House Floor

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

[Roll Call]

Madam Speaker, 49 Members are present. One is not present.

Item number two, reading of the Journal. Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I move we dispense with the reading of the journal of the 6th through the 16th days and approve the same as the read throughout.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

It has been moved and seconded that journal days 6 through 16 be approved. Any discussion? If not, we will be taking a voice vote. All those in favor say aye.

All those opposed say no. The motion is carried. Journal days six through 16 are approved. Item number three, messages from the Governor. Mr. Clerk, are there any messages from the Governor?

Yes. Madam speaker, we are in receipt of Governor's message number four, informing the House that additional funding is needed to cover the arbitration award concerning the class action grievances for Collective Bargaining Units 1 and 10. We are in further receipt of Governor's Message Number 5, transmitting proposed changes to the Fiscal Biennium 2027 Executive Supplemental Budget. May these matters be received and filed.

So ordered. Item number four, Senate Communications. Mr. Clerk, are there any Senate communications?

Yes, Madam speaker. We are in receipt of communications transmitting the noted Senate bills, all having passed third reading in the Senate.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I move that the Senate bills laying on the clerk's desk pass first reading by title. Representative Garcia.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

It has been moved and seconded that the Senate bills laying on the Clerk's desk pass first reading by title. We will be taking a voice vote. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say no. The motion is carried. Said Senate bills pass first reading. Members, are there any introductions? Representative Kila.

Madam speaker. Colleagues, today is Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association Day. Today we have Members in the gallery who will be attending meetings with the House Transportation Committee Members testifying hearings today, and they'll be meeting with industry allies and supporters. Hata represents 71 new car dealers in Hawaii and is a leader in automotive workforce development.

On behalf of myself and the representative from Wailuku, we'd like to welcome the following folks to the gallery today. Today we have had President Stan Masamitsu, Members of Hara, Kyone Hansen, Jerry Romano, Aaron Akawa, Peter Luke, Russ Wong and Kenny Ching. Also joining them from the Executive Director's office of Hara is Melissa Pavacek and Hannah Lesiek. Can we welcome them to our House of Representatives,

Representative Quinlan?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In the gallery today, we are pleased to welcome international students from the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan. These students are participating in the ESL program through the University of Hawaii West Oahu. The program provides immersive English language learning opportunities while also introducing students to Hawaii's business and cultural communities.

Accompanying them is our dear friend, Phil Roque. Yes, please stand. Currently of the Democratic Party, but formerly a Member of staff for Majority Leader Emeritus Nakamura. Welcome to your House of Representatives,

Representative La Chica.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. If I may be permitted two introductions. The first, it's my pleasure to welcome the heroes of my office. And joining them of the Education Committee first is my Committee Clerk, Alani Santana. I have Tiara Tenorio, my legislative aide, and of course, the ever joyful Tosa Lobendan, my office manager.

Joining them are Angie Ramos, ledge aide, Molly Farmer, Committee Clerk, and Christine Kubota. And they make up the Education Committee doing all of the work for our public schools. Thank you so much and welcome to your House of Representatives. They're also joined by Alyssa Mateo Grafton, the constituent service specialist from the Office of the Governor.

And joining them also who flying in today is Sam Heiner, Executive Director, and Mick Tobin, advocacy Director of the Young People's Alliance. Please rise. They are a Gen Z nonprofit organization working on economic development, housing affordability, and also AI regulation. Welcome to your House of Representatives,

Thank you, Speaker. In the gallery today, we have a guest visiting from Pepperdine University, we have Audrey Riesbeck. Please stand up. And she's accompanied by my two legislative assistants. We have Megan and Kiana. If we can welcome them to the House of Representatives.

Anyone else? Okay, let's move on to the order of the day. Item number five, reports of standing committees. Representative Morikawa for the motion to suspend the rules.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules of The House in order to consider certain House bills for third reading by consent Calendar. Representative Garcia.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Any questions? All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say no. The motion is carried. Representative Kahaloa.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt Standing Committee reports numbers 766263 through 82826 as listed on pages 2 through 16, and that the accompanying House bills pass third reading. Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion. Any discussion on these items beginning with HSCR number 7662-676776-87768. Representative Iwamoto.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise in support with one reservation. So I was really honored to be invited to sign on to this Bill. And I applaud the first primary introducer, the Representative from Puna. It's a great Bill. However, in between signing on and now, there was some news articles about the potential for Hawaii to become.

To become an asset in building, perhaps weapons used by the military, et cetera.

And it did make me alarmed to the way that these appropriations with the matching funds with the military or the Department of War's agenda, it did draw some concern for me that we might be allocating state taxpayer dollars to actually help build weapons that might be killing children in Gaza, fishermen in the waters off Venezuela, or students in the Middle East.

