Transcript Highlights:

• same time, we will end the abuse of out of state produced, producer water that turns Texas into a waste
• And then finally, we are, uh, a sub-recipient to the Southern States Energy Board for the Waste Isolation
• It's the first overhaul of Rower Commission's waste management rules in 40 years.
• The adopted rules enhance the agency's oversight of waste management facilities, and we now have staff
• dedicated to environmental permit compliance, a team that reviews waste management facility reports

Committee: House Energy Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• At the same time, we will end the abuse of out-of-state producer water that turns Texas into a waste-dumping
• It's the first overhaul of Railroad Commission's waste management rules in 40 years.
• The adopted rules enhance the agency's oversight of waste management facilities.
• And we now have staff dedicated to environmental permit compliance. reviews, waste management facility
• We were certainly engaged heavily in the development of the Waste Management Rules at the Commission

Committee: House Energy Resources

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:25:09.680><c> Independent</c> waste, fraud, and abuse. Independent waste, fraud, and abuse.
• </c> tools to combat waste, fraud, and abuse. tools to combat waste, fraud, and abuse.
• </c> for waste, abuse, and outright theft. for waste, abuse, and outright theft.
• No one wants waste or fraud from our taxpayer dollars.
• Congress must take a hard look at waste and fraud in our government.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, considering the cold water creek and the radioactive waste, I might be going a little further
• CAFO waste. Okay, manure. Okay.
• Yeah, sewage treatment waste definitely would be covered under either a permit of the facility or separate
• Resources would not want to issue a permit for something like a dog running in the backyard and washing waste

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our fertilizer comes from our aquaponic system, which is made through the tilapia waste.
• So with that, our fertilizer comes from our aquaponic system, which is made through the tilapia waste
• initiative, where the community can come to the farm and they’re provided a bucket so they can give the waste
• More than 400 tons of waste and food is diverted from our own community through donations as well as

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I can't imagine what it's like to look at somebody and say, I'm sorry, you're making medical waste.
• I was told the remains were considered medical waste, and that the law determined at what gestation I
• So, I was told the remains were considered medical waste, and that the law determined at what gestation
• The difference between 3% and 6% would be $80 million of taxpayer money not wasted, so it can actually
• Twenty years in the military, I've seen plenty of fraud, waste, and abuse.

Bills: HB2180 , HB2184 , HB2188 , HB2194 , HB2206 , HB2321 , HB2322 , HB2438 , HB2442 , HB2448 , HB2727 , HB2797

Committee: House Health & Human Services

Keywords: appropriation, funding, University of Arizona, education, state budget, fetal death, funeral homes, informed consent, abortion, women's rights, medical assistance, emotional support, language acquisition, early intervention, hearing impairment, grant program, deaf education, health care, insurance claims, prior authorization

Transcript Highlights:

• is already done or ongoing<00:07:58.199><c> relating</c><00:07:58.599><c> to</c><00:07:58.840><c> waste
• </c><00:07:59.159><c> water</c> ongoing relating to waste water ongoing relating to waste water technology
• </c> the test that they do what kind of waste the test that they do what kind of waste water<00:14:30.839
• significantly states um it's not significantly different<00:14:58.399><c> the</c><00:14:58.560><c> waste
• And if you don’t have it, can make sure, because yeah, it’s a waste of our time to have to go through

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• As far as the SNAP program overall, if you want to talk about fraud, waste, and abuse, the big reason
• as trying to give every tool possible to incentivize this current administration to fix the fraud, waste
• as trying to give every tool possible to incentivize this current administration to fix the fraud, waste
• incentivize this administration that won't be paying the bill next year to actually fix the fraud, waste
• So is there data that suggests how much of it is truly fraud, waste, and abuse, and how much is really

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Say we want to eliminate waste in our state, and we should eliminate waste.
• </c><00:42:48.000><c> And</c><00:42:48.160><c> we</c><00:42:48.319><c> should</c> waste in our state.
• And we should waste in our state. And we should eliminate<00:42:49.400><c> waste.
• And I can't think of a eliminate waste.
• </c><00:42:53.680><c> than</c> better way of eliminating waste than better way of eliminating waste than

