House Floor

Will the House come to order? Mr. Clerk, please call the roll.

[Roll Call] Madam Speaker, 49 Members are present. One is excused.

Item number two, reading of the journal. Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, may this matter be deferred.

So ordered. Item number three, messages from the Governor. Mr. Clerk, are there any messages from the Governor?

Madam Speaker, there are none.

Item number four, Senate communications. Mr. Clerk, are there any Senate communications?

Yes. Madam Speaker, if you and the Members will turn your attention to the addendum to today's order of the day. We are in receipt of communications informing the House that the Senate has disagreed to the amendments proposed by the House to the noted Senate bills.

We are in further receipt of communications transmitting the noted Senate Concurrent Resolutions, all having been adopted in the Senate. We are in further receipt of communications returning the noted House bills, all having been passed third reading in the Senate.

Representative Todd.

Madam Speaker, I move to disagree to the amendments made by the Senate to the noted House bills.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Any discussion? Members, we will be taking a voice vote. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say no. The motion is carried. Introductions. Members, are there any introductions? Representative Garcia.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I want to introduce two individuals in the gallery who's here in honor of our friend and colleague, Representative Ward. Former office manager Jamé Schaedel, please rise to be recognized. And former intern of Rep Ward and close friend, Kendrick Chang, please stand to be to be recognized. Thank you for being here in honor of report. Mahalo.

Representative Ilagan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm delighted to introduce to you a friend in tech. His name is Trung Lam. Please rise. He is very passionate in helping entrepreneurs in the tech community, as well as creating and generating a Hawaii tech ecosystem. He's also an organizer that's going to be helping us with Capitol Connection. It's going to be on April 10th at the 4th floor from 1 to 4pm. So colleagues, please, let's welcome Dr. Trung Lam to your House of Representatives.

Representative Evslin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to welcome and introduce my friend Pat Gegen and his students, seventh and eighth grade students from Island School who are here today visiting the Capitol. If you could please rise. They are here for a History Day Competition, and they included the Capitol today along with the Judiciary and Iolani Palace as site visits. Welcome to your House of Representatives. And permission to insert their names into the journal.

So ordered. Representative Matsumoto.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to introduce Representative Ward's staff, who is in the gallery today. We have his office manager Jillian Anderson, his legislative aide William Duke, and his other legislative aide Scarlet Covington Kembel. If we can give them a round of applause. They put in a lot of work this session, and I know Representative Ward would have been very proud. Thank you.

Any further introductions? Representative Iwamoto.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I just wanted to acknowledge an amazing community advocate and organizer, Jun Shin. Welcome to your House of Representatives. Thank you.

Representative Shimizu.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to just introduce my session legislative aid Shotaro Dabbs. He's hard worker and I just wanted to acknowledge him. Please stand and be recognized. Welcome to your House of Representatives.

Okay, there are no further introductions. Let's move on to the order of the day. Item number five, unfinished business. Representative Morikawa for the motion to suspend the rules.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules of the House in order to consider certain Senate bills for third reading by consent calendar.

Representative Garcia.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Any questions? Members, we will be taking a voice vote. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say no. The motion is carried. Representative Todd.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt standing committee report numbers 1758 through 1786, as listed on pages 1 through 8, and that the accompanying Senate bills as amended pass third reading.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Any discussion on these items, beginning with HSCR number 1758? Representative Iwamoto.

Reservations.

So ordered. On the top of page two, standing committee report 1759. Representative Iwamoto.

Reservations.

So ordered. 1760. 1761. 1762. Moving on to the top of page three, standing committee report number 1763. Representative Iwamoto.

Reservations.

So ordered. 1764. 1765. Representative Amato. So ordered. 1766. We're at the top of page four, standing committee report 1767. 1768. 1769. 1768. Representative Grandinetti.

1768, with reservations so ordered.

Representative Shimizu.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise in support with the reservations and comments. Please.

Please proceed.

Thank you, Madam Speaker and colleagues, for your patience and charity with me. My commenting stems from the need and desire to express context for certain vote decisions from my constituents who share with me. They appreciate being educated to be more engaged to understand the process.

I also appreciate my colleagues counter positions that helped me grow in my understanding and has allowed me to change my vote on previous occasions in speaking on SB66. There are some good things to help the permitting process in this Bill and I support that.

My reservations lie in my concerns in the details that may still need to be worked out so that there is no confusion and delays as this new process is implemented. And to avoid possible issues and conflict between the Department of Permit and Planning and the applicant over who's responsible for causing delays.

Especially since the Department DPP was opposed to this Bill. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Moving on to standing Committee Report 1769. 177. Representative Iwamoto. I apologize, Madam Speaker.

With reservations so ordered.

Representative, raise ODA. Reservations so ordered. Moving on to Standing Committee Report 1769. 1770. Representative Reyes ODA. I'm sorry. I thought I was voting on 69 when I first stood up. Okay, so let's remove your reservations from 68 and put it for 69. Yes, thank you. Okay. Representative.

Same thing for me. My reservation for was for 1769.

Okay, let's remove Representative Iwamoto's reservations from 681768 and put it on 1769. Thank you. Representative Souza.

For 1769 with reservations so ordered.

Thank you. Moving on to standing Committee report 1770. 1771 on the top of page five. Standing Committee report 1772. 1773. Representative Muraoka.

Reservations so ordered.

1774. 1775. Representative Reyes Oda. Reservations so ordered. Representative Shimizu.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise in opposition with comments. Please.

So please proceed.

Thank you. This Bill would assign the State Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Unit chief and change the assignment by allowing the. Excuse me. The Director of Transportation would appoint the Fire Chief based on recommendations from five candidates from the State Fire Council and subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

There was opposing testimony from the Aircraft rescue firefighting unit ARFF. And the testimony reads, the Hawaii Firefighters Association, HFFA Local 1463, AFL CIO represents more than 2,000 professional active duty firefighters throughout the state. The HFFA, on behalf of all our Members, strongly opposes SB 1102. And on behalf of their testimony and their membership, I'm opposing this.

And I believe we should allow the Members to advance through experience and not add layers of bureaucracy. That's why I'm opposing this and invite my colleagues to oppose as well. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Moving on to standing Committee report 1776. Representative Iwamoto, reservations. So ordered. Representative Garcia, same request. So ordered. Representative Amato.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Reservations?

So ordered. Moving on to Representative Shimizu.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Arising support with reservations. Although there are some. Although there are some safety benefits, the reality is parking is going to be made much more difficult with the 20 foot requirement instead of a blanket one size fits all.

I believe we should help the counties identify specific locations and intersections that we can target for applications like this Bill. And that is my reservation, but I rise in support. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Representative Souza, with reservations. So ordered. Representative Hashem, reservations.

And I take the Transportation Chair words as if they were my own. Thank you.

Representative Matayoshi, reservations.

Brief comment.

So ordered.

Please proceed. I am a little conflicted about this Bill. While I do acknowledge that there are safety concerns within our district, within my district as well, concerning crosswalks, there are also parking considerations that I think need to be considered.

I also am a little hesitant that all of the funding is going into the Safe Routes to School program special Fund, which although I, you know, I like the work that that special Fund is doing, I understand that in our budget there is appropriated amounts for that special Fund already.

So I'm not sure why we are necessarily designating certain fines to go to a specific special Fund like this.

Thank you, Representative Kila.

Madam Speaker, strong support.

Please proceed.

What I'm grateful about this build. It allows us the opportunity to codify what people are currently doing now, which is explicitly blocking crosswalks, intersections, and safety for our pedestrians. Madam Speaker, the funds generated from this program will go into what's known as the Safe Routes of School Special Fund.

And this will continue to allow the counties and the state to expand safety for all our pedestrians to freely walk safely within our communities so that nobody can get hurt. We often see many times that these vehicles don't just block roadways, they're also blocking emergency access for first responders.

So I do not want to be in a position where a community cannot get access to first responder needs because a vehicle inhibitedly blocks free access to our first responders in our community. So for those reasons, I'm in strong support.

Representative Tam thank you Madam Speaker, with reservations so ordered.

Representative Lamosao thank you Madam Speaker, and strong support. Please proceed. I understand some of the reservations from my colleagues, but this will certainly help my district. I have a very popular throw fair in my district, Paiva street, which I. Also live along around that area and.

My dad and I have been in two very serious car accidents because of. Cars blocking the intersection and being hazards. To to other folks that are traversing through PA Street. Thank you.

Representative Hussey in support and.

Request to please insert the remarks from the Representative Nanakuli as if they were my own.

So ordered. Moving on to standing Committee Report 1777-1778-1779-1780 Representative Iwamoto reservations so ordered. We're moving to the top of page 7. Standing Committee Report 178117821782 Representative Shimizu I'm.

Sorry Speaker 11782 when time permits, we're on 1782.

Please proceed.

I rise in opposition with comments.

Please so ordered.

Please proceed the reason that I am in opposition to this Bill is reading from the testimony from the Attorney General's Office is the Bill would transition the existing needle and syringe exchange program from a one to one base exchange model to a needs based exchange model that provides participants with unlimited number of new needles and syringes per visit.

In addition, the Bill broadens and clarifies the scope of immunity from prosecution that is provided to program participants and to program staff. The distribution of an unlimited number of new syringes and needles without requiring the return of used syringes or needles raises serious significant concerns.

Explicit illicit drug users to properly and safely dispose of all used needles and syringes is counterintuitive. The proposed HRS section, which grants immunity from prosecution for the possession or delivery of used needles or syringes, is also concerning unless there is evidence that syringe exchange participants and program staff are being arrested and charged for possession of illicit drugs.

Under these circumstances, such immunity seems unwarranted. This provision could unduly restrict law enforcement and lead to unintended consequences, particularly in circumstances where a charge for possession of illicit drugs may be appropriate against syringe exchange participants or program staff, or both.

Another concern with the proposed HRS section is that it does not clearly specify how law enforcement will identify syringe exchange participants who qualify for the proposed immunity prior to arrest, unless a call center service or direct access to records is made available to law enforcement at all hours of the day.

It is unclear how law enforcement could Verify eligibility in a timely manner. Furthermore, unless the syringe exchange programs require participants to provide government issued identification or fingerprints, reliably confirming participant except identity will be problematic.

And lastly, while we appreciate the immunity for possession or distribution of authorized objects under section HRS and is limited to program staff acting in the course and scope of official duties, it would be unprecedented for any Department to be able to establish their own exemption from state law, such as allowing their staff and or contractors to distribute or possess otherwise illegal drug paraphernalia without at least going through a public hearing process.

And that is just reading verbatim from the Attorney General's testimony. And that is the basis of my opposition. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Representative Garcia in opposition, so ordered.

Please proceed. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise in strong opposition to this Bill. And for those of whom who might not know, in Hawaii currently we have a one to one needle exchange program where people can exchange needles if they bring a used one in. That is problematic already with some residents, but I understand that need.

This Bill goes above and beyond in a very progressive, liberal manner that says free needles for anybody. Unlimited amounts of needles. Let me be clear. I believe in compassion. I believe in second chances. But compassion must be balanced with common sense and responsibility.

This Bill sends the wrong message that government will enable harmful behavior instead of helping people break free from it. Addiction is not solved by giving someone the tools to stay addicted. It's solved by giving people the opportunity to heal. We should be investing in treatment, counseling, detox centers and real recovery, not normalizing drug use in our communities.

Our families are crying out for solutions. Our neighborhoods are already facing the impacts of drug activity on our sidewalks, in our parks and near our schools. Handing out free needles doesn't lift people up, it traps them in a cycle. Instead of enabling, let's empower. Let's give people a path forward.

You look at other cities and jurisdictions across the country that has engaged in past policies such as this. San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta. Their cities are littered with needles because of programs like this. So I urge my. My. My colleagues with common sense to vote no. Thank you.

Representative Reizota, reservations. So ordered.

Representative Hussey with reservations and a request. To please insert the remarks of the previous two speakers as if in the journal, as if they were my own.

So ordered. Representative Olds, reservations. So ordered. Moving on to standing Committee Report 1783. 1784.

Madam Speaker.

Representative Garcia with reservations so ordered. Moving to the top of page 8. Standing Committee Report 1785. Representative Shimizu with reservations so ordered. Representative Matayoshi with Reservations so ordered Signing Committee Report 1786 Representative Shimizu reservations please so ordered Representative Morikawa for the vote.

Thank you, Madam Speaker on the measures before us, all majority Members vote aye with the exception of the following on page 3 standcom report number 1760 SB 79sd1hd2 rep.

Iwamoto votes no on page 4 stand com report number 1768 SB number 66sd2hd3 the following vote no Reps Biladi Iwamoto Puruso Poi poi on page 5 standcom report number 1773 SB number 30 HD 2 rep amato votes no we stand com report number 1775 SB number 1102 SD 2 HD 2 the following vote no amato poi poi on page 7 stancom report number 1782 SB number 1433 SD 2 HD 2 the following vote NO Kila kong lamosao on page 8 fancom report number 1785 SB number 1074 SD 2 HD 2 the following vote no Amato Grandinetti, Holt, Iwamoto Kila Kitagawa Martin Peruso Poy.

Representative Garcia.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On the measures before us, all minority Members vote I with the exception of the following on Page 4 SCR 1767 Senate Bill 31 Senate Draft 2 House Draft 2 Reps. Alos, Garcia and Peric Vote no SCR 1769 Senate Bill 97 Senate Draft 2 House Draft 2 Reps.

Alos, Garcia and PericVote no SCR 1770 Senate Bill 344 Senate Draft 1 House Draft 2 Reps. Alos, Garcia and Peric Vote no SCRB 11 Sorry SCR 1771 Senate Bill 1216 Senate Draft 1 House Draft 2 Reps%. Alos, Garcia and Peric vote no Page 5 SCR 1773 Senate Bill 30 House Draft 2 Reps. Gar. Rep.

Garcia Votes no SCR 1750 Sorry 1775 Senate Bill 1102 Senate Draft 2 House Draft 2 Reps. Alos, Garcia, Matsumoto, Shimizu and Peric Vote no. SCR 1776 Senate Bill 1195 Senate Draft 1 House Draft 2 Rep.

Alos and Garcia I mean Alos and Peric Vote no Age 7 SCR 1782 Senate Bill 1433 Senate Draft 2 House Draft 2 Reps. Aukos, Garcia, Matsumoto, Moraoka, Jimizu and Perrick Vote no. CR 1783 Senate Bill 1452 Senate Draft 1 House Draft 2 Rep.

Peric votes no Age 8 SCR 1786 Senate Bill 946 Senate Draft 2 House Draft 3 Reps. Aukos, Garcia, Moraoka and Perrick, vote no.

Have all votes been cast, Representative Hussey?

Sorry, Madam Speaker. I missed SCR 1785. Could you please register a no vote for me?

So ordered. What page and what number again?

That's scr1785 on page eight of the order of the day. That's me with 1074.

1074. Standing Committee report 1785. No for Hussey. Got that, Representative Souza.

Thank you. Madam Speaker, I would like to register a vote with reservations for page 8. Standcom report number 1785. SB number 1074, SD2HD2.

So ordered. Thank you. Representative Amato.

Thank you. Madam Speaker, I would like to Register. Reservations for SCR 1786, SB946, SD2HD3, please.

So ordered.

Thank you.

Okay, said. Senate bills pass third reading. Let's move on to item number six, reports of Standing Committee Committees. Representative Todd.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt Standing Committee report numbers 1939 through 1947 as listed on pages 8 through 10, and that the accompanying Senate bills as may be amended, pass second reading and be placed on the calendar for third reading.

Representative Morikawa, the Speaker. I second the motion. Any discussion on HSCR number 1939? 1940 on the top of page 9. Standing Committee Report 19411942. 1943. Representative Garcia, with reservations, so ordered. 1944 on the top of page 10. Standing Committee Report 194519461947. Members, we will be taking a voice vote.

All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say no. The motion is carried. Representative Todd.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt Standing Committee report numbers 1948 through 1971 as listed on pages 11 through 16, and that the accompanying Senate bills pass third reading.

Representative Morikawa. Madam. Speak. I second the motion. Any discussion on these items beginning with HSCR number 1948-1949-1950-1949. Representative Matayoshi.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. With reservations. Brief comment, please.

Proceed.

This Bill has the same problem that I noted in the last Bill. I'm not sure why we are funding the Safe Routes to School Special Fund through kind of a sporadic ticketing process. And I do note that in the General Fund, which I do support, there is already an appropriation for the special Fund. Thank you.

So ordered.

Reservations.

1951, 1952. At the top of page 12, standing Committee report number 1953. Representative Garcia.

1954, 1955, 1956 on the top of page 13, standing Committee report 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960 on the top of page 14, standing Committee report 1961, 1962 Representative Reyes Oda, reservations so ordered.

Moving on to standing Committee Report 1950. Representative Iwamoto.

Reservations.

So ordered.

1963 and 1964 on the top of page 15, standing Committee report, 1965 Representative Shimizu.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise in opposition with comment. Please.

Please proceed.

The reason that I oppose this is testimony from the judiciary who this Bill affects. And I read from their testimony that if the constitutional amendment proposed by this measure passes and is approved by voters, it could leave judicial vacancies unfulfilled. Unfilled for an extended period of time, depending on when a vacancy occurs.

We would note that the current process of filling judicial vacancies is already time intensive with the posting of notice of the vacancy application deadlines, candidate interviews, and the determination of qualified applicants, in some cases taking more than a year after a vacancy occurs.

This proposed change would prolong the period of vacancy for certain appointments, thus delaying the onboarding of new Justices and judges. And since this Bill directly affects the judiciary, I believe we should seriously take into consideration their viewpoint and how this Bill affects them. And that is the basis of my opposition, Madam Speaker.

Reservations

So ordered. Moving on to standing Committee Report 1966, 1967. Representative Iwamoto.

Representative Reyes Oda.

I rise in opposition with comments.

Please proceed.

I have serious concerns about funding a part of the University of Hawaii system that really just builds up the militarization. The U.S. Department of Defense is one of the few programs where the current Administration is funding, increasing their funding. Meanwhile, our University of Hawaii system as a whole is facing huge budget cuts from the feds.

And I imagine that many of us, we're going to have to think about allocating state resources to help existing programs. So because of this huge imbalance between a super funded Department of Defense and underfunded education, and as well as many other programs that we as a state are going to have to step in on.

I just think it's kind of a wasteful use of state funds to fund something that the Department of Defense, again, with all the money it's going to have, could be funding directly.

Thank you, Representative Amato.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise in support. I realize there is a resistance to want to give military more funding. I personally have a resistance to that. However, this leads to jobs in other high tech career fields. I mean, we have to provide opportunity and diversification. This is merely an education pathway.

It does not necessarily equate to direct jobs we within dod, it's merely the opportunity to learn skills that can be. Used across a variety of fields. Thank you.

Representative Garcia, strong support.

Please proceed. I think making sure that we have these programs is important. Not only will it benefit the West Oahu community, these programs will be installed at Manoa and, uh, West Oahu. Having relations between our military is important. And this will provide jobs and, and career, career opportunities for families in my district.

So in strong support, Representative Garrett.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In support. And if I could adopt the words of the representative from Kihei as my own. Thank you.

Same request.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

So ordered. Moving on to standing Committee report. Speaker, Representative Grandinetti, thank you.

With reservations, please.

So ordered. Moving on to standing Committee report. 1968, Representative Iwamoto, reservations so ordered. 1969, Representative Riozota, reservations so ordered. Representative Iwamoto, reservations so ordered. Representative Amato, reservations so ordered. Moving on to the top of page 16, Standing Committee Report, 1970, Representative Kahaloa in support.

So, please. Please proceed. Thank you, Madam Speaker. This Bill is really important for Kona's future. Our community is continuing to grow, and with that growth comes the essential need for housing.

We've spent over a decade working with DLNR and the Commission on Water Resource Management to build new water wells in Kona to enable more water credits for workforce housing. We have at least four projects, housing projects that cannot be built right now because they do not have access to water resources.

No new housing development will be built in Kona without a future with water infrastructure. Therefore, this Bill creates a pilot program for comprehensive aquifer monitoring. So it's not just a good idea. It's a necessity for our community, and it may be the only pathway forward. It's why it's a pilot project.

And future water development in Kona is critical for housing. So this program helps establish a baseline. If we have data on aquifer monitoring levels, flow rates, water quality, we can understand our water resources better.

We can identify potential risks so that continuous monitoring will allow CWORM and the state to detect early warning signs and for depletion or contamination and enable proactive mitigation. It will help us inform sustainable development.

The data gathered will provide crucial insights for planning for future housing projects, ensuring the development occurs within the limits of our water resources, and it will protect our community. By safeguarding our aquifers, we protect the health, well being and economic stability of our community for generations to come.

I want to thank the Deputy Director of the Department of CWORM for thinking outside the box and working with our community to develop this Bill. Investing in this pilot program is not just an expenditure. It's an investment in Kona's future. We'll allow local families to be able to continue to live in Kona.

It's an investment in sustainable growth, and it's an investment in protecting the very essence of our island home. So let's work together to ensure that housing in our community of Kona can happen sustainably. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Moving on to standing Committee Report 1971 Representative Iwamoto Reservations so ordered. Representative Morikawa for the vote thank you, Madam Speaker.

On the measures before us, all majority Members vote I With the exception of the following on page 12, Standcom report number 1955 SB number 13677 SD1 HD1 Rep Amato votes no. On page 14 Standcom report number 1964 SB 894 SD3HD1 Rep Peruso votes no.

On page 15 Standcom report number 1967 SB 1502 SD1 HD1 the following vote no Asi Iwamoto Peruso poi Poi.

Representative Garcia.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On the measures before us, all minority Members vote aye with the exception of the following on page 12 scr 1953 Senate Bill 439 Senate Draft 1 House Draft 1 Rep.

Aukos votes no scr 1956 sb989sd1hd1 Rep Peric votes no age 13 scr 1958 sb299sd2hd1 Rep Peric votes no on page 14 scr 1962 sp855sd1hd1 Reps Aukos, Garcia, Moraoka, Shimizu and Pyrrhic vote no scr 1964 sb894sd3hd1 Repairic votes no age 15 scr 1965 sb121 Reps Aukos, Garcia, Matsumoto, Moro, Oka, Shimizu and piric Vote no scr 1966 SB 1252 sd 2 hd 1 repurric votes no scr 1967 SB 1502 sd 1 hd 1 rep Pyrrhic Vote Snow scr 1968 SB 1220 s sd 2 hd 1 rep Peric votes no and Garcia votes no.

Scr 1969 SB 1269 sd 1 hd 2 reps Aukos, Garcia, Matsumoto, Morooka, Shimizu and Peric vote no.

Have all votes been cast? Said Senate bills passed third reading. Let's move on to item number seven. Third reading Bills Representative Todd Madam Speaker.

I move that the Senate bills listed. On pages 16 through 18 pass third.

Reading representative Morikawa Madam Speaker second the motion any discussion on these items beginning with SB 385 SD1 HD1 SB 109 SD2 HD1 on the top of page 17 SB 116 SD2 HD1 representative Shimizu.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Arising support with comments please

Please proceed.

My first thoughts on my vote questioned supporting this bill, but I was challenged to go deeper in my thought process as I'm sure we all try to consider seeing things in fresh truth beyond initial impressions or established ways of thinking.

I support the purpose of this bill and the desire to protect all people as special created in God's image. Ideally, I pray for us to be blind in all aspects and judge a person just by their actions and merit alone. I remember hearing Bill SB 228 excited delirium.

The testimony and discussion I heard that really struck me was the need and importance to state words objectively and descriptively. Instead of using labels or broad terms that can be highly subjective and mean different things to different people, we should use accurate and factual words to explain or describe a situation.

Going back to this bill, if someone feels unsafe or threatened, that alone should be just cause to call 911 and seek remedy. I pray this bill would be a positive step to help us accept each other unconditionally and eliminate labels that can cause more division to help us all feel safe and accepted. Thank you Madam Speaker.

SB 401 SD2 HD1 representative Tarnas.

Thank you Madam Speaker. In support.

Please proceed.

Thank you. You know that Hawaii has long prohibited the possession, transfer and manufacture of semi automatic handguns with two or more listed military features.

What this Bill does is now prohibit semi automatic rifles and shotguns that can accept detachable magazines and have one or more military style features which would include things like pistol grips, threaded barrels that would allow for the attachment of flash suppressors or silencers, folding or telescoping stocks which would make the firearm easier to conceal or more maneuverable in close quarters, and forward grips which allow for control when you're using it for rapid fire.

This Bill would allow people to keep those prohibited firearms that they legally owned before the law goes into effect. So we have a grandfather clause in there.

But after the law goes into effect I want to make it clear that residents would still be able to purchase and own semi automatic rifles and shotguns that have fixed magazines or that lack of the prescribed military style features.

So hunters in our communities, farmers and ranchers that need semiautomatic rifles to control feral ungulates like axis deer or goats that are invading their pastures would still be able to purchase them. There are many state compliant AR15 style firearms also AK47s.

Those are very popular among some enthusiasts and one residents would still be able to purchase them as long as they come with fixed magazines and are featureless that don't have those prohibited features that I spoke of and they can accept detachable magazines.

But most semi automatic Shotguns already use fixed tubular magazines and they lack the military feature styles, military style features that I I'd mentioned. So they would be exempt from this prohibition that we have under this Bill.

Other firearms that are commonly used for hunting, recreational shooting, self defense such as manually operated rifles and shotguns,22 caliber rifles and most handguns are all exempt from Senate Bill 401. So this is a very measured Bill to support gun safety.

It still would allow hunters and farmers and ranchers to purchase semiautomatic rifles for hunting and for ungulate control. But it would provide for the ability for the public to feel more confident that we don't have a lot of semi automatic rifles that have these military attachments.

I want to make it clear also because a number of our Members here were receiving emails from those opposed to this Bill saying that what we did in the in your Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee was a gut and replace a prohibited practice in our legislative process and that we were in violation of the League of Women Voters Supreme Court decision.

Let me assure you and Members that what we did in the Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee is we took the text from House Bill 893 HD 1 which went through three readings in the House and was approved by the House and we inserted it into Senate Bill 401 SD2 so we are compliant with the three readings requirement of the League and Women Voters.

Both bills concern the same subject matter. The measure title is exactly the same relating to firearms and both bills modify the same Hawaii revised statute so it's germane which is the other requirement. So this Bill is compliant with the decision from the Supreme Court regarding the League of Women Voters.

It follows our standard practice that we have within the Legislature and we have produced a very good Bill that balances second Amendment rights with public safety and I urge all the Members here to support it. Thank you Madam Speaker.

Representative Rio Zoda. With reservations with comment, please proceed. Thank you.

When I ran for office, I was a teacher and while I don't currently work in a school, I will always consider myself a teacher. And the topic of gun laws required striking a delicate balance between Second Amendment rights and public safety.

And as an educator, I cannot ignore the multitude of voices coming from parents and students who are in support of this measure and seek stronger protection against school shootings. As a parent, I don't like the statistic that guns are the leading cause of death among American children.

In addition, when I researched I I found out that for every drowning death there are five kids whose death is caused by firearms. As A kid who was raised in a house with an active card carrying NRA Member.

I support the second Amendment as defined by the Supreme Court, which recognizes our right to bear arms, but also holds that that right is not unlimited and certain restrictions on guns and gun ownerships are permissible. My vote on with reservations is based on these reasons.

Representative Shimizu.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise in opposition with brief comments.

Please proceed.

I want to thank my esteemed chair of the Judiciary and Hawaiian affairs for his very clear explanation. And I'm grateful for that clarification. As our colleagues passionately expressed the other day, we represent our constituents. Although it's not unanimous and not everyone agrees.

My prayer is that I am representing that I am representing my constituents and this body well and honorably. I stand in opposition to represent those voices. And just to add that I believe that it is not necessarily a gun problem. It's a hurting people problem. People who have experienced trauma, been abused, are lost in addiction and angry.

We need to find better strategic solutions to help reach these people without creating overreaching consequences that take away any law abiding citizens rights. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Representative Souza.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise in support. Please proceed. Thank you. And I would like the words of the Chair of the Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee inserted into the record as my own. So ordered. And I would also like to make further comments. Please proceed.

In 2022, there was a little boy from Hilo, an 11 year old, a boy Scout who went to a family fun day at a boy Scout troop shoot at a camp in Honoka' A.

