Bills: SB2278, SB2908, SB2987

Keywords: light pollution, outdoor lighting, fully shielded, Hawaii Revised Statutes, environmental protection, night sky, lighting fixtures, local control, exemptions, athletic facilities, wildlife conservation, Hawaiian culture, 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committees on Tourism and Economic Development and Technology heard several measures on February 12, 2026. HB 1950 would dedicate 15% of transit accommodations tax revenue to a new state-led marketing and branding special fund and require an annual tourism management plan. HTA and DBEDT supported the bill as providing predictable funding for marketing and tourism management, while the Tax Foundation of Hawaii opposed the special fund structure as limiting legislative flexibility. Members discussed the size of the allocation and whether a tourism emergency fund would still be needed; the bill later advanced with amendments that removed some provisions and blanked out the 15% figure for further discussion, and it passed with amendments. HB 2268 would add film production marketing and promotion to HTA’s powers. The governor’s office, HTA, the Hawaii Film Alliance, and several industry groups supported the measure, arguing that film and TV exposure drives tourism and generates significant spending and tax revenue, while one individual testified in opposition. In questions, HTA said it would use existing staff and did not have a separate cost estimate. The committee amended the bill to specify that film productions are primarily filmed in Hawaii and deferred the date to continue discussion; it then passed with amendments. The committee also heard HB 2156, which would raise filing thresholds for general excise tax and transit accommodations tax filers. The Department of Taxation said the change could increase administrative burden if more filers shift from mandatory electronic filing to paper filing, while the Tax Foundation noted the filing threshold issue is separate from e-filing requirements. The bill was moved forward with a deferred date. HB 1946, concerning time-share registration renewals and amendments, drew support from ARDA and other industry testimony, with no opposition noted; DCCA was said to be in talks with the industry. It was also advanced with technical amendments and a deferred date.

Bills: HB207, SB269, SB279, SB291, SB266

Keywords: cybersecurity, Office of Information Technology, data management, telecommunications, state government, emergency management, public awareness, promotional materials, education, state funding, Alabama State House, Montgomery, Legislative Council, demolition, state capitol, state capitol building, historic preservation, state property, inventory removal, fixtures

Bills: HB268, SB279, SB304, SB303, SB298

Keywords: lottery winnings, lottery prize, state lottery, income tax exemption, tax exemption, gambling, games of chance, prize proceeds, Alabama Department of Revenue, state income tax, tax relief, winnings, jackpot, lotto, Alabama State House, Montgomery, Legislative Council, demolition, state capitol, state capitol building

Bills: SB279, HB478, SB279, HB478

Keywords: Alabama State House, Montgomery, Legislative Council, demolition, state capitol, state capitol building, historic preservation, state property, inventory removal, fixtures, furnishings, reuse, recycling, upcycling, surplus property, public assets, legislative chambers, desk sale, chair sale, state auditor

Bills: HB2241, HB2316, HB1566, HB1926, HB1673, HB1948, HB2602, HB1598, HB2334, HB2451, HB2243

Keywords: renewable energy, income tax credit, solar energy, wind energy, low-income households, energy policy, lead materials, drinking water, public health, water infrastructure, safety regulations, HB1566, energy efficiency, LED lighting, light-emitting diodes, fluorescent bulbs, fluorescent fixtures, compact fluorescent lamps, CFL ban, mercury-free lighting

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a bill to expand the solar energy tax credit for single-family residential properties by removing certain cap amounts and raising the adjusted gross income limits for taxpayers to elect a refund of excess credits. The Hawaii State Energy Office and Department of Taxation both said they were standing on written testimony, while industry and advocacy groups largely supported the measure. Members questioned whether the income thresholds were set appropriately, how many taxpayers would be affected at different income levels, and how many would qualify for refundable treatment; Taxation said it did not yet have the requested numbers but was preparing a fiscal estimate. A major issue raised was drafting and administration: witnesses said the bill appears to apply differently to owner-purchased systems versus third-party leased systems, and Taxation said it likely could not easily verify household income for leased systems or cross-reference different taxpayers. Discussion also covered whether the credit should remain refundable, whether credits should be limited to amounts actually expended, and whether the bill should instead be structured to keep the credit with the system owner or lessor, with concerns about equity, market effects, and possible incentives to lease rather than buy. The committee then moved to HB 2316, which would align state restrictions on lead materials in drinking water infrastructure with federal Safe Drinking Water Act requirements. The Department of Health and other supporters testified in favor, and there were no questions from the chair. Next, HB 1566 on energy efficiency would require state agencies to use energy-efficient lighting, with the Hawaii State Energy Office providing technical assistance and a compliance survey prioritized for first responder facilities; testimony from state agencies and advocates was in support, and again there were no questions. For HB 1926 on Red Hill, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Board of Water Supply, and multiple organizations and individuals supported funding for remediation studies, environmental monitoring, groundwater research, independent testing, and a public dashboard, with DLNR emphasizing that decades of work remain necessary even after defueling and that the bill supports ongoing university and community partnerships. The committee then heard HB 1673 on landfill units. The Department of Health initially said it was in support but later corrected the record and stated it strongly opposes the measure, saying the bill would undo protections enacted last session that keep landfills out of areas over aquifers; the Board of Water Supply also opposed repeal of those protections, while the City and County of Honolulu supported the HD1 version that leaves siting decisions to the counties. Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi and the Energy Justice Network opposed the bill, arguing the original protections should remain and that the amended version had confused commenters; supporters of the original version urged restoring it and considering additional language on ash.

