Video & Transcript Research : 'licensing'
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Emergency Management Committee Jun 29th, 2026
Emergency Management
Transcript Highlights:
- He is head of the Contractors State License Board, who is, of course, in support of this bill.
- Our state has some of the strongest contractor licensing and worker safety. here in California.
- I'm the Registrar for the Contractors State License Board.
- declared disaster areas, bringing the total to approximately 135,000 licensed contractors.
- Approximately 135,000 licensed contractors.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Full Formal with Calendar) Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Preserving legislative control over medical marijuana licenses. Question comes on adoption.
- But this would get at the licensing issue, oversight, taxation of these products, create a regulatory
- framework. the licensing issue, oversight, taxation of these products, create a regulatory framework
- Tarr: supply and demand study in new license moratorium.
- while they investigate a license for the illegal sale of medical-use marijuana.
Summary:
The Senate took up floor debate on H. 4206, An Act Modernizing the Commonwealth Cannabis Laws, with repeated amendment votes focused largely on cannabis regulation, transparency, youth access, and the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC). Early motions included suspending Senate Rule 38A to continue past 8 p.m., which passed by standing vote. Most amendments offered by Senator Tarr were rejected, including proposals on possession limits, CCC executive director appointment and removal, legislative control over medical marijuana licenses, a multi-agency task force on illegal cannabis, annual CCC hearings and reports, an ombudsman, a legislative liaison, a youth-cannabis study commission, supply-and-demand study, and increased penalties for distribution to minors. Amendment 33 by Senator Driscoll, directing the CCC and other agencies to study regulation of intoxicating hemp products, was adopted. Amendment 7 by Senator Brownsberger, allowing cannabis discount and loyalty advertising to existing customers and opt-in email lists, was also adopted. Amendment 29 by Senator O’Connor, allowing the CCC to temporarily suspend or revoke medical marijuana licenses during investigations of illegal sales, was adopted as well.
Several other amendments were debated and defeated, including Senator O’Connor’s billboard advertising restriction for cannabis and Senator Tarr’s proposal to increase penalties for selling marijuana to minors. The chamber then took up the bill’s corrective and Ways and Means amendment, adopted both, ordered the bill to a third reading, and then passed it to be engrossed by roll call vote. The final vote showed the bill advancing despite some opposition, including from several senators who voted no on engrossment.
After the cannabis bill, the Senate considered and passed two land-related bills by roll call: H. 4772, authorizing easements in Lowell, and H. 4362, authorizing release of agricultural preservation restrictions in Westford. The Senate also adopted a motion that when it adjourned, it would do so in memory of Stephen P. Foutou of Newton, followed by a moment of silence. The chamber then adopted an adjournment order and recessed until the next meeting.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Senate Executive Departments and Administration (01/21/2026)
Executive Departments and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- practice here on a with a full license. practice here on a with a full license.
- We'll have to have a further conversation. license. If they're going to do license.
- So when a license is revoked, the license can be, once it's revoked, if you and I both had licenses revoked
- When the license is revoked, the license is revoked. >> Okay.
- licensed by the state. licensed by the state.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Licensing, and of course we helped them with SBA loans. Now they have a food truck.
- It's called a first-step license, a probationary license that would be issued if the apprentice meets
- He or she receives a recommendation and verification of competence from a licensed Florida surveyor.
- If he or she does not pass, then the first-step license is suspended.
- If he or she does not pass the exam, then the first-step license is suspended.
Summary:
The Committee on Commerce and Tourism convened with several members present and Senators DiCeglie and McClain excused. The committee first heard a presentation from Greg Britton, State Director of the Florida Small Business Development Center Network, who described the network’s statewide small-business assistance, including startup support, export and contracting help, disaster recovery, and rural outreach. He highlighted reported 2023 impacts such as $3.9 billion in sales generated, $575.9 million in government contracts, $346.2 million in capital, and support for 2,009 new businesses, including 130 manufacturing firms over the past two years. Members asked about comparisons with SCORE and about measuring rural success, with the chair suggesting jobs and wages in rural areas would be useful metrics; Britton said he could provide job data but was unsure about wage information.