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee heard House Bill 132, which would change home and hospital instruction funding so schools can be reimbursed sooner when students miss school for short-term mental health-related stays. Representative Nick Wilson said current law requires a student to be out five days before funding begins, leaving schools unpaid when they provide instruction during 2- to 4-day absences. The committee gave HB 132 favorable expression unanimously. The committee then heard House Bill 193, a cleanup bill on dual credit scholarships. Representative J.T. Payne and KHEAA’s director explained that the bill consolidates academic and CTE dual credit scholarships into one statute to reduce administrative confusion, since the programs have been funded together in recent budgets. HB 193 passed unanimously with favorable expression. House Bill 241 drew the most discussion. The committee first adopted a substitute, which members said changed the bill to give the Commissioner of Education discretion, rather than a mandate, to grant calamity days. The bill and substitute centered on virtual instruction and Cloverport Virtual Academy: supporters said the school was a pilot project that needed more time and that a prior agency effort to cap virtual instruction would have effectively shut it down, while opponents argued the substitute would reward a low-performing virtual model and extend NTI/virtual learning too broadly. Testimony from an Oldham County parent criticized NTI quality and opposed adding more virtual days. No final vote on HB 241 was included in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there is a lot of radioactive waste that's being stored in that area.
• And they are developing technology to convert that nuclear waste that's just sitting there into nuclear
• And there is a lot of radioactive waste that's being stored in that area.
• And there is a lot of radioactive waste that's being stored in that area.
• And they are developing technology to convert that nuclear waste that's just sitting there into nuclear

Committee: House Postsecondary Education

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it states the District 4 Waste Tire Accountability Board's objective is to render services for the
• collection, transportation, and processing of waste tires from transfer facilities to a location and
• for the processing of waste tires.
• Number nine, DHS with Republic Services Incorporated, is for waste pickup and removal at the Arkansas
• Number ten, DHS Division of Aging, Adults, and Behavioral Health, with Republic Services, is for waste

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Summary: The subcommittee first considered a used tire program contract for Arkansas District 4, an $88,000 one-year contract with LTR Intermediate Holdings. Senators raised concerns that the tire district’s revised business plan had not yet been approved and that the contract could leave the district unable to pay. Questions also focused on solicitation language that excluded bidders under corrective action plans. On motion, the committee held the contract until next month and encouraged the tire board to appear. Members then reviewed and, without objection, moved forward a series of methods of finance, alternative delivery projects, and discretionary grants. These included multiple university and college projects such as renovations, roof replacements, a new UCA multipurpose arena, and a revised financing package for UA Fayetteville’s Maple Hill residence hall. The committee also reviewed DHS and Department of Health grants for aging services, substance abuse prevention, mental health, nutrition outreach, hearing-loss follow-up, HIV services, maternal health, and rural hospital quality improvement. The committee next handled contract items, including a UAMS ratification for FMLA Source after an amendment was not submitted for review and payments continued past expiration; UAMS said it had retrained staff and would review for other missed contracts. Members also reviewed numerous construction, intergovernmental, out-of-state, and in-state contracts across state agencies and universities. Questions were raised about an out-of-state aeronautics study, a U of A Fayetteville parking guidance system, and a Veterans Affairs nursing contract. Most items were reviewed without objection, and the meeting adjourned after informational reports on contract amendments and minor contracts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Green waste is one of them. Counties have a big role to play.
• Green waste is one of them. Counties have a big role to play.
• Green waste is one of them. Counties have a big role to play.
• Green waste is one of them. Counties have a big role to play.
• Green waste is one of them. Counties have a big role to play.

