House Floor

Will the house come to order? Mister Clerk, please call the roll.

{Takes Roll}

Madam speaker, 49 members are present. One is not present.

Item number two, reading of the journal, representative Morikawa.

Madam speaker, may this matter be deferred.

So ordered. Item number three, messages from the governor. Mister Clerk,

speaker, there are none.

Item number four, Senate communications. Mister Clerk, are there any Senate communications?

Madam speaker, there are none.

Members, any introductions? Representative Loewen.

Thank you, madam speaker. We are joined in the gallery today by many distinguished guests who are here for our floor presentation. I can't see exactly everyone who's up there, but I have a list, so I will hopefully capture everyone. We are joined by former Chief Justice Reichenwald, Justice Wilson, Justice Duffy, Justice Cahill, Justice Kim, former Governor Abercrombie, lieutenant governor Sylvia Luke, first lady Cayetano, and senior advisor to come to governor Greene, Will Kane.

We have council chair, Honolulu City and County of Honolulu council chair Tommy Waters and county council chair Holika Inaba.

And then a a number of former elected officials to the State House and State Senate and County offices including Roy Takumi, Richard Onishi, Anne Kobayashi, Ken Hiraki, Charlie Taguchi, Kate Stanley, and Susie Chun Oakland. And we are also joined by other guests who are friends, family, and colleagues of our honoree today. So please all rise to be recognized, and welcome to your House of Representatives. And Aye, apologize if I missed anyone, and may I request that, all the names be entered into the journal. So ordered.

Representative Martin.

Thank you. Today, I would like to, acknowledge and introduce my staff for the first and only time this session. They've been working very hard on behalf of District 51 and also the Committee on Human Services and Homelessness. Please rise. Emmy Horii, my office manager, Scott Peters, my committee aide, Yani Kambakuan, our legislative aide, and Sarah Imata, our, intern.

Thank you very much for your help, and welcome to your house of representatives.

Representative Keila.

Madam speaker in the gallery today from our hometown carrier of Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines. In the gallery joined today is Jacob Aki who represents them. And on the chamber floor, I'd like to just acknowledge their efforts for stepping up to help flood victims. Mister Aki, Mahalo, welcome to the chamber.

Representative Belatti.

You, madam speaker. I have the pleasure of introducing a group, Hawaii Association for Justice. If there are any attorneys here, mister Marty Fritz, mister Jim Levitt, anyone who's with the Hawaii Association for Justice, please stand and rise and be recognized.

Representative Iligan.

Thank you madam speaker. I'm excited to introduce to you at the gallery who's actually is organizing the Hawaii industry led sector partnership. It's gonna be at one to 3pm today. There the chamber members you know who she is. She's the president and CEO of the chamber.

Sherry Manor, could you please stand? And please remain standing. I'm I wanna also please remain standing, Sherry. We wanna make sure that you're highlighted. I also wanna introduce some key members in the chamber.

We have Vanessa, Rogers, Tonga, Hopoi, Nadia Holt, and Janine Lum. Can you please give them a round of applause? Welcome to your House of Representatives.

Representative Garcia.

Thank you, madam speaker. In the gallery, I'd like to introduce, lovely couple Steve Hoke and Haruko. Please stand please stand. They're the founders of Aloha Pregnancy Center on the Windward Side and have saved countless babies over the decades. And next to them are students from Students for Life here in Hawaii. Please stand, all six of you, five of you.

Alright. Thank you very much and welcome to the State House.

Representative Belatti.

Thank you, madam speaker. There are so many dignitaries in the crowd, but I do wanna just acknowledge this one group, and I promise this will be the last one.

And I apologize for any of you guys that I didn't introduce. But we have two strong women advocates here joining us, in the gallery today, miss JD Nilsen and mister Leighton Oshima, the spouse and partner of Senator Mazie Huroso. If we can welcome them to the Hawaii House of Representatives. Thank you very much.

Representative Ilagan.

Thank you madam speaker. I also wanna recognize an honorable member from Hawaii County. We have our council chair, Inaba, could you please rise? Welcome to your house of representatives.

Representative Iwamoto.

Thank you, madam speaker. I'd like to introduce the, former member of the board of education, Carol Monley. These rights will be recognized and a second. I'm sorry if Aye, if he's already been, introduced, but, former representative Blake Oshiro

Representative Hartsfield.

Thank you, madam speaker. She's already been introduced, but I would like to acknowledge her again. If she could please stand the former dean of student services at the William s Richardson school of law. I'm Carol Monley. And I wanna recognize her because, she was pivotal in, in my career and so I just wanted to acknowledge her.

Welcome to your house of representatives. Mahalo.

Representative La Chica.

