Bills: HB7892 , HR1352 , HB5408 , HR1140 , SB2 , HR1345

Keywords: identity fraud, FAFSA, higher education, financial aid, verification system, labor union, collective bargaining, first contract, initial contract, union certification, union recognition, National Labor Relations Act, NLRA, workplace organizing, labor arbitration, mediation, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, FMCS, binding arbitration, labor relations

Transcript Highlights:

• The FMC will continue to monitor the canal's pricing practices and consider broad reviews of Panama's
• the first half of 2024, U.S. importers and exporters expressed Panama Canal-related concerns to the FMC
• The FMC has statutory authority under the laws concerning foreign shipping practices to investigate and
• Since our meetings, the FMC has continued to monitor Panama's progress on this front and examined other
• Chairman Sola, given our enormous stake in the Canal's operation, do you believe Congress or the FMC

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• training we're working on in collaboration with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, or FMCS
• and</c><00:37:14.760><c> it's</c><00:37:14.960><c> called</c><00:37:15.319><c> path</c> service or fmcs
• staff to learn more full day with fmcs staff to learn more about<00:37:22.440><c> the</c><00:37:22.640
• 00:37:29.119><c> was</c><00:37:29.280><c> to</c><00:37:29.800><c> help</c> concept concept used by fmcs
• was to help concept concept used by fmcs was to help parties<00:37:30.400><c> move</c><00:37:30.640>

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• to reemphasize that we're really looking to increase the pool of interest arbitrators by adding the FMCS
• arbitrators<00:05:31.360><c> by</c><00:05:31.520><c> adding</c><00:05:31.680><c> the</c><00:05:31.840><c> FMCS
• </c><00:05:32.479><c> as</c> arbitrators by adding the FMCS as arbitrators by adding the FMCS as another

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Summary: The Labor and Technology Committee heard testimony on several bills, mostly related to workers’ compensation, labor relations, retirement, and employment exemptions. HB 423 would clarify selection of certified rehabilitation providers and require automatic approval of vocational rehabilitation services when likely needed for suitable gainful employment; the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations supported the bill but requested timeline amendments, including advancing the plan within 90 days of the initial evaluation and filing it with the employer, employee, and director within two days. HB 480 would let an attending physician request a functional capacity exam without employer permission and deem licensed occupational and physical therapists qualified to perform such exams; it drew support from the department, the Hawaii Insurance Council, and the Hawaii Medical Association. HB 162 would expand the pool of interest arbitrators for collective bargaining disputes by allowing the HLRB to request a list from FMCS as well as the ABA, and testimony from labor groups supported that change. HB 164 concerned indebtedness to the state and wage deductions; HGA supported it with comments, while the Department of Accounting and General Services raised concerns about the percentage structure but said it could implement the requested changes. The committee also heard HB 1152, which would permanently exempt three specialized Department of Taxation positions from civil service; the department supported the measure and said the positions are not currently civil service positions. HB 214 would allow certain retirees to work in school resource officer or investigator roles without losing retirement benefits, subject to conditions; ERS expressed concerns about shortening the required separation period from 12 months to 6 months and about uniform administration and cost implications, while the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Education supported the bill, and the Department of Law Enforcement asked to include its investigators as well. HB 874 would amend the Uniform Custodial Trust Act for child performers, requiring trust accounts for minors meeting certain earnings thresholds and making misuse of funds a fiduciary breach; SAG-AFTRA Hawaii, HGEA, the Hawaii State AFL-CIO, and the Hawaii Nurses Association supported it, and members discussed that enforcement would likely need further research, possibly through labor or the film office. HB 159 would cap the civil service exemption for personal service contracts with qualified community rehabilitation programs at $850,000 in the aggregate per private person or entity; United Public Workers, HGEA, and the Hawaii State AFL-CIO supported it. No final votes were taken because the committee lacked quorum. After recessing and reconvening, the chair announced that decision-making on the agenda would be deferred to Wednesday, March 12 at 3:01 p.m. in Room 224.

Transcript Highlights:

• bad actor posed as Tanager Logistics to steal shipments, even added their counterfeit company to the FMC
• FMC and DOT numbers on a black market.
• And equipped FMC. CSA to be more helpful, or other authorities?

Committees: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee , Senate Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports

Keywords: Committee, Transportation, aviation safety, confirmation, Lieutenant Commander, Deputy Secretary, Bradbury, Hafensteiner, aircraft incidents

Summary: The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation convened to consider the promotion of Coast Guard Lieutenant Samuel Hafensteiner to Lieutenant Commander and the nomination of Stephen Bradbury as Deputy Secretary of Transportation. The meeting highlighted ongoing concerns regarding aviation safety, especially in light of recent aircraft incidents. Members discussed the critical need for knowledgeable leadership within the Department of Transportation to address these safety challenges effectively. Mr. Bradbury's background as a former General Counsel of the Department was presented as a strong asset for the role he seeks.

