Senate Floor

Will the Senate please come to order? Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Thank you. The chairs read the journal of the preceding day and approves the same. Are there any introductions this morning? Senator Inouye and then Senator Chang.

Mahalo, Mr. President. May I introduce my staff today? Aliya Gabriel. Please stand. She's my Legislative Assistant and she's transitioning from session hire to permanent hire next week. She is an Oahu resident, but she did graduate from UH Hilo, and she majored in Hawaiian Geography and Hawaiian Language and she's also co-owner of her family business, Koa Cards.

Thank you and mahalo and we welcome our session. A visitor today, and we welcome her to the office as well. Mahalo.

Thank you. Senator Chang.

Thank you, Mr. President. Joining us in the gallery today are a pair of visitors all the way from China. We have Ming Hao Fan and his mom. They're both from Beijing, but Ming is actually visiting from Guangxi Province, just five minutes away from the Vietnamese border where he's teaching English. And he's actually here for the fourth time in Hawaii, having lived here for six months back in 2017

And his mom, it's her second time here in Hawaii. Tonight, they'll be visiting Hawaii island, so hopefully Madame Pele will be putting on a show for them. Please welcome to the Senate.

Further introduction, Senator Lamosao.

Thank you, Senate President. In the gallery today, I have a friend and advocate joining us, Mr. Michael Golouch, Jr., if you could please stand to be recognized. Welcome to your state Senate.

Thank you. Further introductions? if not, Madam Clerk.

Governor's message number 693 transmits a nomination to the Elevator Mechanics Licensing Board.

Governor's message number 693 is referred to the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Governor's message number 694 withdraws a nomination to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Beginning on page two, Standing Committee Report numbers 2146-2205 for adoption.

Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move for the adoption of standing Committee Reports numbers 2146-2205.

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 nine, third reading.

If there are no objections from the Members, we'll be taking third reading on consent.

Third reading of Senate Bill 2723, relating to State Sheriffs Day.

Is there any discussion? Senator Rhoads.

Thank you, Mr. President. In support.

Please proceed.

Just briefly, this bill, of course, sets April 27 as State Sheriffs Day. And I just want to say, you know, been in the Legislature 20 years. Legislature 20 years. And the sheriffs have protected me and all the other Members of this body and the House of Representatives and our staff for all those years. And I just want to say thank you very much and really appreciate your efforts and appreciate you keeping us safe from, unfortunately, a world that is sometimes dangerous. Mahalo.

Thank you. Any further discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes?

23 ayes.

Thank you. SB 2723 passes third reading.

Referrals and re-referrals.

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

No further business, Mr. President.

Are there any announcements today? Senator San Buenaventura.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to request a waiver of the public notice requirement pursuant to Senate Rule 21 to hold a hearing on Senate Bill 2799. The reason for such a waiver is so that we are going to be able to hear it because it was a multi committee referral.

The waiver is granted, Senator San Buenaventura.

Thank you. Joint Committees on Health and Human Services, Water, Land, and Cultural and the Arts, and Hawaiian Affairs will hold a public hearing on Senate Bill 2799 on Thursday, February 12th at 1:00pm in Conference Room 224. The notice was filed in the Clerk's Office yesterday afternoon.

Are there any further announcements? If not, Senator... Oh, the Chair has one. Majority Members, please report to the Majority Caucus room immediately following sessions. Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move the Senate stand adjourned until 11:30am tomorrow.

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 adjourned until 11:30am tomorrow.