Thank you, madam speaker. In the gallery, I can see a number of public health advocates and tobacco control and prevention advocates from the Department of Health, as well as, Coalition for Tobacco Free Hawaii. I'd like to recognize them as they're here to also honor our awardee. If you may please stand from Jalen, Lila, Julian, Jill, please go ahead and please stand.

My former colleagues were all instrumental in getting our smoke free air laws passed, protecting our keiki from the harms of tobacco, and protecting our, tobacco trust fund.

Thank you guys so much for being here. Welcome to your house, representative.

Representative Garcia.

Thank you, madam speaker. I do see former first lady, Vicky Cayetano. Please stand please stand and welcome to the state house.

Representative Alcos.

Madam speaker, I wanna introduce again the Students for Life from University of Hawaii and their friends. I just wanna enter their name into the journal.

So ordered. Representative Cochran.

Thank you. I see, miss Roseanne Freitas here who's the, executive director for building industries, association, a strong advocate for Better Business Bureau, and also, NAHB, National Association of Housing Anyways, NAHB. Thank you for being here.

Members, any further introductions? Seeing none, we'll turn to the order of the day. Item number five, floor presentations. Mister Clerk, are there any floor presentations?

Yes, madam speaker. We have one floor presentation today. House Resolution number 206 commending and honoring Robert Bob Toyofuku for his many years of service and contributions to Hawaii's legal community. This resolution is offered by representatives Loewen and Belotti.

Representative Lowen.

Madam speaker, I move to adopt the resolution.

Representative Belatti.

Madam speaker, I second the motion.

It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. Any discussion? Representative Lowen.

Thank you madam speaker. I rise in support of this resolution. Today, I rise to honor someone who has had a truly lasting impact on in our state. Robert Toyofuku, who we know affectionately as Bob, is is joined on the floor by his wife Lynn, his sons Steven and Zach, and daughter-in-law Christina. Can you please all rise and be recognized?

Bob's story is rooted here at home. Raised in Kaimuki, he pursued his education on the continent before returning to Hawaii to begin a career defined not just by professional success, but by service. In a career spanning nearly fifty years, Bob has helped to better the lives of people in Hawaii, shape public policy, and set an example of professionalism and integrity. Over the course of decades, Bob has helped shape the way law is practiced in our state.

He was instrumental in establishing one of the first continuing legal education programs at the University of Hawaii, taught legal writing to future attorneys, and later founded the Pacific Law Institute to ensure that lawyers across Hawaii had access to ongoing education and training.

And through that work, he didn't just support the profession, he strengthened it. He helped attorneys stay informed, uphold high ethical standards and better serve the people of Hawaii. But what makes Bob truly special in my experience is how he shows up in the work. I've had the honor of working with Bob for over a decade and throughout that time, he has consistently approached his advocacy with honesty, integrity, and a genuine commitment to education and open conversation.

He doesn't just argue a point, he helps people understand it.

He listens, he engages and he elevates the dialogue. That approach has been evident in his leadership on important public health issues, where thoughtful informed discussion and trust are so critical. Bob has always brought a steady principled voice to those conversations and through it all, he has mentored and guided generations of attorneys and legislators and advocates. People who carry forward his example of professionalism, curiosity, and respect.

And his contributions may not always be in the spotlight, but they are deeply woven into the fabric of our community and our broader civil life in Hawaii.

So today we say Mahalo. Mahalo for your decades of service, for your leadership, and for the many ways, both seen and unseen, that you have made Hawaii better. Please join me in honoring Bob Toyofuku.

Members, any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor of the resolution say aye. Aye. The motion is carried. Representative Loewen, please proceed with his certificate and lay presentation.

The chair will call a recess to allow the members of the house to meet and congratulate the honoree. Recess. Will the house come to order? Members, we are an item number six, reports of standing committees. Representative Kahaloa.

Madam speaker I move to adopt standing committee report numbers 1323-26 through 1397-26 as listed on pages 1-20 and that the accompanied Senate bills as may be amended past second reading and or be referred to their designated committees.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Members, any discussion on these items beginning with standing committee report 1323? 1324? 1325? 1326? 1327? 1328? 1329? 1330?1331? Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Raisotta. No vote. So ordered. Representative Pierrick.

No vote.

So ordered. Top of page oh, representative Alcos.

Reservations.

Reservations. So ordered. K. Top of page four, Standing Committee Report 1332, 1333. Representative Garcia.

So ordered. Representative Reyes Oda.

No vote.

