Transcript Highlights:

• We are going to be taking up Senate File 2373.
• Uh, Senator Rarick. Uh, thank you, Madam Chair.
• Uh, Senator Rarick. Uh, thank you, Madam Chair.
• Uh thank you Madam Uh Senator Rarick.
• That is exactly what I was uh Senator.

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Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Green.
• Senator Green. question from members? Senator Green.
• Senator Green. Then also Mr. Chair. Senator Green.
• Senator<01:02:16.600> Kupec. Senator Kupec. Senator Kupec.
• Senator<01:17:41.920> Latz. Senator Latz. Senator Latz.

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Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Bahr. No. Senator Swedzinski. No. Senator Drazkowski. No. Senator Fateh. Yes.
• Senator Swedzinski. Senator Bar. No. Senator Swedzinski.
• Senator<00:25:48.640> Bar. Senator Bar. Senator Bar.
• Senator Bahr: no. Senator Wattenburg: aye. Senator Driskowski: no. Senator Fateh: aye.
• <01:30:31.800> Senator Senator Fateh? Yes. Senator Senator Fateh? Yes.

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Transcript Highlights:

• I know Senator... not Senator. Um, Mr.
• I know Senator... not Senator. Um, Mr.
• I know Senator... not Senator. Um, Mr.
• I know Senator bill uh forward. I know Senator not<00:30:50.280> Senator.
• Um, Senator Rarick. Uh, Senator Westlin.

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Transcript Highlights:

• We will next move to Senate File 4909, Senator Abeler.
• Senator Abeler. Just uh Uh Madam Chair. Senator Abeler.
• Any uh<00:36:50.880> Senator<00:36:51.120> Clark. uh Senator Clark. uh Senator Clark.
• Senator Pha. No. Senator Clark. Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Senator Pha, and thank you.
• Senator<01:13:18.240> Pha. Senator Pha. Senator Pha.

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Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Karan, I have a question about the lines 121 and 122.
• :09:05.040> Senator >> Thank you, Senator Dibble, Senator >> Thank you, Senator Dibble
• Senator Senate file 4705 and thank you Senator Senate file 4705 and thank you very<01:30:22.400> much
• Senator Rest, yes. Senator Hauschild, yes. Senator Weber, no.
• But um Senator um uh Senator bill.

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Transcript Highlights:

• This relates to Senate File 4481 by Senator Omer Fateh.
• This relates to Senate File 4481 by Senator Omer Fateh.
• That is Senate File 3584 by Senator Putnam.
• That is Senate File 3584 by Senator Putnam.
• by um Senator Putnam. by um Senator Putnam.

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Transcript Highlights:

• Senator<00:46:58.400> Eichler. Senator Eichler. Senator Eichler.
• Um Senator Eken. Thank you. Um Senator Eken.
• Senators Senators Senators question. question. question. Seeing<01:52:07.160> none.
• Senator Senator mental health services?
• Senator<01:53:46.520> Utke. Senator Utke. Senator Utke.

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Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Cole Forrest. Here. Senator Perry. Senator Hall. Senator Miles. Senator Hughes.
• Senator Blanco. Senator Sparks. Senator Cook. Thank you, members.
• Senator Hall, Senator Hughes, and then back to Senator Miles.
• Certainly, Senator.
• Senator Hall.

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Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Koran. Senate File 4026 is before us.
• Senator<00:19:24.679> Koran. Senator Koran. Senator Koran.
• Senator<00:27:50.440> Kunesh. Senator Kunesh. Senator Kunesh.
• Senator Putnam, Senate File 4560. Thank you very much, Senator. Uh, Mr. Chair.
• Chair, thank you, Senator. Senator. Senator.