I hope that as this Bill moves through the Senate, perhaps they may consider putting in an amendment that specifically states that our matching funds will not be used to manufacture these weapons. Thank you.

HSCR number 769770. Representative Iwamoto.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This Bill seeks to have the goal of helping Hawaii elevate through the ranks of what it means to be a competitive business or to create a culture that's more.

Representative Iwamoto, are you for or against this Bill?

I rise in opposition. Please proceed. Thank you. But this. Is this.

What I'm afraid about this Bill is that it looks like we might be investing taxpayer dollars into potentially creating more tax loopholes for corporations because there's no way we're going to be able to climb the ranks according to their scaling chart that I did research without closing or without creating more tax loopholes with.

And we'll definitely never be able to stop REITs or repeal the REITS tax giveaways, so. And still achieve the goal of raising up the ranks. So for these reasons, I'm voting no. Thanks.

So ordered. 773-773.

Standing Committee report 771772. Representative Garcia.

With reservations.

I'm sorry.

So ordered.

Representative Iwamoto.

Yes, let's go back to 772.

I'm sorry, Madam speaker, can we go back to 772?

Thank you. With reservations.

So ordered. 774. 77 oh. Representative Iwamoto.

Yes. With reservations.

I'm sorry, Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition.

773. Representative Iwamoto.

So this one comes off as really, I thought it was a very. I know the intent was very innocent regarding creating more sister, sister cities around the world, but recently some of our colleagues had an all expense paid vacation to Israel.

So ordered. Please proceed.

And when I inquired how this gift was not considered a violation of the ethics code, I was informed that we're allowed to travel to foreign countries when they have sister state status.

And so in fact, Governor Ige in 2022 did sign a sister state agreement or declaration with Israel, which then allowed us to go on Members to go on this travel junket to Israel.

And so I'm concerned that it may look really bad that we're creating all of these sister city agreements that just then opens up us to take these free trips around the world. And I'm just concerned with how that might look to the public. Thank you.

Representative Garcia.

Point of information, Madam Speaker.

Please proceed. What is your point?

I would like to inquire what the previous speaker meant by travel junket. I'm unaware of what junket means.

Representative Iwamoto.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm. I'm sorry for that word. It just means when you get the airfare, I think, and you get accommodations and tours and food, that in the travel industry, we call it a junket. So it's not. It's not meant to be pejorative. It's just called junket.

Maybe we can just clarify that you're meaning complimentary airfare and other.

Yes. Sorry. Thank you.

Perks. Okay. Thank you. Okay, Moving on to 775. 776. Representative Iwamoto. 776 is what we're on right now. So ordered. With reservations.

777. Representative Garcia. So ordered. Representative Alcos. Same request. So ordered. Moving on to 778. Representative Garcia with reservations, so ordered. Representative Alcos, Same request, so ordered. 779. 780. 781. Representative Poy.

Thank you. Speaker in opposition,

So ordered. Please proceed.

I just wanted to clarify that the original introduction of the Bill, I think, is a good one. My opposition is based on the added language regarding lines set aside for filming and film studio operation, that they shall not be subject to the prior approval of the BLNR.

I think. I'm not sure that set-asides were intended for this type of purpose. And a little further, I think that for the disposition of public lands, it's important to maintain the opportunity for the public to have opportunities to comment. And that primarily happens at the BLNR. So those are my reasons for opposition. Thank you.

Moving on to 782. Representative Belatti.

My apologies, Madam Speaker. Can we return back to 781-26. And just note my reservations. Noting my reservations.

Reservation so ordered. 7827-837847-85786787788. Representative Garcia, reservations so ordered. 789. Representative Iwamoto, reservations so ordered. Representative Garcia, reservations so ordered. 790 at the top of page eight. 7917-927937-90793. Representative Poepoe.

Or 792 when we have a moment.

Okay, let's go to 792.

I would like to request a ruling on a potential conflict of interest.

What is the potential conflict?

My husband is a firefighter with the County of Maui, and this measure may apply to our family.

Your husband is part of a General class, so there is no conflict of interest. And this will apply until CNDA.

Thank you.

Representative Matsumoto, Speaker, Same request again. The your husband is part of a General class. This will apply until cine. Da on this and any other firefighting measure. Representative Alcos, speaker, when you have time, I want to go back to 788. Okay, let's go back to 788. I'm on no vote. No vote so ordered.

Representative Souza on 788 with reservations so ordered. Thank you.

Okay, so we are back to 793, 793, 794, 795, 796, 797, 798. Representative Iwamoto.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise in support with reservations in reading. Thank you.

