Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 4464. Senate File 4464.
• Um Senator Hal, we Well done, Senator.
• Chair, Senator Pappas, Senator Mr.
• <01:29:03.160> Senator Johnson. Senator Sieberger. Senator Johnson. Senator Sieberger.
• > Sieberger Senator Rasmusson and Senator Sieberger Senator Rasmusson and Senator Sieberger that<

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement met on April 14, 2026, adopted the April 7 minutes, and then took up Senate File 4464, which the chair said would be laid over after hearing testimony. The bill would restore continued health insurance coverage for police officers and firefighters in the PERA Police and Fire Fund who suffer documented physical duty-related injuries, addressing the current 5-year cap and the loss of coverage at normal retirement eligibility. Senator Hal Hoffman and Senator Hoffman’s testimony emphasized that the bill is a narrow fix for injured public safety workers and not a broader restructuring of retirement benefits. Supporters, including Mike Ladue of Law Enforcement Labor Services, several injured officers, Sheriff Ryan Kruger, and Amber Waldner, described the personal and family impacts of severe line-of-duty injuries and argued that coverage should continue to age 65 so families are not left with uncertainty if injuries worsen or force medical retirement. They said the bill would honor the promise made to public safety workers and provide stability for long-term care needs. One witness, Officer Albert, said the 2025 changes significantly reduced the protection he believed he and his family would have if his injury forced retirement. Anne Finn of the League of Minnesota Cities opposed the bill as drafted, warning that restoring coverage to age 65 for all physical injuries would be fiscally unsustainable without additional state funding. She said the 2025 pension changes were part of a negotiated package, noted that duty disability retirements are common, and argued the employer cost could reach about $500,000 per employee and create significant property tax pressure, especially for smaller communities. She urged the committee to work on a broader solution and said revisiting only one part of the 2025 law would create imbalance.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Eagler. Um Thank you. Senator Eagler.
• > that<00:33:53.120> Senate Senator Kupec's motion um that Senate Senator Kupec's motion
• Senator<01:36:16.960> Uecker. Senator Uecker. Senator Uecker.
• Senator Uecker. Um, and um helpful. Senator Uecker.
• Senator<01:46:15.400> Mann. Senator Mann. Senator Mann.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Ihara is excused. Senator Moriwaki: Aye. Senator Fevella: Aye.
• Thank you, Senator.
• Senator Moriwaki. is excused. Senator Moriwaki.
• Senator Favela. Aye. Chair, your >> Aye. Senator Favela. Aye.
• Senator Moriwaki. Hi any questions? Senator Moriwaki.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard and acted on several gubernatorial nominations to the Hawaii Workforce Development Council and one nomination to the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board. For GM 779, Mark Fong Su Wat said he would bring his experience as an electrician and labor community member to workforce development, and he committed to serving if confirmed. Testimony was unanimously supportive, with 10 in support and none opposed, and the committee voted to recommend advise and consent; the recommendation was adopted. For GM 792, Sheryl Cross sought a second term on the Workforce Development Council and described her work on employer engagement, military veteran affairs, and military spouse employment. In response to questions, she emphasized the need to better connect military spouses, underrepresented workers, and students pursuing trades or non-college pathways to jobs, including through school academies and online hiring initiatives. The item was held for later decision-making. For GM 793, Ashley Lohua, also nominated to the Workforce Development Council, said her focus would be helping people stay in Hawaii by improving job retention, listening to community concerns, and building pathways between sectors. Support testimony highlighted her work with marginalized communities and her empathy and leadership. She told the committee she would use her nonprofit and HR experience to help address vacancies and workforce barriers; the item was also held for later decision-making. For GM 774, Douglas Thomas Moore, nominated to the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board, said his first priority would be reducing the backlog. He proposed using informal conferences and mediation to speed workers’ compensation appeals and suggested recruiting more practitioners, especially younger ones, into the field. The committee noted 11 supportive testimonies and no opposition; no vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• making won't be until the end of calendar and also when we receive quorum, which is just one other senator
• consent noting the presence of you, and consent noting the presence of you, myself,<00:32:35.679> Senator
• <00:32:36.960> All myself, Senator Kuha and Favlla. All myself, Senator Kuha and Favlla.