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Summary: The committee heard an introductory presentation from Sam Daily of Believe It Canine Service Partners, a nonprofit that trains service dogs free of charge for disabled veterans. Daily described the organization’s work with veterans, including placements with MACV and a service dog at Veteran Village in Eagan, and said the group has placed 80 teams so far. Senator Howe asked whether the organization had pursued Support Our Troops grants, and Daily said it had received two SOS grants. The first bill taken up was Senate File 4172, as amended, which would expand eligibility for burial in Minnesota state veterans cemeteries to honorably discharged reservists, National Guard members, and Air National Guard members, and would allow some honor guard use for eligible people. Senator Howe said the bill corrects an inequity for Guard and reserve members who served honorably but are not currently eligible. Glenn Pence testified in support, saying the bill recognizes National Guard service and should allow those veterans to be buried with others they served alongside. MDVA’s David Swantek supported the concept but warned that expanded eligibility would increase demand, especially at Little Falls, and could shorten its projected capacity timeline from about 48 years to about 30 years. The committee adopted the A1 amendment and then laid the bill over for inclusion in the Veterans and Military Affairs Finance Omnibus Bill. The committee then heard Senate File 4026, which sets standards for MDVA competitive grants and adds accountability and residency requirements. Senator Koran said the bill would help the department review grants and ensure funds serve Minnesota veterans and families. MDVA chief of staff Dave Belfi supported the bill, saying it reflects agency feedback, aligns with existing residency rules, and does not affect CVSO, VSO, or Support Our Troops grants. The A1 amendment was adopted, and the bill was laid over for inclusion in the omnibus bill. Next, Senate File 4807 was heard, a bill to update pay for National Guard soldiers and airmen called to state active duty. MDVA and National Guard officials said the bill would simplify statute language and raise the minimum base pay for lower ranks to the E5 level, with future adjustments tied to federal pay tables. Senator Kunesh asked about funding, and staff explained the cost would come through an open general-fund emergency appropriation, estimated at about $30,000 annually but varying with activations. The committee adopted amendments to incorporate SF 4172 and SF 4026 into SF 4807, made technical corrections, and then recommended SF 4807, as amended, to pass and be referred to the full committee. Finally, the committee heard Senate File 3603, which would create a program allowing school districts to issue high school diplomas to Minnesota veterans who left school to serve during the Korean conflict or Vietnam War. Senator Rasmussen said the bill recognizes veterans who interrupted their education for service. MDVA’s John Kelly supported the bill, noting it reflects input from MDVA and the Department of Education and that similar programs exist in other states. The committee voted to recommend the bill to pass and refer it to the full committee. The meeting also began discussion of Senate File 4560, which would formalize the Commander's Task Force, but the transcript cuts off before that bill was acted on.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chair Woosley, Senator Chang. Senator San Buenaventura. Aye. Senator Auwae, excused.
• We have just one item on the agenda, Senate Concurrent Resolution 105 and Senate Resolution 99.
• > and Senate Concurrent Resolution 105 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 105 and Senate<00:38:12.840
• This is urging the Senate Resolution 99.
• Fukunaga excused Senator<00:40:46.680> Hashimoto Senator Hashimoto Senator Hashimoto I I I Senator

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Summary: The Judiciary Committee took up a large decision-making agenda and adopted most measures, often with technical or clarifying amendments. Bills addressed wildlife habitat conservation plans, civil identification cards for 16- and 17-year-olds, electronic and mail voting for associations, remedies for unauthorized disclosure of intimate images, traffic safety around stationary vehicles and pickup truck passengers, expedited permitting for housing for people with disabilities, rainwater catchment systems, EMS advisory committee membership, social media account deletion, limits on immigration-enforcement cooperation, prompt payment rules for professional solicitors, fetal death vital statistics, protections for gender-affirming care, passenger ropeways, law-enforcement facial coverings and immigration-related detention, domestic violence, health care facility access, guardianship record sealing, child protective proceedings, remote driver’s license hearings, disposable vaping products, dog attacks, insurance premium increase explanations, the DOE harm-to-student registry, Hawaiian Homes lease succession, EMS law modernization, hoisting machine regulation, release on recognizance, language interpretation rules, civil asset forfeiture for fireworks offenses, and assisted community treatment. Several bills were deferred, including HB 1897, HB 1957, HB 2121, and HB 2324, while HB 1957 was deferred indefinitely. Most measures were adopted without recorded opposition, though HB 1875 and HB 1961 drew no votes from Vice Chair Gabbard, and HB 2413 was adopted with reservations. A number of bills received substantive amendment instructions. HB 1682 was amended with committee report language noting concerns about departing from the model act. HB 1768 and HB 1886 were revised to narrow or clarify immigration-enforcement restrictions and law-enforcement identification and facial-covering provisions, including plainclothes and undercover exceptions, a narrower civil immigration arrest/detention offense, and savings clauses. HB 2540 received extensive amendments to convert policy language into mandatory terms, refine facial-covering and identification rules, align criminal and policy exemptions, narrow immigration-related offenses, and clarify the definition of law enforcement agency. HB 2413 was amended to define violent offenses, change written findings to oral findings on the record, limit reconsideration of bail, and restrict who may request sanctions or financial conditions. Other amendments included technical fixes, bad-date corrections, severability clauses, and chapter-consistency changes. The committee also heard a joint Education/Judiciary item, SCR 105 and SR 99, urging the Department of Education to provide students information on pre-registering to vote before reaching voting age. Testimony was reported in support from the Department of Education, Office of Elections, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, and the League of Women Voters. With no opposition or further discussion, the committee voted to pass both resolutions with technical, non-substantive amendments (SD1).

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Kelley?
• Senator Laal: aye. Senator McKelvy: yes. Senator Awa is excused. Your recommendation is adopted.
• If not, Senator Gabbard. Chair Rose: aye. Vice Chair Rhode. Senator Chang: aye.
• The first is Senate Concurrent Resolution 96 and Senate Resolution 91.
• Senator Lael aye. Senator Kel? Yes. Senator Awa is excused. Your recommendation is adopted.

