Video & Transcript : 'gross weight exemption' :

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WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Agriculture & Natural Resources Dec 5th, 2025 at 10:30 am

Agriculture & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • So in 2024, agriculture alone generated over $12 billion in direct cash receipts, which is actual gross
  • So in 2024, agriculture alone generated over $12 billion in direct cash receipts, which is actual gross
  • give you That is akin to the same for Alaska Airlines, just to give you some perspective as far as gross
  • That is comparable to the gross domestic product of small and medium countries, such as Croatia.
  • These changes broaden the scope of those who must meet work requirements and narrow exemptions for some
Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a work session on food systems and food security, with no public testimony. The first panel covered household food security and data. Marie Spiker of UW explained how food insecurity is measured, its health impacts, and the importance of reliable data, warning that the federal Census food security data is being terminated and that Washington’s WAFOOD surveys are a useful but non-representative complement. Katie Raines of WSDA described the state’s food systems work, including efforts to build shared data and dashboard monitoring, coordinate across agencies and partners, and strengthen the hunger safety net and local food supply chain. The committee then heard from Tracy Roof of the University of Richmond, who gave a history of SNAP/food stamps as both an anti-hunger program and an agricultural support tied to the farm bill. She described how the program evolved from Depression-era commodity distribution to a permanent federal-state program, how it became countercyclical during recessions, and how state policy changes and outreach increased participation. She also noted SNAP’s economic multiplier effects and said Washington’s enrollment is in the middle of the pack nationally, while future federal changes could reduce eligibility and shift more costs to states. A later panel focused on food security challenges and opportunities across the food system. The Washington Food Policy Forum, through Danny Madrone and Chris Elder, outlined its consensus-based recommendations on food insecurity, climate and water, regional infrastructure, farmland protection, and support for small and mid-sized farms. A joint industry panel from the Farm Bureau, Retail Association, and Food Industry Association emphasized agriculture’s economic scale, rising costs, loss of farms, retail theft, and the importance of local grocery stores and SNAP/WIC partnerships. State agency representatives from DSHS and DOH described current program impacts and risks: DSHS said federal H.R. 1 could require Washington to pay up to 15% of SNAP benefits and tighten eligibility, while DOH highlighted WIC, farmers market nutrition, fruit-and-vegetable incentives, and a new Medicaid waiver project, but warned that unstable funding and the end of SNAP-Ed threaten program continuity. No votes were taken.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