At this camp, one of the parents brought an arsenal of weapons that included an AK47 which went off and a bullet struck and killed that little boy from Hilo, who was my cousin, Manny Carvalho. Manny's dad David is also my godfather.

Now I know there are some intricacies with this Bill that ban assault rifles with certain features and exempt some that are featureless, etc. But I hope legislation of this nature will lessen some of these situations where innocent lives are taken. So for Manny's sake, we can get tougher on some of our gun laws. Thank you.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu, reservations please. So ordered. Moving on to standing Senate Bill number 1508. SD1. Representative Morikawa for the vote.

Move on to standing Senate Bill number 601. SD1HD1. Senate Bill 694. HD1. We're at the top of page 18. Senate Bill number 1231 SD1 HD1. Representative Reoyes Oda.

Reservations.

Madam Speaker, on the measures before us, all majority Members vote aye with the exception of the following on page 17, Standcom report number 1750, SB number 401, SD2 HD1 the following vote no. Keela Kong for standcom report number 1752. SB number 694, HD1 following vote no. Keela Lamosao.

Thank you, Representative Garcia.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On the measures before us, all minority Members vote aye. With the exception of the following on page 17, S.C.R. 1749, Senate Bill 116, SD 2, HD 1 Reps. Aukos, Garcia, Matsumoto and Pierick. Vote no. S.C.R. 1750, SP401SD2HD 1 Reps. Aukos, Garcia, Matsumoto, Moraoka, Shimizu and Pierick. Vote no. SCR 1752, SB 694 HD 1 Reps.

Aukos and Garcia, Moraoka and Peric. Vote no. Age 18 SCR 1753 SB 1231 SC SD1HD 1 Reps. AukosT, Garcia, Matsumoto, Moraoka and Pierick. Vote no.

Have all votes been cast? Okay, Said Senate bills passed. Third reading. Let's move on to item number eight. Announcements, Members, Are there any announcements? Representative Garcia thank you, Madam Speaker and.

Esteemed colleagues of the House. It is with a heavy heart that I rise today to formally inform this body of the passing of our dear friend, my mentor and our colleague, Representative Gene Ward, who peacefully passed away early this morning. Gene Ward was more than just a Legislator. He was a true statesman.

He devoted his life to serving others, from the villages of the Peace Corps to the halls of this capital. Gene brought wisdom, humility, and a global perspective to our local challenges, and he did it all with Aloha.

What I witnessed firsthand, and what many of us here can attest to, was a man driven by principle, a man unshaken in his values, and a man deeply committed to the people of Hawaii. He carried a special love for the Native Hawaiian people, advocating tirelessly for the preservation of their culture, rights and future.

Even in his final days, Gene was doing what he loved most, serving the people. And though we mourn his loss, we celebrate a life well lived in the service of God, country and community.

The Ward family has shared the following words with us this morning, and I quote, on this Aloha Friday, my father, Gene, peacefully passed away in the early morning. On behalf of my mother and I, we want to thank the community for their abundance of prayers and kind thoughts.

My father did what he loved most, serving others until the end. We will miss him, but he will live forever in our hearts. Ferretta and Johanna Ward. And now, at the request of the family, Madam Speaker, I would like to close with the Lord's Prayer from the Gospel According to Matthew, Chapter 6, verses 9 through 13.

And for those who want to join in Gene's honor, please feel free to do so. Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Mahalo, Madam Speaker. And at the appropriate time after we adjourn, could we have a moment of silence in honor of the honorable Representative of Hawaikai?

Colleagues, please join us after the adjournment and moment of silence as we gather in a circle around Rep. Wards, chair and desk to sing Hawaii Aloha together. Mahalo.

Thank you, Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I move to keep the journal open until 10pm for the purpose of receiving Standing Committee reports and Senate bills transmitted thereby.

Representative Garcia

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say no. The motion is carried. Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I move that.

This House stand in recess until 9am Tuesday, April 8.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Representative Garcia. Madam Speaker, I second the motion. All those in favor, say I. Those opposed say no. The motion is carried. The House stands in recess until 9am Tuesday, April 8. Recess.

All those in favor, say aye. Those opposed say no. The motion is carried. The House stands in recess until 9am Tuesday, April 8. Recess.