Committee: Senate Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several resolutions focused on agriculture, invasive species, biodiversity, and clean energy finance. STR 34/SR 20 asked Hawaii’s congressional delegation to urge USDA to address unequal treatment of Hawaii in exporting agricultural goods; the Department of Agriculture supported the measure. STR 41/SR 25 encouraged each county to develop its own biosecurity plan, with testimony from the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, and the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species supporting county-level planning and coordination. Testifiers emphasized the importance of local response capacity for invasive species, while also noting that quarantine authority should remain at the state level; one witness requested an amendment to include possible legislative changes needed at the state and county levels. STR 110/SR 91 requested a study on the feasibility of a state green bond program, with support testimony submitted by Coalition Earth and no oral testimony from the energy office. Members asked questions about how county biosecurity plans would interface with existing state efforts, and witnesses described current interagency work and county response plans already being developed for species such as little fire ant, coconut rhinoceros beetle, and coqui frogs. The discussion also referenced a recent Oahu coqui detection on Sand Island and the need for flexible treatment options. For the green bond measure, members described it as a potential tool for renewable energy goals. No opposition testimony was presented on the measures discussed. On decision-making, the committees recommended passage of STR 34/SR 20 with technical non-substantive amendments, STR 41/SR 25 with the suggested amendment from CAPS, STR 56/SR 40 without amendment, and STR 110/SR 91 with technical non-substantive amendments. The recommendations were adopted by the committees, and the agenda concluded with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• for being a big spender, another thing that was mentioned by your caucus was the amount of fraud, waste
• for being a big spender, another thing that was mentioned by your caucus was the amount of fraud, waste
• for being a big spender, another thing that was mentioned by your caucus was the amount of fraud, waste
• for being a big spender, another thing that was mentioned by your caucus was the amount of fraud, waste
• for being a big spender, another thing that was mentioned by your caucus was the amount of fraud, waste

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, my office, as you know, exists to root out waste, fraud, and abuse.
• Fraud and Abuse that is the reason waste Fraud and Abuse that is the reason why<00:37:30.119><c> it<
• Fraud and Abuse how do we make waste Fraud and Abuse how do we make sure<00:37:46.599><c> there's</c
• </c> increase our ability to root out waste increase our ability to root out waste Fraud<00:38:34.800
• I want it to not be wasteful.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:44 Attendance Roll Call: 00:55 SB 193 (Sen. Girdler): 01:53 SB 9 (Sen. Higdon): 03:22 SB 257 (Sen. Tichenor): 34:14 Adjournment: 50:57, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government first took up Senate Bill 193, a simple measure described as restoring wallet cards for jailers to carry when they are outside the jail. The sponsor noted the fiscal impact was essentially zero, there were no questions, and the committee approved the bill 9-0 for passage to the Senate floor. The committee then heard Senate Bill 9, sponsored by Senator Higdon, which would change how the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) treats sick leave, personal leave, and annual leave in retirement calculations. The sponsor argued the bill is intended to address TRS’s financial challenges by standardizing leave rules statewide, limiting TRS retirement credit to 10 sick days and 2 personal days per year, preventing annual leave from being rolled into sick leave, requiring districts to pay the actuarial cost for any leave beyond the cap, and adding reporting and oversight requirements for participating agencies. He also said the bill would add 30 days of maternity leave, allow voluntary district contributions for tier four teachers, and direct the state auditor to audit TRS and report on agencies. Committee members asked about how overages would be audited and billed, the cost of a sick day, and how the bill would interact with local leave policies, including paid parental leave in some districts. The sponsor clarified that existing accumulated leave would not be affected, that the bill applies going forward, and that districts could still offer more leave but would bear the added cost. Members also discussed whether the maternity leave language set a cap or a minimum, and one senator noted the bill was intended to preserve personal days while stopping annual leave from being converted into pension credit. No vote on Senate Bill 9 was shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had an interesting conversation this morning about, uh, about waste, uh, fraud, abuse and waste in
• Um, they are gonna dispose of any waste, all the waste that comes from brackish water clean up, um, is
• They're already in place, uh, for when the waste comes out. Thank you Mr.
• Have we identified a site for um the constituent waste? Mr.
• President and Senator, it depends on the kind of waste.