Transcript Highlights:

• So a fixture filing perfects a security interest in fixtures.
• So a fixture filing perfects a security interest in fixtures.
• You don't have to do the separate fixture filing.
• The fixture filing may no longer be effective. You have to track down the debtor.
• The fixture filing may no longer be effective. You have to track down the debtor.

Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee met as a subcommittee at first because a quorum was not yet present, then proceeded with bill presentations and later formal votes once enough members arrived. The chair reviewed committee procedures, including how to submit written testimony and rules for witnesses and conduct. The agenda included AB 771, AB 1507 on the consent calendar, and AB 1166. AB 771 by Assemblymember Massetto was presented as a technical fix to California’s Uniform Commercial Code. Supporters said it would allow a mortgage or deed of trust to serve as a fixture filing without requiring an exact match to the debtor’s ID, reducing duplicate filings, fees, and administrative burdens. There was no formal opposition, and the committee voted due pass. AB 1507 was then adopted on the consent calendar with a due pass recommendation. AB 1166 by Chair Valencia addressed debt settlement protections for small business commercial financing recipients by extending existing California debt settlement standards from consumer loans to business loans. Supporters, including the Responsible Business Lending Coalition and several financing providers, said the bill would curb harmful practices and align incentives, while still allowing debt settlement services. Members asked about the private right of action and statutory damages, and the bill was approved due pass. The committee later reopened the rolls for absent members, recorded additional aye votes, and adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current law, a mortgage or deed of trust can only serve as a fixture filing if the debtor's name
• It allows a mortgage or deed of trust to serve as a fixture filing. without requiring an exact ID name
• A fixture filing perfects a security interest in fixtures; they're not personal property.
• So, as was just explained, in 44 states, the mortgage or deed of trust itself can serve as a fixture
• The fixture filing may no longer be effective.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Escape Clauses leasing for these fixture Escape Clauses leasing for these fixture based<01:43:52.679>
• Chairman, and I'm happy to take questions. ...fixtures under RSA 33:7-e, so items that are not fixtures
• I noticed there's no description for the term fixtures.
• <01:51:28.199> of thing to me that becomes a fixture of thing to me that becomes a fixture
• <01:52:27.000> is so to expound on that a fixture is so to expound on that a fixture is something

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said he noticed there's no description for the term fixtures.
• <01:51:28.199> of thing to me that becomes a fixture of thing to me that becomes a fixture
• <01:52:27.000> is so to expound on that a fixture is so to expound on that a fixture is something
• So common law defines what a fixture is.
• <02:18:35.399> and equipment that becomes a fixture and equipment that becomes a fixture and

