Senate Floor

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

[Roll Call] 24 present, one excused.

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. Joining miss Okamura in the gallery who just gave our moment of contemplation are her family and supporters. When I call your name, if you could please stand to be recognized and if we could hold our applause until all names have been called.

We have her parents, Iris and Hollis Okamura and her sister Kiana Okamura who are constituents of the Senator from Downtown Chinatown. And we also have her boyfriend Jaren Sato who's actually home on spring break.

He's studying for dental school in the Bay Area along with his parents Alvin Sato and Catherine Sato. And then they're also joined by the rest of my office staff, my office manager Jan Salcedo and Taylor Sales, my committee clerk, and miss, Kayla Okomura.

Let's give them a round of applause. And, Mr. President, at the appropriate time, may I request that their names be inserted into the Senate journal.

So Ordered.

Thank you.

Any further introductions, Senator Lee?

Thank you, Mr. President. I can't see who's here behind us, but, joining us today, are a number of folks in the environmental and conservation space. Unfortunately, unable to join us is Stephanie Dunbarco of Hulili Consulting who's,

stuck on Molokai because of the flooding. But here, is Jenny Grimm from DLNR, the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Zach Judd of Parker Ranch, Irene Speaker of Forest Solutions, and Jocelyn Herbert of Resources Legacy Fund. Can we please welcome them to the Senate?

Further introductions? If not, madam clerk. Senator San Buenaventura.

So also in the gallery, we have Angie Knight of IHS as well as Melissa Pavlicek. And I'm sorry. I forgot your name. Welcome to the Senate.

If you secure it and forward it to the clerk's office, we will have it inserted into the journal. Further introductions. If not, madam clerk.

Governor's message number is 792 to 794, transmit nominations to various boards and commissions.

Governor's message number is 792 to 794, are referred in accordance with the referrals listed on the order of the day.

Governor's message number 795 withdraws a nomination to the commission on the status of women.

File.

Governor's message number 11O1 informs the legislature that the governor signed House Bill 2240 House Draft 1, into law as act one. File. Beginning on page three, standing committee report numbers 3103 to 3121 and 3125 to 3140 for adoption.

Senator Wakai.

Mister president, I move for the adoption of said standing committee reports.

Senator DeCorte.

Mister 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 five, standing committee report numbers 3122 to 3124 for one day notice.

So ordered.

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 Lee?

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 House Bill 1710 HD 2. The timeline was a little bit skewed because of the shutdown of the government this past week.

The waiver is granted. Senator Lee.

Thank you, Mr. President. Your committee on water, land, culture, and the arts will hold a public hearing on said House Bill, on Wednesday, March 25, the afternoon at 01:05pm in Conference Room 224, and the notice will be filed with the clerk's office this afternoon.

Thank you. Further announcements, Senator DeCoite.

Thank you, Mr. President. I rise on a point of personal privilege.

Please proceed.

Just a friendly reminder that the Women's Legislative Caucus twenty seventh Annual Easter Basket Drive will take place today, March 23, 2026, immediately following the house session on the chamber level.

The participating organizations include the Domestic Violence Action Center, Institute for Human Services, Parents and Children Together, the Salvation Army Hawaii, and the Mahala Mai Women's Prison Project.

Please bring your Easter basket donations to the chamber level and join us to see who will be this year's Easter bunny and Easter chick. Mahalo.

Thank you. Further announcements? If not, Senator Wakai.

Mr. President, I move that the Senate stand adjourn 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 adjourn until 11:30AM tomorrow.