Video & Transcript Research : 'PILOT'

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NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate Chamber Jan 22nd, 2026 at 11:13 am

New Mexico Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • relating to human services, requiring the Department of Health to establish a universal basic income pilot
  • Education and Care Department or an approved entity to conduct home visits for participants in the pilot
  • . ...and Care Department, or an approved entity to conduct home visits for participants in the pilot
  • to public schools, creating the high school water management and conservation program as a two-tier pilot
  • introduced by Senator Brandt, an act relating to public health, creating the opioid addiction prevention pilot
Keywords: 996, all
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations and Budget Natural Resources Subcommittee - Morning Session Dec 17th, 2025

A&B Natural Resources Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:
  • So several years ago we started a pilot project that went statewide, and so we work with OSU to train
  • Example is there in Lincoln County, where we did the pilot project, which was just for Lincoln County
  • So Oklahomapportunity We'd also like to pilot 25 of the opportunity kiosks.
  • And we'd like to pilot 25 of them, predominantly in our rural communities, to see how that works because
  • We are, and we do have anticipated plans for four pilot sites throughout... ...Oklahoma where all of
Summary: The meeting began with a budget presentation from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. Secretary Blaine Arthur and Deputy Commissioner Jan Lee described the agency’s divisions and recent efforts to improve efficiency, including expanded online licensing, electronic veterinary inspection certificates, and a new laboratory information system. They highlighted youth and workforce programs, local food initiatives for schools, market development efforts, and ongoing animal health concerns such as avian influenza, equine herpesvirus, and the threat of New World screwworm. They also discussed staffing, turnover, and uncertainty around federal cooperative agreement funding, while noting they were not requesting new or additional appropriations for the upcoming fiscal year. Members asked about meat inspection staffing, the use of one-time forestry firefighting funds, biosecurity and national security coordination, and agency staffing levels. The department said meat inspection was currently in good shape but dependent on federal funding stability, and explained that prior firefighting dollars had been used for equipment purchases. They also said they work with state and federal partners, including DHS and FBI, on threat preparedness and have reduced turnover by adjusting salaries and maintaining staffing at or below prior levels. The Oklahoma Conservation Commission then presented its budget and program overview. Staff described the agency’s long history and current work in water quality, flood control, soil health, unpaved roads, wetlands, and woody species control, especially eastern red cedar removal. They emphasized data-driven, voluntary conservation practices, citing stream cleanups, flood-control dam benefits, pond cleanouts during drought, and the Cherry-Peach watershed project as examples of programs that improve water resources and reduce wildfire risk. The agency said its workload has grown significantly and requested funding for critical dam repairs, local conservation district staffing, continued unpaved roads work, and expansion of woody species control statewide. Members asked about county matching for road and dam projects, who to contact about flooding roads, sediment removal from pond cleanouts, and the effectiveness of county training programs. Commission staff explained that county in-kind work can count as match, local conservation districts are the first point of contact, and the road training has produced measurable savings and better maintenance practices. They also clarified that “high hazard” dams are those where failure could threaten people or infrastructure downstream, not necessarily dams that are structurally failing.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

JHA Public Hearing - Fri Mar 28, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST

Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • is the status of, in your testimony, you mentioned that DOT is launching the noise detection camera pilot
  • Could you just give us a description of that pilot and when you hope to get it started?
  • is the status of, in your testimony, you mentioned that DOT is launching the noise detection camera pilot
  • Could you just give us a description of that pilot and when you hope to get it started?
  • Yeah, so this pilot will allow us to put noise detection cameras in place, and we will collect data to
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs heard several transportation and public safety measures on March 28, 2025. SB 1195 would prohibit parking within certain distances of crosswalks and intersections, direct parking fine revenue to the Safe Routes to School special fund, and remove the need for signs or curb markings in some cases. The Department of Transportation, Department of Health, and Ulupono Initiative supported the bill, emphasizing improved visibility, pedestrian safety, and funding for school-route improvements; written testimony included both support and one opposition. No vote was taken during the hearing segment provided. The committee also heard SB 1102 on the aircraft rescue firefighting unit chief, which would set term-based appointment provisions for the airport division’s fire chief. DOT supported the measure, saying it would give the director flexibility to select leadership and adapt to changing needs, while a member asked about current removal procedures for underperforming employees. The bill was presented as a management and leadership measure, with no action taken in the excerpt. SB 1216, addressing noisy mufflers and safety inspection requirements, drew DOT support in principle but concern that existing rules already cover inspection standards and that enforcement after inspection remains difficult; DOT also described a planned noise-detection camera pilot on Oʻahu. Testimony included support from neighborhood and advocacy groups and opposition from three individuals. For SB 30, which would require helmets for moped riders under 21, DOT and HPD supported the bill, citing crash data and injury prevention; testimony was evenly split overall, with six in support and six in opposition. SB 344 would require helmets for skateboard users under 18; DOT supported it, and a DOT witness explained current helmet rules for other devices such as e-bikes, scooters, and motorcycles. SB 1095, increasing decal size limits for special number plates, drew DOT concerns that larger decals could interfere with plate readability and automated enforcement. SB 1522 would make proof of filing required vehicle-transfer notice forms a complete defense to actions arising from the vehicle’s later use or abandonment; the Judiciary said it had no position on the bill’s merits but objected to language requiring new court forms and raised access and legal-advice concerns, while Honolulu’s Department of Customer Services supported the measure. The committee then heard SB 597, extending the deadline for the Administrative Driver’s License Revocation Office to issue written review decisions. The Attorney General and DOT supported the extension, citing limited toxicology capacity and shipping delays for testing, and several law enforcement and public health entities also supported it. In contrast, the ADLRO hearing officer testified with serious concerns about due process, warning that eliminating or delaying the review process could create constitutional problems, disproportionately burden people without attorneys, and jeopardize thousands of cases. Finally, SB 1285 proposed a tiered revocation system for DUI arrests; ADLRO strongly opposed it on due process grounds, while DOT supported it as a safety measure and the Hawaii Public Health Institute commented that evidence is lacking for standalone mandatory revocation and suggested stronger impaired-driving standards instead. The committee had not yet taken final action in the portion provided.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

House - Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Mar 1st, 2025

House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • NMED conducted with the EPA, and it's almost a pilot project for what House Bill 581 is suggesting.
  • put together a resolution, we did a lot of research, and we did find scientific articles beyond the pilot
  • We found scientific articles beyond the pilot project that I mentioned in the introduction and the NMED
  • mentioned in I'll spell 581 called MethSat and MethAir found that, and that's not just the EPA NMED pilot
  • As a part of that, we did dozens of pilot projects where we injected 50,000 tons, 100,000 tons, a few
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • Services, provided that they partner with the Office of Wellness and Resiliency on the design of the pilot
  • 24.360> the Wellness resiliency on the design of the Wellness resiliency on the design of the pilot
  • adequate time to administer fitness assessments and insert a sunset date of December 31, 2026, for a pilot
  • amendments, adopting LRB tech amendments, and removing language making the DLIR unit revolving fund equity pilot
  • program permanent and extending the pilot program to June 30, 2030, and deferring the date to 2050.
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committee met in decision-making on a long list of Senate bills and adopted most measures with amendments or unamended, often with members voting aye and some recording reservations. Among the measures acted on were SB 40, SB 411, SB 436, SB 443, SB 447, SB 572, SB 583, SB 739, SB 742, SB 746, SB 816, SB 826, SB 830, SB 841, SB 850, SB 865, SB 952, SB 955, SB 1040, SB 1042, SB 1083, SB 1229, SB 1359, SB 1469, SB 1553, SB 1578, SB 1609, SB 1610, SB 1619, and SB 1641. Common amendments included deferring effective dates to 2050, adding sunset dates, adopting LRB technical changes, and narrowing or clarifying program language. Several bills drew brief discussion on policy details. SB 583 was amended to remove references to selling naming rights, leaving only leasing. SB 739 was discussed for its land exchange provisions and concerns about ceded lands and OHA revenue, but it was still adopted with reservations. SB 830 was amended based on DNR testimony to address reconstruction after disasters, excluding certain coastal hazards. SB 850 added State Council on Developmental Disabilities recommendations to address health disparities for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. SB 952 shifted administration of a pilot program to the Department of Human Services in partnership with the Office of Wellness and Resiliency, and SB 1610 added requirements for utility connections and capped spending on the Ohana Zones/Cales-related program. The committee also heard substantial discussion on SB 442, which concerned returning retirees to state employment. Testimony from the Department of Law Enforcement and the Attorney General focused on whether the bill should allow a shorter waiting period and how it would interact with current 89-day hiring practices, succession planning, and law enforcement retirement rules. After debate, the committee moved to decision-making and adopted amendments to include investigators, expand eligibility to hard-to-fill or succession-planning positions, and set a term limit for returning retirees with director approval for extensions. In a separate joint Ways and Means/Judiciary hearing, SB 716, SB 763, and SB 804 were also advanced with amendments, including organizational placement changes for DLE programs and Attorney General amendments to avoid retroactivity and contract-impairment issues. Several items were deferred, including SB 983, SB 1220, and SB 828.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Citizens came up with them, and since we built the pilot project on High Street that you saw a picture
  • Citizens came up with them, and since we built the pilot project on High Street that you saw a picture
  • Citizens came up with them, and since we built the pilot project on High Street that you saw a picture
  • Citizens came up with them, and since we built the pilot project on High Street that you saw a picture
  • Citizens came up with them, and since we built the pilot project on High Street that you saw a picture
Summary: The House Standing Committee on Local Government met for its first meeting of the year, established a quorum, and heard two bills. House Bill 211, sponsored by Representative Chris Lewis, would create a definition for cigar bars and allow indoor cigar smoking in qualifying establishments if they meet criteria such as deriving at least 15% of gross income from cigar-related sales, restricting entry to those 21 and older, prohibiting cigarettes and vaping, and requiring a smoke-free area for deliveries. Lewis and Louisville Metro Council member Anthony Pantini described the bill as a small-business and tourism measure modeled on Tennessee law, while the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and a St. Elizabeth physician opposed it, arguing it would undermine local smoke-free ordinances and expose patrons and workers to harmful secondhand smoke. Several members raised local-control concerns, and Lewis said he was open to local governments making decisions on less restrictive approaches. The committee adopted a committee substitute and then approved HB 211 on a roll call vote, with multiple members voting yes and several no votes, sending the bill forward as amended. The committee then heard House Bill 160 from Representative Susan Whitten, with Logan Haynes of the Kentucky Manufactured Housing Institute. They said Kentucky faces a housing shortage of roughly 200,000 units and that starter homes are increasingly unaffordable, making manufactured housing an important part of the solution. Whitten said the bill would treat manufactured housing more like site-built housing while still allowing local governments to enforce cosmetic standards such as roof pitch, exterior facade, and foundation material, and she emphasized that HOA, deed, and historical preservation restrictions would remain in place. Haynes argued that modern manufactured homes are federally and state inspected, more energy efficient, faster to build, and more affordable than site-built homes, and he said the bill would not open the door to older-style mobile homes or single-wides except in limited narrow-lot situations. Representatives from the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Association of Counties expressed concerns about the bill’s current language, saying land-use decisions should remain local and warning that the definition of qualified manufactured home and the bill’s treatment of local standards could have unintended consequences. They said they appreciated Whitten’s willingness to work with them and indicated they hoped to continue negotiating amendments as the bill moved forward. No vote on HB 160 was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • It establishes a three-year wastewater technology testing pilot program within the University of Hawaii
  • Wastewater establishes a three-year new Wastewater technology<00:02:10.080> testing<00:02:10.679> pilot
  • <00:02:11.200> program<00:02:11.879> within technology testing pilot program within
  • technology testing pilot program within the<00:02:12.280> University<00:02:12.720> of<
  • Senator, Water Research Center, how much do you estimate this three-year wastewater technology pilot