In reading, the testimony from DHRD, DHRD raised concerns that interns who are the focus of this Bill would be at an advantage over civil service hires, because civil service hires will have to wait six months during probation, whereas these interns could be there for just three months.

And so it would let them kind of skip ahead of civil service hires. Thank you.

Moving on to 799. 800, Representative Garcia.

789 with reservations.

7. We're at 800. You want to go back to 799.

Never mind. Scratch that.

Okay, we will scratch that. Representative Belatti.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On 800, in support with reservations. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm in support of this measure in part because it has a very good intention, which seeks to provide funding for very fundamental basic needs for the people of Hawaii that are now being put under stress by the Federal Government.

These basic needs are healthcare, food, and housing. However, one of the problems that I have with this as it moves forward is that I think we need to really examine the process that we are adopting.

We shouldn't be passing laws that try to that appear to or may circumvent constitutional protections of open meetings as well as separation of powers. Unfortunately, this Bill was not referred to the Judiciary Committee where some of these issues could have been vetted.

So as this moves forward, I hope that we can make sure that we are looking at these, because we really should, you know, look for a process that's more like 42F or the process that is now being adopted by the Green Fee, where we do, in fact, have all Members of the Legislature involved in the decision making process. Thank you Madam Speaker.

Representative Souza.

With reservations, Madam Speaker. And I would like the words of the previous speaker entered into the journal as my own.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Same request.

So ordered. Representative. Excuse me, Cochran.

Thank you. Same request.

So ordered, Representative Iwamoto.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise actually in opposition. And I would like the words of.

What is your position?

Opposition.

Opposition.

Rise in opposition.

Please proceed.

Thank you. And I would like the words of the representative from Maikiki to be entered into the record as my own.

So ordered.

And also I'd like to just state that when I first reviewed this Bill, I didn't see and maybe it was submitted, I'm not sure, but I didn't see that the conflict with the Constitution apparent. So anyway, I do feel that this, the Constitution is the only thing I took an oath to uphold and defend.

So for that reason I'd like to make sure that I hope that as this Bill moves forward, that one, the closed meeting would actually be opened up as it moves to the Senate. Thanks.

Representative Garcia.

With reservations.

So ordered. Representative Alcos,

Same request.

So ordered. Representative Marten.

Thank you. I stand in strong support. The purpose of this Bill is to help individuals that may be difficult to employ to log required community engagement hours. So these are groups like veterans, homeless, elderly, perhaps stay-at-home moms who do not speak English.

And they are going to be required to work for the first time to receive Medicaid, SNAP and HPHA benefits. And so this will help those, them get training or engage in volunteer activities to be able to stay on those benefits.

I feel like the process, the legislative process is working perfectly as a concern about the, you know, where the Bill is, is housed, who, who manages it was brought up in the last Committee and we still have the entire Senate as this Bill moves forward to resolve that issue.

So I just view this as a, you know, we're, this process actually works. It gives us an opportunity to amend bills to keep the purpose of the Bill intact and just have the Administration which is not essential to the Bill, be altered. Thank you.

Representative Muraoka.

With reservations.

So ordered.

And can I get the words from the reps from both Kakaako and Makiki entered as my own.

So ordered.

Moving on to standing Committee Report 801.

802. Speaker. Speaker. 801. Representative Poepoe on 801 ruling on a potential conflict of interest. Please proceed. Same as the last one. My husband is a firefighter with the county of Maui and a member of this bargaining unit.

Again, this will be. He's part of a general class, so there is no conflict of interest. And this ruling will apply to cine da. Moving on to 801-802-. 803-804-805. Representative Iwamoto.

Thank you. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition. Please proceed. Bonds are a. Basically a credit card. Some of these revenue bonds are. Credit cards are being used to pay off General obligation bonds that were issued previously. So basically it's like paying off one credit card by taking out another credit card.

When I had a conversation with BNF last session, they did confirm that debt services on $100 million bond would add up to another additional 100,000,000 dollars. So we're doubling the cost because we're putting it on a credit card.

And we should, instead of putting things on credit cards, we should be raising the cash revenues by making sure we are properly and fairly taxing the wealthiest households, REITs and the largest corporations so that they pay their fair share of taxes and give us the cash that we need in order to build this infrastructure.

Thank you.

Moving on to 806, 807, 808. Representative Iwamoto.

Thank you, Madam speaker; I rise in opposition.

Please proceed.

When this bill came up in Water and Land Committee, I did have a chance to ask UH if this bill would actually give UH the ability to be exempt from a lot of building codes and various safeguards.