Transcript Highlights:

• help expand agricultural practices to be adopted by producers across the state by addressing solid waste
• diversion and composting to process that waste.
• Currently, state law already allows composting on agricultural land using the farmers' own green waste
• He said they are being cautious and do not want to detract from their desire for composting for waste
• </c> desire for composting uh for Waste desire for composting uh for Waste diversion<00:43:43.520><c>

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Housing and Health and Human Services hearing began with Senate Bill 878, which would extend the sunset date for the state rent supplement program for kupuna to June 30, 2028. Testimony was uniformly supportive, including from the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions, Hawaii Public Housing Authority, Executive Office on Aging, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and others. Catholic Charities described a waitlist of seniors at imminent risk of homelessness and said the program helps seniors retain housing or secure units with landlord support. Members asked whether the bill would expand the number of households served; staff said the contract allows up to 127 households and that additional pending households could be funded, but applicants must still go through the program process. Both committees voted to pass SB 878 unamended. The committees then heard Senate Bill 1610 on Ohana Zones. The Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions supported the measure so long as it did not supplant existing funding, and described the funding as supporting homelessness services and wraparound supports. The Department of Human Services and Department of Land and Natural Resources offered comments, with DHS suggesting a definition of “kali” be added for clarity. The committee chair said the bill would receive technical amendments for clarity and consistency and accepted proposed amendments related to including “tales” in the program; the measure was advanced with amendments, with members voting in favor in both committees. In the joint Health and Human Services and Labor and Technology hearing, Senate Bill 1496 on civil rights and website accessibility drew support from disability advocates and organizations, including the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the National Federation of the Blind, the Deaf and Blind Task Force, and the Disability and Communication Access Board. Testimony emphasized the need for stronger state protections amid concerns about federal enforcement, while one testifier raised concerns about jurisdiction, minimum contacts, the use of WCAG 2.1 standards, and the bill’s immediate effective date. The committees decided to pass SB 1496 with technical amendments, including adding a defective date to allow further work before conference, and the recommendation was adopted in both committees. Later, the joint Health, Human Services, and Commerce and Consumer Protection hearing took up Senate Bill 404 on service animals. The Attorney General’s office raised a possible constitutional issue and the lack of an enforcement mechanism, while DHS deferred to other agencies. DCAB supported the bill but recommended amendments to identify an enforcement agency and require notices from professionals and sellers of service-animal or emotional-support-animal paraphernalia. Several advocacy and real estate-related groups testified in support. After discussion, the chair recommended deferring SB 404 for further work because of the Attorney General’s concerns, and the hearing adjourned without a vote on the measure. The final joint Transportation, Culture and the Arts, and Health and Human Services agenda heard SB 1526 on a drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory and SB 1492 on mobility management; both measures were advanced with amendments or as-is, with SB 1526 sent forward with technical amendments and SB 1492 moved ahead after members noted blank dollar amounts and requested the Department of Transportation provide figures.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> a</c><03:15:47.600><c> significant</c> aware that waste is a significant aware that waste is a significant
• </c><03:16:09.439><c> will</c> developing a plan for nuclear waste will developing a plan for nuclear
• It will look at everything from safety to cost to waste and everything... our environment.
• Even if we address the waste and great.
• As I said before, this to to the waste.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The previous amendment creates, again, some additional work for the waste-to-energy plant.
• or we eliminated wasteful programs that don't move the needle, then definitely was funded.
• This program right now is riddled with fraud, waste, and abuse.
• It seems to me almost like fraud, waste, and abuse is a feature of this program.
• It's not a bug. ...to me, almost like fraud, waste, and abuse is a feature of this program.

