Texas Veterans Commission and Secretary of State on HB 346; no opposition testimony was registered on the laid-out bills. After public testimony, the committee took up pending business and adopted committee substitutes where applicable. HB 1851, HB 346, HB 2974, and HB 5596 were each reported favorably to the full Senate, with HB 346 and HB 2974 also recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. HCR 127 and HCR 118 were reported favorably as well, and HCR 127 and HCR 141 were likewise recommended for the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also reported HB 4320 favorably, though the transcript repeats that motion several times. The meeting ended with the committee standing in recess until 7:00 a.m. subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• officers, school resource officers, and security personnel as described in 37. 081 of the Education Code
• approval tax rate formula to include those HOP funds if they are spent outside of Chapter 351 of the tax code

Bills: HB346, HB1851, HB2974, HB5596, HCR118, HCR127, HCR141

Keywords: expedited service, business records, veteran-owned businesses, franchise tax, fee schedule, surplus vehicles, law enforcement equipment, school districts, Texas Facilities Commission, economically disadvantaged areas, HB 5596, voter-approval tax rate, property tax, ad valorem tax, Tax Code, Texas municipalities, coastal municipality, eligible coastal municipality, municipal hotel occupancy tax, hotel occupancy tax revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1633 addresses this by amending the Water Code to add registered exempt wells to the list of factors
• HB 1633 addresses this by amending the water code to add registered exempt wells to the list of factors
• We are absolutely not protected by the current water code.
• My farm, we are absolutely not protected by these ground by the current water code.
• These are the people that are not considered when doing permits currently under the water code.

Bills: HB2018, HB1633, HB1689, SB612, SB3058

Keywords: agricultural conservation, land preservation, environmental protection, wildlife habitat, Texas Farm and Ranch, groundwater conservation district, Texas Water Code, water permit, permit amendment, groundwater permit, water rights, aquifer, well registration, exempt wells, beneficial use, water conservation, groundwater quality, well plugging, Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area, surface water resources

Summary: The Senate Water, Agriculture, Rural Affairs Committee heard several bills focused on groundwater management, water infrastructure, and agricultural land conservation. SB 612 would limit certain water districts in Hidalgo, Cameron, and Willacy counties from charging developers pipeline construction fees above actual, documented costs; the committee substitute removed a developer challenge mechanism to preserve district discretion over construction standards. HB 1633 would require groundwater conservation districts to consider registered exempt wells when reviewing or amending permits, and testimony from landowners, district representatives, and advocacy groups largely supported the bill as a way to protect domestic and livestock wells from drawdown caused by large export projects. HB 1689 would clarify that export fee revenues may be used for well operability, alternative water supplies, and aquifer monitoring, including through interlocal cooperation, and HB 3058 would give the Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District authority to use export fees for county road improvements and environmental programs tied to well inspection and groundwater management. HB 2018 would clarify that the Texas Farm and Ranchland Conservation Program is intended to purchase conservation easements only on working agricultural lands, with support from cattle raisers and Farm Bureau representatives. The committee also considered HB 29, which would require large water systems to validate water loss audits and submit mitigation plans; a committee substitute removed the water-loss threshold and adjusted the timeline for more detailed validation. Public testimony on the bills was generally supportive, with several witnesses describing declining well levels, road damage from export projects, and the need to preserve agricultural land and local water supplies. The committee adopted committee substitutes and voted favorably on HB 29, HB 1689, HB 2018, SB 612, and SB 3058, recommending several of them for the local and uncontested calendar; HB 1633 was left pending awaiting a committee substitute.

Transcript Highlights:

• In our most impacted zip codes, residents are facing disproportionate economic hardships with high rates
• Bill 1320, which proposes a simple but important amendment to Section 264. 0.005 of the Texas Family Code

Bills: HB1320, HB2012, HB2293, HB2655, HB3174, HB4108, HB4661, HB4799, HB5534, HB5580

Keywords: transportation, infrastructure, funding, state budget, public safety, child welfare, county boards, membership, local governance, public welfare, government service, social services, Texas Family Code, regulation, vendors, solicitors, roadside sales, county authority, Sweeny Hospital District, board of directors

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas cannot afford a self-inflicted brain drain at this time. of our recorded labor shortages.
• We also know that immigrants are already more likely to experience labor abuses, and HB 5580 will exacerbate
• And those same workers will feel unsafe seeking justice when they are victims of labor violations, like

Bills: HB1320, HB2012, HB2293, HB2655, HB3174, HB4108, HB4661, HB4799, HB5534, HB5580

Keywords: transportation, infrastructure, funding, state budget, public safety, child welfare, county boards, membership, local governance, public welfare, government service, social services, Texas Family Code, regulation, vendors, solicitors, roadside sales, county authority, Sweeny Hospital District, board of directors