The committee then took up SB 320 by Senator Gates, which creates a five-year demonstration project for an alternative licensure pathway for surveyors and mappers. The bill would allow a “first-step” probationary license based on industry certification, apprenticeship, recommendation from a licensed Florida surveyor, and passage of the Department of Agriculture exam within the five-year period, without requiring a four-year degree. Senators asked about the labor shortage, education requirements, foreign workers, and moral character standards. Gates said the shortage is chronic and worsening, the bill has no degree requirement, and anyone meeting the qualifications could proceed regardless of visa status. The committee voted to report SB 320 favorably.
Next, the committee considered SB 316 by Senator Berman, which authorizes series limited liability companies in Florida and sets rules for how Florida and foreign series LLCs may operate and transact business in the state. Berman explained that the bill is intended to let businesses isolate liabilities across separate series while providing clearer rules for Florida citizens and businesses dealing with such entities. There were no substantive questions, one appearance form in support, and the committee voted to report SB 316 favorably before adjourning.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services May 21st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- influence program licensing trust fund.
- That they hold the license for five years.
- The licensing fee went from $179 to $330.
- Revenue from licensing is supposed to self-fund licensing of personnel.
- The best solution is a tri-annual licensing cycle.
Summary:
The subcommittee first heard May Revision items for child support, child care, and related human services. The Department of Child Support Services described two technical adjustments, which the LAO said raised no concerns. The Department of Social Services then walked through child care proposals, including a shift in how federal and Proposition 64 funding reductions would be absorbed, a 2.01% COLA, disaster-related child care infrastructure grants, an increase in in-contract administrative support costs for alternative payment agencies, reversion of prospective-pay implementation funding after a federal rule change, a one-time allocation to cover the first quarter of Cost of Care Plus payments in the next fiscal year, reappropriation for existing infrastructure grant closeout work, and estimates of unspent child care funds. The department also outlined trailer bill language on a single rate structure, site safety and emergency procedures, CalWORKs child care data sharing, and child care oversight.
The LAO recommended that the Legislature seek more justification for shifting reductions from General Child Care to the Alternative Payment Program, noting that CAP reductions affect more slots and that General Child Care has had significant unspent funds. It supported removing prospective-pay funding, but recommended rejecting the administrative cost shift to a percentage-based rate because it could create future General Fund pressure. It also suggested the Legislature review alignment between the disaster grants and the child care infrastructure program. Senators and members pressed the administration on why the budget would reduce child care slots and COLA percentages while the state still has waitlists and unspent funds, and questioned the need for early funding of Cost of Care Plus payments and the move from a flat administrative amount to a percentage. Public commenters, including providers, advocates, county offices, and infrastructure partners, urged full COLA funding, preservation of child care slots, support for prospective pay, and continued investment in child care access and facilities.
After a short recess, the committee moved to Part B on health and heard the Department of State Hospitals. DSH presented a May Revision budget of $3.2 billion and described proposals for a central utility plant replacement at Metropolitan State Hospital, an electronic health record implementation, reduced county bed billing authority due to phased-in LPS bed capacity, limited contract exemption authority for online clinical subscriptions, reversion of prior-year unspent operating funds, and a workforce development proposal shifting some costs to Behavioral Health Services Act funds, including support for an additional psychiatric training cohort at Napa. The department also outlined IST-related savings and a trailer bill to remove the sunset on the independent placement panel program.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- The license plates.
- What, what type of, uh, license do they have?
- Uh, well, we have a licensed social worker and we have, um, um, a nurse who is licensed uh like is it
- Current law enables TDLR to issue dietitian licenses.
- The Texas Medical Board also cannot take action against a physician's license license solely based on
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- the initial licenses to provide ICS services as well as license changes to add ICS services to an existing
- license.
- and compliance team to assist HCBS license applicants, understand licensing requirements, and provide
- newly licensed providers with technical assistance to comply with licensing requirements.
- <01:04:04.000>
compliance um HCBS provider licensing compliance um HCBS provider licensing
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- So all of those will still go to the license office.
- You can’t get driver’s license, you know, at dealers.
- license offices.
- So the license offices are bid out, as you all are aware, and that license was up for bid, and the agent
- Now, keep in mind, The license offices are bid out, as you all are aware, and that license was up for
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - State Gov Elections and Indian Affairs Feb 11th, 2026 at 08:41 am
Transcript Highlights:
- The superintendent of regulation licensing, representatives from the PRC, and the attorney general's
- By putting this on a driver's license, we enable our Native American population to be able to say—and
- If they look at the license, for instance, they are going to be able to identify... maybe they can't
- They’re going through this process to update the driver license.
- They're going to this process to update the driver license.
Summary:
The committee first heard House Memorial 54, which would create a stakeholder working group to study utility-service problems in manufactured and mobile home parks and recommend solutions. The sponsor described repeated water and utility outages in large parks, said current law places maintenance responsibility on park owners, and argued that the state needs clearer standards and alternatives to costly attorney general lawsuits. Supporters from PNM and the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty backed the memorial as a step toward better oversight and protections for residents. The committee asked about existing landlord obligations and whether rent withholding is available; the sponsor said current law does not clearly provide that remedy. HM 54 was reported out with a due pass.
The committee then considered House Bill 166, which would create a statewide permitting framework for battery-charged electric fences used by commercial businesses while preserving local zoning authority. The sponsor and an industry witness said businesses face inconsistent local permitting, delays, and added costs, and that the bill would provide uniform standards and security options. Several members raised concerns that the bill appeared to favor a specific product type, could override local code differences, and might not address mixed-use areas, historic districts, or homeowners associations. After debate, the bill passed on a 4-3 vote, with one member explaining support but urging further work with local government experts before floor consideration.
House Bill 20, a bipartisan measure, would allow Native American applicants to request a voluntary Native American designation on state driver’s licenses and ID cards, without naming a specific tribe, and with documentation requirements tied to tribal cards, certificates of Indian blood, or affidavits of birth. Supporters said it would recognize tribal political status, help with law enforcement and Turquoise Alert verification, and assist with education, health, and child welfare matters; tribal representatives and State Police testified in favor. Several members expressed concern about racial profiling, privacy, and possible unintended consequences of marking IDs, while others noted the designation is optional and tied to political status rather than race. Members also flagged drafting language that appeared to require multiple documents, and the sponsor agreed to clarify it. The bill ultimately passed, with some members explaining their votes and asking for continued discussion with tribes.
The committee also approved Senate Joint Resolution 1, which would amend the state constitution to allow school bond and mill levy questions to appear on the general election ballot rather than being limited to separate school elections. Sponsors said the change would reduce special-election costs, increase turnout, and remove outdated language dating to 1910; school board and education groups supported it. Members asked about ballot crowding and local election timing, and sponsors emphasized that the measure gives school districts a choice rather than a mandate. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 295, which would create an Office of Accessibility to centralize reporting, provide technical assistance, and produce annual reports on accessibility of state buildings and websites. Disability advocates largely supported the bill as a way to improve compliance and consistency, while one webcast commenter opposed it, arguing that without enforcement authority it would not produce meaningful change. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 295, before final committee action is shown.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Informal House Session 90 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- McMurtry, Paul McMurtry, relative to licenses for off-premises retail alcoholic beverages located near
- Other off-premises licenses, to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
- The House bill relative to veterans specialty license plates on leased vehicles, House No. 3674.
- An act relative to veterans specialty license plates on leased vehicles, House No. 3674.
- Palmer to grant additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages, House No. 4282.
Summary:
The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then acted on several committee reports and procedural matters. The Committee on Rules recommended adoption of resolutions congratulating People Incorporated on its new early education center, honoring Eagle Scout Logan Collins, and recognizing the Bellingham Lions Club’s 75th anniversary; the House suspended the rules and adopted them. The House also adopted an order extending until November 7, 2025, the reporting deadline for the Committee on Public Health on House Order No. 4586, and concurred with a Senate referral of a petition concerning the MBTA assessment to the Committee on Transportation. In addition, Joint Rule 12 was suspended for a petition on off-premises retail alcohol licenses near other such licenses, allowing referral to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
The House then took up a slate of bills scheduled by the Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling, including measures on youth skin health, employment protections for victims of abusive behavior, veterans specialty license plates on leased vehicles, and a simplified procedure for subdivision roads in Marlborough. After suspending Rule 7A, the House ordered these bills to a third reading, and later did the same for House No. 2998, authorizing Thomas Harmon to purchase creditable service from the Barnstable County Retirement Board. The House also passed to be enacted Senate 2566, regulating the Gloucester Fisheries Commission, and House 4273, authorizing Maynard to grant an additional off-premises alcohol license.