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 1232, which would create a three-year wastewater technology testing pilot program at the University of Hawaiʻi Water Resources Research Center and coordinate testing with state and county agencies. The Department of Health, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, and University of Hawaiʻi representatives supported the bill, saying it would help certify new wastewater technologies, lower costs for cesspool conversions, and provide data to the Department of Health. Testifiers said the prior testing effort ended after the departure of Dr. Roger Babcock, and that the new program would use National Sanitation Foundation standards, graduate students, and local wastewater facilities such as Wahiawa. Committee members asked about the $750,000 total cost, the scope of existing research, prior test sites, and whether the program would be tied to individuals or a permanent program. One member raised concerns about the fairness and data basis for sewer conversion decisions in local communities, and the University said it would follow national standards and share results openly. The committee then took up Senate Bill 686, relating to a short-term management initiative for coconut rhinoceros beetle response and related appropriations. The Department of Agriculture and the University of Hawaiʻi testified in support, while a county representative and other advocates urged broader statewide coverage, including Kauaʻi, and asked that appropriated funds be usable on any island. Testimony emphasized the need for immediate action, outreach, tree-trimmer training, canopy treatments, K-9 inspections, container fumigation, and biocontrol research. A member summarized the bill’s funding components, including amounts for training, residential palm treatments, response teams, inspections, fumigation, and research, and noted the importance of directing money toward on-the-ground response. Committee questions focused on how much funding remained available, how the agencies would coordinate with DOA, whether the department was prepared to manage all the bill’s functions, and how infestations were being communicated to the public. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 657, which would appropriate funds for the University of Hawaiʻi School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology’s Center for Climate Resilient Development. The Department of Land and Natural Resources testified in strong support, and the Department of Health also supported the measure, noting that it relies on the center’s data to inform decisions and recommendations on projects. The discussion on this item was brief in the portion provided, with no vote or final action shown.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • Now, without further ado, let us begin HB 69, relating to a compensatory time cash out pilot program.
  • relating to a compensatory time Cash 69 relating to a compensatory time Cash Out<00:08:25.560> pilot
  • 26.800> first<00:08:27.039> to<00:08:27.240> testify<00:08:27.879> we Out pilot
  • program first to testify we Out pilot program first to testify we have<00:08:28.520> Tommy<00
  • First, we have HB 69, relating to compensatory time cash out pilot program.
Keywords: 910, house, all
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • budget for a pilot project. budget for a pilot project.
  • This could be a pilot expand this.
  • I would be interested in talking to you all more about maybe codifying a pilot project, uh, through a
  • I would be interested in talking to you all more about maybe codifying a pilot project, uh, through a
  • Chairman. >> Senator, we do agree with you in the sense that, um, if we can be a pilot, we want to do
Summary: The committee opened its sixth meeting of the 2025 Interim Joint Committee on Education, confirmed a quorum, recorded attendance votes, and approved the minutes. Chair Lewis reminded presenters to keep remarks brief because of the full agenda and limited time. The first presentation was from United Way of Southern Kentucky, with Anne Puckett, Craig Browning, and Warren County Schools Superintendent Rob Clayton introducing a regional early childhood initiative. The presenters argued that kindergarten readiness and early childhood support are critical to later academic and life outcomes. They cited research and statistics about brain development in the first five years, the effects of unprepared kindergarten entry, and links between low literacy, school discipline, dropout rates, and incarceration. They said their region’s readiness scores fell during COVID and after a tornado, and that the most effective response was in-home parent education to help families support children from birth to age five. They described the model as voluntary, community-based, and not requiring new buildings, and said similar programs have been successful in Missouri. The group said it had already raised more than $1 million in private donations and committed three years of funding for four additional staff, expanding service in Allen, Logan, and Warren counties. They requested $600,000 per year for the next two-year budget cycle to add 12 more educators, serve about 360 families and 660 additional children, and build evidence for a possible statewide model. Members generally expressed support for the concept, with Representative Tipton and Representative Jackson discussing a prior home-based preschool pilot and the importance of starting early. Representative Calloway questioned whether increased family chaos and government involvement justified the approach; presenters responded that the program uses community educators, not a government-run organization, and is aimed at helping overwhelmed families. Representative Stalker asked about eligibility and early intervention, and presenters said the program serves children from birth to age five and can help identify needs early enough to connect families with services such as First Steps.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Last year, through the support of the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Commission, we piloted Cordata's data
  • And just as a final remark or question, I guess, in this pilot you would be reporting back to who?
  • And just as a final remark or question, I guess, in this pilot you would be reporting back to who?
  • And just as a final remark or question, I guess, in this pilot you would be reporting back to who?
  • In this pilot, you would be reporting back to who? To us or to the cabinet?
Keywords: 958, all
Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then approved an agency amendment to a health and family services regulation. The amendment reversed a prior change so that neonatal ICU beds would remain subject to regular review rather than nonsubstantive review. The remaining administrative regulations were then reviewed without objection. The main presentation was from State Auditor Allison Ball on a report finding $836 million in concurrent Medicaid capitation payments from 2019 through 2022, involving individuals enrolled in Kentucky and at least one other state. Ball said Kentucky relied on the PARIS system, which has limitations because it is updated quarterly and depends on voluntary state participation, while a better federal data source, T-MSIS, was not fully available to the state. She said the audit found weak internal controls, siloed processes, outdated guidance, and a low-priority attitude toward residency checks, all of which contributed to missed alerts and improper payments. She also said the report identified additional problems, including payments made after beneficiaries died and cases involving multiple states paying for the same person. Ball recommended better access to federal data, stronger MCO contract provisions, and more active oversight by the Department for Medicaid Services and managed care organizations. She said the contracts reviewed did not provide a clear way to recoup the improper payments, though she and her counsel suggested possible equitable legal theories might be explored. Members expressed concern about the scale of the waste and the lack of contract enforcement, and asked whether any money could be recovered. Ball said the audit did not identify a clear contractual path to recoup the funds.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

