House Floor

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

[Roll Call]

Thank you.

Members, at this time, the chair would like to introduce a special visitor to today's floor session. Seated behind me is acting Chief Justice Sabrina S. McKenna. Mr. Clerk, are there any messages from the Governor?

Yes. Madam Speaker. We are in receipt of Governor's message number one, informing the House that certain budget documents have been made electronically available to the Legislature. May this matter be received and filed. So ordered. Mr. Clerk, are there any further messages from the Governor? Yes. Madam speaker. We are in further receipt of message numbers 805. 01.

Appointing Joe Gideon to the 18th House District and Daisy Hartsfield to the 36th House District. May these messages be received for immediate action.

So ordered. Will the Sergeant at Arms and Assistant Sergeant at arms please escort Mr. Gideon and Ms. Hartfield to the rostrum for the oath of office? Acting Chief Justice McKenna, please proceed.

Mahalo, Nui, for inviting me to be here today. Representatives Hartsfield and Gideon, please raise your right hands and repeat after me. I do solemnly swear. Swear.

I do solemnly swear.

That I will support and defend.

That I will support and defend.

The Constitution of the United States. The Constitution of the United States. And the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

And the Constitution of the State of Hawaii.

And that I will faithfully discharge my Duties as a Member of the House of Representatives

As a Member of the House of Representatives. Of the State of Hawaii. Of the State of Hawaii. To the best of my ability.

To the best of my ability.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Thank you so much. Thank you. Acting Chief Justice McKenna. Members of the House, please give a warm welcome to the newest Members of this chamber, Representative Joe Gideon and Representative Daisy Hartsfield. Representatives Quinlan and Matsumoto, will you please present the new representatives with lei on behalf of the House.

Here to represent, support and Representative Gideon are his wife, Metzlee Gideon, parents Tony and Sylvia Gideon and Aunt Madeleine Shaw. And here to support Representative Daisy Hartsfield are her husband, Brian Hartsfield, her father, Herman Manzalnilo, and nephews Dylan and Darren Bubba Manuel. Mr. Clerk, are there any further messages from the Governor? Madam speaker, there are none.

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

Madam speaker, there are none.

Introductions, Members, are there any introductions? Representative Bellati.

Thank you. Madam Speaker. I have the privilege to acknowledge and introduce 13 cadets from the Marino Cadet Squadron of the Hawaii Wing Civil Air Patrol. If they could stand and be recognized. They are being joined by Captain Denton Alvarado and First Lieutenant Jody Green. Thank you. May I have their names inserted into the Journal?

So ordered. Thank you, Representative Matsumoto.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In the gallery today, we have students from Mililani High School's ASMHS. So on behalf of the Mililani representatives, I'd like to introduce them. We have Treyton Cabral, Lauren Omine, Brayden Fabro, Noah Felt, Madison Green, Julie Matsumoto. And they are joined by their advisor, Leilani Ward.

If we can give them a warm welcome to the House of Representatives.

Representative Sayama.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I'd like to recognize Members of the Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly who have visited us continuously since the establishment of our sister state relationship. Fukuoka. Kengikai Nominasan, Tozo Taterasai. Welcome to the State House of Representatives.

Representative Kusch.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to introduce our state's fire contingent. If they could stand. Our State Fire Marshal, Dorothy Booth. Dory. Where are they? Oh, way back there. Our very own Hawaii fire chief, Dan Volpe. Maui fire chief Brad Ventura. Hawaii fire chief Mike Gibson. Our state forestry wildlife fire protection officer, Mike Walker.

And Elizabeth Pickett from the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization. Thank you all and have their names entered in the Journal. Thank you.

Representative Keoh Kapu Lee Loy.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Here in the gallery today, I have some former colleagues from the Hawaii County Council. We. We have Council Member Heather Kimball and Council Member Jen Kagiwata. If you guys would please stand. And Ashley Kirkowitz. She's been so busy with the camera. Thank you and welcome to your House of Representatives.

Representative Shimizu.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And thank you everyone in the gallery for being here. And we welcome you to the People's House. I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge my wife, Joy, my daughters, Taryn and Cars, and my granddaughter, Alena. Joy. I wouldn't be here without their support and their love. And looking forward to a great session. Thank you, everyone.

Representative Morikawa.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I also see in the audience from Kauai, our chair, Council Chair Mel Raposo. Thank you for being here. Welcome.

Representative Miyake.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. From the beautiful island of Maui, we have the council Members. Council Member Hodgins. Council Member Yukile Sugimura and Council Member Keanu Rollins Fernandez. Welcome to your House of Representatives.

Representative Holt.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Majority Floor Leader and I had the privilege to welcome some students from Kamehameha Schools this morning. In the gallery, we have two of them joining us. Alohi, Brod, Giza. The Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Student Body President should be in the audience somewhere.

