Transcript Highlights:

• We have United Public Workers.
• </c> 1032 okay collective bargaining for unit 1032 okay collective bargaining for unit six House Bill
• 1033, House Draft 1, collective bargaining for unit 7.
• </c> for unit for unit 9<00:15:33.920><c> okay</c><00:15:34.160><c> we</c><00:15:34.360><c> have</c><
• </c> bargaining for Unit bargaining for Unit 10<00:15:54.399><c> okay</c><00:15:54.680><c> we</c><00:

Summary: The Committee on Labor and Technology met on March 12 in Room 224 at the Hawaii State Capitol and heard testimony on several labor, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, collective bargaining, and related measures. On House Bill 202, which would revise the definition of the adequate reserve fund for calendar year 2026 and beyond, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations strongly supported the bill, saying it would protect the solvency of the Unemployment Insurance trust fund. The department explained that the reserve standard had been lowered from 1.5% to 1% in 2010 and argued that restoring it would better prepare the fund for future shocks. Questions focused on whether the change would affect employers’ costs and whether the trust fund had recovered fraud losses from the pandemic; the department said some fraud had been recovered and additional fraud tools were now in place. The committee recommended passage with amendments, including technical changes and a defective date, and adopted the recommendation. The committee also heard House Bill 477 on the Hawaii Employment Security Law, which the department supported as a modernization of the UI system but asked to amend for clarity, especially on registration-for-work language. The committee accepted those requested amendments and recommended passage with amendments. It then took up House Bill 1026 and House Bills 1027 through 1039, covering emergency appropriations for public employment cost items and collective bargaining for units 1 through 14. Testimony from the Budget and Finance director, United Public Workers, the University of Hawaiʻi, HGEA, UHSC, and others was generally in strong support, with one opposition noted on HB 1038. The committee moved all of those measures together and recommended passage with amendments. In its later decision-making agenda, the committee approved several previously heard bills with technical amendments and defective dates, including House Bill 423 on workers’ compensation, House Bill 480 on workers’ compensation, House Bill 162 on collective bargaining arbitration procedures, House Bill 164 on indebtedness to the state, and House Bill 1152 on tax administration. House Bill 214, relating to government and school resource officers, drew discussion about labor shortages and whether the bill should help train existing school resource officers into law enforcement roles; the committee still passed it with amendments. House Bill 874 on child performers was amended to require trust accounts for certain minors’ earnings and place oversight with DLIR’s Wage Standards Division, and House Bill 159 on qualified community rehabilitation programs was passed with amendments after the committee blanked the $850,000 cap for further discussion. All recommendations were adopted without recorded opposition, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> three-unit building to being a two-unit three-unit building to being a two-unit building,<04:21:
• </c> units in the project or two of the units units in the project or two of the units or<04:23:25.920
• workforce housing units in developments of 10 units or more.
• units or more.
• units or more.

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> here in the United States of America. here in the United States of America.
• </c> here in the United States of America? here in the United States of America?
• </c> here in the United States of America. here in the United States of America.
• </c> in the United States of America. in the United States of America.
• </c> in the United States of America. in the United States of America.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:49.920><c> States</c> do cloud-based across the United States do cloud-based across the United
• ,</c> The oldest remaining Junior RTC unit, The oldest remaining Junior RTC unit, which<00:30:50.320>
• We have 65 additional unit visits.
• </c><00:37:50.400><c> with</c> the prestigious honor unit with the prestigious honor unit with distinction
• </c><00:38:10.480><c> that</c> designation is reserved for units that designation is reserved for units