FL House Floor Session - 2026-02-04 (8:30AM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • It feels gross, and we should reject the Senate confirmation. Thank you, senators.
  • Under this bill, the property owner retains his homestead exemption with that portion of the property
  • ADUs are approved without requiring a public hearing, variance, conditional use permit, special exemption
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, September 16, 2025)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • SO HOW IS IT THAT DOGE EMPLOYEES How is it that DOGE employees are exempt?
  • He'd still be living with the weight of those charges.
  • And what they do is they do certain samples and try to constantly estimate what the gross national product
  • Speaker, I rise to honor the mothers who carry the weight of the loss of a child and yet continue to
  • Speaker, I rise to honor the mothers who carry the weight of the loss of a child and yet continue to
Bills: HB1670 , HR493 , HR492 , HR491 , HB5140 , HB4922 , HR713 , HR721 , HB2721 , HR707
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • Historically, the Governor's Commission has been funded with 5% of gross liquor profits.
  • </c><01:00:33.599><c> Uh</c><01:00:33.839><c> the</c><01:00:34.000><c> House</c> gross liquor profits
  • Uh the House gross liquor profits.
  • They'd be eligible sooner, but it doesn't change the gross number of people over the 10-year span we
  • </c> sooner, but it doesn't change the gross sooner, but it doesn't change the gross number<03:29:04.080
Summary: The committee of conference on HB 1 and HB 2 met to review revenue estimates and begin working through a side-by-side of the budget. New Hampshire Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre testified that lottery revenues are outperforming prior estimates, projecting a $27 million return to the state this year, up $7 million, and $200 million per year in the next biennium, up $6.5 million per year. He attributed the increase to stronger scratch ticket sales, no negative impact from Massachusetts sports betting, and overall better performance. Members questioned the assumptions behind the higher numbers, including the proposed $50 scratch tickets, the effect of inflation, and whether the projections were conservative enough. McIntyre said the $50 ticket could produce modest growth and that the estimates were intentionally cautious. The discussion also covered gaming revenue assumptions for historical horse racing and video lottery terminals, with McIntyre saying the state market is not yet saturated and that future conversions from HHR to VLTs should be net positive for the state. Members also discussed differences between House and Senate revenue numbers for gaming, including machine counts, daily revenue assumptions, and the tax split. The Senate version used higher machine counts and a 31.25% tax rate, with a quarter-point reserved for responsible gaming and the remainder split between charities and the state. The House had used a 30% rate with a different distribution. McIntyre and committee members also reviewed House Bill 2 items affecting Kino hours and local option games of chance, with McIntyre explaining that the bill would expand playing hours and shift towns to an opt-out model. No votes were taken during the lottery discussion, but the committee indicated it would continue refining the revenue model and circulate the spreadsheet used for the estimates. The committee then moved through the HB 1 detail change sheet, accepting several Senate positions and holding others for later. It agreed to a zero-cost realignment in the Department of Safety moving the international fuel tax agreement function from administration to motor vehicles, and it restored eight passenger motor vehicle inspection positions for later discussion in HB 2. The Department of Corrections reorganization was set aside for a later, more detailed discussion. The committee also accepted no-change positions for the Department of Employment Security and agreed to a technical footnote fix in the Judicial Council section. It discussed a new HB 2 item moving contract counsel for involuntary mental health admissions from the judicial branch to the Judicial Council, funded at $100,000 per year, and noted that the public defender funding issue would be revisited when the overall budget picture is clearer. The meeting ended with the committee continuing its review of the remaining pages of the detail change sheet.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • AND THE, IT PROVIDES AN EXEMPTION FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT PUBLIC SAFETY CROWDS OF 50 PEOPLE OR MORE THAT
  • RELATED TO WHAT WE SPOKE ABOUT UNDER THE LITIGATION PRIVILEGE ON EVEN THE MOST INFLAMMATORY FILINGS ARE EXEMPT
  • SENATE BILL 1652 CREATES A PUBLIC RECORDS EXEMPTION FOR MATTERS STRICKEN FROM NON-CRIMINAL COURT RECORDS
  • AND JARED GROSS.
  • THEN YENISBEL VILLARIO IS NEXT. >> I AM KERA GROSS, LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR AND SENIOR POLICY COUNSEL OF
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Aug 24th, 2026

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • seeks to clarify that infant formula should be recognized as an essential food product and therefore exempt
  • This clarification aims to support the needs of families. ...exempt from sales and use tax in statute
  • This bill delays the publication of an annual Franchise Tax Board report on health insurance exemption
  • SB 948 maintains all firearms safety certificate exemptions in statute for new and current residents,
  • Senate Bill 969 by Senator Reyes and others, an act relating to weights and measures.
Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum, offered a prayer and pledge, and then moved through a long daily file and concurrence agenda. Early procedural actions included withdrawing AB 1555 and AB 2221 from engrossing and enrolling, suspending rules to move SB 813 to second reading, re-referring several bills to committees, and approving committee meeting notices. The chamber also adopted a rules waiver for chaptering-out amendments and handled several other procedural motions before turning to floor votes. On the Senate third reading file, members approved a wide range of bills covering housing, health care, education, transportation, energy, public safety, taxation, and local government. Measures discussed included EV charger liability in HOAs (SB 1267), local public benefits authority (SB 1099), special needs trusts under Proposition 19 (SB 974), infant formula tax treatment (SB 1151), mutual water company rate transparency (SB 1417), Alzheimer’s treatment coverage (SB 950), protections for mental health professionals in correctional settings (SB 993), development fee transparency (SB 1014), climate literacy in schools (SB 1048), illegal dumping enforcement (SB 1218), homeowner repair timelines for unpermitted work (SB 1272), EV charging station permitting (SB 1283), nonprobate asset distribution (SB 1288), DCA sunset cleanup (SB 1311), wildfire and disaster-related measures (SB 742, SB 904), nitrous oxide sales restrictions (SB 936), PrEP access (SB 1023), early math assessments (SB 1067), firearm restrictions for certain serial-number offenses (SB 1220), and several licensing, education, and health-related bills. Most measures passed with strong margins; a few drew notable opposition, including SB 993, which failed, while SB 222, SB 1037, SB 1220, SB 1255, and SB 1279 passed with narrower votes. The Assembly then took up concurrence on numerous Assembly bills with Senate amendments. Among the bills concurred in were AB 2075, AB 431, AB 1153, AB 1328, AB 1486, AB 1573, AB 1591, AB 1617, AB 1738, AB 1749, AB 1789, AB 1802, AB 1818, AB 1820, AB 1829, AB 1877, AB 2010, AB 2011, AB 2160, AB 2178, AB 2262, AB 2310, AB 2349, AB 2422, AB 2481, AB 2504, AB 2580, AB 2640, AB 1705, and AB 1793. These concurrence items covered forestry, aviation, illegal dumping, Medi-Cal, climate resiliency, housing, health professions, hazardous waste reporting, domestic violence protections, mental health parity, lactation support, community college programs, air quality response, student aid, beverage containers, teacher credentialing, state mandates, privacy, cash payments, and more. The transcript ended while the Assembly was beginning consideration of SB 1412 on remote parent-teacher conference participation.
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - Part 2)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • I rise for the American people struggling under the weight of the largest tax increase on the middle
  • We hold accountable woke elite universities and tax-exempt organizations that abuse their Generous tax
  • It's for hourly workers working overtime, families and seniors who have been struggling under the weight
  • FAMILIES AND SENIORS WHO HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING UNDER THE WEIGHT OF INFLATION AND FOR THE 91% OF AMERICANS
  • The weight of the failures of their policies that raised inflation and interest rates and home ownership
Bills: HB1969 , HB1701 , HR1 , HR435 , SJR31 , HR436
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama House Feb 12th, 2026