Bills: HB205, HB464, HB1361, HB2546, HB3229, HB205

Keywords: alternative fueling, grants, environment, public accessibility, transit authorities, scrap tires, tire dumping, illegal dumping, waste tire cleanup, environmental remediation, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, county grants, public education, enforcement, prosecution, right-of-way, coastal waters, inland waters, solid waste

Bills: HB145, HB164, HR1, HB20, HB65, HB66, HB80, HB306, SB29, SB37, HB99, HB206, HB213, HB270, SB104, SB193, HB38, HB254, HB256, SB58, SB64, HJM1, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM32, HM13, HM47, HM20, HM51, HM1, HM31, HM35, HM36, HM46, HM53, HM54, HM39, HM29, HM43, HM59, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50, HB253

Keywords: high-wage jobs, tax credit, job creation, New Mexico, economic development, lobbying, transparency, public records, government oversight, accountability, House Resolution 1, HR1, House investigatory subcommittee, special committee, legislative investigation, subpoena power, public corruption, criminal activity, Zorro ranch, Santa Fe County

Bills: HB91, HB123, HB167, HB255, HB264, HB321, HB884, HB955, HB967, HB968, HB969, HB978, HB985, HB994, HB1005, HB1104, HB1107, HB1109, SCR3

Keywords: criminal procedure, disclosure, criminal records, witness protection, trial rights, electronic monitoring, GPS ankle monitor, ankle bracelet, pretrial release, post-conviction supervision, bail monitoring, house arrest, corrections, criminal justice, law enforcement, prosecuting authority, court reporting, provider registration, LCLE, Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 3369 is a simple deregulation bill relative to the fire code on food trucks.
• House Bill 3498 is a targeted modernization of our corporate code and limited liability company statutes

Bills: HB3147, HB4453, HB3369, HB3660, HB3498, HB3260, HB3081, HB3127, HB3673, HB2293, HB3545, HB3546, HB2035

Keywords: special license plates, Route 66, Oklahoma, funding, community support, health care, transparency, primary care, cost analysis, insurance, all payer claims database, spending benchmarks, HB3369, food truck, food truck fire suppression, mobile food establishment, mobile food preparation vehicle, mobile food vendor, automatic fire extinguishing system, fire suppression

Bills: SB2421, SB2690, SB3103, SB3137, SB3164, SB3206, SB2933, SB3133, SB3315

Keywords: cannabis, marijuana, Hawaii Cannabis Law, legalization, decriminalization, adult use, hemp, taxation, social equity, public health, primary care, health insurance, health carrier, insurance commissioner, Med-QUEST, Medicaid managed care, provider reimbursement, downcoding, prior authorization, utilization review

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several health-related bills. HB 1864, which would require health insurance coverage for standard fertility preservation services for people undergoing medically necessary treatment, drew broad support from SHIPA, the Department of Health, HMSA, the Hawaii Association of Health Plans, and others. Testifiers emphasized that fertility preservation is routine coverage on the mainland and important for patients facing infertility from cancer or other treatment; one patient described incurring more than $20,000 in costs. The Insurance Division flagged possible Affordable Care Act issues, a potential conflict in the bill’s language about using patient history to determine limits, and a mismatch with state medical-necessity standards. Committee discussion also focused on whether the bill should apply to all women of childbearing age rather than a narrower age-based category. HB 2305 would require nutrition and metabolic education as part of physicians’ continuing medical education. The Hawaii Medical Board opposed the measure, arguing that CME should remain flexible and tailored to each physician’s specialty and warning that topic-specific mandates can expand over time. The Office of the Governor supported the bill, saying it would help the state’s rural health transformation application and could improve federal funding prospects, though the exact impact was unclear. Members questioned whether nutrition is already covered in medical training and whether the requirement should be limited to primary care physicians; the board said Hawaii currently has no topic-specific CME mandates and that physicians can already choose relevant courses. The committee also heard strong support for HB 1597, which would establish an Alzheimer’s disease research center at the University of Hawaii. Supporters from the university, the Alzheimer’s Association, AARP, and others said the center could attract federal research dollars, expand clinical trials, and help address the state’s high Alzheimer’s-related health costs. HB 2159, which appropriates funds for health care workforce development, also received broad support from the University of Hawaii, health systems, and advocacy groups, with no opposition noted. Finally, HB 2121, which would prohibit the sale and distribution of disposable electronic smoking devices, drew support from the Department of Health, youth advocates, and public health groups citing youth addiction, environmental waste, and fire hazards; the department said a separate bill, HB 1573, would be more comprehensive and better defined for enforcement and penalties. The committee ended with HB 1913, creating a veteran services mental health coordinator position at Tripler Army Medical Center, which was supported by veteran services officials and others who said veterans need better navigation and coordination for behavioral health care.