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Municipal and County Government Committee held public hearings on House Bill 471 and House Bill 373. HB 471 would create a temporary commission to study growth, traffic, planning, and land use issues in a group of southern New Hampshire towns, with possible recommendations on regional planning commission boundaries or coordination. Representative Perez said the bill was requested by Londonderry residents and local officials, and Eric Power of Brookline testified in support, saying the towns share corridor and development issues that cross regional planning commission lines. Several members questioned whether existing law already allows towns to form regional planning commissions under RSA 364:6, whether the bill should be broader, and whether the town list should include additional communities. The hearing closed with testimony counts reported as two in support and three opposed on remote sign-in, plus one opposed and one in support on the blue sheet. HB 373, sponsored by Representative Diane Powers, would revise RSA 41:11-a on town property leases. Powers said current law is too restrictive because leases over five years require repeated town votes, which she argued is impractical for long-term arrangements. She cited examples from Hampton and Brookline, including long-term road and property leases, and said she had found multiple similar cases. The bill would keep select board authority for leases under one year, allow a legislative body to authorize a specific longer lease by a three-fifths ballot vote, and preserve the existing five-year blanket leasing authority with a three-fifths vote, while keeping existing leases valid if authority is later rescinded. Eric Power testified in support, describing recurring lease renewals in Brookline and saying longer terms are needed for projects such as housing, cell towers, and solar arrays. Members asked about the change from a simple town vote to a three-fifths threshold and whether the bill duplicates existing mechanisms; Powers said the higher threshold was intended because the leases involve long-term commitments. No votes were taken during the hearing portion described.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:38.240> lumen<00:04:38.639> output<00:04:39.120> of<00:04:39.440> fixtures
• on lumen output of fixtures. on lumen output of fixtures.
• amendment to page 8, line 8 through 11 by replacing L with the following language: Outdoor light fixtures
• Outdoor light fixtures<00:13:39.040> for<00:13:39.279> airports,<00:13:39.839> highways
• ,<00:13:40.240> and fixtures for airports, highways, and fixtures for airports, highways,

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing covered three bills, all related to outdoor lighting or permitting. On SB 2278, which addressed light pollution and outdoor lighting standards, testimony was mixed: the University of Hawaiʻi and others raised concerns that the bill’s 4,000K color temperature standard and other provisions conflicted with dark-sky and wildlife-protection recommendations, while some groups testified in support. A lighting industry engineer also questioned how turtle-lighting provisions would apply in practice and urged a workable standard that balances safety, design, and wildlife concerns. On SB 2908, relating to permitting, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and several business groups testified, generally standing on written testimony or supporting the measure. Committee discussion focused on a proposed statewide permitting intake platform; the Office of Planning said the SPEED Task Force believed counties were better suited to handle permitting information, and members asked whether the appropriation was sufficient. The committee voted to pass SB 2908 with amendments, including a deferred effective date of July 1, 2050. On SB 2987, also relating to light pollution, the University of Hawaiʻi strongly supported the bill and proposed amendments to create campus lighting zones tailored to safety and foot traffic, while the Department of Land and Natural Resources stood on its comments and several other organizations testified in support or opposition. The chair said the committee would address business safety concerns by making technical and nonsubstantive amendments, exempting outdoor light fixtures for airports, highways, and harbors, and deferring the effective date to July 1, 2050. The committee then adopted the recommendation to pass SB 2987 with amendments and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The principal improvements are: A, to require full shielding of light fixtures; and B, to expand the
• There will be a new rate classification system for the types of light fixtures that might be available
• These fixtures are becoming more common and might be classified as LC2.
• It is sufficient as outdoor lighting fixtures on advertising signs on interstate and federal primary
• It says as of July 1st, However, when existing lighting fixtures are replaced, their replacements are

Transcript Highlights:

• And the language would read as follows: Paragraph parents to any equipment or fixture, and any line or
• wire that is within or carries electricity to the equipment or fixture.
• If the equipment or fixture is established or maintained for the use or benefit of the general public
• electricity to the equipment or fixture. electricity to the equipment or fixture.
• <00:06:32.720> is If the equipment or fixture is If the equipment or fixture is established

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Light fixtures and receptacles will be removed and replaced.
• Light fixtures and receptacles will be removed and replaced.
• > the<00:11:35.920> kitchen<00:11:36.160> and<00:11:36.320> surrounding fixtures
• in the kitchen and surrounding fixtures in the kitchen and surrounding areas<00:11:37.000> shall<
• piping replacement light fixtures piping replacement light fixtures recepticles<00:11:44.279>