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Summary: The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee heard House Bill 1481, which would require cemeteries, crematories, funeral establishments, HSI facilities, and mortuaries to dispose of human remains within 60 days after a burial transit permit or related affidavit is issued. The Hawaii Funeral and Cemetery Association and several funeral-related entities supported the bill, and the association said it had already implemented consistent cremation authorization language regarding notice and consent for recycling metal implants, effective January 1. The committee later recommended HB 1481 be passed with a defective effective date of July 1, 2050; the vice chair voted with reservations, saying the prior version with Department of Health rulemaking was stronger consumer protection. The committee also considered several resolutions. SCR 96 and SR 91, on a status update for implementation of the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, were recommended for passage with amendments adopting the PUC’s requested changes. SCR 172 and SR 163, seeking a comprehensive analysis of ways to reduce costs and financial risks while meeting state goals, drew support from the PUC and Energy Office with comments, and the committee recommended passage with amendments removing a disputed whereas clause. SCR 109 and SR 102, on studying expanded mail-order pharmacy use, drew mixed testimony: the Insurance Division and HMSA supported a study, while the Hawaii Pharmacist Association and others raised concerns about patient outcomes, rural access, and community pharmacy sustainability; the committee amended the resolutions to require broader agency cooperation and evaluation of community pharmacy impacts, then recommended passage. In additional decision-making, the committee deferred SCR 193 and SR 1802 on trust transparency due to no testimony. It recommended passage with amendments on several bills, including HB 1782 after clarifying terminology with the Attorney General’s Office, HB 1514 on workers’ compensation, HB 1619 on electric vehicle infrastructure, HB 1643 on pharmacy, HB 1721 on housing, HB 1864 on insurance, HB 1946 on timeshare registration, and HB 2475 on labeling requirements. HB 350 on energy was deferred for more work. The committee also reconsidered HB 2101 on commercial aquarium collection and recommended passage as amended after hearing from supporters and noting concerns about enforcement and statewide consistency.

Transcript Highlights:

• My apologies, Senator DeCoite.
• Good afternoon, Chair, Vice Chair, and Senator Faga.
• But anyway, I just couldn't let questions for Senator Wakai.
• Senator Fukunaga: Aye. Senator Kim and Fevella are excused. Chair, your recommendation is adopted.
• Senator Fukunaga: Aye. Senator Kim and Fevella are excused. Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

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Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism heard several governor’s nominations for advisory and regulatory boards. The first group included William Smith, Michelle Ige, and Kayana Neman for the Community-Based Economic Development Advisory Council; Leland Park and Cynthia Hobson for the Small Business Regulatory Review Board; and Nicole Kacal for the Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation board. DBEDT and related witnesses testified in support of all nominees, and each nominee described experience in small business, finance, community engagement, or technology. Much of the discussion focused on strengthening Hawaiʻi’s economy through small business support, financial literacy, and better access to capital and grants. Committee members questioned nominees about priorities for Hawaiʻi Island and the state more broadly. Topics included agricultural infrastructure, value-added food production, shared processing facilities and commercial kitchens, workforce housing, and ways government and nonprofits can partner to help small businesses navigate permitting, licensing, and grant processes. Several nominees emphasized community impact, measurable outcomes, and practical regulatory reform. Nicole Kacal also discussed diversifying the economy beyond tourism, expanding technology and AI opportunities, and creating locally governed training and research pathways so workers can adapt to changing jobs. At the end of the hearing, the committee voted to recommend advice and consent for all nominees. The nominations for GM 608, GM 609, GM 612, and GM 613 were adopted by voice vote, with Senators Kim and Fevella excused. The committee then voted separately on GM 794 for Nicole Kacal, and that recommendation was also adopted. The hearing concluded with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator<00:13:37.200> Dames. Senator Dames. Senator Dames.
• Senator<00:43:25.720> Kupec. Senator Kupec. Senator Kupec.
• Senator<00:46:35.040> Kupec. Senator Kupec. Senator Kupec.
• Senator<00:48:24.880> Senator<00:48:25.080> Westrom. Senator Senator Westrom.
• Thank you, Senator Senator Kunesh. Thank you, Senator Senator Kunesh.

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Transcript Highlights:

• > comments<00:20:03.200> or Senate, any other Senator comments or Senate, any other Senator
• Uh Senator<01:42:14.240> Nelson. Senator Nelson. Senator Nelson.
• Senator<01:54:19.720> Dziedzic. Senator Dziedzic. Senator Dziedzic.
• Senator<01:59:35.760> Nelson. Senator Nelson. Senator Nelson.
• Senate File 4186? Senate File 4186? Senator<02:07:12.680> Abeler.

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