WAM-EDU Informational Briefing 01-14-2025

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • As a result, that first pilot was done in seven months for a cost of about $321,000 per room.
  • As a result, that first pilot was done in seven months for a cost of about $321,000 per room.
  • When is your pilot project starting?
  • You just said that you were going to be starting a pilot project. When is that?”
  • “Yeah, but I’m just wondering, is the $5 million only for the one pilot?
Keywords: 912, senate, all
CT
Transcript Highlights:
  • This is a transfer of $700,000 from the personal services, veterans opportunity pilot, and Headstones
  • The veterans opportunity pilot, did that never just never got off the ground?
Keywords: 962, all
Summary: The Finance Advisory Committee approved the minutes of its April 2 meeting and then took up three budget transfers. The first, FAC 2026-6 for the Office of the State Treasurer, moved $75,000 from personal services to other expenses to pay for consultant help applying for federal energy credits under the Inflation Reduction Act’s direct pay provisions. Treasurer’s office staff said the agency had one open position and several others pending posting, and members discussed how the transfer related to vacant positions and the committee’s budget display. The second item, FAC 2026-7 for the Office of the State Controller, transferred $700,000 from personal services to other expenses to cover higher Core-CT software maintenance and licensing costs. Comptroller staff said the office had 21 open positions, most in Core-CT, and explained that the system, implemented in 2003, receives regular quarterly and monthly updates from Oracle. Members also discussed how the system serves payroll, HR, purchasing, accounting, and related functions for many state agencies, including UConn and the Board of Regents. The final item, FAC 2026-8 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, transferred $700,000 from personal services, the veterans opportunity pilot, and headstones accounts to other expenses for year-end operational needs. Commissioner Ron Welch said most vacancies were in the skilled nursing facility, food service, and physical plant, with staffing challenges especially for nurses and aides. He also explained that the veterans opportunity pilot never fully launched, that the Institutional General Welfare Fund has been depleted and the agency now relies more on general fund support, and that the department faces rising food, utility, and pharmaceutical costs, including a federal VA reimbursement change that will leave the state responsible for medication costs by 2027. All three transfers were approved, and the meeting adjourned.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

