Transcript Highlights:

• Army Corps of Engineers. Page 7.
• We have special counsel on Army Corps of Engineers contracts. engineers who are working on the design
• Of course, Tom Ramsey was already in full swing being an engineer himself.
• It's to complete the engineering design of a certain segment.
• And I don't consider an engineer a consultant. That's a little different.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the city engineer for the city of Winona.
• engineering. They have to hire somebody. engineering. They have to hire somebody.
• He is here our water district engineer.
• I am an engineer engineer engineer that<01:21:19.320> specializes<01:21:20.120> in<01:21
• Slick: appoint the engineer and oversee the process.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:53.680> and jobs when it comes to engineering and jobs when it comes to engineering
• :52.880> we<00:15:53.199> have for our engineering positions, we have for our engineering
• Maui is a good these engineering jobs.
• , which are unlicensed engineers, right?
• three positions which are engineer three positions which are unlicensed<00:17:15.839> engineers

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several personnel and employment bills. SB 2119 would require the state or counties to reimburse public officers and employees for approved work-related travel costs within 30 days; testifiers from the State Procurement Office, UPW, HGA, the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, and others supported the measure, citing delayed reimbursements. SB 3131 would update state position titles by changing “private secretary” to “executive assistant” and “secretary” to “administrative assistant” where applicable, and it drew support from DEED and comments from the State Librarian. SB 3069 would permanently exempt a limited number of specialized positions in DAGS Public Works and the Comptroller’s office from civil service; DAGS, HCDA, and DEED supported it, while UPW opposed it. Committee members questioned whether the exemption should be narrower and whether the positions should be consultants or actual employees, and DAGS said the roles were narrowly tailored, highly specialized, and intended to help manage complex projects such as Aloha Stadium, the convention center, and other major redevelopment work. The committee then heard SB 3180, which would repeal the limit on temporary employment in a single position for two 89-day terms. Testimony included support from the Procurement Office, DOE, DHRD, the State Librarian in opposition, UPW written comments, HGA, the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii, and others. Discussion focused on whether the bill was needed to address abuse of repeated 89-day hires and whether it would affect recruitment and career pathways. Finally, SB 2137 would allow departments, divisions, and agencies to assume hiring and recruitment functions from DHRD under certain conditions. DHRD opposed the bill, saying existing law already allows delegation and that agency-level recruitment often lacks the expertise and staffing to do the work; UHPA supported it, and UPW submitted written support. In questioning, DHRD said it had reduced backlog and was now current on screening, while also offering programs like Operation Hire Hawaii for faster agency-led recruitment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Civil engineering has drawn up... A planning period.
• The engineering is done. The archaeological surveys are done.
• our water engineers.
• I'm Jim McClish with Horner-Schiffrin Engineers.
• We did extensive pilot work that engineers normally do to prove theory.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , the board of professional engineers, the board of professional engineers, architects,<00:08:53.680
• , board of professional engineers, board of professional engineers, architects,<00:11:25.760>
• , the Board of Professional Engineers, the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects,<00:47:10.720
• /c> professional engineers, architects, professional engineers, architects, surveyors,<00:47:19.920><
• ,<00:47:40.720> Architects, Professional Engineers, Architects, Professional Engineers, Architects