Summary: The committee heard an Office of Education Technology presentation on the Kentucky Education Technology System (KTS) and a request to increase its annual budget from $15.4 million to $30 million, including an additional $14.6 million. The witness described KTS as a statewide service model that provides districts with student information and financial systems, internet bandwidth, regional support, cybersecurity, online registration, learning management and email services, and collaborative instructional technology support. He argued the state’s centralized purchasing saves districts 40% to 60% compared with buying services individually, and said federal internet discounts and district matching funds create a strong return on investment. He also said KTS has faced long-term funding cuts, has not received a cost-of-living increase since 1992, and is now at a “breaking point” where some services may have to be shifted to districts at higher cost. The request was broken into six main items: restoring funding for the computer science and information technology academy; strengthening cybersecurity defenses in response to sharply rising attacks on K-12 systems; funding online registration through Infinite Campus; stabilizing ongoing support costs for Infinite Campus; providing cost-of-living increases for KTS services; and increasing the KTS financial assistance sent to districts, which requires local matching funds. Members asked about the current appropriation, and the witness said it is $15.4 million. One member praised the office’s work and support for districts, while another noted the district had been an early adopter of one-to-one technology. The committee then received an overview of the KRS 156 salary schedule and step-and-rank system for state-operated career and technical education staff at area technology centers. Officials explained that salaries are set under statute and regulation based on years of service and educational rank, with annual calculations tied to statewide teacher salary averages and retroactive adjustments to July 1. They said the current ABR request is $325,000 over the biennium to cover step and rank increases. The presentation noted that KRS 156 salaries are generally comparable to local districts but are less competitive with business and industry, making recruitment and retention difficult, especially for instructors coming from the trades. Members agreed that trade instructors are underpaid relative to the market and said the issue deserves further review, with department officials indicating they are considering possible statutory revisions and a delayed implementation in a future biennium.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just like the analogy about the car, budget units shouldn't limit themselves to only thinking about AI
• being another budget unit, whether it be a business, whether it be one of your constituents.
• And so budget units being able to share that is important.
• Whether that customer be a citizen, a municipality, or another budgetary unit, it's that budgetary unit
• use cases that each budgetary unit can draw on.

Committee: House House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation Committee of Reference

Summary: The House Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Committee heard a presentation from Steven Garrison of the Cicero Institute on how Arizona state government could use AI to improve service delivery, reduce costs, and streamline procurement. He argued AI should be treated as software, with agencies proactively identifying use cases, tracking outcomes, and avoiding unnecessary agency-level regulation or new bureaucratic structures. Members questioned him about workforce impacts, privacy, agency involvement, and the balance between innovation and guardrails; he said AI would likely augment workers in the short term and create new jobs over time, while legislative oversight should focus on specific harms and gaps in law rather than broad agency rules. The committee then considered HB 2592, which directs the Arizona Department of Administration to require budget units to identify AI opportunities, reduce administrative duties, streamline procurement, and establish AI governance, while also sending emergency or temporary AI rules to the legislature for approval. An amendment added reporting requirements to the governor, legislative leaders, and Secretary of State on efficiency measures and barriers encountered. After limited testimony, including support from Jeannie Magdua of Conservative Ladies of America, the committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill as amended on a 4-2 vote, with one member absent. The final bill, HB 2452, would add data centers and small modular reactors to county comprehensive planning considerations and adjust county planning requirements for land use and energy-related development. Supporters, including Russell Smolden of the Arizona Municipal Power Users Association and Dave Morris of Americans for Prosperity Arizona, said the bill would improve long-term planning for data centers, energy infrastructure, and emerging technologies. The County Supervisors Association opposed it, arguing it improperly singled out specific uses, blurred comprehensive planning with zoning, and reduced local control. The committee passed HB 2452 on a 4-3 vote and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• housing developments under 10 units.
• housing developments under 10 units.
• housing units, the people that are going to be able to attain these units, it's life changing for them
• We've built all these units.
• They showed me the vacant units.