Transcript Highlights:

• :18:37.600><c> the</c> the pool if you will by including the the pool if you will by including the fmcs
• <c> another</c><00:18:39.520><c> source</c><00:18:39.799><c> of</c><00:18:40.000><c> potential</c> fmcs
• as another source of potential fmcs as another source of potential arbitrator<00:18:40.880><c> that's

Committee: House Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• FMCS, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, went from approximately 212 employees to, I believe
• The agencies that were part of this, again, were FMCS, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
• employees to you know, I think it was 15 employees to zero.<01:12:40.000><c> Um</c><01:12:40.400><c> FMCS
• Um FMCS, Federal Mediation zero.
• Um FMCS, Federal Mediation Consiliation<01:12:42.480><c> Service</c><01:12:42.800><c> went</c><01:12:

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing on the State of Hawaii’s affirmative litigation against the federal administration, with no public testimony. Attorney General Lopez and deputies said the office’s goal is to enforce the rule of law, not make partisan points, and noted that Hawaii is involved in 27 ongoing cases. They grouped the cases into four broad areas: immigration, funding freezes and grant terminations, federal agency dismantling/reductions in force, and protecting elections, health, and safety. Several immigration-related cases were discussed in detail. These included a challenge to the federal sharing of Medicaid data with DHS for immigration enforcement, a similar challenge to USDA’s demand for SNAP applicant and recipient data, and litigation over immigration-enforcement conditions attached to federal grants. The office also described the birthright citizenship executive order, saying it conflicts with the 14th Amendment and Supreme Court precedent; lower courts granted preliminary relief, and the U.S. Supreme Court later addressed only the scope of nationwide injunctions, not the merits. In the Department of Transportation case, the court granted a preliminary injunction against the “Duffy directive,” finding the immigration conditions lacked statutory authority, were arbitrary and capricious, and violated the Spending Clause and APA. The briefing also covered multiple funding disputes. In the education funding freeze case, the Department of Education and OMB withheld about $6 billion in formula funds, including roughly $33 million for Hawaii; after suit was filed, the funds were released. Other cases included the termination of over $11 billion in public health grants, which affected Hawaii Department of Health grants, the NIH indirect cost cap case, and NIH grant terminations tied to DEI, transgender issues, and vaccine hesitancy. The speakers said some cases have already resulted in preliminary or permanent injunctions, while others remain on appeal or are still being litigated.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it authorizes the fiscal years 2026 and 2027 appropriations for the FMC at the levels that are
• ><c> be</c><03:42:10.319><c> a</c><03:42:10.560><c> vigilant</c><03:42:11.279><c> protector</c> the FMC
• needs to be a vigilant protector the FMC needs to be a vigilant protector for<03:42:12.479><c> our</
• The Save Our Seas Act, FMC governing.
• The Save Our Seas Act, FMC reauthorization,<03:57:15.600><c> and</c><03:57:15.760><c> this</c><03:57:

Bills: HB3187 , SB284 , HB2400 , HR1098 , HB3872 , HB3176 , HB3620 , HB2815 , SB2878 , HR1045 , HR972 , HB2876 , HB3962 , HB4183 , SB216 , HR923 , HB5457 , HB5810 , SB222

Keywords: Perry County Arkansas, Perryville, Forest Service land, federal land conveyance, quitclaim deed, public purpose, education, youth development, land transfer, property disposal, reversion clause, CERCLA, environmental liability, historic preservation, National Historic Preservation Act, USDA, federal property, county government, public use, surplus land

Transcript Highlights:

• arbitrators may contain arbitrators from both the AAA, or the American Arbitration Association, and the FMCS
• arbitrators may contain arbitrators from both the AAA, or the American Arbitration Association, and the FMCS

