Senate Floor

Will the Senate please come to order?

Madam Clerk, please call the roll. [Roll Call] 22. Present. Three excused.

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

Thank you, Mr. President. We all just met Marisa Brooks who runs the Fit for Moms group at Huna Kai park in District 9. I'd also like to introduce fellow Members of our office. We have our legislative assistant, one of the Fit moms, Stephanie Smith Eisenstadt. Also of District 9. We have our office manager, Ruben Sierra.

Our Committee Clerk, Casey Shoji. And our intern, also from District 9, James Melcher. Thank you so much for your hard work on behalf of our district.

Senator San Buenaventura.

Thank you, Senator. President. Today I would like to introduce our one day intern from Lebanon. Please rise. Raisaan Kaiser. She's an exchange student from Lebanon attending St. Andrews Priory School. Her goal is to become a surgeon. Welcome to the Senate.

And with her is my staff, my office manager, Kamana Levy, my Committee Clerk, Monique Takumi, and my sister who is a volunteer, Ellen San Buenaventura. Thank you and welcome to the Senate.

Thank you, Senator Lee.

Thank you, Mr. President. Joining us today we have another exchange student here who's also at Saint Andrews Priory, Yasmin Toth, who's here from Hungary. She has a interesting cat, dog and a horse which very jealous of. Welcome to Hawaii.

Senator Lomasa.

Thank you, Senator President. It is my pleasure to recognize the student government leaders from Waipahu Intermediate School visiting us here today in the gallery. If you please stand to be recognized students. And they're also. You can have a seat. And then they're also accompanied by their teachers, Dana Tokunaga and Christy Saito.

They also gave me this lovely Pog Allay. And as an avid collector, so Senate President of Pokemon Cards, I am deeply appreciative. Obviously. Mahalo and welcome to your Senate.

Senator Keohokalole.

Thank you, Mr. President. It's also my pleasure to introduce three exchange students who are all participating in the Future Leaders exchange program from the American Council for International Education. First up, the luckiest person person in Moldova, Sergey. Please rise. He's at Castle High School in Kaneohe. Please welcome him.

We have from Uzbekistan, Shakriza, who is also at St. Andrew's Priory. Welcome. And then at Kailua High School, we have Sasha, who is from Ukraine. Welcome to the Senate and enjoy Hawaii.

Thank you. Any further introductions? If not, Madam Clerk.

On pages one through four, departmental communication numbers 129 to 146, transmit various reports file. Also on page four, judiciary communication numbers 17 to 19, transmit reports file on page five. Introduction of Senate bills 2499 to 2656.

Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move that the Senate bills, numbers 2499 to 2656, pass first reading by title and be referred to Committee.

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.

Senate resolution number three for referral to Committee.

So ordered.

Referrals and re referrals.

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

No further business. Mr. President.

Are there any announcements today? If not, the Chair has several. Today is the unlimited bill introduction deadline. The deadline to submit all bills to the Clerk's office is 5pm this evening. After today, bill limits will be in effect for the duration of the bill introduction period.

You may file up to five bills each on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. The Senate session on Monday, January 26, will convene at 9:30am after which we will meet in joint session with the House to receive the Governor's State of the state address at 10am in the House chamber. Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move that the Senate stand in recess, leaving the journal open until 5pm to receive Senate bills for introduction. And I further move that the Senate reconvene at 9:30am on Monday, January 26th.

Senator DeCorte.

Mr. President, I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. If there are no objections from the Members, the Senate will stand in recess, leaving the journal open until 5pm and will reconvene on 9.30am on Monday.