Alabama House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And it exempts the Judicial College from the state sales and use taxes.
  • And it exempts the clerks as well.
  • this</c><02:53:46.399><c> bill</c> gross proceeds exempted by this bill gross proceeds exempted by this
  • </c><02:54:11.920><c> proceeds</c><02:54:12.399><c> exempted</c> dependent on the gross proceeds exempted
  • dependent on the gross proceeds exempted to<02:54:13.120><c> the</c><02:54:13.439><c> same</c><02:54
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session Feb 10th, 2026

Washington House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • What this bill simply does is it exempts senior executives, high earners above $350,000 per year, from
  • Exempting employees labeled senior executives, whether by description of their role, which can easily
  • With the consent of the House, the rules will be suspended and in gross substitute House Bill 1155 will
  • In gross substitute House Bill 1155 on third reading and final passage, remarks.
Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and heard a prayer. Members approved the prior day’s minutes, referred introduction-sheet bills, and later took up several second- and third-reading bills. Early in the day, the chamber also announced that members could wear Seahawks apparel during floor action the next day. The House passed House Bill 1155, which bans non-compete agreements, after adopting amendments clarifying tribal worker relationships, replacing references to “customer” with “patient” in certain contexts, and requiring notice to current and some former employees that non-competes are void. An amendment to exempt senior executives earning over $350,000 was rejected. The bill passed 65-29. The House also passed House Bill 1002, allowing certain coroners and medical examiners to seek workers’ compensation for PTSD; an amendment to isolate costs to their own risk class was rejected, and the bill passed 70-24. House Bill 2264, clarifying unemployment insurance eligibility for workers who voluntarily participate in layoffs, passed unanimously 94-0. Later measures included House Bill 2110, allowing nurses to accompany inter-facility ambulance transports without also holding EMT licenses, which passed 94-0 after an amendment clarifying training; House Bill 2272, a technical update to ski equipment terminology, which passed 94-0; House Bill 2238, creating a statewide food security strategy, which passed 83-12 after a technical amendment narrowing agency scope; and House Bill 2445, aimed at preventing profiteering in probate estates, which passed 67-28 after a technical amendment. The House also passed House Bill 2109 on securing vehicle loads (95-0), House Bill 2492 requiring behavioral and mental health training for construction workers and apprentices (79-16), House Bill 2472 on licensed contractors for fire sprinkler work (92-3), House Bill 288 joining the dietician licensure compact (93-1), and House Bill 2229 updating the Professional Engineers Registration Act and requiring five years of Washington practice for board members after an amendment (68-26).
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Emerging Issues Feb 25th, 2026