Keywords: 00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:30 Approval of Minutes 00:59 Information Items 03:34 Finance and Admin Cabinet 12:31 KY Infrastructure Authority 21:47 Office of Financial Mgmt 23:27 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee first handled informational reports on several bond and lease matters, including school district and board of education debt-service items, upcoming revenue bond issues in Henderson and Jessamine counties, and three advertised lease-space requests for state agencies. Members also reviewed prior lease transactions that had not been approved in November and December; the Finance and Administration Cabinet later canceled and rebid the Harlan County lease and moved ahead with the Perry County lease modification. Additional information items included a Kentucky Communications Network Authority quarterly capital projects report and Eastern Kentucky University asset preservation revisions. The committee then heard from Deputy State Budget Director Janice Thomas on four action items. She reported a $2.85 million USDA-funded renovation at Kentucky State University’s Betty White Building, a $294,000 increase for the Kentucky School for the Deaf’s Middleton Hall renovation, and a $6.1 million restricted-funds scope increase for the KCTCS Science Building Expansion in Elizabethtown. Members asked about how often the statutory 15% increase authority is used for school dormitory and cottage projects and about the competitiveness of construction bids; Thomas said bids are typically competitive but recent estimates have been difficult because of higher material and equipment costs. The committee approved the three action items unanimously and also received a no-action report on a $3.918 million Corrections project to repair and replace the KCIW kitchen drain line. Next, the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority presented seven loans and grants, all of which the committee approved unanimously. The package included sewer and water projects for Frankfort, Sturgis, Scottsville, Morganfield, Western Pulaski County Water District, and Springfield, plus an emergency $5.487 million Kentucky Waters grant for Eddyville after a catastrophic sewer plant failure and weather-related emergency declarations. The projects covered wastewater interceptor and treatment upgrades, sewer collection rehabilitation, water transmission main installation, and planning/design work, with loan terms ranging from five to 30 years and interest rates from 0.5% to 2.25%. Finally, the committee considered a $38.4 million Kentucky Housing Corporation conduit issuance for a 322-unit multifamily rental project in Jefferson County. A member asked how the committee participates in the transaction, and staff explained that it is a conduit issuance and not state debt. The committee then moved to approve the issuance.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are times when leasing fixtures is financially more advantageous than bonding these fixtures.
• , equipment, any combination of fixtures, equipment, any combination of such<01:05:16.799> and
• Um, we think that this is just fixtures.
• This business about separating the fixtures from the, you know, equipment, I think, is also critical
• This business about separating the fixtures from the, you know, equipment, I think, is also critical

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Light fixtures and receptacles will be removed and replaced.
• Light fixtures and receptacles will be removed and replaced.
• accommodate the piping replacement light accommodate the piping replacement light fixtures<00:11:39.560
• > recepticles<00:11:40.160> will<00:11:40.320> be<00:11:40.440> removed fixtures
• recepticles will be removed fixtures recepticles will be removed replaced<00:11:41.240> a<00:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the January minutes and then received several informational reports on school district tax levies, revenue bonds, lease advertisements, and previously rejected lease transactions. Members were told that one rejected lease for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in Hardin County would be canceled and rebid, while a Perry County lease modification for the Energy and Environment Cabinet would proceed. The Kentucky Communications Network Authority also submitted its quarterly capital projects report, and Eastern Kentucky University reported revisions to asset preservation projects. Janice Thomas, Deputy State Budget Director, presented four capital project action items. These included a Kentucky State University Betty White Building renovation funded by USDA grant money, a Department of Education state schools dormitory and cottage renovation appropriation increase because bids exceeded estimates, a restricted-funds scope increase for the Elizabethtown CTC science building expansion, and a pool project report for the Department of Corrections’ KCIW kitchen drain line repair and replacement. Representative Petrie asked about how often the statutory authority for midstream project increases is used and whether bids are typically competitive; Thomas said the increases are used often when bids come in above estimates and that bids are generally competitive, though construction costs have been difficult to gauge. The committee unanimously approved the first three action items, and the KCIW project was reported with no action required. H. Sandy Williams of the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority then presented six loans and one emergency grant. The items included loans for Frankfort’s East Frankfort Interceptor wet weather facility project, Sturgis wastewater improvements, Scottsville inflow and infiltration work, Morganfield wastewater treatment plant planning and design, Western Pulaski County Water District transmission improvements, and Springfield water system planning and replacement work, plus an emergency Kentucky Waters grant for Eddyville following a sewer treatment plant failure and local emergency declarations. After no questions, the committee unanimously approved the seven KIA transactions. Chelsea Couch then presented a Kentucky Housing Corporation conduit issuance for $38.4 million to finance a multifamily rental project in Jefferson County; members asked how the committee participates and were told it was a conduit issuance rather than state debt. The committee approved that item. Finally, the committee heard an informational Turnpike Authority refunding issuance of about $53 million for present value savings, then approved four SFCC debt issues for Henderson, Pulaski, Scott, and Trimble counties to finance school renovations and construction. The meeting ended with notice of the next meeting date and location.

Transcript Highlights:

• Zengali, thank you for being here, for being such a fixture in this process. A fixture.
• Just a fixture. Go to work every day.
• Zengali, thank you for being here, for being such a fixture in this process. A fixture.
• Just a fixture. Go to work every day.

