Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:40.959> operational of federally regulated operational of federally regulated operational
• Thank you for your time and attention to this important legislation. Aloha.
• Thank you for your time and attention to this important legislation. Aloha.
• Thank you for your time and attention to this important legislation.
• Thank you for your time and attention to this important legislation. Aloha. Thank you.

Bills: SB2709, SB3154

Keywords: biosecurity, Department of Agriculture, quarantine, Akamai Arrival Program, importation regulations, pests control, plant health, animal health, compliance mechanisms, environmental review, transportation projects, NEPA, state sovereignty, federal compliance, streamlining, Hawaii Department of Transportation, 912, senate, all

Summary: The hearing began with SB 2709, which would require the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish rules to enforce the Okami arrival program and strengthen quarantine enforcement for plants, non-domestic animals, and microorganisms. The Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Hawaii Invasive Species Council supported the bill, as did DAB, saying it would improve biosecurity and make some provisions mandatory rather than optional. Alaska/Hawaiian Airlines supported the goal but raised concerns about language changing inspections from “may” to “shall” for aircraft, warning of possible federal preemption and operational conflicts unless the bill is clarified to align with federal aviation safety, security, and operational requirements. Committee members questioned DAB about inspection timing, scope, and compliance; DAB said the measure is intended to increase enforcement, improve form completion rates toward a 90% goal, and expand beyond airlines to other entry modes, while also noting plans to restore detector dog use and improve software/AI tools for processing forms. Decision-making on SB 2709 was deferred to February 17 at 3:02 p.m. in Room CR229. The committees then took up SB 3154, an administration measure authorizing the Department of Transportation to assume certain National Environmental Policy Act responsibilities for highway, rail, public transportation, and multimodal projects, with the aim of streamlining environmental review. DOT supported the bill and explained that it would allow the department to work directly with federal resource agencies such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife and SHPO rather than routing everything through federal highways. After brief discussion, the Committee on Transportation voted to pass SB 3154 with technical amendments, and the AEN committee followed with the same recommendation; the measure was adopted with five votes in favor. A later portion of the transcript shifted to SB 2374 on the blue economy. DBED said it supported the concept but noted that it already sits on many working groups and would need resources if a new working group is created. DBED suggested the committee could instead request research through a letter or memo, and said agencies including ADC, HTDC, and Agriculture had already begun internal discussions. Testimony in support came from IMUA Alliance, Hawaii Food Policy, and others, emphasizing the potential for blue economy ventures to support survivors, align with climate and cultural goals, and create economic opportunity. No final vote on SB 2374 appears in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• File 45508 would allow the importation File 45508 would allow the importation of<00:56:47.839>
• <00:57:57.440> and the border to elk importation and the border to elk importation and eliminated
• relaxed importation legislature relaxed importation requirements<00:59:11.520> for<00:59:11.760
• So there are exceptions to statute prohibiting importation.
• So there are exceptions to statute prohibiting importation.

Bills: HF2103, HF4508

Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, elk, cervidae, cervid importation, chronic wasting disease, CWD, animal health, livestock, wildlife disease, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, state veterinarian, zoo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA

Transcript Highlights:

• Why go the extra step to actually take off those regulations?
• <01:03:00.440> animals licensed exhibitor of regulated animals licensed exhibitor of regulated
• I think that's really important.
• This bill is an important bill, I think.
• this and it is really really important this and it is really really important issue<01:43:28.320

Bills: HF47, HF434, HF1503, HF1702

Keywords: telecommunications, installation, certification, safety, underground utilities, HF434, cervidae, deer, elk, moose, chronic wasting disease, CWD, wildlife importation, animal health, biosecurity, zoo, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA, USDA exhibitor, species survival plan

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no can't be imported.
• imported and sold at nurseries. imported and sold at nurseries.
• The regulations were from the 50s.
• <01:03:34.240> of Hawaii to prevent the importation of Hawaii to prevent the importation of
• uh being proposed about importation. uh being proposed about importation. there's<01:17:49.199><

Bills: HB2425, HB2596, HB2573, HB2017, HB1931, HB1736, HB1594, HB1828

Keywords: agriculture, sugarcane, permitting process, land use, conservation district, diversified agriculture, economic impact, invasive species, plant sales, weed risk assessment, consumer protection, environmental impact, workforce development, biosecurity, training program, partnerships, tax credit, Hawaiian home lands, investment costs, nonrefundable