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection held a confirmation hearing on a long list of nominees to state boards and commissions. Early nominees included David Padilla to the State Boxing Commission, Steven Pine to the Board of Dentistry, Deborah McMmen to the Board of Acupuncture, Tiffany Lyn Hmel and Gabriel Aay to the Board of Veterinary Medicine, Nathan Eslin to the Cable Advisory Committee, John Takitani and Tony Lao to the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects, John Arbles to the State Board of Public Accountancy, and later nominees to the Board of Psychology, Board of Pharmacy, Hawaii Medical Board, Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Board of Chiropractic, Board of Physical Therapy, Board of Private Detectives and Guards, and the Real Estate Commission. Most nominations were for terms expiring in 2027, 2028, or 2029, with one Real Estate Commission term expiring in 2026. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support. DCCA and the relevant boards or commissions generally stood on written testimony supporting each nominee, and many individual supporters also testified, including professional associations, industry representatives, and community members. Several nominees briefly addressed the committee, expressing appreciation and interest in continuing or beginning service. The committee asked a few questions on some nominations, especially about the Real Estate Commission and the Board of Private Detectives and Guards, where members discussed condominium-related complaints, association practices, and whether the board could do more to assist security personnel; the nominee said staffing and authority limits constrained additional training or oversight. For the Real Estate Commission, members also asked about broader housing and market conditions, and the nominee said inventory shortages and housing supply issues remained a major concern. No opposition testimony or contentious votes were described in the transcript. The chair repeatedly asked whether there were questions or additional testimony, and after each nominee the committee generally moved on without objection. The hearing was focused on receiving testimony and evaluating the nominees for later confirmation rather than taking final action during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have one engineer in those positions.
• And so for that person, the one engineer that we do have is a mechanical engineer.
• And we actually got lucky with the gentleman that we do have as an engineer.
• What are you doing about the civil engineer and the—what's the other one you needed? Electrical.
• I mean, it's significantly too low for a qualified licensed engineer.

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met for two workshops. The first focused on vacant positions in the Division of Early Learning and the Department of Education. Committee members reviewed vacancy reports, including long-vacant positions and positions that had received discretionary pay adjustments. Division and department officials said many vacancies were being filled, advertised, or under review, but acknowledged persistent recruitment and retention problems, especially for engineering, legal, finance, IT, and other specialized roles. Members questioned whether some long-vacant positions were still necessary, whether overtime and workload were being affected, and whether outside contracting, cross-training, combining positions, or eliminating some vacancies could help. Officials said they were considering those options and noted that hiring has become slower and more difficult since the pandemic, with lower applicant volume and more competition from other agencies and private employers. The second workshop addressed draft legislation related to school choice scholarships and the FEFP. The chair said the committee’s prior hearings raised concerns about student identification numbers, cross-checking between districts and scholarship organizations, duplicated FTE reporting, delayed district payments, scholarship payment timing, and inconsistent data sources. She said the proposed language is intended to standardize scholarship processing and improve accuracy and efficiency while preserving the long-standing FEFP principle that funds follow the student. She also said funding scholarship students below the line would not solve the identified problems and could create disparities. The draft would align processing for the Family Empowerment Scholarship and Florida Tax Credit Scholarship programs and would reduce add-on weights by 50% while keeping the current policy structure. No votes were taken. The chair invited further comments and said the draft budget and legislation would continue to be refined before rollout. The meeting adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Commercial truck engines today are among the most complex and highly engineered products on the road.
• I represent the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association, and EMA manufactures engines and EMA manufactures
• engines and trucks for commercial vehicles and specialty vehicles.
• Our engineering teams select the exact repair they'll need.
• My car body won't last longer than my engine; my engine will last, but my car body won't.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure heard testimony on a wide range of bills involving consumer protection, auto regulation, alcohol licenses, and professional licensure. A major focus was legislation to require a one-hour domestic violence awareness training for salon and cosmetology licensees (H.323/S.200), supported by District Attorney Marion Ryan, law enforcement, and a salon industry witness who described the program’s value in identifying and helping victims. The committee also heard strong support from the Attorney General’s office for auto consumer protection legislation (S.228/H.379) that would expand used-car warranty protections, extend the Lemon Law return period to seven days after receipt of the vehicle, raise the mileage cap to 200,000 miles, and increase dealer surety bonds to $50,000. Independent dealers opposed those changes, arguing they would burden small businesses and that dealer education, not expanded liability, was the better solution. The committee also took testimony on bills related to vehicle financial products and repair information. A trade association supported GAP waiver legislation (H.4188/S.281), saying it would create clear consumer protections and standard disclosures. On right-to-repair and heavy-duty vehicle service information (S.266), engine and truck manufacturers supported an exemption for commercial vehicles, while others argued that releasing service data to the general public could create safety, cybersecurity, and emissions risks. The committee then heard extensive testimony on auto dealer franchise and warranty reimbursement legislation (S.201/H.406), with dealer groups supporting changes to warranty labor reimbursement and manufacturer groups opposing them as costly and unnecessary. Manufacturers from GM, Volvo, Toyota, Hyundai, Mazda, and others said their current time-study and appeals processes already compensate dealers fairly and that the bill would raise costs for consumers. In addition, the committee heard testimony on H.333, which would move auto damage appraiser licensing from the Division of Insurance to the Division of Occupational Licensure. Collision repair advocates supported the change, saying the current board structure leads to repeated dismissals of complaints and lacks accountability, while emphasizing that the bill is intended to protect consumers and ensure proper repair reimbursement. The hearing also included testimony in support of a local alcohol license petition for Westwood and a separate local alcohol measure for a town grant license. At the end of the hearing, the chairs announced that all docketed bills had been heard, noted that a joint poll would be held on H.4184, and the committee voted to adjourn by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• , engineering, nursing, whatever.
• Oh, let me go look under engineering. Oh, only 10 guys would go here, then they can do that.
• , engineering, nursing, whatever.
• Oh, let me go look under engineering. Oh, only 10 guys would go here, then they can do that.
• > engineering<00:29:24.159> nursing department it is engineering nursing department it