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Summary: The Committee on Labor and Technology heard several labor and personnel measures. Senate Bill 1567 would require the Department of Human Resources Development to conduct a comprehensive review of the executive branch classification and compensation system and allow it to contract with a third party outside normal procurement rules. Director Brana Hashimoto testified in support, saying the state has more than 1,400 classes of work and limited staff to keep the system current; she said outside vendor help and market data are needed to update class specifications, minimum qualifications, and pay structures. She noted the project scope and timeline would depend on funding, and said the governor had approved about $1 million for the effort. Members asked about vendor scope, comparisons to the private sector and other public employers, consolidation of obsolete classes, and whether the exemption from procurement rules would speed the work. The committee also heard Senate Bill 326 on defense of state employees, with testimony in support from HGEA, the Hawaii State AFL-CIO, and the Hawaii State Teachers Association. Senate Bill 337 would expand the pool of interest arbitrators used in collective bargaining disputes by allowing the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to request a list from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and to use arbitrators from both FMCS and the American Arbitration Association; HGEA supported the bill, saying the broader pool would improve selection and address communication issues. Senate Bill 1233 would create a State Internship and Workforce Development Program within DeHerd. The University of Hawaiʻi, HGEA, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, and the Chamber of Commerce supported it. DeHerd said the program could help place interns into vacancies and convert them to civil service jobs, but said it would need about five FTE and roughly $330,000 in salaries to administer a program serving about 50 to 75 interns at a time; members questioned whether the positions could be filled and whether the program could proceed without added resources. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1359, which would increase the employer-based composite monthly contribution to the Hawaii EUTF Benefits Trust Fund beginning in January 2026 and then tie future increases to Medicare Part B premium changes with a lag. The EUTF administrator testified, and a member noted the measure resembled a bill that had died in conference the prior year. Senate Bill 1454 would give the Labor and Industrial Relations director authority to issue wage payment violation orders, establish penalties and appeals, and broaden the definition of wage; the department supported it, explaining it would align procedures under chapter 387 with existing chapter 388 enforcement and make investigations easier. Finally, the committee moved through a series of collective bargaining cost-item bills for various bargaining units and related entities, with testimony generally in support from Budget and Finance, HGEA, UH, HHSC, UPW, and other unions and associations. One amendment request was to include bargaining units 1 and 10 in the temporary hazard pay funding bill, and the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association noted its airport firefighters unit was still in arbitration and would provide final numbers later.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, where this TIF district is is the old site of FMC or United Defense or BAE Systems, whatever it is
• So, where this TIF district is is the old site of FMC or United Defense or BAE Systems, whatever it is

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Relations Board, signed an executive order to end the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, FMCS

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development

Summary: The hearing focused on employment rights legislation, especially the Protect Labor Act (H. 2086/S. 1327), which would create state-level labor protections if federal private-sector labor law is weakened or struck down, and would also add protections such as bans on captive audience meetings, virtual elections, stronger misclassification rules, and protections for health care workers and immigrant workers. Supporters from the AFL-CIO, nurses, SEIU, UAW, building trades, teachers, graduate workers, and policy groups argued that the bill is needed because of Trump administration actions, Project 2025, and threats to the NLRA and NLRB. They described the bill as a “trigger” law meant to preserve organizing and bargaining rights in Massachusetts if federal protections disappear or if the NLRB declines jurisdiction over certain workers. The committee also heard testimony on bills to restore a limited right to strike for certain public employees (H. 2078/S. 1311 or related filings). Supporters, including a representative, educators, and labor advocates, said the current ban on public employee strikes weakens good-faith bargaining and leaves workers without leverage to secure wages, staffing, and student supports. They argued that strikes are used as a last resort and that legalizing them under defined conditions would improve negotiations and better reflect the realities of recent teacher strikes in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Municipal Association opposed the strike bills, warning that public employee strikes are already prohibited by state law, that strikes disrupt students and communities, and that local governments face budget constraints under Proposition 2 1/2. The committee also took testimony on paid family and medical leave bills (S. 1351/H. 2110 and S. 1352), which would improve notice to workers, expand public reporting on claim denials and demographics, and fix a technical definition issue that has limited access for some covered contract workers. Witnesses from legal aid, policy organizations, and a small business owner said the changes would improve transparency, equity, and access to benefits without imposing major burdens on employers. Additional testimony supported a railroad sick leave bill and a private construction transparency bill, with Senator Keenan urging favorable action on both. No votes were taken during the hearing; members asked questions, and several witnesses and legislators requested favorable reports on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• We recently spent a day with FMCS staff to learn more about that program and ways we can offer this to
• The initial concept by FMCS was to help parties move forward after a highly contentious bargaining experience

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• He drove a school bus for the Kings Mountain Schools, worked for decades at Foot Mineral and FMC Lithium

Bills: HR1286 , HR1263 , HB1578 , HR1364 , HB2201 , HB1823 , HB1815 , HR1147 , HR217 , HB1701 , HB1453 , HR1223

Keywords: trade policy, tariffs, trade enforcement, workers rights, labor standards, environmental standards, Buy America, domestic content, offshoring, manufacturing jobs, factory closures, family farmers, small business, supply chains, dumping, countervailing duties, antidumping, trade agreements, USMCA, investor-state dispute settlement