And also Lily Noy Peterson, who is the Kamehameha School's Maui Student Body President. Thank you for joining us today. And if I can please insert the names of the rest of the students into the journal.

So ordered, Representative Quinlan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My dad just texted me. I can see you, so I think that means he's in this room. I love you, dad. Thanks for coming.

Representative La Chica.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is my honor to welcome my family in the gallery today. My amazing husband, Cricket Lechica. My beautiful children, Foggy and Ricky Lechica. Welcome to your House of Representatives. They are also joined and accompanied by my amazing staff, Tosa Lobindan, Alani Santana and Tara Tenorio. And also our intern, Mia Britos. Please rise and welcome.

Representative Amato.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to take a moment to introduce my outstanding staff. I've got three of my four Members of my team today. Everyone knows my chief of getting stuff done, Dr. Joe Ritter. I have my outstanding new Committee Clerk, Macy. And we have my legislative lade Maria. Welcome to your House of Representatives.

Representative Tam.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In the gallery today is both my father and my grandmother, David Tam and Ming Mei Lin. So welcome to your House of Representatives.

Representative Hussey.

It's been a long. They are not in the. In the gallery this. This. This morning, but I. There is a delegation of 40 students here today from St. Andrews Priory, and I believe they're on the fifth floor right now. I'd like to just welcome them and have their names inserted into the journal if possible.

So ordered.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, Representative Kapela.

Thank you. Madam speaker, in the gallery today I have my team of incredible young women who are working in my office this year. Ruby, Haley and Kiana, thank you for the work you do. And accompanying them is my two year old daughter, Ualani. Hi, baby.

She's growing up. Representative Cochran.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And I'd like to acknowledge there all the Maui County people I bumped in on the plane right over. But I know Council Member Shane Sinency is here. Councilmember Tom Cook also, and multiple people from Maui County. From there's Michelle Yoshimura I know, and from Corporation Council and Jordan Hart. So many people.

I felt like sort of a reunion of county people today. But mahalo for being here at your House of Representatives and thank you for all the work you do. Looking forward to a new year.

Representative Souza.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In the gallery today we have my brother, Keoni Souza, OHA Trustee at large. And we also have interim CEO of OHA, Summer Silva. Thank you for being here, and thank you for the work that you do for native Hawaiians. Aloha.

Representative Hartsfield.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm a little nervous, but I want to introduce my other additional family who are here. Rosanna Manuel, who is my cousin. My two sisters, Dalia and Desna Manzanillo. Special thanks to my sister Desna, who just got off the night shift at Queens and came straight over here.

Also to my Auntie Lani Balaes, who is also a retired nurser from Queens. So thank you for my family who's here. And I also want to introduce two of my friends, Evelyn Mizukami and Eileen Lumina. And welcome to the House of Representatives. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Representative Gedeon.

Thank you, Speaker. In the gallery, I'd like to recognize my brother and his Jean Paul Gedeon and his wonderful wife Holly Gedeon, as well as my uncle, Tony Najem. Few of my constituents. John Monahan, former CEO and President of the Hawaii Visitors Convention Bureau, and his wife Nancy. And Dr. Tom Cooper. Where are you?

Professor Emeritus, Emerson College. Please have their names added to the record.

Representative Garcia.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I like to I see a fellow Garcia in the gallery. A former Member of the House and current staff and chair of the City Council, Nestor Garcia. Stand to be recognized. Welcome to the House.

Representative Reyes Oda.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to introduce Kahu Manu Naole. If you're in here, give me a wave. Manu. There he is. Thank you. He is here in his personal capacity today, supporting his best friend. I also want to acknowledge all the teachers in the building who have brought their students here.

And I remember being one of those teachers bringing the kids here and telling. Them that I mean it when I. Said that they need to be quiet in the gallery. So thank you for coming and welcome to the House of Representatives.

Representative Kila.

Mahalo Madam Speaker, I'd be remiss to not acknowledge her in the audience this morning. I welcome to your House of Representatives, my grandma Leslie.

Representative Perruso.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. So my husband claims that he is in the gallery, but if I don't see his face, he does not get credit. So just putting it out there. Okay. Good job.

He's up there.

And I wanted to also welcome part of our first part of this year's cohort of Kiki Caucus interns. In the gallery with us today, we have Hope Fuentes. And if you could please stand as I call your name. Hope Fuentes, who's with our office. Callie Le Pasqua, who's with Representative Quinlan's office. Pasquale Bolasan. My apologies. Eunice Kim.

Thank you. Taylor Wong, who's with Representative Grand's office. Isabella Lopez, who is with Representative Keela's office. And then Luki, who is with Representative Kahaloa's office. And ACcompanying them is Dr. Tammy Jones, their teacher. So mahalo and welcome to your Hawaii State House.