Summary: The committee began without a quorum and first heard AB 748, which would create pre-approved housing plans for single-family homes and small multifamily projects under 10 units, with delayed implementation for smaller cities and counties. The author said the bill is modeled on the state’s ADU preapproval process and is intended to make housing approvals ministerial and faster. Support came from housing and business groups, while several cities opposed it. Senators raised concerns about local control and whether small or rural jurisdictions have the staff and infrastructure to implement the program, but the author emphasized that local agencies would still control the plans and land-use decisions. No vote was taken because there was no quorum. The committee then heard AB 1621, which would tighten timelines and accountability for post-entitlement permits, limit plan-check resubmittals, and restrict field changes unless needed for health and safety. The California Building Industry Association and many housing groups supported the bill, arguing that permitting delays raise costs and slow housing production. The League of California Cities, counties, and several local governments opposed it, saying the two-plan-check limit is too rigid and that the bill could create litigation risk and reduce local flexibility to ensure code compliance. Members debated the proper standard for additional review and whether the bill should allow exceptions for state mandates; the author said the bill was meant to stop endless back-and-forth while preserving health-and-safety exceptions. The bill was recommended for a due-pass motion to Appropriations when quorum is reached. AB 2748 was next, proposing a three-year delay in the new electric-vehicle readiness requirements for 100% affordable housing projects, keeping the older 40% standard during that period. The author and affordable housing advocates said the change would reduce costs and help scarce housing dollars go further, while opponents from environmental, transportation, and clean-energy groups argued the current code is already cost-effective and that the bill would create a double standard and reduce EV access for low-income residents. Senators discussed whether the bill should require additional EV-capable infrastructure if projects use the older standard, and several members said they supported the bill but urged continued work on amendments. The committee also heard AB 1732, which would expand CEQA streamlining to student housing projects at public universities and community colleges with long-range plans. The author and student housing advocates said campus housing shortages are driving student homelessness and that the bill would help projects move faster; some senators supported the concept but questioned the bill’s geographic limits and whether labor standards or rural-campus criteria might be too restrictive. The meeting also included AB 1738, which would require jurisdictions to offer virtual inspections for certain simple home inspections. Supporters said remote inspections save time and money and have been used safely in California, while one senator said she could not support virtual inspections for more complex items like roofs and solar work. No final votes were taken during the transcript, and several bills were held pending quorum or further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• and unit sizes, meaning more opportunities for family-size units, bigger units, units with more bedrooms
• It also allows more units to be designed with windows, sunlight, and air on multiple sides of the unit
• Under the GMA, an ADU, or accessory dwelling unit, is defined as a dwelling unit that is located on the
• same lot as a single-family housing unit, duplex, triplex, townhome, or other housing unit, which is
• referred to as the principal unit.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on several housing-related bills. On SB 6054, Senator Hunt’s bill to prohibit common-interest community rules from blocking wildfire home-hardening materials, staff explained that HOA and condominium governing documents could still impose reasonable aesthetic rules, but not ones that make fire-resistant materials infeasible or more than 10% costlier. The sponsor described the bill as a response to HOA requirements for less fire-resistant roofs. Testifiers generally supported the goal but objected to the 10% cost cap, saying it could limit community-specific design choices and create unintended conflicts with aesthetic standards. The committee also heard SB 601 on scissor stairs in the building code. The sponsor and supporters from Futurewise, architects, and housing advocates said scissor stairs could make mid-rise and high-rise housing more efficient, reduce corridor space, and improve unit layouts without sacrificing life safety. They noted the design is used in places like Vancouver, B.C. and in some Washington venues, and argued the bill would help lower costs and increase housing supply. No opposition was presented during the hearing. For SB 6015 on permit-ready residential plans, staff said L&I would create a process for publishing approved plans for factory-built housing and certain small residential types, with local governments required to approve applications using those plans on qualifying lots starting in 2027. Supporters from builders, architects, Habitat for Humanity, and Sightline said statewide standard plans could reduce duplication, speed permitting, and help scale factory-built and potentially site-built housing. Counties and L&I were supportive in concept but raised concerns about mandating local adoption of model ordinances and about whether the bill should include site-built plans as well. The committee also heard SB 5470 on detached ADUs outside urban growth areas, with supporters saying it would help rural homeowners and intergenerational living, while Futurewise opposed the bill as written and sought tighter density, lot-size, and metering limits. Finally, the committee heard SB 5729, a permit-streamlining bill that would deem completeness for applications prepared by licensed professionals and limit local governments to three review cycles. Builders and business groups supported it as a way to reduce delays and costs, while counties, cities, and Futurewise argued it could lead to more denials, less communication, and unintended liability concerns. In executive session, the committee adopted the proposed substitute for SB 5884 and moved it forward with a do-pass recommendation to Ways and Means.

Transcript Highlights:

• Kingdom and the United States.
• United States as a result of these tariffs. They are bringing Japan to us.
• Mexico is an incredibly important partner for the United States.
• And I know the United States and Mexico have a complex security arrangement.
• Obviously connected to the United States. We can't get a divorce.