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education met on March 11 and began with House Bill 442, which would appropriate funds to the University of Hawaiʻi system for nursing programs. University of Hawaiʻi representatives testified in strong support, and several additional supporters submitted testimony. Members asked about a similar Senate measure, and the witness confirmed the university supported that bill as well. No opposition or vote was recorded on HB 442 during the excerpt. The committee then heard House Bill 1169, a housekeeping measure concerning the University of Hawaiʻi Conference Center revolving fund. Testimony explained that the bill would consolidate existing Conference Center statutes into one centralized fund statute and allow campuses to use the fund more broadly. Members raised no questions, and no vote was taken in the excerpt. House Bill 185, which would establish a plant-based building materials working group, drew the most discussion. The Department of Agriculture said it supported the intent but wanted baseline research before a larger working group was formed. Supporters argued the measure could help develop a homegrown industry using bamboo, hemp, and other plant materials, create green jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Several members questioned whether a formal working group was necessary and whether the work could be done without new legislation. The University of Hawaiʻi later estimated the bill’s requested work would cost about $150,000 over two years to analyze crop options and report findings. The final measure discussed in the excerpt was House Bill 1320, which requires the University of Hawaiʻi to collect, analyze, and publicly report graduate outcome data and develop a Graduate Outcomes Dashboard. University officials said they already use some data sources but lack a dedicated data-visualization specialist and need additional capacity to consolidate and present the information. Members questioned the need for new positions and funding, arguing the university should use existing resources and that students already have many ways to explore careers. Supporters responded that the dashboard would help students and the state better understand postgraduate outcomes, workforce needs, and program value. No final action or vote was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:42:09.520> take So um we'll have a state engineer take So um we'll have a state engineer
• I am the Wyoming<00:42:35.760> State<00:42:36.000> Engineer. Wyoming State Engineer.
• by the state engineer. Is that correct? by the state engineer. Is that correct?
• And to me there's a big difference. state engineer to have. state engineer to have.
• the openness that the state engineers the openness that the state engineers office,<01:39:14.800