Summary: The committee heard opening remarks and then took testimony on several agriculture-related bills. HB 2425 would exempt agricultural enterprises on former commercial sugarcane lands in conservation use districts from certain permitting and site plan requirements. The Department of Agriculture supported the measure and stood on written comments. The Hawaii Farm Bureau supported the intent but said the bill appeared to cite the wrong statute and suggested amending the conservation district law instead. Other testimony was generally supportive, while some witnesses raised concerns about using the right statutory vehicle. Committee members questioned whether the bill should be redirected through a different chapter. The committee then heard HB 596, which would require retail sellers of plants to disclose invasiveness risk, direct the Invasive Species Council to create a labeling system and weed risk assessments, and establish fines. The Department of Land and Natural Resources strongly supported the bill, saying point-of-sale labels would help consumers make informed choices. Supporters from the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species said the state’s noxious weed and restricted plant lists are outdated or incomplete and that the bill would help prevent harmful species from being purchased and planted. Opponents, including the Hawaii Farm Bureau and Hawaii Food Policy Foundation, argued the measure was too broad, could stigmatize plants and producers, and might be better implemented through voluntary education or narrower definitions. Committee discussion focused on possible amendments, including using printable labels from a website and limiting the bill to larger commercial retailers. HB 2573 would create a five-year agriculture and biosecurity workforce development pilot program involving the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Leeward Community College, and the Department of Human Resources Development. DHRD said it supported the intent but wanted clearer responsibilities; the University of Hawaiʻi, the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, the Hawaii Farm Bureau, the Hawaii Food Policy Foundation, and others supported the proposal. DAB said the program would help build needed biosecurity staffing and training, and that law-enforcement-related curriculum could be incorporated. Finally, the committee began hearing HB 207, which would expand the important agricultural land qualified agricultural tax credit to include certain Hawaiian homelands and additional agricultural costs such as orchards, fruit crops, and clearing former sugar and pineapple lands. The Department of Taxation and DAB stood on written comments, while the Department of Hawaiian Homelands strongly supported the bill, calling it a potential game-changer for developing agricultural lands and offsetting infrastructure costs; the department also asked that the credit be broadened beyond agriculture alone.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the bill also codifies the requirements of an alcoholic importer from another state when they import
• ><00:10:36.720> alcohol of an alcoholic uh of an alcohol of an alcoholic uh of an alcohol importer
• 37.839> another<00:10:38.160> state<00:10:38.959> when<00:10:39.279> they importer
• from another state when they importer from another state when they import<00:10:40.079> alcohol

Bills: SB266, SB287, SB266, SB287

Keywords: contract review, legislative oversight, state agencies, funding transparency, professional services, Sheriff, Barbour County, law enforcement, qualifications, training, executive education, Covington County, Alabama constitutional amendment, local amendment, carbon dioxide sequestration, carbon capture and storage, CCS, Class VI well, underground injection well, Underground Injection Control Program

Transcript Highlights:

• Cylinders are also important to helping many of Alabama's industries lower their overall corporate emissions
• Um, the LP gas industry is regulated by the National Fire Protection Association 58 and 54, and every
• The LP Gas Board is already the regulatory body to regulate those standards.
• Um, we are self-regulated. Most safety. Um, we are self-regulated.
• Most of our industry is self-regulated.

Bills: HB407, SB306, SB320, SB321

Keywords: local redevelopment, tax payments, transient occupancy, state revenue, authority powers, transparency, discretionary accounts, government accountability, public access, online publication, liquefied petroleum gas, safety regulations, public gathering places, cylinder storage, proximity regulations, drycleaning, environmental remediation, pollution, hazardous waste, trust fund

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this bill prohibits a municipality from regulating the number of people who may occupy a dwelling
• Without dismantling local control, the committee substitute reflects important stakeholder feedback.
• It carefully protects the authority of municipalities to regulate master plan subdivisions and historic

Bills: HB1835, HB2561, HB3630

Keywords: manufactured housing, HUD-code, zoning, local government regulations, installation permits, municipal utility district, board meetings, public access, meeting location, transparency, fire prevention, agriculture, local government, fire safety, regulations, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Very important bill.
• is the point of contact for regulation nationally, for financial reasons.
• with these 147 companies, because they're kind of the national regulator for us.
• I think that's important.
• I think this is one of those very important bills.