This bill would actually let them on any of their lands, including lands that they hold the lease to, such as Mauna Kea, to be waived of any kind of safeguards. My concern is that when I asked, is this, when I asked UH, "Does this include Mauna Kea," they couldn't deny that it didn't include Mauna Kea.

So my concern is that it in fact could include Mauna Kea and then it could, this bill could be used then to allow the building of TMT to go through. And that is a big concern for me for. So for those reasons, I rise in opposition.

Moving on to Standing Committee Report 809, 810, 811, 812. Representative Iwamoto.

Madam speaker, for 811.

Okay. Go ahead.

With reservations.

So ordered; 812, 813, 814. Representative Iwamoto.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise in opposition. Please proceed. The Supreme Court case that basically kind of triggered this bill was basically about schools not profiting from the name, image and likeness of student athletes.

So basically held that profits that schools who profit from the name, image and likeness of the athlete, they should be sharing those profits with student athletes. This bill goes beyond that because what in the exchange that I was a part of in the Community Committee, there's very little profit and to be spread out among the student athletes.

So the amount that they're requesting, the uh, is requesting would actually be go above and beyond whatever profit or revenue was collected and then dispersed. This bill would give taxpayer dollars to the students and no other state is currently using taxpayer funds to go directly to students in athletes.

And I'm concerned in the discussions, I'm not sure the name of the leagues or the areas that this covers, but the person who was testifying did say that no other group within our that certain geographic area was actually directly sending taxpayer dollars directly to students.

I'm also, and I want to contrast student athletes with the people who are in the band at the games or maybe the cheerleaders or maybe other performing arts students in other programs whose name, image and likeness might be used and revenue generated.

There's also kids involved in STEM who are part of teams who are building patented items that this the university will hold on to. And they're not getting any kind of financial benefit. And so for these reasons of inconsistency, I rise in opposition. Thank you.

Moving on to standing Committee report 815. Representative Cochran, thank you.

WR on the 814. 814.

So ordered. 815. 816. Representative Garcia, reservations so ordered. 817. Representative Garcia, reservations so ordered. Representative Shimizu.

Reservations with a brief comment. I agree that tenants need to be protected. The reservation is the unintended possible hardship on landlords to provide this information and the most recent copy or edition of this information and providing some pretty stiff penalties for any lack of that knowledge and providing that.

So although I I am supportive, I just have that reservations. Thank you.

Representative Alcos, so ordered. Moving on to 8188-1982-0821-1822. Representative Garcia with reservations so ordered. 823. Representative Alcos, reservations so ordered. 824. 825. Representative Garcia.

With reservations.

So ordered. 826. 827. Representative Shimizu, 828. 829. 8:30. At 828. Okay.

Representative Morikawa for the vote.

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

Any discussion on these items beginning with HSCR number 829-26, 830, 831, 832, 833, 834, 835, 836, 837, Representative Iwamoto. So ordered.

Representative Garcia with reservations so ordered.

[Roll Call]

Madam speaker, in strong support.

Please proceed.

Madam Speaker, this measure advances Hawaii's efforts to expand its workforce pipeline, particularly in healthcare as the state struggles to meet our community's health care needs. This Bill will provide incentives for physicians, PAs, social workers, dietitians become preceptors to grow the next generation of healthcare professionals.

I'd like to thank the chairs of all the committees that have heard and passed this measure forward, as well as the stakeholders and advocates who continue to support this measure and I humbly ask the body support as this measure moves forward. Thank you.

8498-508518-52853854. Representative Garcia. So ordered. Representative Alcos. So ordered. 855. Representative Garcia, so ordered. Representative Alcos. So ordered. 856. Excuse me, Representative Amato.

My apologies. Speaker on 855. With reservations. Thank you.

856. 857. 858, 859. Representative Iwamoto, so ordered. 860. Representative Matsumoto.

Thank you, Speaker. I stand in strong support. Please proceed. We all know cost of living is one of the biggest challenges that we face here in Hawaii and housing being one of them. And so what this Bill does is it helps people to save quicker for a down payment.

It's a program that already exists but hasn't been updated for decades. Currently you can use pre tax dollars to only save 5,000 a year for a single individual filer, 10,000 a year for a joint filing and 25,000 cap.

I don't know about you, but I don't know any house that you can buy here in Hawaii for $25,000 down payment.

So this Bill is looking to update those numbers to 20,000 for single filer, 40 for a joint filer, and 200,000 to save up for a down payment quicker to help our residents get onto that path of home ownership. Thank you. Representative Garcia in support.

And I'd like to adopt the previous Speaker's words as my own.

