Senate Floor

Will the Senate please come to order? Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

[Roll Call] 23 present, 2 excused.

The Chair has read the journal of the preceding day and approves the same. Are there any introductions this morning?

Madam President.

Senator Kanuha.

Thank you, Madam President. This month the Senate joins the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii in celebrating its annual Chamber Week. Each January, the Chamber brings together business leaders, entrepreneurs, local small business owners, and and as we see today, students to engage in the legislative process. Chamber team up in the gallery, mahalo for all that you do.

Please stand and be recognized. The Chamber team. And Madam President, may all the names of the Chamber teams and the students in the gallery at the appropriate time be insert into the journal after the the introductions.

So ordered.

Today, DOE high school students are here with the Chamber applying their research and practicing advocacy. This morning, they address challenges in their communities and propose solutions. This afternoon between 1 and 2:30pm, they'll visit our offices for their Capitol walk around. If you're available Members, please see them in your offices.

I'd now like to hand it over to our area legislators to introduce the distinguished guests visiting with the Chamber from their respective districts and to invite them to be recognized. To begin, we have the Senator representing Ewa Beach.

Thank you, Majority Leader, Handsome Dru Kanuha. All right. Today is my very much an honor to welcome 50 exceptional, awesome students from Campbell High School. Early this morning, they advocated and shared impressively an insight of pedestrian focus on bikes and pedestrian safety. Their thoughtful approach to innovation, ideas and demonstrate a deep understanding of the importance to create safe, more accessible streets for everyone in the community.

I welcome their passionate commitment to making a positive difference in our beautiful community of Ewa Beach. Just at this time I want to thank everybody from Campbell High School. If you guys can please stand and be recognized and give you guys... The largest school in the state, 3100 students. Thank you, Campbell High School. And at this time I can send them over to the Senator from Waipahu. Alright, my brother.

Thank you, Senator Fevella. Today, we are pleased to welcome 40 students from Waipahu High School. These enthusiastic and engaged students took the opportunity to advocate for the redevelopment of Waipahu District Park. Their efforts demonstrate the students strong commitment to enhancing community spaces and improving the quality of life for their neighbors. Waipahu High School, please stand to be recognized. Okay, welcome to the Senate. Up next, I'll hand it over to the Senator from Kalihi, who takes great pride in being an alum for the next distinguished school.

That's exactly correct. Thank you, Senator Aquino. Madam President, of course they keep the best for last. And on your behalf and mine, as graduates of Farrington High School, we want to welcome 22 students from the great school of Farrington. Our Governors, if you will stand and be recognized.

Early this morning, the students delivered compelling presentation on urban forestry. And their thoughtful ideas were certainly underscored the importance of preserving and expanding our green space in urban areas to enhance our environment. And we're so proud of all of you. And so, welcome to our State Capitol. Go Govs. At this time, I'm going to turn it back over to the Majority Leader.

Oh, Madam Speaker.

Oh, real quick. Thank you, Senator. May I also hand it over to the Senator from Pearl City for an introduction as well?

Thank you, Majority Leader. Madam President, also in the gallery are students that we share in district of Pearl City. As long along with the Senator from, the two other Senators from Pearl City, Senator Aquino and Wakai, we have members from Pearl City High School. If you're from Pearl City High School, please stand. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, may I please introduce my guests in the gallery?

Please proceed.

Thank you. Thank you very much. That we officially did save the best for last. So I want to take us all the way over to the west side, which is the best side. And I want to introduce, if you can please stand to be recognized, Isabella Lopez, joining us today from the Chamber of Commerce Elevating Voices, who is the youngest of four children.

She attended Adventist Malama Elementary School and is currently a sophomore now at Waianae High School. She's involved in Student Council Gear Up and is the president of the Speech and Debate team and aspires to be a prosecuting attorney. Mahalo, and welcome to the Hawaii State Senate.

Thank you, Madam President. Mahalo to the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii for bringing these talented students to advocate on such important issues. Their voices and perspectives are invaluable in helping us shape a brighter future for all of our communities. Mahalo for being here.

Are there any further introductions? If not, Madam Clerk.

On page two, House communication number three returns Senate Concurrent Resolution number one, which was adopted in the House unamended. And House communication number four transmits a certified copy of House Resolution number five.

File?

Also on page two, introduction of Senate Bills 474 to 703.

Senator Wakai.

Madam President, I move that the Senate Bills numbers 474 to 703 pass first reading by title and be referred to committee.

So ordered.

Madam President, I second the motion.

It has been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried.

Referrals and re-referrals.

Referrals and re-referrals are made in accordance with the supplemental orders of the day and may be filed later today.

No further business, Madam President.

Are there any announcements today? If not, the Chair has several. Today is the unlimited bill introduction and non-administration bill package deadline. The deadline to submit all bills to the Clerk's office is 5pm this evening. After today, bill limits will be in effect for the duration of the bill introduction period.

You may file up to five bills each each on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of next week, and the Senate session on Tuesday, January 21st will convene at 9:30am, after which we will meet in joint session with the House to receive the Governor's State of the State address at 10am in the House Chamber. Senator Wakai.

Madam President, I move that the Senate stand in recess, leaving the journal open until 5pm to receive Senate bills for introduction. And I further move that the Senate reconvene at 9:30am on Tuesday, January 21st.

Senator DeCorte.

Madam President, I second the motion.

It has been moved and seconded. If there are no objections from the Members, the Senate will stand in recess, leaving the journal open until 5pm, and will reconvene at 9.30am on Tuesday.