Room 016 Conference AM - 04-30-2026

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is the pilot program design review special fund, with the appropriations.
  • This is the pilot program design review special fund, with the appropriations.
WV

West Virginia 2026 Regular Session

WV Senate Mar 14th, 2026 at 04:37 pm

Transcript Highlights:
  • reported a strike-and-insert amendment that incorporated provisions of House Bill 4602, a caseworker aid pilot
  • It shall be a three-county pilot program to operate for 15 months.
Keywords: 994, senate, all
Summary: The Senate first considered confirmations from Senate Executive Message No. 4. On a 33-0 vote, it confirmed all nominees except number 54, then separately confirmed nominee 54 on a 30-3 vote. The special order of business was then closed. The chamber then took up a series of House-amended bills and generally concurred in the amendments before passing each bill. These included SB 723 on law enforcement cooperation with bordering states; SB 947 on birth certificate copies for homeless minors; SB 392 on personal income tax reduction; SB 54 on criminal penalties for abuse or neglect of incapacitated adults; SB 228 on technology in child abuse and neglect investigations, including a three-county caseworker aid pilot; SB 231 on value-based payment requirements; SB 402, the Workforce Readiness Opportunity Act, with House removal of tax credits and other provisions while retaining micro-credential programs; SB 553 on transfer of contractor licenses to qualifying immediate family members; SB 575 on refusal review hearings; SB 686, the Coal Tenancy Modernization and Miners' Protection Act; SB 906 on lawful prescription of crystalline polymorph psilocybin under FDA recommendations; and SB 1226 on penalties for disturbing religious worship. Most final passage votes were unanimous or near-unanimous, and several bills were made effective from passage or given a specific effective date. Later, the Senate concurred in House amendments to SB 63, the Creating Sustaining Opportunities for Academics and Rural Schools Act, after discussion noting the House removed county charter school language and changed the effective date. The bill passed 32-2 and was made effective from passage. The Senate also concurred in amendments to SB 502, the Women's Collegiate Sports Protection Act, and SB 153, creating the Unemployment Automation and Administration Fund; SB 502 was set to take effect July 1, 2026, and SB 153 was also made effective July 1, 2026. Finally, the Senate reconsidered and again passed SB 392 by a 32-2 vote. The session ended with several introductions, announcements, and a recess until 5:30.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota House passes the omnibus education policy bill, SF1740 5/16/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And yet in this pilot, it said that in order to participate in the pilot, which has this expanded opportunity
  • Unfortunately, our smaller schools simply said we can't even participate in the pilot because of this
  • in the pilot because of this.
  • Okay, we have changed it not from a pilot but from now this is the new expanded opportunities. it does
  • but from now this is the new pilot but from now this is the new expanded And then we also have changed
Keywords: 1183, house
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Education Policy - 03/24/25

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • And when he died, um, what was unique about him, um, he was a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force, um
  • And he's the last known survivor pilot from the Battle of Britain.
  • Um, the compensatory pilot and all that. I don't know where we're going to find those.
  • <00:03:37.040> I the compensatory pilot and all that.
  • I the compensatory pilot and all that.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Senate Transportation (02/04/2025)