On third reading, the House passed several bills to be engrossed, including measures on parking enforcement in Cambridge, the Fairhaven charter, additional alcohol licenses in Palmer, and converting a Milford wine and malt beverage license to an all-alcoholic-beverages off-premises license. The House adopted a Senate order changing the recess date for a joint session to October 9, 2025, and observed a moment of silence in memory of Paul Holloway, a firefighter and educator. Finally, the House adopted an order to adjourn to meet the following Wednesday at 11 a.m., and then adjourned.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on State and Local Government - Part 2 - 03/27/26
State and Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- Minnesota schools have a licensed Minnesota schools have a licensed library<00:02:16.520>
media - licensing problems are the most severe. licensing problems are the most severe.
- current publisher licensing Under current publisher licensing models,<00:04:21.760>
libraries - <00:58:32.240>
As Licensing and Standards Board. As Licensing and Standards Board. - one-time fee for a one-year license. one-time fee for a one-year license.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Labor and Employment Committee Mar 19th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- or for renewal of a current license. ...state agencies will deny your application for a new business
- license or for renewal of a current license.
- a business and won't be able to renew their license.
- So one of the few areas of leverage that exists is the licensing or permit to operate.
- If you pay the workers, then you won't lose your license. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.
Summary:
The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee met on March 19, 2025, adopted its rules, and approved the consent calendar before hearing several bills. AB 538, by Assemblymember Berman, would require awarding bodies on public works projects to make a timely attempt to obtain certified payroll records from contractors when the public requests them, rather than simply saying they do not have the records. Supporters said it would clarify existing prevailing wage enforcement; county, city, special district, and housing groups opposed it over workload, privacy, and potential funding risks. The bill passed the committee on a do-pass recommendation to Appropriations.
The committee then heard AB 485, authored by Chair Ortega, which would direct state agencies to deny or renew business licenses for employers with outstanding wage theft judgments unless the judgments are satisfied or bonded. Supporters, including labor groups and a caregiver who described delayed recovery of unpaid wages, said the bill would give workers meaningful leverage to collect judgments. The California Hospital Association opposed it, warning that license action could threaten patient access to care. The bill passed on a do-pass recommendation to Appropriations.
AB 596, by Assemblymember McKinnor, would codify workers’ right to wear a face covering or respirator at work unless it creates a direct safety hazard. Supporters said the measure would protect workers from illness, wildfire smoke, and employer restrictions after prior Cal/OSHA protections expired; the Chamber of Commerce opposed it narrowly, asking for an exception where masks are infeasible for certain tasks. The committee supported the bill and sent it to Appropriations. The hearing concluded with the roll kept open for absent members and the committee adjourned.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Apr 8th, 2026
Health & Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- CMS doesn’t do the licensing. Texas doesn’t do the licensing. CMS makes the payment.
- These are licenses. I can… …alternate delivery sites. These are licenses.
- And by providing those licenses, it gives them a license to be able to do such.
- HHSC significantly reduced the number of hospice licenses issued or placed new licenses on hold for a
- HHSC significantly reduced the number of hospice licenses issued or placed new licenses on a hold for
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Ability to track and target that one license plate?
- Well, when that happens, it gives them full license without a warrant.
- It gives them full license without a warrant or a subpoena to access all of the automatic license plate
- An automatic license plate reader, a mass surveillance system.
- Okay, the next. an automatic license plate reader, a mass surveillance system.
Summary:
The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, journal approval, and numerous guest introductions, including several judges shadowing senators, Chief Justice Ann Timmer, mining industry representatives, a doctor of the day, and student and youth visitors. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider a calendar of bills, with several measures receiving committee amendments and do-pass recommendations, including SB 1272 on Douglas port of entry funding, SB 1327 on Arizona Board of Regents restrictions involving foreign countries, SB 1400 on public safety employee information, SB 1519 on off-highway vehicles, SB 1627 on unmanned aircraft, SB 1630 on AHCCCS home- and community-based services and mental illness, HB 1720 on parenting time, SB 1763 on school district finances, SB 1826 on rural wayfinding signs, and SB 1827 on vertiports. Members offered brief explanations on some bills, especially SB 1519 and SB 1720, which addressed off-road vehicle use and equal parenting time standards, respectively.
