House Standing Committee on Culture & Arts

Good morning, everyone. This is the Committee on Culture and the Arts. We are gaveling in for our 10AM agenda. Today is 03/25/2026, and we are in Conference Room 309 as well as on video conference via Zoom.

First, we have SB 1023 SD1 HD1 relating to the spaying and neutering of animals, establishes the spaying and neutering special fund to reduce pet overpopulation and the reproduction of free roaming cats as well as various revenue and funding sources for the special fund, appropriate funds to the counties.

Up first, we have testimony from the Department of Taxation in person. Not present. We also have testimony from the attorney general. Oh, in person. Good morning.

Morning, chair, vice chair. Kelsey Nagata, deputy attorney general, providing comments on SB 1023 SD one HD one. The bill as written may cause confusion regarding which department is responsible for the special fund and advisory committee. We provided written, revisions in our testimony, and I'm available for any questions. Thank you so much for being here.

Thank you for your testimony. We also have testimony from DLNR with comments in person.

Hello, Chair, Vice Chair. My name is Patrick Chee. I'm from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Hawaii invasive Species Council. We have comments regarding this bill, and there was a similar bill that was going through the House and Senate, HB 1736 which we believe has better language. And we have been working very hard with the animal welfare folks, especially like the Hawaiian Humane Society, in order to build a balanced bill that we think that we can all support.

And so we would prefer the language that was in 1736, the HD two draft, to be kind of put into this bill and elevate this form, essentially. So if you can, that that would be preferable. So but, yeah, I'm available for any questions if you have any.

Thank you very much for being here. Thank you for your testimony. I also have testimony via Zoom for from the American Bird Conservancy in opposition.

Hello, Chair, Vice Chair. Grant Sizemore for American Bird Conservancy. Our organization did submit testimony in opposition to the bill. As you have probably heard, a lot has happened, over the last couple of days, since that testimony was submitted. So at this time, actually, I'd respectfully request that you move the bill forward so that we can continue, the conversations we have been having with our animal welfare colleagues.

So we can continue to work together on agreeable amendment language to to advance this issue.

Thank you so much for your testimony and your presence via Zoom. I also have testimony in support, but not present from the Hawaiian Humane Society and about two individuals in support and one person in opposition. I have another person that potentially is on Zoom, Gabrielle Gabriela San Sanborn?

Not present.

Okay. Not present. That's all I have on my testifiers list. Is there anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? Okay.

Seeing none, I just have one quick question for, mister Seismar. Yes. Thank you for being here. As noted by DLNR, the preferred language is HB1736. Are you folks in agreement with that language?

Yes. We are.

Okay. Perfect. Thank you. That was my only question.

Thank you.

Okay. We're gonna move on—I'm sure you have a question. Okay. We're gonna move on to our next measure, HCR 162, requesting the establishment of an arts data and mapping task force to conduct a statewide survey of entities engaged in arts and arts education and develop a comprehensive statewide database and geographic information system map of arts entities and programs. Up first on my testifiers list, we have DBEDT Creative Industries, in support.

Good morning, Chair Kapela and Vice Chair Kong. I'm Rick Manayan on behalf of Creative Industries Division of DBEDT, and we support HCR 162 and HR 152. I'll also hear probably one of our colleagues from OPSD who is more of the subject matter expert will be also coming up shortly.

Perfect.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

Thank you for being here. Mahalo for your testimony. We also have OPSG in support, in person.

Morning, Chair, Vice Chair. My name is Arthur Buto here for Mary Alice Evans from OPSD. We stand on our testimony in support.

Thank you so much. Thank you for your testimony. Thank you for being here. I'm noting that we also have testimony all in support from State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, as well as the Hawaii Community Foundation, Hawaii Youth Symphony, and two individuals. Is there anyone else in the room wishing to testify?

Okay. Seeing none, members, any questions? Okay. Seeing none, we're gonna move on to our next measure. And I will also note we're taking some of these in tandem.

So if there's an HCR and an HR, we're gonna take them in tandem. Up next, we have HCR 57 HR 53, recognizing September 28th as Hawaii Good Neighbor Day. We have one individual in support, Terry Yoshinaga. Not present. That's all I have on my testifiers list.

Is there anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? Okay. Seeing none, there's no one to ask questions of. We're gonna continue moving on. Up next, we have HCR 19 HR 20, designating the month of March 2026 as March for Water Month in Hawaii. We have Plumbers and Pipefitters, in support, in person.

Thank you, Chair Kapela, Vice Chair Kong. Kika Bukoski, on behalf of the Plumbers and Fitters Local 675. We are in strong support of this resolution or concurrent resolution. We just completed a statewide tour of each county, recognizing-- just culminated with the City Council. We just came from that hearing, recognizing March 2026 as March for Water Month.

And the primary intent of this measure is basically to raise awareness of water. Sometimes we take the most critical things in life for granted, and we just wanna remind everyone how important and precious the resource of water is, not just the resource itself, but the management of and use of and reuse of. So we're hoping that to continue the discussion of the full cycle, the full life cycle of water from its source, to its transmission, to its use, and, eventually, now we're looking at reuse to, again, conserve and protect water that we have.