Representative Garcia.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I see through the cracks back there. Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Walton. Welcome to the House. Aloha.

Representative Ilagan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I want to recognize a person who I've worked with in the interim. John Sala Noah in the Hawaii Film Alliance. Can you please wave and say hello? Welcome to the House of Representatives.

Representative Garrett.

Good morning, Madam Speaker. With us today we have a delegation from one of the high performing schools in District 22, University Laboratory School. With us is Principal Jeremiah, Alyssa Capoana and seven students. Members, can you please welcome them to their state capitol?

Representative Poepoe.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In the gallery today, from Molokai, we have the team from Pulama Kaheke, which is an organization addressing rural health on our island. They are also administering, administering the ERMAT program. Alani Ozaki, the Executive Director, Lori Lee Rollins Crivello, and Auntie Stacy Helm Crevello. Thank you. Please welcome them.

Representative Evslin.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today I would like to introduce five special people who come to this building exactly one day per year, which is my wife, who's shaking her head right now because she doesn't want to stand up, and my two children Finley and Levi, who you have to stand up. And my parents.

And also my parents, Bill and Mickey Evslin. You have to stand up also.

Representative Keho Kapu Lee Loy.

Thank you, Madam speaker, for the second opportunity. As I was looking up at my former colleague Ashley Kirkwitz, I saw an amazing and incredible Mana Wahine sitting next to her. It is Bobby Jean Leathead Todd, the mom of Representative Chris Todd. And I also believe Steve Todd is with us.

Welcome to your House of Representatives.

Representative Todd.

Since you broke the Ayes, we're also joined today by my godmother, my Auntie Cindy from Apple Beach. Thank you for coming. And Uncle, Uncle Al is somewhere upstairs. Thank you.

Representative Templo.

Thank. Thank you, Speaker. From Kalihi. I'd like to recognize the United Public Workers. Please rise. This, this recognition is important to me because both of my parents were both UPW Members. And thank you for your public service. Mahalo.

Representative Hussey.

I claim them. I'd also like to thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd also like to represent, to acknowledge one of my constituents, Nani Espinda, who is a recent addition to my team. Thank you very much, Nani, for joining us.

Representative Souza.

Thank you again, Madam Speaker. In the audience I do see Mr. Kali Watson from the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. Welcome to your House of Representatives.

Representative Poepoe.

Thank you, Speaker. I just wanted to acknowledge two very dear friends who also came over from Molokai. Greg Kahn and Shannon. Thank you. Welcome to the House of Representatives.

Representative Holt.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Sorry, I have a friend in the audience who's going to be moving away. This is going to be my last time to acknowledge him and he's been a long time school teacher, currently works for hyema. Mr. Ethan Oki, a good friend of mine is going to be moving to D.C. in February.

Just want to give you the acknowledgment for helping the kids of Hawaii in our state for a long time. Mahalo.

Representative Kong.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Wow. I was an unofficial greeter at the door so I could introduce a whole lot of people, but I'll keep it short. Thank you. First, Mr. Dave Erdman, he is going to replace Tina Yamaki at the Hawaii Realtors Association. So Dave, would you please stand? I have two. Well, I got plenty of people.

I have two constituents. Eileen Wada, will you please stand? And Jane Sugimura. And anybody who's part of the party would recognize their names. And I would like to also introduce my old office manager who lives in Maui, works there Kone Hurdle. Welcome to your House of Representative. Thank you.

Representative Kahaloa.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I hope I didn't miss anyone from Kona, but I want to do an introduction to a constituent. Mr. Walter Kunitake. I see you hiding back there. Welcome to your House of Representatives.

Representative Grandinetti.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Just wanted to quickly recognize my staff. My office manager Aaron Enriquez, legislative aide Kate Tracy, and Committee Clerk Ian Murakami. And also a quick shout out to my Kiki Caucus intern, Taylor Wong. We're excited to have you on board.

If we can work as hard as we've been laughing, we're going to have a great session. Welcome to your House of Representatives.

Representative Amato.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. If I may be permitted a second introduction, I'd like to acknowledge Cameron Hurt of Common Cause Hawaii, outstanding, tireless social justice and economic justice advocate. Welcome to your House.

Okay, okay.

If there are no further. Wait, wait, wait, wait. Speaker, Speaker. I'm sorry. Second time, Kong.

I have two special guests here. Gary and Tami Wenof. Will you please stand? And welcome to your House of Representatives.

Representative Cochran.

Mahalo, Madam Speaker. For the second time, my new hire, J. How. His wife and daughter are here in the gallery, so just. There they are. I just met you split second at the elevator. Welcome to your House of Representatives. Aloha

Representative Alcos.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In the gallery, I see a couple of my friends. I see Sheila Menderes out there and Gary Corduroy and his wife. Welcome to the House of Representative.