So,ordered. Moving on to HSCR number 861, 862, 863, 864, 865, 866. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Iwamoto.

Thank you, Madam Speaker; rise in opposition.

Did you say?

Rise in opposition?

Please, please proceed.

Thank you. In reviewing the testimony on this bill, I did read the Department of Taxation's comments regarding - there seems to be, this bill, according to them, conflates who pays for TAT versus who pays for LIHTC. And to me it raised a serious concern that perhaps will be addressed on its way to the senate.

But for now, I'm in opposition. Thanks.

Moving - Representative Muraoka.

Reservations please.

So, ordered. 867,868. Representative Matsumoto.

Strong support.

Please proceed. Thank you. Speaker. Our caucus has been pushing for more voter service centers for a few years now. I think it's been clear in the last few elections that people want to vote on election day and having more options so they don't have to wait in line for six to seven hours.

Also sending out that digital information and print information guide for voters. I think is so important when it comes to transparency and voter access. So in strong support. Representative Garcia in support.

Please proceed. Thank you Madam Speaker. Again like was mentioned by the previous speaker, this Bill does appropriate funds to the various counties to establish more in person voter service centers because people want to vote on election day.

In my district out in West Oahu this past election, you saw many families who were in line for almost seven hours. Some people, seven hours it was raining. People drove by, saw the lines wrapped around Kapole Hale and said you know what? I ain't going to vote this time.

So how many people were disenfranchised because of the lack of in person voting on election day? I heard some of my our colleagues here on the House and in the Senate side mention that. Well, you know there's ample provisions to vote by mail. But just because someone prefers to vote by mail here doesn't mean other people do.

And we should provide every opportunity for people to vote by mail in person. And just because they choose to vote on election day in person doesn't mean we should write them off. And so in strong support of this bill. Thank you.

Moving on to the top of page 26. Signing Committee report. 869. Representative Shimizu.

Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise in opposition with a brief comment.

Please proceed.

I am definitely against gun violence. And my opposition lies in the fact that the application of this Bill may be indiscriminate. And my feeling is that in hearing testimony on various subject matter regarding the courts, the district. Excuse me, the Department of Law Enforcement is underfunded and they are understaffed.

They have trouble sometimes assigning security to the court. And I think it would be a better use of our taxpayers dollars to fund the District of Law, excuse me, the Department of Law Enforcement for that purpose and really secure our judiciary and our courts. So that's the reason for my opposition. Thank you Madam Speaker.

870, 871, 872. Representative Souza.

871.

Please proceed on 871.

Yes. In support and permission to insert written comments into the journal.

So ordered. 872, 873, 874, 875, 876, 877. Representative Shimizu.

Thank you Madam Speaker. Rising opposition with a brief comment. Please.

Please proceed.

I don't have any problems with people getting electric vehicles. And I would love to have a Tesla myself. But I really feel that with the funding shortages we have and the decisions that we have to make that the Monies would be better used to help people that are really in need. So that's the reason for my opposition.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Representative Garcia.

And I'd like to adopt the previous Speaker's words as my own.

So ordered. Representative Moraoka. So ordered. Representative Pierick. So ordered. Moving on to the top of page 28. Signing Committee Report 878, 879, 880, 881, 882. Excuse me, Representative Reyes Oda, when you can.

If we can go back to 880, go ahead with reservations.

So ordered on 880. Representative Shimizu.

Thank you. Speaker. When time permits, can you go back to 879, please?

Okay. Anyone else? Okay, let's go back to 879. Please proceed.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In opposition.

Please proceed.

You know, the other day, I went to a informational briefing with our Public Safety and listened to various nonprofits that were working on disaster preparedness and the need for our communities, our peoples, a lot of our kupuna, who will be endangered when disaster strikes.

And I really feel like there's a need to educate our population on this subject matter. So my opposition would be. I would like to see this website focus on educating and coordinating disaster preparedness efforts with our HEMA and all the various departments and nonprofits that are needed to accomplish this very important goal. So, thank you, Madam Speaker.

Let's go back to 881. Representative Iwamoto.

I'm sorry.

I was sending for 880. Okay, we'll go back to 880.

Okay, thank you. I rise in opposition. Did you say opposition? Opposition. So. So ordered. Sorry, because I forgot to give a green slip. And I'll do it now.

881, 882, 883, 884, 885. Representative Shimizu.

Thank you, madam speaker. Apologize. Can we go back to 882 when time permits?

Okay, let's go back to 882.

Opposition with a brief comment.

Please proceed.

Similar to the previous electric vehicle charging provisions of Spending State Dollars for that I feel that our monies could be spent and appropriate it again for people who are really in need. So thank you, madam speaker.