Emerging Issues

Transcript Highlights:
  • Natural kratom leaf has less than 0.04% 7-hydroxy by dried weight in the weight of the leaf material.
  • In the weight of the leaf material, that is a minuscule, minuscule amount.
  • So it just means 0.04% of the weight of the material or the tablet can be 7-OH.
  • You're looking at 0.04% by dried weight.
  • Because of my handicap, I had ballooned in weight. I was 305 pounds. I couldn't stand for too long.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Health and Human Services (03/04/2026)

Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> immunization exemptions. immunization exemptions.
  • The exemption could be signed off by the physician. So this becomes an exemption.
  • The exemption could be negative impact.
  • It's already becomes an exemption.
  • </c> uh grant these waiverss and exemptions. uh grant these waiverss and exemptions.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Apr 29th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • How does this bill reconcile that definition with a blanket exemption? Thank you for the question.
  • So just as we're looking at page 10, and we're talking about verified household adjusted gross income
  • This language literally changes the verified household adjusted gross income, and it goes from 300% to
  • And so I think that the example you used, even before the growth in the program, would have been exempt
  • The housing gross bill number 3940. Honestly, I'm not sure, but either way, it is in the bill.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

AEN Public Hearing 02-04-2026

Agriculture and Environment

Transcript Highlights:
  • 37:13.280><c> be</c> forward, electric utilities should be forward, electric utilities should be exempted
  • uh as they are subject already exempted uh as they are subject already to<00:37:16.560><c> the</c><00
  • in terms of agriculture for Hawaii uh in terms of income<00:58:34.079><c> uh</c><00:58:34.160><c> gross
  • <c> um</c><00:58:35.440><c> at</c><00:58:35.680><c> the</c><00:58:35.920><c> $10,000</c> income uh gross
  • income um at the $10,000 income uh gross income um at the $10,000 um<00:58:37.680><c> annual</c><00:
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several agriculture-related measures, beginning with SB 2309, which would require the agricultural loan division to sell portions of its loan portfolio and use the proceeds to expand the agriculture loan revolving fund. The Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and the Hawaii Farm Bureau supported the bill, along with several other organizations and individuals. A committee question focused on the risk of not finding a qualified buyer for the loan portfolio; DAB said a mandatory sale of the full amount could force a less favorable rate, while flexibility to sell different amounts could produce a more equitable return. The measure drew eight supporters and no opposition. The committee then took up SB 2317, which directs DAB to study insurance coverage for small producers and report back to the Legislature. DAB and multiple farm groups supported the bill. In response to a question about cost, DAB estimated about $250,000 would be needed, with the study likely covering crop, health, and liability insurance. The next measure, SB 2318, would establish an agriculture statistics program in statute. DAB said it strongly supported the bill and could ramp up quickly if positions were provided; the committee discussed whether a first report could be completed by year’s end if the bill became law midyear, and DAB said yes. SB 2319, which would fund and make permanent a full-time grant writer position at DAB, also drew strong support from DAB, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, Ulupono Initiative, the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, the local food coalition, and others, with testifiers emphasizing the position’s return on investment and success in bringing in federal funds. The committee also heard SB 2321, establishing a two-year pilot program to respond to the twoline spittlebug. DAB, ranching groups, and many others supported the bill, citing the pest’s spread and the need to act before it becomes unmanageable. A DAB pest control manager said he would need to research past response details and provide them later. Members emphasized the importance of early intervention. For SB 2323, which creates a farmland transition commission to study barriers to farmland access and recommend solutions, DAB offered comments and support for the intent, while farm groups generally supported the concept but raised concerns about the proposed age range and whether a separate commission was necessary. DAB said the Board of Agriculture likely would not have the capacity to perform the commission’s duties and estimated there would be costs to establish it, though no figure was available at the hearing. Finally, the committee heard SB 2332, which reestablishes the agriculture and food security special fund, creates a carbon emissions tax and dividend fund, gradually raises carbon-related tax rates, and provides a refundable carbon cashback credit. DAB supported the measure and deferred to Taxation on details; the Department of Taxation said it would stand on its comments, and the Attorney General’s office offered comments and recommendations. Carbon Cashback Hawaii and the County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development supported the bill, arguing it would reduce emissions, protect lower-income households, and be relatively simple to administer.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Finance and Tax Apr 15th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR PROVIDES AN AD VALOREM EXEMPTION ON TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY.
  • FOR THE EXEMPTION.
  • IT PERMANENTLY EXEMPTS GOLD SILVER OF $75 OR LESS PER ITEM.
  • BY WHERE COMPARISON, THE ORIGINAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION WAS $5000 IN 1934.
  • FIREARMS, AMMUNITION AND RELATED ACCESSORIES WOULD BECOME TAX EXEMPT FOR 1/3 OF THE YEAR.
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Special Committee on Rural Issues Jan 21st, 2026 at 04:00 pm