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We used $36,333 of that to do an engineering study to determine the condition of the building.
• , we're asking to use that to correct some of the deficiencies that were discovered during that engineering
• We used $36,333 of that to do an engineering study to determine the condition of the building.
• $36,333 of that to do an engineering $36,333 of that to do an engineering study<00:11:55.519>
• were discovered during that engineering were discovered during that engineering study<00:12:19.040>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Capital Project Overview Committee approved the February 24 minutes and then voted to confirm Senator Mark Maki as vice chair. The committee next took up DAS request CAP 25004, which sought permission to use the remaining $713,667 from a $7 million appropriation for the purchase of 25 Hall Street to address deficiencies identified in an engineering study. DAS explained the building was bought for $6.25 million after the study revealed issues, and the funds would be used first for the most urgent repairs, especially the roof. In response to questions, DAS said the roof estimate was about $560,000, with other estimated needs including a skylight at $288,000, plumbing at $59,000, HVAC at $325,000, and electrical work at $547,000; the committee approved the request. The committee then considered CAP 25005, another DAS request to transfer $221,632 from five completed capital projects to the Hillsborough County South cell block renovation project. DAS said the project had been identified years earlier, had only recently entered design, and now appeared likely to cost more than the original appropriation because of inflation and delay. Senator Lang asked whether the transfer would be enough, and DAS responded that there was no final estimate yet but they hoped to engineer the project to fit the available funds. The committee approved the transfer. Later, the committee welcomed Senator Maki, who accepted the vice chair position. Under other business, members discussed a prior proposal in HB 2 that would have changed reporting from quarterly to annual; the committee was told the amendment had been made so that change would not go forward, and that the relevant section remained in HB 25 because it corrects capital budget language in multiple places. The committee set its next meeting for June 30 at 9:00 a.m. and requested that the Liquor Commission attend to discuss the 90/95 sale of property. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we hire professional engineers to take care of that part of it.
• So, we hire professional engineers to take care of that part of it.
• So, we hire professional engineers to take care of that part of it.
• So uh there's a lot of architectural engineering firms that don't touch that work.
• So uh there's a lot of architectural engineering firms that don't touch that work.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved contracts 98, 99, and 100 on a roll call vote, with Chairman Douglas voting no but the items still passing. It then took up a Kentucky Department of Tourism contract involving the United Kingdom, France, and Germany/Austria/Switzerland markets. Tourism officials said the state has had similar contracts since 2013, that international visitors spend about six times more per day than domestic travelers, and that the effort supports marketing, public relations, and familiarization trips. The committee approved that contract as well, with Chairman Douglas voting yes after expressing support for tourism promotion. Next, the committee reviewed two Finance Cabinet facilities and support services items involving engineering and architectural services for a specialized lab expansion project. Members discussed why the design work was expensive, and the cabinet explained that the project’s pathogen-related complexity required specialized firms. Chairman Douglas said he believed some architectural and engineering reimbursement rates were too high and should be reexamined, but the committee still approved the items by roll call. The committee then heard from the Attorney General’s office and the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission on an MOA related to substance use disorder funding. Senator Meredith asked how the commission’s work coordinated with behavioral health programs, and staff explained that the commission allocates funds based on applications and includes relevant state officials. The contract was approved. After that, the committee considered behavioral health items: one new 988 chat-and-text contract to expand Kentucky-based crisis response coverage, and a Voices of Hope amendment that doubled funding to continue services into the next fiscal year. Officials said the 988 contract would move more chats and texts in-state, and that the Voices of Hope increase reflected continuation of SAMHSA-funded services; both were approved. Finally, the committee reviewed DCBS contracts, including a food insecurity survey contract with a Kentucky nonprofit and a Building Bridges Initiative training contract. Members questioned whether the food survey group’s advocacy role created a conflict, but DCBS said the organization was chosen for its statewide network and that the cabinet would receive the raw data. For Building Bridges, DCBS said the program began in the fall and provides training and peer mentorship for residential child care providers, with results still too early to assess. Both items were approved. The last set of contracts, under the State Treasurer for the Kentucky Council on Developmental Disabilities, prompted questions about why the funding flowed through the treasurer’s office and about a sexuality-related capacity-building initiative. Staff explained the treasurer serves as the designated state agency for federal DD Act funds, and that the sexuality initiative is part of a broader five-year plan focused on self-advocacy, system change, and capacity building; the committee then moved to approve those contracts as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've met with lots of county engineers, city engineers, and MnDOT.
• <00:53:52.480> Association Minnesota County Engineers Association Minnesota County Engineers
• engineering director. engineering director.
• Engineer City uh, city engineers. Engineer City uh, city engineers.
• have three of our county engineers have three of our county engineers participate<01:09:05.440><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Mary is requesting an additional $330,058 to cover a shortage in construction and engineering fees for
• In addition, their request ...and engineering fees for all three phases of their grant.
• I'm here for LDH engineering services. Oh, okay. Well, that's right, Steven, that's right.
• It's my understanding from the engineers that have been looking at this and trying to advise the city
• And do we know how far out the engineers are from having it ready?