On third reading, the Senate passed SB 1272, SB 1327, SB 1400, SB 1519, SB 1627, SB 1630, SB 1720, SB 1763, and SB 1826. SB 1827 failed on third reading by a 15-15 vote. Senators gave explanations on several measures, including concerns about confidentiality in SB 1400, environmental and trail impacts in SB 1519, and the parenting-time standards in SB 1720. SB 1763 passed overwhelmingly, while SB 1630 passed 28-2. The chamber then moved to a second Committee of the Whole for additional bills.
In the second COW, SB 1111 on automatic license plate readers drew the most extensive debate. Senator Payne described guardrails such as case-number access, training, and penalties for misuse, while Senator Hoffman offered a sweeping hostile amendment to sharply limit use and impose civil penalties and a private right of action, arguing the bill enabled mass surveillance. The Hoffman amendment failed 13-17, and the Payne-backed amendment was adopted; the bill was then advanced as amended. Senators also considered SB 1214 on stem-cell/regenerative therapy, SB 1683 on foreign land ownership advisory prohibitions, SB 1686 on a memorial at Wesley Bolin Plaza, and SB 1745 on local excise tax rate limits, all of which received do-pass recommendations after amendments where applicable. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted, with further floor debate continuing on SB 1111 over privacy, public records access, and surveillance concerns.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- Subsection H is a mid-license refresher.
- Is there a part in this Where does it state the term of the license, or the length of the license?
- This was only about lost or stolen licenses.
- course—and why did we add in issuance of lost or stolen licenses?
- Um, you added lost or stolen license, implying that this provision only applies to a lost or stolen license
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (03/05/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- license, they have a retail outlet location license that they need to acquire for this.
- license, they have a retail outlet location license that they need to acquire for this.
- license, they have a retail outlet location license that they need to acquire for this.
- license, they have a retail outlet location license that they need to acquire for this.
- license, they have a retail outlet location license that they need to acquire for this.
Summary:
The committee met in executive session and first discussed scheduling, noting that Town Meeting Day would cancel the next Tuesday meeting, that they would meet Wednesday instead, and that remaining bills would be handled through subcommittees and a likely final executive session on the 19th to meet the deadline for committee action on the 20th. The committee then took up several bills, with repeated roll calls and votes, often placing measures on the consent calendar after committee approval.
House Bill 185 on ambulance reimbursement rates was described as a perennial issue and was voted inexpedient to legislate, with members noting concerns that an any-willing-provider approach would make premium impacts hard to evaluate. House Bill 186 on cannabis legalization was retained for further work, with members saying the bill addressed stopping marijuana arrests but that the sales and implementation details still needed more development. House Bill 241 on treatment alternatives to opioids was also retained because the sponsor could not attend and the committee wanted more time to continue work.
The committee then considered House Bill 302 on state treasury investments in digital assets and precious metals. The amendment narrowed the proposal, removing more complicated provisions like stable tokens and staking, lowering the authorized allocation from 10% to 5%, and limiting eligible digital assets to those with very high market capitalization; members discussed volatility, the treasurer’s discretion, and oversight through bond-rating concerns. The amendment and the bill as amended both passed, and the bill was placed on the consent calendar.
Other measures moved quickly: House Bill 451 on a paint product stewardship program was amended to remove direct funding and framed as manufacturer-run enabling legislation, then passed and was placed on consent; House Bill 499 made technical corrections to insurance laws and passed unanimously; House Bill 538 on relocating Liquor Commission positions passed unanimously; House Bill 552 on children covered under the state retirement insurance plan was cleaned up to remove a student requirement and passed unanimously; and a blockchain/digital currencies bill was amended to address noise and local regulation concerns for data mining operations, with supporters emphasizing energy-use issues, municipal authority, and a separate commission studying regulation. That bill also passed and was sent to consent.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee Jan 13th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And there is a licensing fee that the higher ed institutions pay to access that data.