We're back to 885. Representative shimizu

I'm sorry I missed 884.

Okay, let's go back to 884.

Please proceed. Wanted to.

What position are you taking?

Just a no vote. Thank you.

Okay. 885. 886. 887 Representative Garcia so ordered. Representative Shimizu, so ordered. Representative Alcos, so ordered. 888, 889, 890. Okay. Representative Morikawa for the vote.

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

Have all votes been cast? Representative Souza.

For standcom report 880, so ordered. Thank you.

Thank you madam speaker for standcom report 879-26 HB 1774 HD2. I thought I turned in a green slit, but I would like to record a no vote. So ordered.

Okay, said House bills pass third reading. Representative Kahaloa

Madam speaker, I move to adopt standing Committee report numbers 89126 through 92026 as listed on pages 31 through 38 and that the accompanying house bills as may be amended, pass second reading and be placed on the calendar for third reading.

Representative Morikawa

Madam speaker, I second the motion. Any discussion on these items beginning with HSCR number 895-26. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

[Roll Call]

[Roll Call]

Thank you. Madam Speaker. With all due respect to the introducer, I agree that any abuse of authority and force is unacceptable and we need to deal with that when it happens. And I agree there should be a fair due process.

But unfortunately, this Bill, as far as I know, does not provide for the due process component that I would be supporting. So as far as working together, I really believe that as we try in this body to work together, law enforcement should try to work together for the greater good.

You know, there was no testimony from the AG's office or the Judiciary or Department of Law Enforcement, which I found was a very big gap in making sure those important departments that would be affected and involved with this Bill was not voicing any position. And that gap was concerning in speaking with law enforcement.

They did express to me that they do work closely with federal partners when it comes to drug and human trafficking. So I think those things need to be considered before we start just throwing the baby out with the bath water, so to speak. So that is the reason for my opposition. And thank you, Madam Speaker.

Representative Garcia,

In opposition.

So ordered. Please proceed.

Thank you. This Bill prohibits any law enforcement agency or law enforcement official from entering into an agreement under federal law that person permit state or county agencies to engage in immigration enforcement.

It's obviously not the role of state law enforcement to engage in the enforcement of federal law, but there should be collaboration with state and Federal Government, including other governments, local, county governments. We should be moving in the direction of more collaboration, especially with law enforcement for public safety. And this Bill moves in the opposite direction. So for those reasons, no vote.

[Roll Call]

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As your chair of Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, I made very careful attention, I paid very careful attention to this Bill. This Bill does not limit federal state cooperation on other areas of law enforcement.

I'm in support of this measure, and I want to make it clear that this Bill does not limit our cooperation with the Federal Government on any other area of law enforcement.

So we can continue to the work that we're doing now on interdicting drugs that are coming in, human trafficking, preventing human trafficking, enforcement of environmental laws, preventing money laundering against working against organized crime, preventing illegal fireworks from coming in. All of those areas of cooperation will be able to continue.

This Bill does nothing to restrict those cooperative agreements. This focus specifically on immigration law enforcement, which is solely the jurisdiction of the Federal Government. This Bill just makes it clear what our law enforcement, state and county should do as it relates to immigration enforcement.

I want to make it also very clear that your Committee paid very close attention to protecting the due process rights of all Hawaii residents. So this Bill makes sure that the due process rights are protected. So I urge all the Members here to support this measure. Thank you.

Representative Souza.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In support. And I would like to adopt the words of the Judiciary Chair into the record as my own. Thank you.

So ordered. Representative Bilati.

Thank you. And strong support. May I have the words of the Judiciary chair as if they were on my own.

So ordered.

And request to insert written comments.

So ordered. Representative Souza.

In support. Now I'd like to request to insert written comments into the journal as well.

So ordered. Representative Kapela.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In strong support. I would just like to thank you, ma'am. I would like to thank the chair of the Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee for taking on this incredible work. I think it's important, very important at this time.

And I would also like to adopt his words as if they were my own.

So ordered. Representative Lachica.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Same request in strong support.

So ordered. Let's move on to Standing Committee report number 910. 911. 910 or 911?

910.

Okay. 910. Representative Garcia. So ordered. Representative Alcos. Representative Pierick.

No vote on 910.

[Roll Call]

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In opposition. With a brief comment. Please.

Please proceed.

You know, with respect to the introducer. With great respect and the thoughtful amendments by the Judiciary Chair which I'm not sure if it's comprehensive enough to override the opposition testimony that I'd like to share as the basis for my opposition.

And I read from the Attorney General's testimony that the Department opposes this Bill as it proposes sweeping changes to the pre trial bail system with no indication that such changes were desired or contemplated by the 2025 Penal Code Review Committee.

