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 Moriwaki.

Thank you, Mr. President. Please welcome--and you have just heard, and mahalo--Reverend David Baumgart Turner. Please stand. He's the pastor of the Church of the Crossroads, and as this is the start of both Earth and Holy Weeks, I knew of no other who would best bring a moment of contemplation to us.

He previously served as pastor of other churches on Kauai and Oahu, as Punahou School chaplain, a sustainability consultant, and co-founder of the Sustainable Outdoor Learning Center, and is executive director of Camp Mokule'ia. He's no stranger to the Legislature, as you heard, started in 1981 with Representative Hagino at the time, and recalls spending time with our own Senate President, two different paths of great public service.

With Kahu Turner is his wife, Kirsten--if Kirsten would stand--who currently is a sustainable community development consultant and co-founder of the Sustainable Outdoor Learning Center, and accompanying them is my staff, are my staff, Venus and Alex. Mahalo. Welcome to the Senate.

Further introductions? Senator DeCoite.

Thank you, Mr. President. I wanted to also introduce a few people that are here, and I know we're going to go through their GMs later, but from Maui, we have with us joining us here, Lisa Paulson. If you please stand and we can give you a hand? Thank you for being here.

Also we have Andrew Pereira and Walter Thoemmes also here from Stadium Authority. Assisting with them is Chris Sadayasu as well. Thank you guys for being here. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Further introductions? If not, Madam clerk.

Beginning on page one, Governor's Message number 11 transmits a proposed conference draft to fund the tentative agreement for Collective Bargaining Unit 5. And Governor's Message numbers 795 to 797 withdraw nominations to various boards and commissions.

File.

Starting on page two, House Communication numbers 716 to 727 return to various Senate Concurrent Resolutions that were adopted in the House unamended.

File.

On page six, House Communication numbers 728 and 729 return various Senate Concurrent Resolutions that were adopted in the House in an amended form for agree/disagree.

Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move that the Senate disagree to the amendments proposed by the House to the Senate Concurrent Resolutions, referencing House Communications number 728 to 729.

Senator DeCorte.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. Conferees will be named at a later date.

On pages six to 43, House Communication number 730 informs the Senate that House Bill 11--I'm sorry. On page six, House Communication number 730 informs the Senate that House Bill 1194 Senate Draft 3 passed final reading in the House, and on pages seven through 43, House Communication numbers 731 and 732 inform the Senate that the House has appointed conferees to various bills.

File.

On pages 44 to 48, Standing Committee Report numbers 1877 to 1894 for one-day notice.

So ordered.

On page 49, Standing Committee Report numbers 1895 and 1896 for adoption.

Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move for the adoption of Standing Committee Reports numbers 1895 to 1896.

Senator DeCorte.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

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

Beginning on page 49, Advise and Consent.

There are no objections from the members. We will be taking Advice and Consent. On Consent.

On pages 49 to 51, Standing Committee Report numbers 1865 to 1870 on Governor's Messages for adoption.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes? Senator Awa is at a no vote on GM 511. So noted. Any other no votes?

Twenty-four ayes; one no on GM 511, Standing Committee Report 1865. On all other Governor's Messages and Standing Committee Reports, 25 ayes.

Thank you. The nominees for said Governor's Messages have been confirmed.

Beginning on page 51, Adoption of Resolutions.

Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move for the adoption of said Standing Committee Reports and House Concurrent Resolutions.

Senator DeCorte.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. I jump the clerk's portion of pages 51 and 52, Standing Committee Report numbers 1871 through 1874 on House Concurrent Resolutions for adoption. Is there any discussion? Any objections? Reservations? No votes? No votes, Senator Awa? This would be on HCR 58 and 68. No vote for Senator Awa on HCR 58 and 68. Any other no votes? I'm sorry. The motion is carried. Said resolutions have been adopted.

Referrals and Re-referrals.

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

Beginning on page 53, miscellaneous business: reconsideration of disagreement to House amendments and motions to agree.

Senator Rhoads.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate reconsider its previous action in disagreeing to the amendments made by the House and agree to the amendments for the following bills: SB 280 SD 1, SB 295 SD 1, SB 544, SB 691 SD 1, and SB 1231 HD 1.

Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It has been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Senator Rhoads.

So for the first three of these, SB 284, SB 295, and SB 544, the only changes that the House made were technical amendments, so I think we can accept those. SB 691, this was a bill on family courts; establishes a minimum age of 12 for adjudication of any alleged or attempted violation of law.

The House limited the scope a little bit of what we had sent over to them so that the family court retains the ability to exercise jurisdiction over children with issues of school nonattendance or behavioral concerns. I believe that's a reasonable amendment to our bill and urge my colleagues to accept that.

The last one, SB 1231, this was the parentage bill, the Uniform Parentage Act, which generated quite a bit of controversy. There were quite a few amendments in the House but they were really improvements to the version that we sent over.

The gamete donor anonymity section, which generated most controversy when we heard the bill here in the Senate, remains excluded from the bill and I believe this is a reasonable compromise for a very complicated topic. Mahalo.