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • The bottom line on the Turnpike toll credits is that there is only a pilot program that's been initiated
  • The bottom line on the Turnpike toll credits is that there is only a pilot program that's been initiated
  • uh<01:53:53.040> you<01:53:53.159> know<01:53:53.520> uh<01:53:53.760> pilot
  • whether it's uh you know uh pilot whether it's uh you know uh pilot project<01:53:54.560> dealerships
  • That's for the program as is, not a pilot.
Keywords: 1191, senate, all
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • But do some of the counties already have ideas on a proposed pilot program already?
  • Moving on to SB 3204 SD1 HD1 relating to Family Resilience pilot program.
  • We want to note that we also support HD1, which increased the duration of the pilot program from just
  • We want to note that we also support HD1, which increased the duration of the pilot program from just
  • SB 3204 SD1 HD1 relating to Family Resilience pilot program. Recommendation to move as is.
Bills: HCR93, HCR14, HR85
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

ECD Public Hearing - Fri Feb 13, 2026 @ 8:30 AM HST

Economic Development & Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill protects the Montto Cooji Bay by creating a 5-year coastal resilience pilot.
  • Bay by creating a 5-year coastal Bay by creating a 5-year coastal resilience<01:33:22.639> pilot
  • <01:33:23.840> Chair<01:33:24.159> recommends<01:33:24.560> to resilience pilot
  • Chair recommends to resilience pilot.
  • <01:33:37.760> These under the pilot program. These under the pilot program.
Summary: The committee opened with HB 1813 on taxation and HB 2429 on tax expenditure evaluation, taking mostly written testimony and limited oral discussion. On HB 2429, the Tax Foundation and Department of Taxation raised privacy and federal-law concerns, warning that the bill could require taxpayers to file duplicative returns and could risk disclosure of federal tax information if released publicly. Members and witnesses discussed using anonymized or summary reporting instead of individual public release, with the department saying summarized data would be preferable and that the state can ask for the information as a policy matter, but individual public release could create problems. The committee then heard HB 2423 HD1 on biodiesel, where Pacific Biodiesel said it can supply all biodiesel needed for B5 in Hawaii without imports and asked to move the implementation date earlier to November 2027 to allow rollout planning. HB 1996 HB1 on hearing aids drew broad support; a disability access representative said earlier insurance-based efforts had run into administrative problems and that this bill would immediately lower costs for consumers. HB 1851 HD1, also related to hearing aids, received support from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, while the Tax Foundation argued the program would be better funded directly rather than through the tax system, citing overhead costs and blank provisions that should be filled in before passage. On HB 2546, the research activities tax credit, HCDC said the credit supports long-term R&D and should be converted from a first-come, first-served system to proration so more applicants receive some benefit; the agency described the credit as helping companies move from idea to commercialization and noted the state is leaving potential jobs and federal dollars on the table. HB 2028 HD1, relating to Labor Day for construction workers, drew support from labor representatives who said it recognizes construction workers and helps offset cost-of-living pressures, while the Tax Foundation opposed it as an industry-specific subsidy and flagged technical issues with undefined terms and blank credit amounts. The committee also heard HB 2583, HB 2490, HB 2545, HB 2114, and HB 1859 HD1. HB 2490, concerning coastal erosion at Mokuhiki Bay, received strong support from a temple representative who described severe shoreline loss, years of temporary emergency work, and the need for a long-term, nature-based solution in coordination with state agencies. HB 2545, involving HCDC and SBIR commercialization, was supported as a way to turn R&D into economic development; HCDC said it had more applications than it could fund and that the bill could help create high-wage jobs. HB 2114, the Hawaii Benefits Hub, received comments from ETS and DHS emphasizing support for the concept but cautioning that operational, policy, cybersecurity, and data-sharing standards must be carefully aligned. HB 1859 HD1 on workforce development drew strong support from workforce and philanthropic groups, who said Hawaii faces a long-term gap between projected living-wage jobs and the number of young people entering the workforce, and argued the bill would create durable infrastructure for coordination and long-term planning. No formal votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.