Summary: The committee first received staff briefings on amendments for a series of bills, including measures on child care workforce standards, homelessness programs, community preservation authorities, domestic violence survivor relief, public defense funding, student behavioral health supports, water system ownership changes, nonprofit health carrier surplus assessments, 340B drug pricing reporting, Secretary of State filing fees, step housing, campaign security reimbursements, digital equity programs, a Boys and Men’s Commission, a waste-to-energy facility’s Climate Commitment Act obligations, 6PPD tire substitutes, and an early education scholarship. Staff described the policy changes and, where available, the expected fiscal effects of each proposed substitute or line amendment. The committee then went into caucus before returning for executive session. In executive session, the committee voted out House Bill 1073, then adopted a Couture line amendment to House Bill 1128 exempting private K-12 schools with licensed child care programs from the child care employer definition before reporting the bill out as Second Substitute House Bill 1128. House Bill 1316, 1408, 1591, 1592, 1634, 1906, 1960, 2073, 2145, 2248, 2266, 2301, 2333, and 2365 were also reported from committee, with several amendments adopted along the way. Notable actions included adopting an emergency clause for House Bill 1408, rejecting proposed amendments to House Bill 1591 that would have narrowed relief for survivors and removed retroactivity, adopting a narrower amendment to House Bill 1592’s public defense funding formula, and adopting a substitute to House Bill 2145 that limited 340B reporting to hospitals. The committee also debated and rejected several amendments to the step housing bill, House Bill 2266, including proposals for larger school/daycare buffers, more local oversight, and broader local government authority; the bill still advanced on a 16-13 vote. House Bill 2073, which requires nonprofit health carriers to contribute surplus funds to Cascade Care Savings, advanced over concerns about using one-time money for an ongoing program. House Bill 2248 advanced after an amendment redirected annual license fee deposits to the state treasury rather than the Secretary of State’s revolving fund. House Bill 2333 was narrowed to allow use of campaign funds for personal security reimbursements, and House Bill 2365 advanced with some amendments adopted and others rejected as the committee began discussing additional digital equity oversight provisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And you don't have to deal with the radioactive waste.
• Have we figured out yet what to do with the radioactive waste? No.
• This is an unproven energy source because of the waste.
• This is an unproved, actually an unproved energy source because of the waste.
• In short, this bill sets up a wasteful bureaucracy and adds to the tax burden.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on H. 4144, the Governor’s Energy Affordability, Independence, and Innovation Act, with the administration arguing the bill would lower bills in the short and long term while expanding clean energy supply and innovation. The Governor and Secretary said the bill would reduce or restructure charges on customer bills, reform Mass Save, expand securitization as a financing tool, speed interconnection, create energy-ready zones, strengthen consumer protections in competitive supply, and allow broader state procurement of energy resources. They said the package could save consumers billions over time and would help address high energy costs, especially during extreme heat and winter spikes. Committee members pressed the administration on several provisions, especially securitization, asking whether the bill requires an apples-to-apples comparison of total costs over time, including interest and lost tax revenue, versus paying through rates. Administration witnesses said DPU review and public comment would be required and said they would work to clarify the language if needed. Members also questioned the bill’s solar and procurement provisions, including reduced net metering compensation for some large facilities, the scope of all-resource procurements, and whether hydro, solar, and nuclear would be included; the administration said those resources were contemplated and that procurement would still be reviewed by DPU. Other questions focused on the short-term relief from bill changes, the treatment of low- and moderate-income discounts, and whether the bill’s heat pump and Mass Save reforms would help customers who cannot afford upfront costs. Several witnesses and committee members discussed Mass Save reforms, including securitization of program costs, on-bill financing, pre-approval of rebates, and shifting program administration away from gas utilities. Administration witnesses said the changes were intended to reduce volatility, lower administrative costs, and better align costs with long-term savings. Questions also touched on geothermal permitting, municipal participation in offshore wind procurement, and the proposed repeal of the ballot requirement for nuclear power, which the administration defended as preserving future options under heavy review. No votes were taken during the hearing portion described. Supportive testimony came from labor, environmental, business, planning, and development groups. The AFL-CIO, NECA, and the Environmental League of Massachusetts backed the bill, emphasizing lower bills, job creation, labor standards, just transition protections, and cleaner energy. NAIOP, the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and MAPC supported provisions on energy-ready zones, interconnection reform, microgrids, extreme-heat shutoff protections, and Mass Save improvements. A HEET representative praised the bill’s use of securitization, geothermal, and utility financing tools but urged guardrails and workforce protections. Overall, testimony was broadly favorable, with most witnesses calling for refinements rather than opposing the bill outright.

Transcript Highlights:

• The tide of waste, fraud, and abuse is abundantly clear in that... Representative...
• The Protect Education Act would tackle the waste, the fraud, and the abuse in the ESA program.
• The member stated the destruction of public schools and fraud, waste, and abuse.
• You used the term fraud, waste, and abuse.
• How are you connecting waste, fraud, and abuse to this particular measure?

Keywords: 1182, all