With reservations.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

So ordered. Standing committee report 1334? 1335? 1336? 1337. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Reyes Oda

with reservations

so ordered representative Souza

with reservations

so ordered representative Amato

no vote

so ordered representative Alcos

reservations

so ordered report 1338 representative Pierick

no vote

so ordered 1339 representative Garcia

reservations so ordered

13401341. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. 13421343. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. 1344. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No fault

so ordered representative Gedeon

to request

so ordered. Report 1345 representative Garcia

reservations

ordered Representative Alcos.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

So ordered. Report 1346. Representative Gedeon.

No vote.

I'm sorry, madam speaker. Could we go back to 1344 and change to reservations?

Okay. Let's finish 1346. Representative Pierick.

Reservations.

So ordered. K. No further discussion on 1346. We'll go back to 1344. Representative Gedeon.

Reservations.

So ordered. K. Standing Committee Report 1347. 1348. Representative Amato.

So ordered. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. Report 1349? 1350? 1351? 1352? 1353. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

No vote.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Gedeon.

So ordered. Representative Matsumoto.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Reyes Oda.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Muraoka.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. Report 1354. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

So ordered. Representative Reyes Oda.

Reservations.

Same request.

So ordered. Report 1355. 1356, representative Pierick. 1358, representative Garcia.

So ordered. 1359 top of page 11, report 1360, 1361, 1362, 1363, 1364, 1365, 1366, 1367. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Reyes Oda.

No vote.

With reservations.

So ordered. Representative Alcos. No vote. So ordered. Representative Gedeon.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. Report 1368. Report 1369. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Reyes Oda.

With reservations.

So ordered. Representative Gedeon.

Same request.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

Same request.

So ordered. Report number 1370, 1371, 1372, 1373. Representative Garcia?

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

Same request.

So ordered. 1374. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

Same request.

So ordered. Representative Cochran.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

Reservations.

Reservations.

So ordered. 1377. Representative Garcia.

So ordered. Top of page 15. 1375? 1376. Representative Amato.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

So ordered. 1378. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. 1379? 1380? 1381? 1382? Top of page 17. 1383? 1384? 1385? 1386? 1387. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

No vote.

So ordered. 1388. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. 1389? 1390? Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. 1391. 1392. 1393. Representative 1394.

Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

Same request.

So ordered. Representative Gedeon.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. Report 1395. Representative Garcia.

So ordered. Representative Reyes Oda.

No vote.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Gedeon.

Same request.

So ordered. Representative Matsumoto.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

Reservations.

Reservations.

So ordered. Standing committee report 1396. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Cochran.

So ordered. Standing committee report 1397.

Same request.

Representative Amato.

Reservations.

So ordered.

K. Members, we'll be taking a voice vote. All those in favour oh, representative Peruso on Reservations. Thirteen 97? Correct.

Okay. So ordered. Okay. Members will be taking a voice vote. All those in favor say aye. {Vote}

those opposed say no. The motion is carried. Alright. Item number seven, third reading. Representative Morikawa.

Madam speaker, I move to suspend the rules of the house in order to consider a certain Senate bill for third reading by consent calendar.

Representative Garcia.

Madam speaker, I second the motion.

Any questions? Members will be taking a voice vote. All those in favor, say aye. {Vote} All those opposed say no.

The motion is carried. Representative Kahaloa.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam speaker, I move that Senate bill number 3123SD1 as listed on page 20 past third reading.

And the speaker, I second the motion.

Any discussion on this item? Okay. For the vote, representative Morikawa.

Madam speaker on the measure before us, all majority members vote aye.

Representative Garcia.

Thank you, madam speaker. On the measure before us, all minority members vote aye.

Have all votes been cast? Said bill passes third reading item number 8. announcements? members are there any announcements? Representative Ilagan.

Thank you madam speaker in fifteen minutes or thirteen minutes, there will be a Hawaii industry led sector partnership showcase on the 4th floor. It starts from 1PM to 3PM. And, as you know, Madam Speaker, what it is is that Hawaii is def definitely in need of more workforce and quality, labor. And this symposium and this showcase brings together industry, employers, as well as workforce development to showcase, better pipeline for our workforce.i

There's seven sectors upstairs and what you will see on each of the booth are senators and representatives names. If you're wondering why your name is on there, it is because that particular industry or business is in your area. It does not mean that you will man that booth. It actually means that you should talk to that business or company because they're doing business in your district. Just as a reminder that's happening in eleven minutes and thank you so much Adam speaker.

Any further announcements. Seeing none, for the motion to adjourn, representative Morikawa.

Madam speaker, I move that this house stand adjourn until 12:00 noon tomorrow.

Representative Garcia.

Madam speaker, I second the motion.

All those in favor, say aye. {Vote} All those opposed, say no. The motion is carried. The house stands adjourned until 12:00 noon tomorrow.