And also, where the Plumbers and Fitters come in is ensuring that the water that is delivered to the people is safe to drink and not just the-- to make sure that the integrity of the water system is protected. Thank you very much.

Thank you so much. Thank you for your testimony. That's all I have on my testifiers list. Anyone else wishing to testify on this measure? Okay, I actually have a quick question for you, Kika. Is-- I'm noting the March 2026.

Yes.

Do you want it just for this year or--

We would love if it were on, you know, perpetual.

We would love that. Yeah.

Okay. Okay.

Okay. So you're open to an amendment to change that language?

Okay. Perfect. Just double-checking.

Yes. Yes.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Any questions? Nope? Okay. Again, we're gonna move on to our next measure, HCR 1901/HR 93, nominating John D. Waheae III for induction into the Aloha Order of Merit.

We have one individual in support. I don't believe they are present, but Victor Ramos? Okay. That's all I have on my list. Anyone else wishing to testify?

Okay. Seeing none, we're gonna move on to our final measure, endorsing Waikiki at, sorry. HCR 106, HR 98, endorsing Waikiki as a world surfing reserve. We have University of Hawaii in support. Good morning.

Yes, aloha. Good morning. My name is Dolan Eversole on behalf of the University of Hawaii. We'll stand on our written testimony in support, and I'm happy to answer any questions if you have any. Just for context, I've been involved with an ongoing effort to apply to the Save the Waves Organization to, in fact, get this designation.

So, if you have any questions around that, I'm happy to answer those.

Thank you so much for being here.

Sure.

I also have testimony in support from the Waikiki Special Improvement District, and one other individual also in support. No opposition. Anyone else wishing to testify on this specific measure? Okay. Seeing none. Any questions?

Okay. I also do not have questions. We're gonna take a quick recess.

Gaveling back in for decision making on our 10AM agenda. Up first, we have SB1023 SD1 HD1 relating to the spaying and neutering of animals.

Based on all of the testimony that has been received by the committee, we're gonna be amending this language to insert the language from the house vehicle, HB1736 HD2 into this bill. This version reflects a much more refined and collaborative approach to supporting animal control efforts, also including

the establishment of funding for the the spaying and neutering of cats.

This committee really appreciates the work of both the introducer and all of the stakeholders that have contributed, to develop to the development of the house draft. So with that, members, any questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay. Voting on SB 1023, SD1, HD1 to pass with amendments. [Roll Call] Chair, your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you so much, Members. We're gonna be moving on to our resolutions. We're gonna take them in tandem. So up next, we're gonna vote on HCR 162 HR 152 requesting the establishment of an arts and data mapping task force to conduct the studies of to conduct a statewide survey of entities engaged in

arts and arts education and development. We are gonna be passing this measure as is. Questions, comments, or concerns? Okay. Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote.

Voting on HCR162 HR152 passed as is. Noting the excused absences of representative Lee and Reyes Oda and for the remainder of the hearing, Are there any Noes? Any reservations? Your recommendation is adopted.

Thank you so much Members. We're gonna be moving on to our next measure, HCR 57 HR 53 recognizing September 28 as Good Neighbor Day, as Hawaii Good Neighbor Day. We're just gonna be doing some technical amendments that are needed for clarity, consistency, and style.

Any questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote.

Voting on HCR 57, HR 53. Noting the absences. Are there any Noes? With reservations? Seeing none. Recommendation is adopted.

Thank you so much, Members. Moving on to HCR 19 HR 20 designating the month of March 2026 as March for Water Month in Hawaii. We are gonna be making a small technical change. We're gonna be designating instead of just March 2026, we are gonna be designating the month of March as March for

Water Month in Hawaii. Any questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay. Voting on HCR19, HR20, pass with amendments. Are there any Noes? or with Representative Reyes Oda now in attendance. Are there any Noes? Are there any reservations?

Seeing none, recommendation is adopted.

Thank you so much, Members. Moving on to HCR 101 HR 93 nominating John D Waihe'e III for induction into the Aloha Merit. Aloha Order of Merit. We are gonna do some small technical amendments needed for clarity, consistency, and style. Any questions, comments, or concerns?

Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote.

Okay. Voting on HCR 101, HR 93 to pass with amendments. Are there any Noes? Reservations? Seeing none. Recommendation is adopted.

Thank you so much, Members. Moving on to our last and final measure, HCR 106, HR 98 endorsing Waikiki as a world surfing reserve. We are gonna be passing this measure as is. Questions, comments, or concerns? Seeing none. Vice Chair for the vote.

Voting on HCR 106 HR 98 to pass as is. Are there any Noes? With reservations? None. Seeing none. Recommendation is adopted. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you so much. Members, I believe this is our last hearing for the Committee on Culture and the Arts for this 2026 legislative session. So thank you so much for your hard work.