Committee: Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Keywords: Senator Flinstone, HB22, SB4, amendments, public testimony, legislation, environmental impact, economic implications

Summary: The meeting featured a thorough examination of various bills, including substantial discussions on HB22 and SB4. Key points included amendments proposed by committee members, particularly from Senator Flinstone, who emphasized the need for clarifications on certain provisions. The committee actively engaged with several witnesses providing public testimony, some in favor of the proposed legislation while others highlighted concerns and potential implications. The discussions were vibrant, showcasing different perspectives, especially on the environmental and economic impacts of the bills in question. The meeting concluded with a consensus to reconvene after a recess to further address the outstanding issues related to the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also results in a great deal of heat gain in many of our housing units.
• And there's other types of units out there that are different design types.
• it's not fully meeting 78 degrees or in parts of the unit.
• We're talking less than 20 housing units out of 1,500 overall.
• Sometimes patients may have enemies on certain units that they can't go to.

Transcript Highlights:

• It takes real people and turns them into units, right?
• Once you've done that, you add a bunch of other units.
• You take all of that, that's your total units.
• They are called early childhood units, but because what we now consider early childhood units. and earlier
• A full-day kindergarten student generates 1.44 units.

Committee: House House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• RIGHT HERE IN OUR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
• United States, who apply and are granted them.
• , United States-flagged, and United States-crewed commercial vessels.
• Flagged and United States-crewed commercial vessels.
• Article I of the United States Constitution.

Transcript Highlights:

• $300,000 per unit.
• Those are townhome rental units, so those are multiple units.
• , up to $1 million per housing unit.
• , up to $1 million per housing unit.
• and 10 manufactured housing units.

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• They could build and put more units.
• In the United States, we've done that through history.
• Over 400,000 units, and about half of them are homesteaded.
• And then you talked about accessory dwelling units.
• that the most vigorous advocates wanted, but they were getting units, and those units themselves are

Committee: Senate Community Affairs

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and first took up SB 122, which would repeal Chapter 205 governing local business taxes while allowing municipalities that already levy a gross-receipts-based business tax to continue doing so, with limits on changing the tax rate. The sponsor’s proxy and committee members discussed whether local business taxes fund identifiable services, with supporters saying the bill would reduce burdens on businesses and opponents arguing it would remove a capped home-rule revenue source used for general services, economic development, inspections, fire and police support, and business regulation. The Florida Association of Counties and the Florida League of Cities opposed the bill, citing a statewide revenue loss and concern that costs would shift to residential taxpayers, while one member noted the bill should be considered in the context of broader property tax changes. SB 122 was reported favorably by a roll call vote, with Senators Leek, Passidomo, Pizzo, Trumbull, and Chair McClain voting yes and Senator Sharief voting no. The committee then held an extended informational panel on Florida’s housing shortage and affordability challenges. Dr. Samuel Staley said Florida is in a housing crisis driven primarily by insufficient supply, arguing that the state needs far more units each year, that local comprehensive plans and zoning often fail to prioritize housing, and that the state should focus more on measurable impacts, density, accessory dwelling units, smaller lot sizes, and other ways to let the market respond. Ann Ray of the Shimberg Center presented data showing increased single-family and multifamily construction but limited condo growth, highly concentrated new development in a handful of counties, and continued high cost burdens for renters, especially lower-income and older households. Leslie Deutsch of John Burns Research and Consulting said the national housing market is slow, Florida prices are easing but remain well above pre-pandemic levels, and affordability problems are being driven by land, construction, financing, and insurance costs; she urged more product diversity, including build-to-rent, townhomes, manufactured housing, and higher-density redevelopment tailored to local demographics. Members questioned the panel about density, vertical development, impact fees, construction costs, and incentives for local governments. Several senators said local governments need clearer direction or incentives to approve more housing, while others emphasized preserving local character and avoiding overdevelopment. The panel generally agreed that no single policy will solve the problem, but that Florida needs more housing types, more density in appropriate places, updated zoning and building codes, and a more market-responsive regulatory framework. After the presentations and discussion, the committee adjourned with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• preliminary FY26 unit value.
• One, their fiscal year 26 units have to be less than their fiscal year 25 units, so they lost units overall
• On page 8, you'll notice that we've also listed changes in MEM units, at-risk units, special education
• units, TCI units, and KTOL Plus units for you to review for all these awardees.
• And also had lower units in 26.