Act 245 Session Laws of Hawaii 2024 requested the Judicial Council to appoint a Committee to examine revisions to the Hawaii Penal Code.

Thereafter, the Hawaii State Judiciary convened a Penal Code Review Committee comprised of over 60 representatives from the Office of the Public Defender, Prosecutors, Members of the Legislature and various other stakeholders, divided by cross sections into eight subcommittees. Notably, one of the subcommittees was dedicated solely to reviewing Chapter 804 hrs, which contains the Bill provisions.

That Subcommitee and the larger PCRC proposed two specific revisions and gave no indication of the need for the type of extensive changes being proposed in this Bill. To date there has been no report, study, audit or other formal assessment of any data or changes resulting from Act 179 SLH 2019.

In 2019 the Legislature passed changes to Hawaii's Bill system under HB 1552 which was enacted as Act 179. These changes were derived from recommendations made by a Criminal justice pretrial Task force convened by the Oyster State Judiciary.

Currently, courts have the discretion to review the totality of circumstances and consider all relevant information in making a determination that they are imposing the least restrictive conditions required to ensure a defendant's appearance and to protect the public.

Removing that discretion presents a risk of non appearance and and risks to public safety that the Department, which is the Attorney General, cannot support.

Rather than pushing to impose such sweeping changes to the Bell System without any apparent support or recommendation for such changes from the Penal Code Review Committee, without sufficient data to support such changes and without appropriate safeguards to ensure public safety and and the appearance of defendants at court. The Department strongly recommends that this Bill be held.

Not my words, just reading from Attorney General. Also, there were opposition from the Maui Police Department, the Maui County, Hawaii Island county and Honolulu Prosecuting Attorneys in addition to hpd. So with such important entities that are in opposition of this Bill, it's difficult to support it. So that is the basis of my opposition. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

[Roll Call]

I'll reserve most of my comments for third reading, but I just want to point out that there were numerous testimonies in support of this measure, including the Office of the Public Defender, Corrections System Oversight Commission, and many local advocacy groups. We don't.

In the Legislature here, we have the responsibility of doing our own policy analysis and data analysis and make recommendations and go through our legislative process to pass laws. We don't have to wait for an agency to ask us to make this. The Penal Code Review Committee did good work, but they didn't do everything.

They didn't do everything that I felt needed to be done. And as your chair of judiciary and Hawaiian affairs, I have a responsibility to propose legislation that addresses what I see as critical needs and areas for improvement. So I think it's very appropriate for us to move forward in legislation like this and balance all the interests.

And so I urge Members to support this measure. Thank you.

Representative Garcia. Please proceed.

And I'd like to adopt the words of the representative from Moanalua as my own.

So ordered. Representative Kila

Madam speaker, reservations. And may I adopt the words of the judiciary chair as if they were my own?

So ordered. Representative Tam, Madam speaker, same request. So ordered. Moving on to standing Committee report number 917, Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Garcia in opposition. Please proceed.

Thank you. Madam Speaker. This Bill establishes factors under which officers may arrest and detain persons without a warrant for petty misdemeanors and violations. I want to note that the testimony provided by the Hawaii County Prosecuting attorney, Kelden Walchin was, I believe, was just awesome.

It lays out clearly why the Bill is not needed, and in fact, it's moving in the wrong direction.

Quoting from his testimony, it says this Bill would directly affect the ability of police and prosecutors to keep the peace and to enforce laws covering offenses against persons, property and public order which have significant community impact, including, but not limited to theft, shoplifting, criminal property damage, disorderly conduct, harassment, indecent exposure and open lewdness.

The Bill would make it illegal for police officers to arrest based upon probable cause alone for a petty misdemeanor or a violation, and would instead require that the officer choose and identify one or more additional qualifying factors at the officer is, quote, reasonably satisfied apply, including that the person has not offered satisfactory evidence of the person's identity, that the person will not appear in court, and that the person has an outstanding arrest warrant, that there will be further police contact, or that the person must be detained to prevent bodily injury to self or to others.

For these reasons and many more, I believe this Bill is moving us in the wrong direction. These offenses should allow police Officers to. To issue arrests. Let the courts handle it. But arrests are good. It does save lives. And this Bill moves us in the wrong direction. No vote.

Representative Gedeon?

No vote. And I'd like to adopt the words from the Representative from Kapela as my own.

[Roll Call]

And Madam speaker, when the time permits, can we go back to standcom 910-26 please?

Yes. Representative Kila, Reservations. Madam Speaker, So ordered. Representative Reyes Oda with reservations. So ordered. Okay, let's go back. Oh, Representative Tam.