Representative Muraoka.

Morning, Madam speaker, and thank you for having me in a gallery today. We got some students from Papahana O Kaona. They're a specialty school out on our coastline. They help students with Waianae High School as well as Nanakuli High School, as well as. Not in the gallery, but upstairs, we got students from Kamali Elementary.

And since I'm up already, I might as well recognize my amazing, amazing staff. Probably the best staff in the whole building. They're upstairs. They're so amazing, they didn't even want to come down and take seats from you wonderful people. They're watching on tv. And since my wife is up there as well.

To the best wife in the world. Welcome to your House of Representatives. Thank you.

My mom is also watching upstairs in my office, so. Mom, Jenna, Bea, and Stephanie. Aloha. Recess. The chair will call a recess to allow the Members to congratulate Representatives Gideon and Hartsfield. Recess.

Will the House come to order? Item number four, introduction of bills. Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I move that all bills laying on the clerk's desk pass first reading by title and be referred to print.

Representative Garcia.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

All those in favor say Aye. Those opposed say no. The motion is carried. Item number five, introduction of resolutions. Mr. Speaker, are there any resolutions for action?

Yes, Madam Speaker. House Resolution number one, relating to the majority caucus leadership. Minority caucus leadership and chairs, Vice chairs and Members of the standing committees of the House of Representatives of the 33rd Legislature. This resolution is offered by Representatives Quinlan and Matsumoto.

Representative Kahaloa.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt House Resolution number one.

Representative Matsumoto.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion. Any discussion?

Representative Iwamoto.

Thank you. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution with reservations and also a little bit of optimism. House rules gives the speaker sole authority to decide our Committee assignments and who serves as Chair of each House Committee. And I think you made some great selections, so thank you very much for those choices.

I appreciate having received many communications regarding how our House leaders would be working more collaboratively and inclusively and would be improving communications between Chairs and amongst all Members. And I also heard echoes of that sentiment in Majority Caucus Leader Kahaloa's speech. Welcoming speech earlier. So thank you very much for those affirming words.

It is my understanding that this cooperation among House Members has improved since prior years. Less warring among factions, less tension between parties. I am so grateful for your leadership, Madam speaker, to make this happen. However, with all this progress, you can imagine how surprised I was when I was told that every Committee chair has the prerogative to.

To single out one of our colleagues and never hear any of their bills. I was told this by someone with greater seniority and authority. And again, it's just a prerogative. From my understanding, it's not something that maybe somebody might use.

This prerogative is not listed in the House rules, and it seems contrary to our workplace harassment policy, which explicitly prohibits unreasonably interfering with an employee's work performance and ignoring attempts at communication. Learning that a Committee Chair has unchecked unilateral power to ostracize one of our colleagues was a stab in my heart.

It was a stab in the heart of democracy.

Madam Speaker.

Stab in the heart of the very representational democracy.

Representative Quinlan.

I request a quick recess.

Recess.

Calling us back to order. Representative Iwamoto. On the resolution before us.

I'm only regarding my remarks regarding Committee Chairs, which this Is the only time.

The membership of our committees.

Correct, thank you. So again, hearing that, that there is this prerogative of a Committee Chair to have this is the staff in the.

Recess. Will the House come to order? Representative Iwamoto.

Please finalize your comments.

Thank you.

I will. This is the the essence, and I'll jump to the conclusion. So, Madam Speaker, I beg you not to protect this legacy of lesser men. We must not condone this practice with our silence.

If you have not asked your appointed Committee Chairs to renounce this practice, please, please allow them to now rise in support of this resolution and affirm their commitment to never exercise this so called prerogative of the Chair, nor marginalize a colleague in this way.

And I want to conclude by saying, if any Member of this House has exercises prerogative in the past, let it stay in the past. It was a different time, a different culture, under different leadership. We should all have room to evolve, to mature, to deepen our compassion, to deepen our appreciation for democracy.

And we all deserve the grace to forgive and be forgiven, to heal one another, to heal ourselves, and heal the public's trust in our legislative process. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Any further discussion? All those in favor say Aye. All those opposed say no. House Resolution is adopted. Mr. Clerk, are there any other resolutions for action?

Yes, Madam Speaker. House Concurrent resolution number one, relating to recess days for the regular session of 2026. This Concurrent Resolution is offered by you, Madam speaker, and Vice Speaker Ichiyama.

Representative Kahaloa.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt House Concurrent Resolution number one.

Representative Garcia.

Speaker, second the motion.

Any discussion? All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say no. House Concurrent resolution number one is adopted. Mr. Clerk, is there any other resolution for action?

