Senate Floor

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

[Roll Call]

All 25 Members are present. Thank you. The Chair has read the journal of the preceding day and approves the same. Are there any introductions this morning? Senator Awa.

Mahalo Pelekena. I would like to acknowledge and welcome the students from Kahuku High School, all the way from the North Shore, coming to the capital today for a quick visit. They're here on a field trip to visit Iolani palace, and they're led by Mrs. Kaleo Hanohano. Welcome.

Thank you. Further introductions, Senator DeCoite.

Thank you, Mr. President. It is my pleasure to introduce a group of undergraduate students from the University of Hawaii at Manoa who are visiting the Capitol today. Students, when I call your name, can you please rise? Members, kindly hold your applause until the end.

Please join me in welcoming Jordan Lundstein, Peyton Higa, Micah Schofield, Anthony Tirabasi, Professor Jeff Hui. Also accompanying them is Jaron Tingan and Jamila Pacheco from DHHL. Welcome to your Hawaii State Senate. Thank you, Mr. President.

Further introductions before proceeding. Senator Awa, if you notice, I said I would come back with my left eye working and the left side of the room. My left side of the room got called first for once today, Madam Clerk.

Beginning on page one, Governor's message numbers 684-685 and 691. Withdraw nominations to various boards and commissions. File Governor's message numbers 686-690. Transmit nominations to various boards and commissions.

Governor's message numbers 686 to 690 are referred in accordance with the referrals listed on the order of the day.

On page three, departmental communication number 315 transmits a report file. Also on page three, introduction of measures, Senate Concurrent Resolution number 17 and Senate resolution number 13 for referral to Committee, so ordered.

On pages three to five, standing Committee report numbers 711 to 721 and on pages 12 to 13, standing Committee report numbers 793 to 804 for adoption.

If there are no objections from the Members, we will be taking all items on the. Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move for the adoption of standing Committee reports number 711 to 721 and 793 to 804. Senator DeCorte

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Any objections? Hearing? None. So ordered.

On page five, standing Committee report numbers 722 to 725. And on pages 10 through 12, standing Committee report number 775 to 792 for one day notice. And on pages five through 10, standing Committee report numbers 726 to 774 for 48 hour notice, so ordered, beginning on page 14, third reading.

If there are no objections from the Members now on third reading, we will be taking third reading on consent. Do we have any. Well, not any objections. So for the items listed, do we have any reservations? I have reservations on Bill. Standing Committee report 694. Senate Bill 283 for Senator San Buenaventura and Kidani.

Many other reservations or no votes. Reservation for Senator Inoue and Fukunaga. And then I have reservations on standing Committee Report 705. Senate Bill 1117 for Senators Inouye and Moriwaki. Any other reservations? Senator Fukunaga, Senator McKelvey. Any no votes. Now we're getting to no votes.

I have no vote for Senators Awa and the Court on Standing Committee report number 704. Senate Bill 222. Any other? No votes. Any reservations? And I have no vote for Senators, the court and AWA on report 709. House Bill 1440. Any others reservations? And then my good eye is not as good as I thought.

So I had 709. And I had 704. Oh, here it is. 705. I missed 117. Senator Decourt had no vote. And no vote for Senator Awa on 117. Any other noes or reservations? Madam Clerk.

Mr. President, I have remarks on Senate Bill 1620 that I would like to have inserted to the General.

So ordered. Mr. President. On the consent calendar, we have 25 eyes for all bills except for Standing Committee report number 704 on Senate Bill 222. Senate draft 123 ayes, 2 nos. On Standing Committee Report 705. Senate Bill 1117. Senate draft 223 ayes, 2 Nos. And on page 18, third reading of House Bill 1440.

House draft 123 ayes and 2 no's.

Thank you. All Senate bills on said pages have passed third reading. Next item, Madam Clerk.

Sir.

Referrals and re-referrals.

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

No further business. Mr. President.

Are there any announcements today? Senator Keohokalole

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to request a waiver of the public notice requirement pursuant to Senate Rule 21 to hold a hearing on Senate Bill 1365. Mr. President, this is an Administration Bill that was scheduled, subject to re referral, to meet the decking deadline.

The waiver is granted. Senator Kehoe Kaloli.

Thank you. Your committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Ways and Means will hold a public hearing on Senate Bill 1365 this afternoon, February 27, 2025 at 1:00pm in Conference Room 2 to 1. And the notice was filed in the Clerk's office yesterday afternoon.

Are there further announcements, Senator Rhodes?

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to request a waiver of the public notice requirement pursuant to Rule 21 to hold a decision making meeting on Senate Bill Number 242SD1.

The waiver is granted. Senator Rhodes.

My apologies. I gave no reason for it. It was a scheduling snafu and that has been finally worked out. And so thank you. Your committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means will hold a decision making meeting on this measure tomorrow, February 28th at 10:14am in Conference Room 211.

The notice was filed in the Clerk's office yesterday afternoon. Mahalo.

Are there any further announcements, Senator Dela Cruz?

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to request a waiver of the public notice requirement pursuant to Senate Rule 21 to hold a decision making meeting on Senate bills numbers 261422 SD1, 1434 SD1, 1443 SD1, 1502, SD1 and 1612 SD1. Your Committee is requesting this waiver to meet the first taking deadline.

The waiver is granted. Senator Dela Cruz.

Thank you. Your Committee on Ways and Means will be holding a decision making meeting on these measures tomorrow, February 28th at 10:05 in Conference Room 211. The notice was filed. The notice for Senate Bill numbers 1422-1434-1443-1502 and 1612 was filed in the Clerk's office this morning. And a notice for SP26 will be filed this afternoon.

Are there any further announcements if. Senator Keohokalole.

Excuse me, Mr. President, I believe I misspoke. The hearing on SB 1365 will be conducted today at 1:00pm in Conference Room 211 at the State Capitol. May I also be permitted a late introduction.

Please proceed.

Okay. Joining us in the gallery are two guests who are visiting the Capitol. Denise Nakamura and Kolia Moa. And their tour guide. Yes, please stand. And their tour guide, Nahilani Parsons, who was my first boss in this chamber when I worked for her as an intern in the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee in the 2013 session.

She is also now a constituent who lives in my Senate district. Still my boss. Please welcome them to the Senate.

Any further announcements? Not the chair has won. The deadline for filing standing Committee reports on Senate bills for second meeting is 6:00pm tonight. Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move that the Senate stand adjourn until 11:30am tomorrow.

Senator Decorte.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. If there are no objections from the Members, the Senate will stand adjourned until 11:30am tomorrow.