Special Committee on Rural Issues

Transcript Highlights:
  • Those are already exempted.
  • Representative Burton: Because there were some things I thought that were exempted.
  • So we're looking at the exemption of sales tax.
  • So that's why they're considered exempt out of the auction realm of things.
  • And that was put in place by the legislature a few years ago. taxable or exempt.
Summary: The Special Committee on Rural Issues met in executive session first and approved a committee substitute for House Bills 297 and 1905, then voted the substitute do pass by a 10-0 roll call. The committee also voted House Bill 2547 do pass by a 9-1-1 vote. After ending executive session, the committee moved to public testimony on House Bill 2686, sponsored by Representative Knight, which would exempt certain used tangible personal property sold at auction from sales tax. Representative Knight argued the bill would clarify that used goods already taxed once should not be taxed again when sold at auction, especially in estate and consignment settings, and said the current law is confusing and has created inconsistent treatment. Committee members questioned the fiscal impact, the distinction between auctions and garage sales, and how the bill would apply to items such as vehicles, trailers, airplanes, and livestock. The Department of Revenue testified that the bill’s wording creates ambiguity, that the fiscal note is a high-watermark estimate because auction data are limited, and that the department is still analyzing Missouri auction-house data to refine the estimate. Laura Holloway of the Missouri Municipal League testified in opposition, saying local sales tax exemptions continue to erode municipal funding and that more broad tax policy discussion is needed before adding another exemption. Committee members also raised concerns about the lack of hard revenue numbers and the potential loss to schools and local governments. The hearing on House Bill 2686 concluded without further action beyond testimony.
DE
Transcript Highlights:
  • this qualified activity, you have a tax credit against corporate income tax, personal income tax, gross
  • and public utility tax. ...you have a tax credit against corporate income tax, personal income tax, gross
  • It would fall under this exemption from the Blue Collar Jobs Act. Yeah.
  • must redesign our tax structures to capture the servers, not just the land upon which they sit, and exempt
  • And demanding that they are not exempt from investing in our amazing state.
Summary: The committee heard several bills, but much of the meeting focused on House Bill 306, which would require disclosure when a consumer is interacting with a chatbot rather than a human. Sponsor Senator Townsend described it as a consumer protection measure and said the bill is meant to keep pace with rapidly changing AI technology. Committee members and witnesses raised concerns about the bill’s enforcement structure, especially private rights of action and penalties that could apply even without actual consumer harm. The Department of Justice said the bill would apply where the conduct has a Delaware nexus, and that the disclosure requirement is the key consumer protection. Industry witnesses and chambers of commerce opposed the bill as drafted, arguing it would create broad compliance burdens and expose businesses to excessive litigation risk without a harm requirement or clearer safe harbor language. Earlier in the meeting, the committee discussed House Bill 429, which would update Delaware’s step therapy exception process to include biosimilars and interchangeable biologics. Senator Poore and supporters from Highmark and the Department of Insurance said the bill would modernize insurance law, improve access to effective treatments, and reduce costs; they cited national savings from biosimilars and said the bill has agency support. Members asked about Delaware-specific savings, patient switching, and how the process would work, but no vote was taken during the discussion. The committee also heard House Bill 310, which would exclude large data centers from Blue Collar Jobs Act tax credits; the sponsor said the bill is intended to ensure large energy users contribute more to state and local revenues, while supporters and opponents debated competitiveness and community impacts. House Bill 406, on allowing insureds to choose their auto repair shop, and Senate Bill 347, a cleanup bill related to medical debt collection and personal property levies, were also presented without opposition in the hearing. House Bill 253, concerning who may receive letters testamentary or of administration, was described as a cleanup to align statute with existing practice. The committee approved the meeting minutes, but the transcript does not show final votes on the bills discussed.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Feb 18th, 2026 at 08:00 am