Yes, Madam Speaker. House Concurrent Resolution number two requesting the Governor to address the Legislature assembled in joint session. This Concurrent Resolution is offered by you, Madam speaker, and Vice Speaker Ichiyama.

Representative Kahaloa.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt House Concurrent resolution number two.

Representative Garcia.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Any discussion? All those in favor say Aye. All those opposed say no. House Concurrent resolution number two is adopted. Mr. Clerk, are there any other resolutions for action?

Madam speaker, there are no further resolutions for action. May all others be referred to print. So ordered.

Okay. This is when I deliver the opening remarks. So, Aloha Kakahiaka. Welcome to the opening day of the 2026 legislative session. Today we gathered with a shared purpose, to do the people's work with humility, with urgency, and with care.

We come from 51 unique districts around the state of Hawaii, and we come with different life experiences, but we are united by a simple obligation to make life better for the people of Hawaii. Let me begin by introducing our two newest Members. Please stand when I call your name. Representing District 18 is Joe Gedeon.

Representative Gedeon was born and raised in Hawaii, Kai. With his family's deep roots in in the community spanning nearly five decades, he brings insights and experience as a small business owner in marketing and advertising. Rep. Gedeon has a history of volunteer public service and is committed to serving his constituents with care and dedication.

Representing District 36 is Daisy Hartsfield. Representative Hartsfield is a product of Waipahu Elementary, Intermediate and High schools. She brings more than two decades of experience in public service with a career spanning child welfare, public safety and the justice system. Her work focuses on protecting vulnerable individuals, strengthening families, and ensuring fairness across Hawaii's social service and justice systems.

Please join me in giving them a warm welcome. Today. I commend the Attorney General for announcing yesterday that she will initiate an investigation into the legislator who accepted $35,000 in funds. This is a positive development and an important step toward maintaining the public trust.

The Special Investigation and Prosecuted Division created and funded by the state Legislature in 2022 is well positioned to handle this matter with the independence and rigor it requires, and I trust it will take appropriate actions in a timely manner.

Although today marks the beginning of the 2026 session, the work to prepare for this session began soon after we adjourned in May of last year. Over the past eight months, we have collectively laid the groundwork for this session here at the Capitol.

The House held 31 informational briefings giving both lawmakers and and the public up to date information from experts on complex issues. We received updates on upcoming federal funding cuts to critical safety net programs, innovative programs like Operation Hire Hawaii, and prison reform by strengthening reentry services statewide. Mahalo to our Committee Chairs who organized these important briefings.

During the interim, Members assisted and advocated for constituents on issues and connecting families to the state services and benefits that can sometimes feel too complicated to access. This has always been an important part of what we do, and I believe that now more than ever, it is a vital service for many residents.

A call to their representative isn't always political. It's personal. It's helped with a real problem in real time. So mahalo to Members for being responsive to your constituents.

Outside of the Capitol, Members went on 68 site visits across our state, visiting schools, jails, prisons, hospitals, snorkeling in bays, hiking on mountaintops, meeting with farmers and small businesses, listening to community groups and seeing firsthand what is working and what is not.

We all know that there's no substitute for meeting in person, talking face to face with experts, and gaining critical insights and problems affecting the communities we serve. We walk away from these visits with the feeling I now understand this issue better and I think I can do something about it.

I know that many of the bills that will be introduced this session are the direct result of conversations held on these site visits.

I'd like to give a special shout out to our Higher Education Chair for visiting all 10 campuses of the University of Hawaii System and Finance Chair for organizing trips in all four counties, and a shout out to your staff for the incredible logistics involved in these visits.

Interim is also the time for Members to engage with their districts to listen, to learn to connect constituents with resources and bring their interests back back to this chamber. Both majority Minority Caucus Members held listening tours around our state. Many of you held town hall meetings with topics focused on wildfire, mitigation, crime and roadway safety and design.

And our tireless and some would say, crazy Puna representative continued his streak of 12 town halls this interim. The majority caucus held six lawmaker learn sessions to get expert information on Medicaid and SNAP cuts, immigration resources and strategies for complex legislation. Mahalo to Vice Speaker Chiamo for working with Members to organize these invaluable learning sessions.

And it is during the interim that we do much of the work on our bills, researching drafting, stress testing ideas, meeting with departments and stakeholders and working through the details so that when session opens we are prepared to act.

And I know that HMSA is extremely thankful to Rep. Evslin for restraining himself this session and requesting only seven redrafts of his bills. Task forces and study groups are usually in full swing during the interim, and last year was no exception.

Representative Scott Matayoshi participated in Landlord Tenant Working Group to modernize the Landlord Tenant Code and the CPR Task Force. Rep. Greggor Ilagan Chaired the Speed Task Force to reduce regulations, make permitting more efficient, and support collaboration between state counties and the private sector.