Bills: HB2091, HB2118, HB2122, HB2138

Keywords: insurance, financial surveillance, regulations, assessments, Arizona Revised Statutes, mobile food vendors, licensure, food safety, statewide regulations, health standards, zoning, temporary vendors, technical registration, engineering, architect, land surveyor, reciprocity, endorsement, qualification standards, firefighter

Transcript Highlights:

• This is important for our community, for public safety, and for the safety of caregivers and individuals
• This is important for our community, for public safety, and for the safety of caregivers and individuals
• Chair, members, Senate Bill 1145, effective January 1, 2027, transfers the existing licensure and regulation
• Madam Chair, briefly, as a reminder, this bill is about creating more efficiency in the regulation of

Bills: SB1023, SB1145, SB1242, SB1247

Keywords: optometrists, eye exams, eyeglass prescriptions, healthcare, vision care, behavior analysis, licensing, psychologist examiners, state regulations, committee authority, mental health, court-ordered treatment, outpatient treatment, audiovisual technology, secure facilities, evaluations, guardian powers, patient rights, assisted living, occupants

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill provides important flexibility in those situations.
• This bill provides important flexibility This bill provides important flexibility in<00:08:13.800>
• care at all times and regulations care at all times and regulations require<00:09:36.160> providers
• It's important that we take care of the employees.
• I um it's important we have the reports.

Bills: HF4110, HF4101, HF4144, HF3546

Keywords: workplace regulations, employee rights, meal breaks, rest breaks, exemptions, medical assistance, data matching, eligibility, reporting, human services, assisted living, health regulations, inspection authority, vulnerable adults, local government, program integrity, high-risk providers, enrollment requirements, fraud prevention, compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it's think it's important.
• That's why this number two is important. We have to know who these people are.
• That's that's why this number two<00:15:23.199> is<00:15:23.440> important.
• We have to know who two is important.
• impossible to overstate how important impossible to overstate how important this<00:41:30.160>

Bills: SF0082

Keywords: registered agents, corporate governance, entity ownership, business regulations, transparency, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so that is why this is so important.
• that<00:35:44.000> they<00:35:44.320> have more important to that they have more important
• So they're already regulated pretty heavily to have that license.
• And why why that's important. problem. And why why that's important.
• pest districts and other important pest districts and other important special<01:25:11.360> districts

Bills: SF0082

Keywords: registered agents, corporate governance, entity ownership, business regulations, transparency, 916, all

Bills: SB365

Keywords: cash transactions, rounding, legal tender, state regulations, consumer transactions, 923, senate, all

Bills: SF0024

Keywords: lottery, debit card payments, gambling regulations, state revenue, financial transactions, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, those are really important for sportsman access and habitat areas, and um we think that's the
• We work I mean those are really important<00:02:51.120> for<00:02:51.360> for<00:02:51.760
• and important for for sportsman access and and<00:02:53.519> habitat<00:02:54.160> areas
• I would say this is one of the most important bills, at least in my mind, for the wildlife of Wyoming
• bills at least one of the most important bills at least in<00:19:45.760> my<00:19:46.000>

Bills: SF0024

Keywords: lottery, debit card payments, gambling regulations, state revenue, financial transactions, 916, all

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Bills: SB1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Transcript Highlights:

• They are considering nominees for two very important positions.
• Once, the farm had to prove that the regulators don't know how to measure nitrogen.
• The other important feature of that is the disaster response.
• Relief from those regulations, relief from the things that get in their way.
• So that's why it's so important.

Keywords: SBA, small business, nominations, Bill Briggs, Casey Mulligan, regulations, capital access, public support

Summary: The Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship convened to consider the nominations of Bill Briggs for Deputy Administrator of the SBA and Dr. Casey Mulligan for Chief Counsel for Advocacy. The discussions highlighted the critical role of the SBA in promoting small businesses, with emphasis on overcoming challenges posed by excessive regulations and the need for improved access to capital. Several committee members expressed their concerns over recent layoffs within the SBA and the closure of district offices, which they believe undermine support for small businesses across the nation. The committee meeting saw extensive dialogue about the implications of regulations on small business operations and how the nominees plan to address these issues if confirmed. Public support for the nominees was acknowledged through letters from various stakeholders who advocate for small business interests.

Bills: SB1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Transcript Highlights:

• Turning to page 26, the Department of Licensing and Regulation, the one a technical adjustment associated
• Uh, members, I think it's important to note the base budget bill was already Very rich, um, and we heard
• add a new rider to provide authority to transfer additional funding to implement Medicaid access regulations

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards