Senate Floor

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

[Roll Call].

Senator Elefante is excused as he's attending on behalf of Senate Leadership Department of Defense meeting.

[Roll Call].

Senator Richards is in Washington D.C. meeting with Department of Agricultural officials, and excused.

[Roll Call]. 18 present, 7 excused.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. Colleagues, visiting us in the gallery today are youth from the Boys and Girls Club on the island of Kauai. Please stand when I call your name, and if you could hold your applause until the end. From the Lihue Clubhouse, Lihue Clubhouse: David Braman, Nainoa Hirokane, Michaela Alcaraz.

And from the Kapaa Clubhouse, Tessa'd Kuchu-Sheldon. With them are Tina Albao, Director of Development, and Bryden Ka'auwai. Please give them a round of applause.

Senator DeCoite.

Thank you, Mr. President. In the gallery, I would also like to introduce Makena Fujita from the Boys and Girls Club of Maui. She is from the Makawa Clubhouse and is one of the finalists for 2025 State Youth of the Year, along with her family.

If you'd please welcome her and give her a round of applause.

Mr. President, also joining us in the gallery today are Sandi Kanemori, Interim Director for HTDC, Wayne Inouye, MEP Center Director for Innovate Hawaii, Sherry Menor, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, Tonga Hopoi, VP for Economic Development, Government, and Community Relations, Nadia Holt, Manager of Government and Business Advocacy, and Beneficiaries of the Hawaii Small Business Innovation, Research, Manufacturing Assistance Program and Accelerator Programs, who have also hosted many of our businesses up on the fourth floor.

And if you didn't get a chance, go check it out. If you would, please rise and we could give them a round of applause. Welcome to your Senate. And, Mr. President, if I could put their names through the journal. Thank you.

So, ordered. Senator Moriwaki.

Thank you, Mr. President. I'm pleased to introduce McKinley High School student Amaya Sprout. If she's here. Yep. And she's the 2025 Hawaii State Youth of the Year candidate representing the Boys and Girls Club Spalding Honolulu Clubhouse in my district. And also, Danielle Trinidad, the Clubhouse Director. Thank you and welcome to the Senate.

Senator DeCorte

Senate President, colleagues, I would like to introduce from the Nanakuli Boys and Girls Club, if you could stand when your name is being called. Director Kekoa Tupua, Youth of the Year finalist, Ladena Arenas and her parents Ricardo Arenas, Williams Arenas. And also, the Waianae Clubhouse Teen Director Raymond Burden, Alliance Board Member Jeffrey Jones.

Waianae Club Members, second place Youth of the Year, Matthew Messiah Cargill, and the Perseverance Award, Shada Fernandez. If you could please stand and welcome to your State Senate. Senate President. If I may, one more introduction.

Proceed.

Thank you. Colleagues, on behalf of the Senate Minority Leader from District 23, it is my pleasure to introduce Youth of the Year finalists representing the Bennett Youth Center Schofield Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii, Mikaela Kopakowski. If you could please stand. Mikaela is an outstanding youth leader and a dedicated 12th grade student at Leilehua High School.

For over the three years she has been an active member of the Boys and Girls Club of USG Hawaii CYS Services Bennett Youth Center, demonstrating her commitment to community service through activities such as 4H hula and serving as homework helper assistant. Her passion for service is matched by her dedication to academic excellence, consistently earning honor roll status.

Mikaela also takes on leadership roles through her involvement in programs like Keystone, Power Hour, Smart Girls, and various special and community events under USAG Hawaii. Mikaela's perseverance, character and dedication to personal growth makes her a remarkable representative of her community and a true inspiration to her peers.

Congratulations, Mikaela, and welcome to the Hawaii State Senate.

Senator McKelvey.

Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of myself, Senator DeCoite, and Senator Hashimoto have some other guests from Maui I'd like to introduce who are here with the Boys and Girls Club of Maui. If you're here, if you could please stand to be recognized. And if we could have everybody hold their applause until we're finished.

First, we have Kelly Maluo Pearson, Chief Executive Officer, Destiny Dano, Special Events Coordinator, Kacy Schwend, Makawao Club Director, Darnell Akima, Central Club Director. And we're also proud to be joined by several of the students: Hi'ilei Roman, Shannon Milne, and last but definitely not least, from our own Lahaina, Mr. Kyle Thomas.

Could you please stand to be recognized by your own State Senate.

Do we have any further introductions? If not, I would just add, since I can't do the Kauai introductions.

But Brighton is a former Youth of the Year winner and now, after completing schooling, has come full circle to be an employee of the Boys and Girls Club and still continuing to make the difference in young people's lives on Kauai and in our state. Madam Clerk.

Beginning on page one, Governor's message number eight: transmits proposed changes to the fiscal biennium 2025-2027 executive budget.

File.

Governor's message 759 makes corrections to the board names in various Governor's messages.

File.

Governor's message numbers 760 to 766 transmit nominations to various boards and commissions.

Governor's message numbers 760 to 766 are referred in accordance with the referrals on the order of the day.

Beginning on page three, House Communication number 384 informs the Senate that the House has disagreed to the amendments proposed by the Senate to House Bill 991 Senate Draft 1.

Filed.

House Communication numbers 385 to 387 transmit various House Concurrent Resolutions which were adopted in the House for first for referral to Committee.

Beginning on page four, standing committee report numbers 1362 to 1366 for adoption. Senator Wakai.

So ordered.

Mr. President, I move for the adoption of Standing Committee reports numbers 1362 to 1366.

Senator DeCorte.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion, any objection or? If not, the motion is carried.

On page six, third reading.

There are no objections from the members, we will be taking third reading on consent.

Third reading of House Bill 145 House Draft 1relating to expungement.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes?

18 ayes.

Thank you. House Bill 145 HD1 passes third reading.

Referrals and re-referrals.

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

No further business. Mr. President.

Are there any announcements? If not, the Chair has one. There will be a leadership meeting immediately after the floor session in room 409. Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move that the Senate stand adjourned at 11:30am Thursday, March 27th.

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 Thursday, March 27. Have a great Kuhio Day tomorrow.