Rep. Sue Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Rep. Mike Lee and Rep. Tyson Miyake facilitated working groups on building permits, cesspools and historic preservation. Rep. Jackson Chaired the Paid Family Leave Task Force with both public and private stakeholders.

As we all know, passing bills doesn't always guarantee full implementation, so Members worked to make sure that bills that we that they advocated for and we passed last session were implemented. Rep. Matias Kusch worked with the Department of Law Enforcement to combat agricultural theft in Hamakua.

Rep. David Tarnas attended A blessing for the newly established Women's Court in Kona whose funding he championed. Rep. Trish La Chica followed up on Act 140 to expand access to school bus and student transportation and what warms my heart are the projects that you undertook the center to improve your neighborhoods and your communities.

Rep. Amy Perruso worked on disaster preparedness, establishing radio communications between 35 neighborhood coordinators and formalizing evacuation routes in Wahiawa. Rep. Lisa Kitagawa coordinated the Castle Complex School Drive, E Waste Recycling Drive and their annual walkthrough Flu Shot event.

Rep. Jeanné Kapela got a Hawaiian immersion Keiki and Kupuna Language school that back up and running in Kau. Rep. Kila worked closely with the county and state to convert an emergency only road in Nanakuli to a full time 24/7 continuous use roadway.

Rep. Cory Chun supported a Neighborhood Security Watch program in Pearl City and educated his community in emergency preparedness. Many of you worked on shoreline waterway and neighborhood cleanups, food distribution during the Federal Government shutdown and invasive species containment and some of you attended blessings for new preschool classes. Thank you.

Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke taught civics education to our youth. Read to elementary and middle school students, including Representative Garner Shimizu.

Mahalo to all of you for being role models and educating our youth, making our neighborhoods safer and more resilient, rolling up your sleeves and doing the hard work and giving back in so many ways to the communities you love. That's why I'm so incredibly proud and honored to serve as your Speaker. Your commitment is not just words.

It's your actions, both in this building and outside of the Capitol that truly speaks of your dedication to public service and lay the important groundwork for this session. Unfortunately, our work during the interim was also influenced by the decisions of the Federal Government.

As we all know, the Federal Government was shut down for 43 days, the longest in US history. We found out at the end of September that the Federal Government would not use USDA contingency funds, as was the practice in previous shutdowns, to pay SNAP benefits to some 16,000 Hawaii households.

By adding a one time $250 benefit for Hawaii SNAP users and expediting the release of funds previously approved to the Hawaii Food Bank, we provided much relief to families worried about their next meal.

I would like to mahalo the Governor, the Department of Human Services and the Senate for the coordination needed to move quickly and this would not have been possible without the behind the scenes work of our Human Services and Homelessness Chair Lisa Marten and Majority Caucus Leader Kirsten Kahaloa.

During the interim, we also worked on the implementation of Act 310 that appropriated $50 million for nonprofits that experience a loss in Federal Funds. Act 310 Committee focused on food security, healthcare and community services and selected 95 awardees out of the 143 that applied.

Please join me in thanking Rep. Kyle Yamashita for securing this funding and Committee Members Rep. Daniel Holt and Rep. Jenna Takenouchi for their outstanding work. I'm excited that we've laid a strong foundation during the last eight months for our work this session and I would like to ask my leadership team to please rise and remain standing.

Vice Speaker Linda Ichiyama, Majority Leader Sean Quinlan,Mmajority Caucus Leader Kirstin Kahaloa, Majority Floor Leader Dee Morikawa, Assistant Majority Floor Leader Trish La Chica, Majority Whip Lisa Kitagawa, Majority Whip Amy Perruso and Majority Whip Tyson Miyake. I could not be speaker without you and your incredible staff stepping up to help in so many different ways.

You have used your talents, your skills and dedication to this body to address the needs of the House and to prepare for this session. Members, let's give them a round of applause. I'd like to give also a shout out to my office staff.

You are all so amazing and our Legislative Staff, Clerk's Office, Sergeant's Office, Majority Minority Research Offices, Communications, Custodial Staff and Legislative Reference Bureau for supporting all of our efforts during the interim and preparing us for this session.

And I have to thank and acknowledge the Members of our newly formed Employee Council for stepping up to help build camaraderie, open up lines of communication and make the House a better place to work. Last year the Majority Caucus Cross crafted our 20 year vision which was recently updated.

I'd like to summarize this vision and ask that we keep it at the forefront as we work through this session. By 2045, Hawaii is a model for the world, a place where families can thrive and stay, Keiki are safe and flourishing and kupuna can age with dignity.

