Transcript Highlights:

• We lobbied them to change policy because there was a situation often across Suffolk County where licensed
• We lobby them to change policy because there was a situation often across Louis Suffolk County where
• infrastructure bill around IT, because particularly with civil cases, I know not just in Suffolk County
• Changing time zones is really intended for county by county.
• So in Arizona, like Hawaii and like the five U.S. territories, we have kept standard time for since the

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Summary: The Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight heard testimony on several bills. Senator Mike Moore supported S. 2185, which would delay implementation of the heavy-duty omnibus/advanced clean truck requirements while requiring the Commonwealth to purchase or lease electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles starting in 2025; he argued the delay is needed because infrastructure, grid capacity, vehicle availability, and costs are not yet ready. The committee also heard strong support for S. 2156/H. 3318, which would require free menstrual products in public buildings, with advocates and students describing period poverty and the need to treat menstrual products like other basic restroom supplies. Senator John Keenan testified for S. 2158, a bill to let municipal light plants protect proprietary and competitively sensitive information from public disclosure while keeping board meetings and minutes open, saying it would help level the playing field against larger competitors. A major portion of the hearing focused on S. 2125/H. 3384, the language access and inclusion bill. Testimony from the AAPI Commission, Mass Speaks coalition members, Mass Appleseed, MLRI, ATASK, MAPC, the Boston Bar Association, Mass Advocates for Children, and others described barriers faced by limited-English-proficient residents in accessing MassHealth, DCF, courts, domestic violence services, schools, and other state services. Witnesses cited untranslated documents, inadequate interpretation, delays, and the burden placed on bilingual staff and children; several also pointed to recent federal moves toward English-only policy as making state action more urgent. Committee members asked questions about implementation, interpreter availability, and the role of technology and remote participation, and the chair noted the bill had been reported favorably in a prior session and intended to be again. The committee also heard testimony on time-zone legislation. Dr. Karin Johnson, representing sleep medicine interests, supported H. 3405 for permanent standard time and opposed S. 2157 for permanent daylight saving time, arguing that standard time better aligns with circadian rhythms and health, while permanent daylight saving time would worsen morning darkness and sleep disruption. Members questioned the strength of the scientific evidence and discussed school start times, geography, and whether Massachusetts should align with neighboring states. No votes were taken during the hearing, and testimony continued on additional bills as the session progressed.

Transcript Highlights:

• It has selected scenes from the film relevant to Hawaii oceans and a panel discussion to follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• Worrall ANEP we You have sold me on ANEP years ago and we have seen the benefits in Alaska and in Hawaii
• have established with native entities throughout Alaska, and also with our brothers and sisters in Hawaii

Committee: Senate Indian Affairs Committee

Keywords: Native education, Department of Education, federal funding, testimony, treaty obligations, public schools, educational policies, Indigenous students

Summary: The meeting focused on the responsibilities of the U.S. Department of Education towards Native students, highlighting the importance of federal education programs that satisfy treaty obligations to Native communities. Various witnesses testified about the impact of educational policies designed to support Native students who primarily attend public schools. Concerns were voiced over recent proposals that could potentially undermine these programs, citing the role of federal funding in ensuring successful educational outcomes for Native youth. The chair of the committee emphasized the need for continued federal support and attention to the unique educational challenges faced by Indigenous populations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Charles County. And I realize we're not the only ones, but St.
• Charles County has great facilities throughout the county for youth sports tournaments.
• It was volleyball. 752 teams, including one from Hawaii, were in Kansas City in January.

Committee: House Special Committee on Tourism

Summary: The Special Committee on Tourism met in executive session and approved three House bills: HB 2307, designating Missouri Military Academy as the official military academy of Missouri, passed 10-0; HB 3264, designating Kansas City as the barbecue capital of Missouri, passed 10-0; HB 1960, naming the smooth chanterelle the official state mushroom, passed 9-1; and HB 3074, establishing William Lacey Clay Senior Day in Missouri, passed 10-0. After the executive session, the committee opened a public hearing on HCR 36, which would designate June 3 as Josephine Baker Day in Missouri. The sponsor and a witness described Baker’s St. Louis roots, international entertainment career, service in the French Resistance, civil rights work, and her significance to Missouri heritage and tourism. Committee members voiced strong support and asked questions about her legacy, including her adopted children and her role as a model for Black women and civil rights advocacy. The committee then heard a presentation from Stephen Fouts, director of the Missouri Division of Tourism, on the state’s tourism marketing efforts and economic impact. He said tourism generated more than $21 billion in economic impact, over $18 billion in direct spending, and supported more than 307,000 jobs, with more than 43 million visitors in the last fiscal year. He outlined the division’s marketing strategy, including the Mo character campaign, cooperative marketing grants for local DMOs, the Meet in Missouri Fund, film incentives, and major event promotion tied to the World Cup, Route 66 Centennial, and America 250. He also reported strong returns on marketing investment and discussed sports tourism, youth sports, and the importance of the cooperative marketing program to local communities. A major topic of discussion was the possibility of significant budget cuts to tourism. The chair and several members argued that tourism is a major economic driver and said they would oppose deep reductions, with multiple members offering to sign a committee letter or otherwise advocate against cuts. Members asked how reductions would affect marketing, sports tourism, and the cooperative marketing program; Fouts said large cuts would likely reduce co-op funding proportionally and could harm local partners. No final action was taken on HCR 36 during the hearing, and the meeting adjourned after testimony and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to task the LRB's public access room with working collaboratively with the Hawaii State Public

Committee: Senate Government Operations

Summary: At the final hearing of the Government Operations Committee on March 27, 2025, members considered SCR 53/SR 35 and agreed to move it forward as a Senate Draft 1. The measure was amended to replace references to the Department of Accounting and General Services with the Legislative Reference Bureau, and to direct the LRB’s Public Access Room to work with the Hawaii State Public Library System on an outreach program using state libraries so the public can participate remotely in the legislative process. The LRB would also be required to report to the legislature on implementation plans. The chair voted yes, and the measure passed with amendments. The committee also took up SR 135/SR 114, which urges state departments to partner with the Office of Wellness and Resilience on data-sharing agreements. After concerns raised by members, the proposal was revised into Senate Draft 1 to incorporate language tied to Act 29-291 and the Office’s work on a social determinants of health electronic dashboard. The amendments emphasized secure data-sharing, privacy and confidentiality protections, and the use of deidentified, aggregated, and anonymized data to support community needs assessments and aid strategies. Additional changes corrected titles in the measure, including identifying the chairperson of the Department of Health rather than the director. The chair noted the Office of Wellness and Resiliency would follow strict data governance protocols and work with state departments. The committee then voted yes on SR 135/SR 114, Senate Draft 1, with all members present voting in favor except Senator Gab, who was excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• McMiggins, homeowner, Placer County, in support.
• Good morning, Teresa Lavoie from Somerset, which is in El Dorado County, and I support SB 868.
• June Denzel, Solano County, in support. Thank you.
• Hello, I'm John Aaron from Alameda County, and I support this bill.
• County, we oppose. Thank you. Good morning, Mr. Chair and members.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on SB 868, the Plug and Play Solar Act, which would streamline approvals for portable plug-in solar devices while setting safety standards. The author and supporters argued the bill would help renters and homeowners with high electricity bills by allowing low-cost balcony solar systems to reduce monthly costs, and they emphasized that the devices would not feed power back to the grid. Supporters included environmental and consumer groups, solar advocates, and many members of the public. Opponents, including electrical workers, firefighters, utilities, and PG&E, raised concerns about shock, fire, overloading, and the need for California-specific building standards. After discussion, the author agreed to committee amendments and later to add compliance with the California Electrical Code in addition to the National Electrical Code; several opponents said that change would move them to neutral. The committee then voted to pass SB 868 out as amended to Senate Judiciary, with some members expressing support while reserving concerns about safety as the bill moves forward. The committee then took up SB 886, dealing with data center electricity use and ratepayer protections. The author said the bill is intended to prevent large data centers from shifting grid and infrastructure costs onto other customers, citing rapid growth in data center demand and examples from other states. Supporters, including TURN and climate groups, said the bill would require data centers to pay for their own grid impacts, pre-fund long-term clean energy resources, participate in demand response, and cover related costs. Opponents from the data center industry, tech and business groups, utilities, and some energy users argued the bill was unnecessary, could duplicate CPUC processes, and could create discriminatory rate treatment or operational problems, especially around mandatory demand response and limits on backup generation. Committee staff described amendments narrowing the bill to large data centers, clarifying tariff and cost-allocation provisions, replacing a storage requirement with a long-term zero-carbon procurement mechanism, and exempting certain public and utility facilities. Members discussed the balance between affordability, reliability, and clean energy, with the bill framed as a way to protect ratepayers while allowing data center growth.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:57:42.880><c> Our</c> unique nature of each county. Our unique nature of each county.
• or county state-assisted highway.
• </c> from the edge of a roadway, a county from the edge of a roadway, a county highway<01:09:25.679><
• or county stateass assisted highway or county stateass assisted highway. highway. highway.
• You know, if there's a robust system county by county where county boards can make some of these decisions

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Matt Lenny, uh, Belknap County 2, in a letter dated September 12, 2025.
• Straford County District 12, Billy Butler of Summersworth. Sincerely, David Scandlin.
• </c> Lenny, uh, Bellnap County 2.
• 18:17.679><c> Butler</c><00:18:18.080><c> of</c> County District 12, Billy Butler of County District
• States, including Alaska and Hawaii, as States, including Alaska and Hawaii, as well<01:51:57.760><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• Both Okanogan County and Clark County, as well as the cities in those counties, are authorized to adopt
• Additionally, Clark County and the cities in that county are authorized to include the development of
• Turning now to this bill, it would remove the authority for Clark County and the cities in that county
• to the county.
• There's really no valid reason for Clark County to be the only county exempt from protecting resource

Bills: SB5820 , SB5467 , SB5995

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: freight rail, rail corridor, short-line railroad, rail-dependent uses, industrial land use, growth management act, GMA, comprehensive plan, transportation element, land use planning, local government, county planning, city planning, critical areas, agricultural lands, forest lands, mineral resource lands, urban growth area, development regulations, notice on permits

Transcript Highlights:

• transmits a nomination to the board of directors for the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii

Bills: SB2097 , SB2317 , SB2319 , SB2177 , SB2190 , SB2424 , SB2524 , SB2627 , SB3084 , SB895 , SB896 , SB3102 , SB3157 , SB3215 , SB2050 , SB2090 , SB2211 , SB2572 , SB2096 , SB2025 , SB2127 , SB2046 , SB2262 , SB2354 , SB2387 , SB2487 , SB2955 , SB3234 , SB2851 , SB2573 , SB2391 , SB3282 , SB3055 , SB2189 , SB2194 , SB3152 , SB2635 , SB888 , SB2203 , SCR1 , SCR2 , SCR3 , SCR4 , SCR5 , SCR6 , SCR7 , SCR8 , SCR9 , SCR10 , SCR11 , SCR12 , SCR13 , SCR14 , SCR15 , SCR16 , SCR17 , SCR18 , SCR19 , SCR20 , SCR21 , SCR22 , SR3 , SR5 , SR6 , SR7 , SR8 , SR9 , SR10 , SR11 , SR12 , SR13 , SR14 , SR15 , SR16 , SR17 , SR18 , SR19 , SB2010 , SB3118 , SB3276

Transcript Highlights:

• April 21st, 2025, and we're here on the 10:30 a.m. agenda, again, in Conference Room 325 here at the Hawaii

Transcript Highlights:

• The LA County Department of Public Works reported these takeovers cost the county hundreds of thousands
• to both San Diego and Marin counties.
• counties.
• counties.
• include all 20 cities in the county as well as the County of San Mateo.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• I represent Rockingham County 16, which is Londonderry. This bill is very simple.
• ><00:05:13.080><c> 16</c><00:05:13.720><c> which</c><00:05:13.880><c> is</c> represent Rockingham County
• 16 which is represent Rockingham County 16 which is Londoner<00:05:15.960><c> this</c><00:05:16.120>
• </c><01:55:33.520><c> and</c> municipalities and and counties and municipalities and and counties and
• You take out Alaska and Hawaii, who have their own unique electricity challenges.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• They might be offered in Orange County or Los Angeles County.
• Even city and county resources — mostly county resources — aren't being leveraged or accessed because
• For places like Alameda County and Santa Barbara County, regional leads and subgrantees successfully
• For places like Alameda County and Santa Barbara County, regional leads and subgrantees successfully
• is Imperial County.

Committee: House Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• It might be offered in Orange County or Los Angeles County.
• There's even like city and county, not cities or mostly county resources, they're not being leveraged
• For places like Alameda County and Santa Barbara County, a regional lead and subgrantees successfully
• For places like Alameda County and Santa Barbara County, a regional lead and subgrantees successfully
• is Imperial County.

