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 Elefante.

Thank you, Mr. President. Happy Aloha Friday to everyone. And I'd like to first acknowledge and thank the Senator from Kalihi Valley for giving me this opportunity to introduce folks in our chamber today.

Joining us from Chambers Week, the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii is celebrating its annual Chambers Week, a series of programming that brings together business leaders, entrepreneurs, local small business owners, and, as we see today, students to engage in the legislative process.

If you are a Member of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, if you could kindly please stand as I introduce some of the Members. There we have our President, Sherry Menor, Marissa Escalante, Nadia Holt, Tonga Hoopoe, Kaya Ishimine, Julian Kiabu, Lord Ryan Lizardo, Vanessa Rogers, Zoe Shimizu, Sophia Wilmholm, and anyone else from our chamber team.

Let's give them a warm welcome. And Mr. President, at the appropriate time, if I may be permitted to insert the names into the journal, please.

So ordered. Further introduction, Senator Kim.

Thank you, Mr. President. Great to see so many young people in our chamber. I'd like to add and welcome 8th graders from Moanalua Middle School Social Studies, if they will stand and rise to be recognized. Thank you all. I want to thank them for their questions that they asked and welcome them here.

But also with them, teacher Jared Honjio, as well as VP Greg Nakata. So welcome to your state capitol.

Further introductions. Okay. I know HSTA has been walking around the building. Apparently we haven't scripted Senator Kanuha. So I'm just gonna say to Susan Chandler, who's in the Kaua' I District office in Saratuchiki, at Chiefess Kamaka Heli Middle School. The band teacher, they're visiting from Kaua'. I. Welcome. Oh, maybe we have some other teachers here. Senator Gabbard.

Thank you, Senator. President. I would like to call upon the exceptional student leaders and Chaperones in the gallery from Kapolei High School. They would please stand. They are there. They are. Okay, keep standing.

Senator Favella.

Hurricanes, as I call your name to be recognized. Deborah Alipio, Faith Madison, Antonio Alina, Falante Makakao and Christina Subiono. And Mr. President, at the appropriate time, I insert their names of these students and their dedicated educators visiting today into the journal.

So ordered. Senator Favella.

Thank you, Senate President. Also today we have, if I'm not mistaken, 50 students from James Campbell High School. Can we please. Can you guys just stand? Cole Sabers.

Today we honor and welcome the 50 students from James Campbell High School for the early this morning for advocating for sharing their impressive and insightful presentation and focus on bike and pedestrian safety. As you guys know, we had a little issues in our community. So again thank them for always thinking about other kids in the community.

Again for their thorough approach in innovation and ideas, demonstrating a deep understanding and in practice of creating safety and more accessibility streets for everyone in the community. We commend and again for their passion and commitment in making positive difference and making Ewa Beach and our community safe. So can we give them another round of applause?

You know, as you guys can tell, we're the largest school in the state, so we have the largest people in largest community in the chamber. But again, with all the endurance that they have with the overcrowding of our school, lack of facilities in the community. My hat and my love and aloha go to them. And again, welcome to your Senate chamber. Thank you, Senate President.

Senator Wakai.

Thank you, Mr. President. I am also honored to introduce all of you to a bunch of Radford Ram students who are here and joining the chamber in follow up to Senator Favela helping to increase traffic safety awareness in our streets. And I'd like to introduce the nine students and two educators from Radford High School.

When I call your name, if you could please stand. Micah Afale, Arana Adams, Nevaeh Arnaz, Gregory Cachero, Jade Culbertson, John English, Andrea Fitzgerald, Mary O ', Connell, Irali Perez, Christina Platt and Kelsen Staffordic. Thank you for joining us and contributing to the discussions here at the state Capitol.

Further introductions, Senator Favela and then Senator lamasao.

I apologize, Senator President. At the appropriate time, can I enter their names in the journal when you submit them to the Clerk?

So ordered, Senator Lamosao.

Thank you, Senator President. Today we are pleased to welcome some marauders in the House. I'm sorry, in the Senate. Marauders can you please stand to be recognized? Hi. So these enthusiastic and engaged students took the opportunity to advocate for the redevelopment of Waipahu District Park.

Their efforts demonstrate the students long sorry strong commitment to enhancing community spaces and improving the quality of life for their neighbors. I'd also like to acknowledge our teacher, Mr. Fitz in the gallery as well. And I also want to point out one particular student, my son, C.J. if you could just raise your hand.

Very proud of this group, Mr. President. Because of their strong advocacy for their community and at appropriate timing, their names also be entered into the journal as well as their educators too. Thank you so much.

And since he is with a group of students from Waipahu. No conflict, Senator Lomasaw. We will enter the names into the journal. Thank you, sir. Perez. Further introduction. Senator Elefante.

Thank you, Mr. President. I forgot to also add that today the Doe High School students are here with the Chamber practicing civic engagement and advocacy. This morning, from 9:15 to 11, the students convene in the Capitol Auditorium to discuss challenges and potential solutions within their communities. Then they identified statewide challenges and explored corresponding policy solutions.

This afternoon between 1 to 2:30, they'll be putting their skills to practice in visiting our offices for their high school Capitol. Walk around. So also in the chamber. I don't know if they've been introduced yet. We also have students in the Chamber Leadership board. So if you're in the Chamber Leadership Board, if you could please stand.

Let's give them a round of applause. You may be seated. Mahalo to the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii for bringing the these talented students to advocate on such important issues. Their voices and perspectives are invaluable in helping us shape a brighter future for our communities. And just want to thank you again. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Further introductions. Senator Favela for the third.

I'm looking, but I'm not sure. If you hear from hsta, I want to make a welcome to Jason Bradshaw. I know you were supposed to be here in the support of other kids. Thank you. Senator President.

Senator Gabbard.

Mr. President. I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce my staff for this year. Express my gratitude for all they're doing for my district and for the rest of the state. Meg Turner is my office manager and Committee Clerk. And also you've met Melanie June, my community liaison. Also Nadia Riggs and Donna Lay, who are my legislative assistants. Mahalo.

Any further introductions? If not Madam Clerk,

on pages one and two, Governor's message numbers 685 to 691. Transmit nominations to various boards and commissions.

Governor's message numbers 685 to 691 are referred in accordance with the referrals listed on the order.

Order of the day, beginning on page two. Departmental communication numbers 169 to 182. Transmit various reports. File on page five. Senate Concurrent Resolution number 18 for referral to Committee. So ordered. Also on page five, standing Committee report numbers 2110 to 2123 for adoption. Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move for the adoption of Standing Committee reports numbers 2110 to 2123.

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 on page seven. Third reading. If there are no objections from the Members, we will be taking third reading on consent.

Third reading of Senate Bill 2043, Senate draft one relating to insurance.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Reservations for Senators Ihara and McKelvey. Any no votes?

25 ayes.

Thank you. SB2043SD1 passes third reading. 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? Note the chair has one. Senator Kim.

Mr. President, I just want to note that I'm wearing red today. And today is National Red Day. And this is to awareness everyone about heart disease. And ask all the women who. We could take a picture after. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other announcements? Again, if not, the chair has won. To my Neighbor island colleagues especially, be safe. To all of my colleagues, nothing but the best for the weekend. Coming up, the report is not good for the weather and winds that may exceed 50 miles an hour.

And a reminder to the Neighbor island Members, if you do go home and you are unable to fly back, please notify us in writing if you will be absent from the meeting. Otherwise, have a super Sunday. Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move that the Senate stand adjourned until 11:30am Monday, February 9th.

Senator Decorte It's been moved and seconded. If there are no objections from the Members, the Senate will stand adjourned until 11:30am on Monday.