Native Hawaiian culture and rights are preserved and the Department of Hawaiian Homelands wait list is significantly reduced. Our lands and waters are protected and well managed, our communities are walkable and connected, housing is affordable, health care is preventable and accessible and homelessness is dramatically reduced. Our economy is diverse and resilient, powered by clean, reliable, renewable energy.

Our workers receive good benefits and are fairly compensated. We're prepared for disasters. We've partnered with counties to build infrastructure. We're growing food locally for families, schools, hospitals and prisons. And we trust our government because it is accountable and effective.

I believe we made progress towards our vision last session, and I'm confident that we will make additional progress this year. In closing, I'm optimistic about we can accomplish if we work together, respect each other, hold each other accountable, and ground our service in compassion.

Even with the challenges ahead, an uncertain federal budget and a possible mild recession, we can all agree that we share the same responsibility to make life better for the people of Hawaii.

If we keep showing up with humility, with urgency and with care, we will move the state closer to our 2045 vision, step by step, bill by bill, and in ways that people can feel in their daily lives. So let's get it done. Mahalo. Piha.

Representative Matsumoto.

Thank you. Madam Speaker, Vice Speaker Ichiyama, Majority Leader Quinlan, Majority Caucus Leader Kahaloa, Colleagues, friends and Members of the public, good morning and aloha. Madam Speaker, I want to begin by thanking you for your outreach to all the Members of this body.

I appreciate the willingness of the House leadership to examine the culture of this building and re evaluate how we conduct the people's work. The creation of the House Employee Council is a meaningful step and a clear demonstration of your continued commitment to improving the workplace here at the Capitol.

Opening day is always memorable, especially when it's your first. And I know we've done this a few times already, but I'd also like to welcome Representative Joe Gedeon. We can give him a round of applause.

Born and raised in Hawaii Kai, and a proud graduate of Kaiser High School, he has a strong sense of purpose and genuine love for his community and an infectious enthusiasm for public service. We are fortunate to have you and I know you will serve your district well.

Over the past three years, the House Republican Caucus has made a deliberate effort to listen through our Oahu listening tour, town halls across the island and district wide surveys we have heard directly from our constituents. For our listening tour this year, we went to five locations over five days. Waianae, Ewa, Mililani, Moanalua and Hawaii Kai.

Thousands of residents took the time to respond to our efforts. They shared their struggles, their frustrations and the hopes for the future of Hawaii. The message that we heard was clear and what was so interesting to me was across all of those different districts and the different demographics, we heard the same issues.

Cost of living, crime, corruption and government reform. And that has shaped our 2026 caucus package. Legislation built from the voices of the people we represent in addition to all of our public outreach, we partnered with advocates and subject matter experts to convene our Caucuses Hawaii Legislative Advisory Board in order to take the listening even further.

We translated community concerns into well researched practical solutions and these discussions became valuable resource for our Members, furthering our dedication to policy centered on everyday issues that really matter to people. I'd like to thank our House Minority Research Office and our Caucus staff and for the countless hours they devoted to outreach, analysis and policy development.

So now let me present to you the 2026 caucus priorities so first, cost of living for decades, this has been the number one issue facing our residents. We have moved the needle a little bit, but there's still much more that needs to be done. We all know that families are struggling to afford gas, groceries, housing, utilities.

And we know a recent ALICE report shows that 35% of people in our state are living just one unexpected pay financial crisis away from losing everything. Our caucus is committed to putting money back into the pockets of local families.

We are introducing measures to reduce and eliminate taxes, help residents save more quickly for a down payment on a home, working to make it easier for DHHL beneficiaries to get a federally backed mortgage loan and ensure that the tax relief promised just two years ago is not taken away. People need help now.

We as a Legislature need to take a critical look at our budgets and our government spending before asking people to give up more of their hard earned paychecks. We made a promise and we should keep it. Second, public safety and crime. Our constituents told us they do not feel safe and they are right to be concerned.

In response, we are introducing legislation that establishes strict liability for crimes against our kupuna. Those who prey on our elders will face serious consequences. We are also advancing legislation to create a specific offense for organized retail theft, allowing prosecutors to hold ringleaders accountable, not just the individuals that they exploit.

These smash and grab crimes that we see online are creeping into our state and they have no place here in Hawaii. In addition, we are introducing a measure so that individuals suffering from severe mental illness can receive help before tragedy occurs. Compassion and safety must go hand in hand.

Third, government Reform and accountability Trust in government is eroded when there are no real consequences for abuse of power. The Legislature has a constitutional role in checks and balances and that role must be strengthened, not weakened.

Our caucus will advance measures to protect taxpayers, rein in excessive and costly regulations, and impose stronger penalties on public officials who break the law. Accountability should not depend on position or title. Additionally, we are also committed to making voting more accessible by increasing the number of voting service centers.