- And there is a licensing fee that the higher ed institutions pay to access that data.
- licensing of student data for that, for that.
- But there is revenue from licensing of data.
- It's just that the in-school use case, there's no licensing of that data. Okay. All right.
Summary:
The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee heard two bills. AB 1159 by Assemblymember Addis would update California student data privacy law to extend protections to college students, limit how ed tech companies can collect and use student information, and add restrictions around sensitive data and generative AI use. Supporters, including Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, CFT, labor, civil rights, and education groups, said students and educators need stronger safeguards against invasive data collection and misuse. Opponents, including College Board, TechNet, CalChamber, and ACT Education, argued the bill was overly broad, could interfere with legitimate educational services and AI development, and raised concerns about a private right of action and impacts on adult students and recruitment opportunities.
AB 883 by Assemblymember Lowenthal would expedite deletion of personal information for elected and appointed officials under California’s data broker deletion system by having state agencies provide official lists to the privacy agency and requiring brokers to delete the information within five days. Supporters said the measure responds to rising threats, harassment, and violence against public officials and would help reduce exposure of their personal data. TechNet and TechC.A. opposed unless amended, citing concerns about exemptions for lawful data sharing, the five-day timeline, and litigation risk, while the author emphasized the bill does not create a new right but streamlines access to an existing deletion process.
Both bills were advanced after committee discussion and roll calls. AB 1159 passed 11-2 and was sent to the Judiciary Committee. AB 883 passed 14-0 and was sent to the Appropriations Committee.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Human Services Committee Jun 30th, 2026
Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- It does not revoke licenses. It does not eliminate STRTPs.
- It does not create new licensing violations. It does not change existing licensing standards.
- has repeatedly received the state's most serious licensing citations.
- And repeated failures to meet the basic licensing requirements.
- It raises no new licensing standards. It imposes no new operational requirements.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- estate state commission for the Committee of Licensing and Administrative Procedures.
- and Regulation or for the Committee of Licensing and Administrative Procedures.
- HB 3945 by Bum Garner relating to the licensing and regulation of massage therapy and other programs
- administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
- for the Committee on Licensing Administrative Procedures.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- support of issuing the special license support of issuing the special license plate<00:13:55.000
- plates, authorizing the issuance of a special number vehicle license plate commemorating the Office
- ...number vehicle license plate commemorating the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
- Moving on to HB 307, relating to special license plates.
- Okay, and then moving on to our final measure, HB 663, relating to special license plates.
Summary:
The House Committee on Culture and the Arts met on January 29 at 10:30 a.m. and heard four bills. HB 133, relating to surfing, drew testimony from the Department of Education and one individual in support. Committee discussion focused on the department’s estimated cost of about $44,000 per event, including judges, lifeguards, security, and administrative expenses. Members also asked about why surfing has been difficult to implement statewide and were told safety concerns, open-water conditions, and league-level decisions were among the barriers. The committee moved the bill forward with amendments, including blanking out the appropriation, and noted it wanted the Education Committee to review the cost breakdown further.
HB 307, relating to special license plates for the island of Kahoʻolawe, received strong support from Protect K Ohana, the Kahoʻolawe Island Reserve Commission, and other supporters in person and via Zoom. Testimony clarified the name of the receiving entity and noted a recent petition showing significant public interest. The bill was advanced with technical amendments, and the chair said the fund name was already correct and that the measure would not reflect DCCA but the bank account designation.
HB 450 would transfer the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission from DAGS to DBEDT and move authority over the Works of Art Special Fund to DBEDT’s director. The State Foundation and DBEDT’s Creative Industries Division supported the measure. In response to questions, the State Foundation said it had researched the transfer, believed funding would not be lost, and requested about a year for the transition to avoid payroll and payment disruptions, along with consideration of an additional DBEDT staff position. The committee adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass the bill with amendments, including adding the requested FTE and noting a two-year transition period in the report.
HB 663, authorizing a special license plate commemorating the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, had little testimony and no one signed up to speak. The chair said OHA advocacy testimony was on file but that support for the measure appeared limited, and the bill was deferred. The committee then adjourned.