Summary: The Assembly Human Services Committee held an informational hearing with members of the API Legislative Caucus on California’s Stop the Hate Program and broader efforts to address hate incidents. Opening remarks emphasized the rise in hate during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of culturally and linguistically competent services, and the program’s role in serving not only AAPI communities but also Latino, Black, Jewish, Muslim, LGBTQ+, immigrant, and other impacted communities. Legislators and presenters repeatedly highlighted the value of trusted community-based organizations (CBOs) in reaching people who may not report to law enforcement or seek traditional services. The first panel included the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs, the Department of Social Services (CDSS), and the Commission on the State of Hate. They described the program’s origins in the state’s equity budget, its funding structure, and its service model: direct victim services, prevention, and intervention. CDSS said 180 organizations statewide have participated, with grantees selected based on experience, capacity, and service to priority populations. The Commission on the State of Hate reported that hate remains widespread and underreported, citing survey data showing about 3.1 million Californians experienced at least one hate act in a year and that many victims need mental health, legal, and other supports beyond police response. Members asked about best practices, youth impacts, administrative costs, and the role of regional leads; CDSS said it would provide more detail on funding distribution and that the final evaluation is still in progress. The second panel featured grantees from Jewish Family Service San Diego, Inland Chinese American Association, Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants, and Equality California. They gave examples of how Stop the Hate funding supported culturally specific response teams, counseling, language-access services, self-defense and safety workshops, youth and elder programming, legal navigation, and reporting tools. Several speakers said the program helped build trust, reduce isolation, and connect people to services they otherwise would not use. Legislators pressed the panel on lessons learned, whether the model should be reauthorized, and what would be lost if funding ends. Panelists emphasized that the program’s flexibility, regional convenings, and support for small, trusted organizations were key strengths, while also noting the need for more direct funding to frontline providers and more data on what interventions work best.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> geographic</c><00:25:45.600><c> rating</c> like Hawaii has one geographic rating like Hawaii has
• </c> counties within one area. counties within one area.
• , Dakota, Rice, and Le Sueur County, Dakota, Rice, and Goodhue<00:26:14.160><c> counties.
• </c> Goodhue counties. Goodhue counties.
• </c> plans in in different counties. plans in in different counties.

Bills: HF3766 , HF3972 , HF3437 , HF4118

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• William is looking forward to more time hiking, playing tennis, Stephen Sondheim musicals. and original Hawaii

Transcript Highlights:

• They expect For small bridges and culverts in Sutter County in my district.
• district in Duncan's Mills in Sonoma County, and I respectfully ask for your support.
• is actually to get in your car and drive, and has killed more people in Fresno County.
• It helps out the county recorder's fees to catch up with inflation.
• It helps out the county recorder's fees to catch up with inflation.

Summary: The Assembly met on May 23, 2025, after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance. Members also made several guest introductions and memorial recognitions, including tributes to labor leader Louisa Blue and a Memorial Day moment of silence. The body adopted a motion to suspend Assembly Rule 63 for certain Appropriations Committee bills, and later took up a second-day consent calendar and several resolutions. The chamber adopted ACR 68, declaring July 2025 as Parks Make Life Better Month, and ACR 83, proclaiming California Maritime Day; both received broad support. On the floor file, members passed a series of bills covering child passenger safety, student financial aid, downtown office-to-housing conversion districts, rental vehicle theft prevention, fire hazard zone reviews, medical data protections, UC admissions transparency, office-to-housing streamlining, inoperable RV removal, domestic violence and child welfare, insurance classification for social service workers, sustainable aviation fuel CEQA review, UC hiring background checks, accessory dwelling units, fish and wildlife exemptions for Sutter County infrastructure, speed limit assessments, geothermal permitting, special education transfers, recorder fee adjustments, and a BIT program exemption for farmers and ranchers. Most measures passed with little or no opposition. AB 435, which would have implemented a five-step test standard for child passenger safety laws, was later reconsidered and failed on a vote of 36-12 after the call was lifted. The Assembly also adopted the second-day consent calendar, including multiple bills and resolutions, and added co-authors to several resolutions. The session ended with adjournments in memory and an adjournment until Tuesday, May 27 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hawaii represents a significant portion of the organic industrial base and our broader defense industrial
• flexibility in repair and doing all the things that will keep them going, so I hope that you'll visit Hawaii

Committees: Senate Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel , Senate Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces

Keywords: defense industrial base, small business, workforce development, acquisition processes, national security, cybersecurity, critical minerals

Summary: The meeting of the committee revolved around critical discussions on enhancing the defense industrial base, focusing on small business engagement and the importance of streamlined processes in defense contracting. There was a significant emphasis on the need for more investment in the defense manufacturing sector, particularly in the face of competition from countries like China. Some members expressed frustration over the treatment of small businesses, citing barriers that prevent these innovative companies from effectively participating in defense contracts. The need for a workforce capable of meeting the common challenges posed by evolving technologies and geopolitical threats was also highlighted throughout the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Representative Ben Furman, representing District 30, which is in the Butte counties.
• We frequently argue with Franklin and Bear Lake counties that were among the 40 oldest families within
• It's affording a home in Jefferson County, where it's now getting over 700,000.
• If any of you good folk are from Ada County, I can only imagine the stress that's happening to those
• I look at Crystal Dunderson from Hawaii High School, who was a master at service learning.

Committee: House Education