Transcript Highlights:

• Carolina to the Board of Visitors to the United States Air Force Academy.
• Carolina to the Board of Visitors to the United States Air Force Academy.
• New York to the Board of Visitors to the United States Military Academy.
• Maryland to the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval Academy.
• ELFRED OF MARYLAND TO THE BOARD OF VISITORS TO THE UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY.

Transcript Highlights:

• And they do believe that the United States is an enemy nation.
• And they do believe that the United States is an enemy nation.
• States under Section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, 50 United States Code 4565.' 50 United
• States under Section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, 50 United States Code 4565. 50 United
• The problem is what we keep referring to as the United Front.

Bills: HR171 , HCR49 , HB632 , HB1084 , SB310 , SB351 , SB399

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Congress and the State Department, and as the Deputy United States Representative to the United States
• As these united front activities have grown more assertive here in the United States, and every aspect
• The CCP has been harassing them here in the United States. relationship to the United States culture
• United States.
• . guy in the United States.

Bills: HB17 , HB34 , HB41 , HB 118 , HB 119 , HB 127 , HB 128 , HB 129 , HB 130 , HB132 , HB133 , HB17 , HB41 , HB118 , HB119 , HB127 , HB128 , HB129 , HB130 , HB132 , HB133

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Just like the analogy about the car, budget units shouldn't limit themselves to only thinking about AI
• being another budget unit, whether it be a business, whether it be one of your constituents.
• And so budget units being able to share that is important.
• Whether that customer be a citizen, a municipality, another budgetary unit, it's that budgetary unit.
• use cases that each budgetary unit can draw on.

Bills: HB2452 , HB2592

Committees: House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation , House House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation Committee of Reference

Keywords: comprehensive plans, county governance, data centers, zoning, state regulations, land use, energy production, infrastructure, environmental impact, artificial intelligence, government regulation, innovation, procurement, administrative burdens

Transcript Highlights:

• I previously worked for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, right?
• These are very challenging to produce in the United States because the cost is low per unit. ...are very
• challenging to produce in the United States because the cost is low per unit, and we don't need much
• But the market for a finger lime in the United States is $8.5 million.
• The United States. And that is what Lunisand has developed.

Committee: House House Science & Technology Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Science and Technology heard Senate Bill 1046, which would prohibit critical telecommunications infrastructure in Arizona from using equipment manufactured or owned by a foreign adversary, require annual certification to the Corporation Commission, impose civil penalties for noncompliance, and bar violators from receiving certain public funds for telecom infrastructure. Marina Macklin testified in support, arguing the bill would reduce cybersecurity and national security risks tied to Chinese-linked telecom equipment and that states have an important role in procurement and infrastructure protection. Members asked about examples such as Huawei, the cost of compliance, whether the threat is current, and whether the bill duplicates federal efforts; Macklin said the measure targets public procurement, addresses existing risks, and complements rather than conflicts with federal action. The committee then voted 5-1 to return SB 1046 with a do pass recommendation, with one member citing concerns about timing and implementation. The committee also received a presentation from Craig Luxbacher of the University of Arizona on mining technology and the state’s role in critical minerals. He described Arizona as a hub for mining innovation and discussed university work on autonomous equipment, microgrids, pilot processing, tailings recovery, workforce training, and heat-stress monitoring. Members asked about microgrids, legal and policy changes needed to de-risk domestic mining, tariffs, workforce decline, and whether AI and automation would reduce jobs; Luxbacher said automation is driven by economics, not just regulation, and would likely create more skilled maintenance and technical jobs rather than eliminate the workforce. Jeremiah Pate of Lunisand then presented on subsurface imaging technology using geo-radio-tomography, which he said can image deep underground from airborne platforms and help locate critical minerals, aquifers, tunnels, and buried military infrastructure. Members asked about applications for archaeology, identifying mineral types, water detection, uniqueness of the technology, and possible defense uses. Pate said the company is working toward better mineral identification, can detect aquifers readily, and is currently the only company fielding this type of airborne subsurface imaging. The chair closed the meeting after thanking members and speakers, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it
• of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America.
• of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America.
• </c> congratulates the people of the United congratulates the people of the United States<00:12:56.120
• of the United States of America.