Thank you. Is there any further discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. One-day notice is hereby given for final reading of SB 284 HD 1, SB 295 HD 2, SB 544 HD 1, SB 691 HD 1, and SB 1231 HD 1. Senator Elefante.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate reconsider its previous action in disagreeing to amendments made by House to--by the House to Senate Bill 224 Senate Draft 1 and agreed to said amendments.

Mr. President, I second that motion.

Senator Wakai.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Senator Elefante.

Thank you, Mr. President. The edits by the House that they made were stylistic in nature.

Thank you. Is there any further discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. One-day notice is hereby given for final reading of SB 224 HD 1. Senator McKelvey.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that we, the Senate, reconsider its previous action in disagreeing to the amendments made by the House to SB 869 Senate Draft 1 and agree to said amendments.

Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Senator McKelvey.

Thank you very much. This bill was offered by a good colleague from Hawaii Island, and I believe the changes that that House made brought further clarity to what their boards are, the sub-area boards, and as such, I think it's a good amendment and it appears that the District Senator and the residents are in concurrence with that, so--

Thank you. Is there any further discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. One-day notice is hereby given for final reading of SB 869 HD 1. Senator Dela Cruz.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate reconsider its previous action in disagreeing to the amendments made by the House to SB number 1467 and agree to said amendments.

Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Senator Dela Cruz.

Your committee is requesting to reconsider its previous action as SB 1467 HD 1 was returned from the House with a clean date. This measure clarifies that a notice of appeal relating to an appeal of a county tax is not required to be served on the Director of Taxation.

Thank you. Is there any further discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. One-day notice is hereby given for final reading of SB 1467 HD 1. Senator Aquino.

Mr. President, I move that the Senate reconsider its previous action in disagreeing to the amendments made by the House and agree to said amendments for the following bills: SB 1359, SB 1360 Senate Draft 1, and SB 1361.

Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Any discussion? Senator Aquino.

Okay. All three measures have clean, effective dates and necessary housekeeping measures for the EUTF and ERS.

Thank you. Further discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. One-day notice is hereby given for final reading of SB 1359 HD 2, SB 1360 HD 2, and SB 1361 HD 2. Senator San Buenaventura.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Senate reconsider its previous action in disagreeing to the amendments made by the House and agree to set amendments for the following bills: SB number 1441 SD 2, SB number 1438 SD 1, SB number 1443 SD 1, and SB number 1442 SD 2.

Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Senator San Buenaventura.

The only amendments made by the House was to put in clean dates and upon approval and also only just technical amendments.

Thank you. Is there any further discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. One-day notice is hereby given for final reading of SB 1441 HD 2, SB 1438 HD 1, SB 1443 HD 1, and SB 1442 HD 2.

No further business, Mr. President.

Are there any announcements? If not, the chair--Senator DeCoite.

Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege?

Please proceed.

First of all, I want to thank my colleagues, of course, supporting the candidates under GM for HTA, GM 511. Sorry. These work.

Yes, 511 is correct if you recognize--

GM 511, GM 615, GM 600, GM 616, and GM 601, and we have three of them that are here with us today. I wanted to congratulate you folks and thank you for wanting to serve on those boards. So mahalo for your service.

Second, Mr. President, I also would like to say on behalf of myself and Senator Kidani--yesterday he was a little too fast; I couldn't make the announcements--I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who came out on Friday to support the 26th Annual Women's Legislative Caucus Easter Basket Drive.

Thanks to your generosity, beautifully assembled Easter baskets have been donated to five outstanding organizations: the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Institute of Human Services, Parents and Children Together, the Salvation Army, Mohala Mai, and the Hawaii Women's Prison Project, Mohola Mai. Mahalo to our incredible volunteers, our dedicated staff, and everyone who helped make this event such a success.

Whether you donated a basket, made a financial contribution, or simply helped spread the word, you're part of something truly meaningful, and to my colleagues in the Women's Legislative Caucus, thank you for your continued leadership, compassion, and commitment to this tradition of service, as well as to the men who have always supported our Women's Legislative Caucus. Mahalo. Thank you.

Thank you. Any further announcements? Senator San Buenaventura.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise for personal privilege.

Please proceed.

Thank you very much. I want to thank our colleagues for donating to the YWCA Dress for Success annual drive. It increases our young women's ability to get a job and increases their self-esteem, so mahalo as always. Thank you.

Thank you. Any further announcements? Senator Lee.

Thank you, Mr. President. As that time of the year, as the House and Senate face down across the conference table, so should you find yourself breaking a sweat in that competition or any other, we wanted to make sure everybody had something to capture that sweat, and at the same time, represent the Senate well. Best of luck, everyone.

Thank you, Senator Lee. Any further announcements? Senator Awa.

Point of personal privilege?

Please proceed.

Mahalo. Would just like to congratulate my former colleague, Andrew Pereira. The state's lucky to have a bright mind like his at the Stadium Authority.

Thank you. Further announcements? If not, the chair has two. We will hold a Senate Leadership meeting immediately after session in Room 409 and for the duration of the 2025 conference period, conferees will be named and revised in accordance with action--with the action sheets on the Capitol website and said actions will be reflected in the Journal. If there are no further announcements, Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move that the Senate stand adjourned until 11:30 a.m. tomorrow.

Senator DeCorte.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. If there are no objections from the members, we'll stand adjourned until 11:30 a.m. tomorrow.