• 44.559> there<00:32:44.720> any<00:32:45.039> All<00:32:45.279> others Senator
• Are there any All others Senator Kuha. Are there any All others being<00:32:45.840> excused?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard a series of gubernatorial nominations, primarily to the State Rehabilitation Council, the Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs (PABEA), the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, and the Center for Nursing Advisory Board. Nominees included Patrick Gartside, Judith Daniels, James Montgomery (not present), Christine Park, Tammy Napoleon, Scott Spelina, Roy Katsuda, and Dr. Sylvia Rom. Each nominee described their background and why they wanted to serve, with recurring themes of disability advocacy, vocational rehabilitation, nursing workforce development, elder issues, and LGBTQ+ health and community support. Department of Human Services and Executive Office on Aging representatives generally testified in strong support of the nominees and emphasized their qualifications and relevance to the boards’ missions. Members and agency witnesses also discussed substantive policy issues during the nominations. For PABEA nominee Scott Spelina, the committee asked about a bill involving strict liability and elder abuse-related criminal penalties; Spelina supported the approach, saying it would be easier to enforce and better protect seniors. For other nominees, testimony highlighted the need for stronger rehabilitation services, qualified vocational rehabilitation counselors, adult education partnerships, and nursing recruitment and retention, especially on Kauaʻi. Dr. Sylvia Rom’s nomination drew broad support from commission members and community supporters, with testimony focusing on LGBTQ+ health, gender-expansive youth, and intersectional advocacy. No final votes were taken during the hearing. The chair repeatedly stated that decision-making would be deferred until later in the calendar, and in some cases until the nominee was present or quorum was available. One nomination, James Montgomery, was skipped because he was not present on Zoom, and Kevin Nakamura’s nomination was also deferred to a later date. The committee accepted written and oral testimony and generally moved through the nominations without questions from members.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Senator >> Senator >> Senator Chair<00:39:56.160> McCune.
• Senator<01:30:42.040> Weisenberg. Senator Weisenberg. Senator Weisenberg.
• Senator Duckworth. Oh, uh Senator Okay. Senator Duckworth.
• Uh Senator Senator the Senate file.
• Senator Kupec moved that Senate Okay.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, we're going to hear two bills, Senator Kupec's Senate File 5025 and Senator Sieberger's Senate
• Senator Rarick. Senator Rarick.
• Senator Senator Senator Representative<00:57:43.600> Senator<00:57:43.880> Murrow<00:57
• Senator<01:04:20.040> Eric. Senator Eric. Senator Eric.
• Uh Senator McQuade, then Senator Lang. Uh Senator McQuade, then Senator Lang.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Weber, Senate File 4938. Thank you so much.
• And Senator<00:06:42.800> Miller. Senator Miller. Senator Miller.
• uh, Senator Pappas. Go ahead. uh, Senator Pappas. Go ahead.
• Senate<00:11:47.080> file Senator Pappas, you have Senate file Senator Pappas, you have
• Senator Rasmusson. Senator Rasmusson.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• any other Senator Dibble? any other Senator Dibble?
• beginning with with Senator beginning with with Senator Senator<00:46:25.440> Dibble.
• Senator Dibble. Senator Dibble.
• Senator Weber. I'm sorry, Senator Nelson first and then Senator Weber. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Senator<01:43:17.160> Weber. Senator Weber. Senator Weber.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Marty, I. Senator Franzen. Senator Pratt, no. Senator Champion, I. Senator Draheim, no.
• Senator Howe. Senator Dziedzic, no. Senator Johnson, no. Senator Mohamed, I. Senator Murphy, I.
• Senator Pappas, I. Senator Wiklund. Senator Franzen. Senator Howe. Senator Wiklund.
• Senator Pratt and Senator Johnson. Senator Pratt and Senator Johnson.
• Senator Marty: Aye. Senator Frentz: Aye. Senator Pratt: Aye. Senator Champion: Aye.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Second by Senator Canon. >> Okay. Senator Abbas. >> Okay.