Environment, Energy & Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • Emissions exempt from coverage in the program include, in part, emissions from the combustion of aviation
  • Emissions exempt from coverage in the program include, in part, emissions from the combustion of aviation
  • The bill also exempts from covered emissions in the program emissions associated with lubricants, as
  • We also appreciate that lubricants are now exempted under this bill under the CCA.
  • This will align us with California, which also exempts lubricants.
Bills: HB2426 , HB2606
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Environment & Energy Jan 19th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Environment & Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • It explicitly exempts certain additional categories of vessels from meeting these sulfur requirements
  • And third, it repeals the coal sales and use tax exemptions. Happy to take any questions.
  • Or is it because it's exempt from the CCA or CEDA? Were you counting it? Representative Ybarra.
  • Or is it because it's exempt from the CCA or CEDA? Were you counting it?
  • The fee would be $3 for tires that are rated for a weight...
Bills: HB2421 , HB1652 , HB2367 , HB2284
MD

Maryland 2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session, 4/8/2026 #1

Maryland Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is a local bill that authorizes Baltimore City to exempt or partially exempt an economic development
  • </c> that authorizes Baltimore City to exempt that authorizes Baltimore City to exempt or<01:08:18.159
  • or partially exempt an economic or partially exempt an economic development<01:08:19.920><c> project<
  • </c><01:55:38.080><c> It's</c> clear it's a federal tax exemption.
  • It was just moved. >> So it is exempt from taxes. >> Yes, it was exempt from taxes. >> It's also exempt
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

CPN Public Hearing 02-14-2025

Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:
  • They can intercede at any time then, even though you have exemption from that? That is correct.
  • They can intercede at any time then, even though you have exemption from that? That is correct.
  • Right now, well, I think in 2023 the number was gross written premiums through all of our captives.
  • Right now, well, I think in 2023 the number was gross written premiums through all of our captives.
  • </c><00:30:07.840><c> to</c> now we make we make exemptions to now we make we make exemptions to certain
Summary: The committee heard several insurance and condominium-related bills. SB 1137 would require insurers to notify policyholders of approved rate changes within 30 days and at least 30 days before the effective date. The Insurance Division supported the bill, while testimony focused on condominium master policies and whether the notice period would be enough for associations to respond to rate increases. The division said the bill would mainly affect admitted carriers, not surplus lines insurers that write many condominium master policies, and warned against limiting the nonadmitted market. SB 293, requiring sellers to disclose when USPS cannot deliver mail or packages to a residential property, was also heard with HAAI Realtors commenting. SB 752 would extend notice periods for cancellation or nonrenewal of property-casualty policies; the Attorney General’s Office raised concerns about contractual impairment and retroactive application. The committee also heard SB 575, which would allow authorized insurers to offer building and hurricane damage coverage for condominium buildings at a lower rate than prior surplus lines coverage. The Insurance Division stood on written testimony, and a condominium owner urged amendments to require a membership vote before such coverage changes, citing concerns about condominium self-governance. SP 1046 would require managing agents to notify unit owners and the Real Estate Commission when a condominium association fails budget and reserve reporting requirements. The Real Estate Commission said the bill was administratively workable as drafted but noted ambiguity over who counts as the “managing agent”; several testifiers opposed the measure, arguing it could disrupt the principal-agent relationship and impose legal judgment on nonlawyers, while others supported it. SP 150, dealing with captive insurance companies seeking exemption from examinations, drew the most detailed discussion. The Captive Insurance Council supported the bill as a way to reduce duplicative oversight and improve Hawaii’s competitiveness, while the Insurance Division opposed it as drafted, citing concerns about broad commissioner discretion, possible missed issues between exams, staffing shortages, and the need to preserve oversight. A committee member asked about a possible middle ground, including a shorter exemption period or limiting the bill to self-attestation companies; the division said it would need more information and that annual filings and approval requirements would still provide oversight. The committee also heard SP 212, which would require at least two Real Estate Commission members to be licensed engineers or architects; testimony included support and a concern about conflicts of interest among people who serve in multiple roles in the condominium and real estate sectors. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided, and the chair moved from one measure to the next after testimony and questions.