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the April 16 minutes, and then took up several water-system funding and deadline matters. For Magnolia Plantation Water System, Division of Administration staff requested a long extension to complete plans, specifications, cost estimates, and matching-fund documentation for a wastewater treatment plant. After questions about the loan from LDH, the test well, and the approaching ARPA/state-fund spending deadline, members approved a shorter extension requiring plans and specifications by the end of the year, with the permit deadline remaining April 8, 2027. Members then considered St. Mary Parish Water and Sewer Commission No. 5’s request for an additional $619,850 to cover construction and engineering shortfalls and contingencies after a prior scope reduction. Staff explained the increase was tied to change orders and that the project was not expected to miss spending deadlines. The committee approved the additional funding. The committee also adopted revised phase two guidance to align emergency subfund rules with recently passed legislation, clarifying who may apply and the process for limited fiscal administrators and receiverships. Finally, members approved a $1.4 million emergency subfund request for the Tallulah water system to keep a temporary filtration skid in place while a limited fiscal administrator is appointed and a long-term fix is developed. The approval was made contingent on the appointment of the limited fiscal administrator, and staff said they would provide updated expenditure information and projections at the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• In Seattle, I am an aerospace engineer, mostly working as a systems engineer in the defense world.
• My background is in aerospace engineering.
• I spent most of my career as either a systems engineer, a chief engineer for major weapons programs,
• or as an engineering executive for a defense contractor.
• She's one of our lead test engineers there. For Patrick.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, Stantec is an engineering firm that helps the city of Rockford with engineering services and specifically
• He will Stantec, our city engineer.
• > engineering<00:04:58.280> services<00:04:59.400> and Rockford with engineering
• engineer in the room will correct me. engineer in the room will correct me.
• did the engineer want to add anything? did the engineer want to add anything? No?

Bills: HF4710, HF4055, HF3848, HF3989, HF4599, HF3767, HF3592, HF3575, HF3574, HF3543, HF4606, HF4489, HF3891, HF3438, HF3811, HF3400

Keywords: capital investment, water infrastructure, sewer systems, public funding, municipal development, Eveleth, wastewater treatment, state bonds, environmental compliance, infrastructure, bonds, economic development, local government, transportation, intersection improvements, Lake Elmo, HF4599, St. Joseph, Minnesota bonding bill, bond proceeds fund

Transcript Highlights:

• We're still waiting on final numbers from our engineer.
• At that point, engineering cost share wasn't eligible.
• Engineering, working with the Stutsman County Commission.
• Preliminary engineering report funding: we will refine that.
• Preliminary engineering report funding, we will refine that.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some doctoral programs in engineering, cybersecurity, programs, things that we think really contribute
• , software engineering, AI, cybersecurity, cyber analytics IT, information systems, data science, and
• While our traditional engineering degrees emphasize theories and concepts, we are preparing to launch
• an engineering technology degree to address the workforce gap in the region.
• This program will offer a practical educational path that focuses on applying engineering principles

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• you take that and translate That to something on earth and test that engine.
• One was the traditional test cell for engine MRO activities, which was RATO-CTS.
• So, you have an engine MRO test cell to test that engine before it goes back on the final aircraft that's
• But then you have the new engine manufacturing.
• Of that $5.4, we'd spent about $2 million on the new engine manufacturing facility.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have to make sure that we're considering more than just engineering approaches.
• We need to do the engineering things that we can do and work with the City of Albuquerque to do the engineering
• That there are engineering things that we can do.
• I think you all know that as non-engineers, we tend to think in the simplest terms.
• They are, you know, district engineers, ADEs... ...of engineering, ADEs of construction and maintenance

Transcript Highlights:

• Engineering and architects study to put two inches of overlay on?
• You know, and a lot of these pre-engineered buildings, etc., etc., etc. So...
• You know, in a lot of these pre-engineered buildings, et cetera, et cetera.
• A registered engineer, and a licensed contractor.
• We're not going to have six network engineers under... They don't need network engineers.

Keywords: 908, all