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the agencies under its jurisdiction and their current-year budgets. Chair Vicki Lopez welcomed members and staff, and each member briefly introduced themselves and identified areas of interest, with recurring themes including fiscal restraint, insurance regulation, revenue administration, condominium issues, and government efficiency. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s overall budget, about $3.1 billion, and noted major recent policy areas affecting the budget such as condominium legislation and emergency communications funding. Agency heads then presented high-level summaries of their missions and budgets. The Department of Revenue described property tax oversight, tax administration, and child support enforcement; the Department of Management Services reviewed state purchasing, telecommunications, fleet, state insurance, retirement, and digital services; DBPR highlighted licensing, enforcement, condominiums, and building code work; DFS covered insurance consumer services, risk management, unclaimed property, fire marshal functions, and criminal investigations; the Gaming Control Commission discussed pari-mutuel and tribal gaming oversight and enforcement; OIR explained insurer solvency and rate review; the Lottery emphasized education funding and record sales; OFR described regulation of banking, securities, lending, and money services; DOAH outlined administrative and workers’ compensation adjudication; PSC covered utility rate regulation and consumer complaints; PERC described labor relations and career service appeals; and FCHR summarized discrimination complaint investigations and outreach. Several members asked questions about utility returns, insurance regulation staffing, DMS’s state employee health plan deficit and prescription drug formulary management, agency recommendations for reducing regulatory burden, and state facilities usage. Responses generally emphasized that utility rates and insurer filings are determined through evidentiary and actuarial processes, that OIR has reduced vacancies but still seeks specialized staff and a Tampa office expansion, and that DMS acknowledged rising health plan costs and said the issue likely requires broader budget-level discussion. The chair also pressed multiple presenters to stay focused on agency operations and budgets rather than broader policy issues. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• the completion of our bill drafting system, IT system, and then the replacement of the lighting fixtures
• And then the replacement of the lighting fixtures, the hot spotlights, basically.
• No, this will be the replacement of the light fixtures.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The House Appropriations Government Operations Division met to consider House amendments to Senate Bill 2001, the budget for the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly. Representative Meyer and Legislative Council staff reviewed the House changes, which included higher lodging funding tied to a prior bill, an increase for North Dakota legislators’ forum dues, a transfer of $290,000 for public printing from the Secretary of State to Legislative Council, a $650,000 reduction tied to the nuclear energy study because that funding was already provided elsewhere, and a new section allowing legislative space on the 15th floor of the Capitol to be used for additional Legislative Council employees. John Bjornson explained the 15th-floor space proposal and said staff would work with Facility Management and CTE to address relocation needs and timing, with CTE’s move potentially delayed until after its busy school-year period if necessary. The committee then reviewed the Senate version of the bill in more detail. Staff walked through the Legislative Assembly budget items, including per diem and compensation adjustments, lodging and mileage estimates, IT and audio/video funding, and dues increases for national and state legislative organizations. Members asked about mileage assumptions and the emergency clause, and staff said the emergency language is standard and allows flexibility for transfers, carryovers, and other budget actions. The committee also reviewed the Legislative Council budget, including funding for 25 new FTEs, interim travel, IT costs, professional services, public printing, and one-time items such as equipment and term limits consulting, while the advanced nuclear energy consulting item was removed in the House version. After discussion, the committee adopted the House amendment to Senate Bill 2001 and then voted to do pass the bill as amended. Both motions passed on roll call, and the amended bill was sent to the full Appropriations Committee. Near the end of the meeting, Representative Paula gave notice that she would bring a separate amendment later on the Industrial Commission budget related to homelessness grant funding, noting it would not use SIF or general fund dollars.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:07:13.759> building of building materials, building of building materials, building fixtures
• ,<00:07:15.440> structural<00:07:15.919> components,<00:07:16.720> real fixtures
• , structural components, real fixtures, structural components, real property<00:07:17.520> improvements
• building thereof on building materials, building thereof on building materials, building fixtures
• ,<00:07:46.960> structural<00:07:47.520> components,<00:07:48.160> real fixtures

Bills: HB403, HB399, HB392

Keywords: criminal enterprise, database, law enforcement, data privacy, criminal justice, Lamar County, property auction, county commission, online auction, public notice, HB392, Lauderdale County, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, district attorney, chief assistant district attorney, assistant district attorney, assistant district attorneys, prosecutor, prosecutorial compensation, salary supplement

Transcript Highlights:

• in the same way that I lighting fixtures in the same way that I think<00:55:51.119> department
• But we need to keep moving forward in replacing those older fixtures with fully shielded downlight fixtures
• > light<01:00:47.520> fixtures<01:00:48.480> gradually<01:00:49.280> as<01
• :00:49.599> the uh down light fixtures gradually as the uh down light fixtures gradually as the
• Outdoor light fixtures shall be extinguished or dimmed by a minimum of 75% during curfew hours unless

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1790 HD1, which would require law enforcement and oversight agencies to collect and report data on stops, use of force, and complaints to the Hawaii Crime Lab, which would publish incident-level information and annual reports. Supporters, including the Office of the Public Defender, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the ACLU of Hawaii, Hawaii Justice Rising, and the Policing Project, said the bill would improve transparency, help identify disparities, and support better policy and accountability. OHA requested amendments to ensure Hawaiians are identified as a distinct category in the data, and the University of Hawaii’s Ashley Rubin said the Crime Lab would work with agencies to make implementation as seamless as possible. The Department of Law Enforcement supported the bill’s intent but asked for a longer timeline and culturally appropriate methodology, while HPD opposed the bill as written, saying it would require too many new data points, create a significant administrative burden, and rely on subjective perceptions of race and ethnicity; HPD also noted it is piloting an e-citation system that could help with data collection. Committee members questioned HPD about current manual processes and technology options. The chair reported 18 testimonies total: 15 in support, one in opposition, and two with comments, and no vote was taken in the excerpt. The committee then heard HB 1611 HD1, which would phase down the general excise tax on groceries and nonprescription drugs until a full exemption takes effect in 2034. The Department of Taxation offered technical recommendations, including clearer definitions for groceries and nonprescription drugs and a technical change regarding the county surcharge exemption. Supporters, including the Hawaii Public Health Institute and the Hawaii Food Industry Association, argued the GET on groceries is regressive and worsens food insecurity, especially for low-income households, and said the bill would provide needed relief. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered technical concerns, including a possible wholesale-tax enforcement issue once the exemption is fully phased in. The excerpt ends during testimony on HB 1611, with no final committee action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first year was planning, second year was construction, and the third year was fixtures and equipment
• The third year was fixtures and equipment. Follow-up. No, no, I think you weren't done. Oh, okay.
• It was planning, construction, and fixtures and equipment.
• The third year was fixtures and equipment. Follow up. No, no, I think you weren't done. Oh, okay.
• And fixtures and equipment. So you'd get your appropriation over a three-year period.

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee met to hear an overview of State University System finances from the Board of Governors and detailed budget presentations from Florida State University, the University of Central Florida, and the University of North Florida. The witnesses explained how university budgets are organized into fund categories such as education and general, contracts and grants, auxiliaries, local/designated funds, capital projects, and component units such as direct support organizations. They also described carry forward funds, the statutory reserve and spending-plan requirements, the PICO/HECO capital outlay process, and how universities use investment accounts, audits, and board oversight to manage restricted and unspent funds. The universities emphasized that most operating dollars are restricted to specific uses and that state support helps keep tuition low. Members asked about differences in funding levels among institutions, especially why FSU receives more funding than UCF despite lower enrollment. Officials said preeminence funding, performance funding, and special legislative appropriations explain much of the difference, and the Board of Governors noted that Florida now has four preeminent universities, with UCF nearing that status. Questions also focused on what happens to unspent carry forward money, how it is invested, and whether the Board of Governors or Legislature can require funds to be returned; officials said the money is invested conservatively, subject to board and audit oversight, and can roll forward under a detailed spending plan, though the Legislature can change funding levels. The committee also discussed capital projects, with members asking about delays, inflation, and whether more projects should be phased or funded faster; witnesses said PICO funds remain with the state until needed and are reimbursed as construction proceeds. A substantial portion of the discussion covered athletics, research, student fees, and endowments. The universities said athletics is generally expected to be self-supporting, though limited use of auxiliary or carry forward funds may be allowed for projects benefiting the broader student body. They also described the financial pressures from name, image, and likeness changes and new NCAA-related costs, and said institutions are planning for those changes now. On research, the universities explained sponsored research funding, indirect cost recovery, compliance obligations, and tech transfer, but did not provide specific commercialization revenue figures and said they would follow up. Members also asked about student fee increases, student input, counseling and wellness funding, and how housing costs affect affordability; the universities said student committees and boards review fees, and aid packaging is intended to keep student debt low. Endowments were described as being held in separate foundations/DSOs with independent investment committees and used mainly for scholarships, faculty support, and research.