No one should have to wait in line for six hours to vote. This way, we ensure that residents can vote when they want, how they want, and with confidence in the system. These priorities reflect the voices of our communities, and they will guide our work this session.

While these issues are critical, they are only part of the extensive legislative agenda before us. And to improve our state, there must be a willingness to listen, even when we disagree. In fact, you often hear me say this healthy disagreement and respectful debate make this institution stronger and lead to better outcomes for Hawaii.

In the times of session when it's hard, we must remember to treat another and the public we serve with dignity and respect, even when the work is difficult. I look forward to a productive session and to working with each of you on behalf of the people of Hawaii. Mahalo.

I'm pleased to make a late introduction. In the gallery today we have US Senator Brian Schatz. Please stand. Governor Josh Green and first lady. Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke and first gentleman. Mayor Rick Blangiardi. Mayor Derek Kawakami, Mayor Richard Bisson and Mayor Kimo Alameda. Thank you for being here. I'd like to now call on Representative Sean Quinlan.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to start out today with a little bit about my family history. And don't worry, I'm going somewhere with this. So for most of the planet, World War II ended in 1945. But that's not true of China. After the capitulation of the Japanese Empire, the two sides of the civil war resumed hostilities.

It was the Communists versus the Nationalists and the Nationalists. My family were Nationalists. That was the group that was funded and armed by the United States of America.

And in 1949, when it became apparent to my family that we were about to lose the war, my two great grandfathers got together and put the rest of my family on a plane and sent them to Hong Kong. At the time, my mother was still in my grandma's belly.

And my mother was born in exile in Hong Kong. And despite my family having lived in China for thousands of years and all that history, my mother never lived a day of her life in China. And I say this to illustrate the point that my family knows what it's like to lose their country.

And as I stand before all of you here today, I worry in some respects that I'm losing my country right now. Today on the mainland, federal immigration officials, enforcement officials, and ski masks are going door to door in residential neighborhoods demanding proof of citizenship without judicial warrants. In some cases, they have even detained and arrested U.S. citizens.

That is not the America that I grew up in. And why are they doing this? Is it because somebody at the Federal Government perhaps doesn't like the Governor of that state or the mayor of that city? This is troubling. What about the Fourth Amendment? What about our protections from unreasonable search and seizure?

And the powers that be will tell you that this is all part of a greater plan that we're going to deport and tariff and tax cut our way to universal prosperity, that if billionaires can just pay a little less in taxes, somehow we'll all be better off.

And yet, in the past year, we've added $2 trillion to our federal deficit. But don't worry. We have a plan, because we are going to annex, invade, purchase, or otherwise acquire Greenland, which has been part of Denmark for over 200 years.

Denmark, a NATO ally who came to our aid after September 11th when we invoked Article 5 for the only time in the history of NATO who lost 43 soldiers in Afghanistan. Now, 43 might not sound like a big number, but it's a big number to a small country like Denmark.

It's a big number to the mothers and sons and fathers and daughters that those people left behind. I'd also like to point out that the Members of NATO collectively own trillions of dollars in US Sovereign debt.

What would happen if they collectively decided that the US Wasn't a good financial bet anymore, that there was just too much risk involved, there was too much uncertainty, and they started selling that debt? Our currency would be devalued and our purchasing power, the purchasing power of every individual American would go down.

And I have to say I'm not very comfortable. I've never been very comfortable talking about these issues. For the vast majority of my career, I've been the one telling everybody else, let's focus on Hawaii. And I still believe that. Let's not worry too much about what happens on the mainland.

Let's not worry too much about what happens in the Federal Government. But, Madam speaker, when the actions of the Federal Government and what is happening on the mainland start to impact our checkbooks and our purchasing power and the value of our currency, to this extent, I feel compelled to speak out. And what is the answer to this?

You know, things seem kind of grim. What are we to do? And to me, the answer is very, very simple. We have to hold on to our shared values. We have to stick together. Aloha, Ohana. Those are not just words.

Those are meaningful concepts that all of us feel, every one of us in this room, deep in our hearts. I see it every day when I come to work. I see it every day when I walk around my community. And through these shared values, we will ensure that no child ever goes hungry in Hawaii. We will.

We will ensure that people have health care so that when they're sick, they can afford to go to the doctor. We will make sure that we protect working families every day through the work that we do in this building.

I have every confidence in the House of Representatives, in our Senate, and our Governor and our mayors, that if we continue to work together, we will weather this storm and we will come out of it stronger than ever before. Mahalo.

Thank you, too, for those floor speeches. Item number six. Announcements. Members, are there any announcements? Representative. Seeing none. Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I move that this House stand adjourned until 12 o' clock noon tomorrow.

Representative Garcia.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

All those in favor say Aye. All those opposed say no. The motion is carried. The House stands adjourned until 12 noon tomorrow.