Same requests reservations.

So ordered. Representative Tarnas, thank you in support. Please proceed.

Again, I will reserve most of my comments for third reading, but I want to make it clear that this is not something brand new across the country. This is something that many police departments throughout the country do. And we included certain criteria in this measure that would be reasons for the police to arrest somebody.

So if they're posing a risk to themselves or to others, the police can arrest them. And I won't go through the details of it, but there's plenty of criteria in here that provides that sort of discretion to the police officers.

This approach is being used by police departments across the country as a way to protect public safety, but also not fill up our jails with folks that can't make bail. They end up being there in pre trial detention for way too long.

And so I think this is a very common sense approach and I urge Members to support it. Thank you, Speaker.

Representative Garcia, so in opposition with a brief comment, please proceed.

This isn't new. Like the previous speaker said, this has been experimented in many other jurisdictions, cities and states across the country, primarily liberal jurisdictions in blue states. And what you see is law enforcement saying we don't want this, but politicians saying this is a good thing to do.

And, and, and in those jurisdictions and cities you see crime upticking because criminals now know if I go shoplift, if I do certain things, I'm not going to get arrested. They'll just issue a citation. So this is bad precedent. And in the areas where it has happened, I think there's clear evidence that this stuff doesn't work.

No vote.

Okay, we're going to go back to standing Committee report 910. Representative Muraoka.

Hi, Madam Speaker. I think I voted no on this bill. It should have been a reservations. Can I change it to reservations?

So ordered. Let's move on then to standing Committee Report 918919. Representative Pierick, in opposition, please proceed.

Thank you. So this bill is basically the opposite of term limits. If any of us sitting representatives here have been in office for eight years, once we go up for re election, we don't have to file papers to be a candidate again. It's just kind of basically automatically we're a candidate again.

Potentially, we don't have to pay the other $25. We don't have to collect nominations signatures of 15. That's not so good. So we should be promoting term limits and not this bill. I'm voting no,

Representative. Representative Garcia?

With reservations. And just to clarify, the bill does not do that. It instead establishes a process by which any political party continuously listed on the General election ballot for eight or more years shall be deemed continuously qualified for ballot placement. And still with reservations.

Moving on. Representative Quinlan, Strong support.

And may I adopt the words of the minority floor leader.

So, ordered. Representative Souza?

Reservations.

So, ordered. And last but not least, Standing Committee Report 920. Representative Pierick?

No vote.

So, ordered. Representative Garcia?

No vote.

So, ordered. Representative Alcos?

No vote.

So, ordered. Representative Matsumoto?

No.

So, ordered. Representative Gedeon?

Same request.

So, ordered. Okay. Members, we will be taking a voice vote. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed say no. The motion is carried. Item number six, introduce - introduction of resolutions. Mr. Clerk, are there any resolutions for action?

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

So, ordered. Item number seven, announcements. Members, are there any announcements? Representative Hashem.

I would just like to say happy birthday to someone we all know,: Stephanie Kim. It's her birthday today.

Representative Todd?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Your committee on finance requests a waiver of the 48-hour advance notice requirement for the purpose of conducting a public hearing with decision making to follow on the following bills: HB 1695 HD2, relating to renewable fuel; HB 1950 HD1, relating to the transient accommodations tax; HB 2094 HD1, relating to jury duty.

HB 2115 HD1, relating to human services; HB 2297 HD1, relating to education. Almost done. HB 2336 HD1, relating to federal military installations, and HB 2416 HD1, relating to a maritime youth apprenticeship pathway program.

So, ordered.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The public hearing will be held on today, Thursday, May 5th, as part of our 2:00pm agenda, which is already noticed, in Conference Room 308. Thank you.

Any further announcements? Representative Matayoshi?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Every year, the first week of March honors the founding of the Peace Corps and its meaningful global contributions. But this past Monday, March 1, was extra special. It was the 65th anniversary of the Peace Corps since its creation in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy.

The Peace Corps has over 240,000 volunteers since its creation, including our late friend and colleague, Gene Ward. All sharing a common goal of serving the world by promoting peace through diplomacy and cultural exchange. There are also 15 active Peace Corps Members from Hawaii. My family also has ties to the Peace Corps.

My grandmother, Mary Matayoshi, helped to create the Peace Corps Training Center in Hilo and worked in Administration and training in for seven years. So, asking my colleagues to please join me in a moment of contemplation after the announcements to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Peace Corps and to commend all current and former volunteers for their service.

So, ordered.

Okay, Representative Pierick.

Thank you. I just want to retract my former comments on 191, 911.

So, ordered. For the motion to adjourn, 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.