• Um moved by Senator Abbott, seconded by Senator Ganon.
• >> So moved. >> Moved by Senator Opel, seconded by Senator Reen.
• Go ahead, Senator Abvis. Go ahead, Senator Abvis.
• of student surveys, um, faculty senate of student surveys, um, faculty senate resolutions,<02:19

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> second lang senator. >> second lang senator.
• Senator B. Senator B.
• And I'll take any questions. >> Questions from senators? Senator L.
• And I'll take any questions. >> Questions from senators? Senator L.
• And I'll take any questions. >> Questions from senators? Senator L.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , Senator Berthel, Senator Chairmen, Senator Berthel, Senator Ricardi,<00:23:01.480> and<00:23
• Uh yes, Senator Finn. Uh thank Question. Uh yes, Senator Finn.
• by the Senate President. by the Senate President. Okay. Okay. Okay.
• We have a motion for consent from Senator Fenton, seconded by Senator Murphy.
• Senator Murphy... And that's Senator Fenton. I think you may have it.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on behalf of Senator Rashardi.
• Senator and start working right away.
• And taking it out was Senator<00:09:29.519> Rashardi. Senator Rashardi. Senator Rashardi.
• Thank you, Senator McConkey.
• Thank you, senators.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Watters, question? Senator Watters, question? Thanks, Mr. Chairman.
• then Senator Rosenwald. then Senator Rosenwald.
• Senator<00:54:02.000> Waters. Senator Waters. Senator Waters.
• Senator<01:27:51.520> Waters. Senator Waters. Senator Waters.
• Senate. Senate.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First on our agenda today is Senate File 5060, the governor's supplemental budget proposal.
• Senate File 5060 is laid over. Now I will hand the gavel to Sen. Boldon.
• Senate File 203, the D1 amendment, as Chair Port mentioned.
• Please talk to your legislators and senators and your reps...
• I will talk about that if the Senate, they have to share the money, and I'm...

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator<01:18:52.160> Green. Senator Green. Senator Green.
• Senator Duckworth. Thank you, Senator Senator Duckworth. Thank you, Senator Friends. Friends.
• Senator<01:41:05.760> Green. Senator Green. Senator Green.
• Senator<01:42:23.920> Green. Senator Green. Senator Green.
• Senator<01:43:05.880> Green. Senator Green. Senator Green.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator<00:58:11.240> Pappas? Senator Pappas? Senator Pappas? Mr.<00:58:12.560> Meek?
• Senator Dornink. Senator Dornink: Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• Senator? Senator? Senator<01:10:22.160> Dornink? Senator Dornink: Thank you, Mr.
• <01:14:59.960> bill,<01:15:00.400> Senate Um, it was Senator Mann's bill, Senate Um
• That's Senate Senator Maye Maye Quade.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have first up, Senator Westlin, Senate File 4898. Senator Westlin, whenever you're ready.
• <00:05:12.920> Senate Senate email, Senate phones, Senate Senate email, Senate phones, Senate
• Senator<00:43:20.760> Bar. Senator Bar. Senator Bar.
• Senator Fateh excused. Senator Senator Fateh excused. Senator Hemmingsen-Jaeger?
• <01:15:11.160> Senator Senator Fateh excused. Senator Senator Fateh excused.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Senator<00:22:47.919> Sullivan, >> Senator Sullivan, >> Senator Sullivan,
• >> Senator. >> Senator. >> Senator.
• Senator Abbas will take it out. >> And um Senator Ward, Senator Altschiller is walking over now.
• Senator Abbas will take it out. >> And um Senator Ward, Senator Altschiller is walking over now.
• Senator Abbas will take it out. >> And um Senator Ward, Senator Altschiller is walking over now.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator. Senator Lang.
• <00:07:04.400> Senator All right. Thank you, Senator. Senator All right.
• Thank you, Senator. Senator Lang. Lang. Lang.
• Questions from the senators? senators? senators?
• Senators? Senators? Senators? Thanks,<00:16:56.280> Mr.<00:16:56.520> Chairman.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all