House Floor

Will the house come to order, Mr. Clerk? Please call the roll.

[Roll Call] Madam Speaker, 46 members are present. Four are not present.

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

May this matter be deferred.

So ordered. 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 1102 informing the house that Senate Bill number 3123 Senate Draft 1 was signed into law on March 27, 2026 and designated as act two. May this matter be received and filed.

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

Madam Speaker, there are none.

Members, are there any introductions? Representative Pierick.

Yes. I'd like to introduce in the gallery today, we have the best office manager in the building, Sydney Parsons, and some amazing team members including Young, Winston, Huddett, and an intern. Thank you so much for being here, guys.

I'd also like to introduce a fellow classmate from high school, school, from Radford High School. She's with us today accompanied by her 11 year old grandson, Cheryl and Brandon Hawk. Can you please stand?

They're both visiting from Michigan, but Cheryl's a strong advocate for survivors of childhood sexual abuse and has been traveling to, Hawaii for the past ten years, advocating on their behalf. So thank you for being here.

Let's move on to the order of the day. Item number five, reports of standing committees. Representative Kahaloa.

Madam Speaker I moved to adopt Standing Committee Reports numbers 1433-26 through 1563-26 as listed on pages 1 through 34 and that the accompanying Senate bills as may be amended pass second reading and or be referred to their designated committees.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Any discussion on these items beginning with HSCR number 1433-26. Representative Garcia?

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Muraoka.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

Reservations, please.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

So ordered. Moving on to top of page two, Standing Committee Report 1434. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

Reservations.

So ordered. For Representative Muraoka.

No vote.

So ordered. 1435, 1436. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

No vote, please.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

So ordered. Representative Gedeon.

No vote.

Reservations.

So ordered. 1437, 1438, 1439.

Excuse me, Speaker?

1438 when time permits.

Representative Shimizu.

Please proceed.

No vote with a brief comment, please.

Please proceed.

No really objection to the bill, but I just feel like at this point in time of our budget concerns and, assessing the the damage from the storm that we should defer spending on this. That's the reason for my no vote. Thank you, Speaker.

Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. Moving on to 1440, 1441. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Muraoka.

Reservations, please.

So ordered. Representative Souza.

Reservations.

So ordered. On the top of page four, Standing Committee Report 1442, 1443, 1444, 1445. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. On the top of page five, Standing Committee Report 1446. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. 1447, 1448. Representative Amato.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Garcia.

Same request.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

Support with reservations and a brief comment.

Please proceed.

The reservation is this bill is tasking DBEDT to, be in charge of this bill. And I feel like, this bill should fall under the, Department of Land and Natural Resources. So that's the reason for my reservations. Thank you.

Standing Committee Report 1449. On the top of page 6. 1450, 1451, 1452. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

Representative so ordered. Representative Reyes Oda.

With reservations.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

Reservations, please.

So ordered. 1452, 1453. On the top of page 7. 1454, 1455, 1456, 1457. On the top of page 8.1458, 1459. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Muraoka.

No vote, please.

So ordered. Representative Reyes Oda.

With reservations.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

No vote with a brief comment, please.

Please proceed.

Thank you, Speaker. You know, in this body, we really try to not discriminate against anyone. And I'm not sure why we would not hire somebody that's qualified to do their job just because they have a preconceived label on them.

So we we shouldn't discriminate, not against anyone for the choices that they make even in other areas that we we don't discriminate. So we should be consistent in this and I'm voting no and I would encourage my colleagues to consider that also.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Representative Gedeon.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Matsumoto.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Souza.

Reservations.

So ordered. Moving on to Standing Committee Report 1460, 1461, 1462, 1463. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. 1464. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

Reservations, please.

So ordered. 1465. Representative Garcia.

So ordered. Representative Reyes Oda.

No vote.

With reservations.

So ordered. Representative Muraoka.

No vote, please.

So ordered. Representative Gedeon.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Amato.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

Reservations, please.

So ordered. The top of page 10, Standing Committee Report 1466. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. 1467, 1468, 1469. On the top of page 11. 1470, 1471. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Muraoka.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

Reservations with a brief comment.

Please proceed.

I'm just, not fully, educated on this bill. So I'd like to just flag it with a reservations. Thank you.

Moving on to 1472. Speaker. Representative Poepoe.

For 1471.

Yes.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Gedeon.

All these for 1471 reservations, please.

So ordered. Moving on to 1472, 1473. We're on the top of page 12. 1474, 1475, 1476, 1477, 1478, 1479, 1480. Representative Garcia.

1479.

Please proceed.

With reservations.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

With reservations.

So ordered. Representative Muraoka.

Reservations, please.

So ordered. Going to 1480, 1481. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

No vote.

Reservations, please.

So ordered. We're at the on page 14. 1482, 1483, 1484 on the top of page 15. 1485, 1486, 1487. Top of page 16. 1488, 1489, 1490, 1491. Top of page 17. 1492, 1493, 1494, 1495. Representative Garcia.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

Reservations.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Muraoka.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

Reservations with a brief comment.

Please proceed.

You know, there's probably a good reason for this. It just doesn't make sense why we would allow our higher institution of learning education to be exempt from doing what everybody else does. So in principle, I would, support the University of Hawaii, but,

just with reservations, on the principle of giving them that exemption. Thank you.

Representative Gedeon.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Reyes Oda.

With reservations.

So ordered. Representative Matsumoto.

Reservations.

So ordered. We're at the top of page 18, Standing Committee Report 1496, 1497. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. 1498. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. 1499. Representative Shimizu.

No vote with a brief comment.

Please proceed.

I am wondering why we are dictating to the University of Hawaii who is autonomous organization, how to dictate and manage their operations. So I think they have enough smart people there to do their job accordingly. So that that's the reason I'm voting no against this. Thank you.

We're at the page 19 at the top 1500, 1501, 1502, 1503. Page 20. 1504. Representative Takayama.

Madam Speaker in support.

Please proceed.

I wanted to note for the record that there was an there was an error in our health committee vote sheet and that two Members, Representatives Alcos and Garcia, were recorded as excused, when they actually voted no.

Clark has corrected the bill status and is in the process of making the correction in the journal. Thank you.

Thank you for that clarification. Representative Garcia.

Reaffirming my no vote.

So ordered. Representative Gedeon.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

No vote, please.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Reyes Oda.

With reservations.

So ordered. Representative Matsumoto.

No vote.

No votes. So ordered. Representative Muraoka.

No vote.

So ordered. Moving on to Standing Committee Report 1505, 1506, 1507 on the top on page 21. 1508. Representative Amato.

Reservation.

So ordered. 1509, 1510. Representative Shimizu.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. 1509 when you have time.

No vote and a brief comment.

Go ahead.

Please proceed.

I don't really have a super strong objection to this as far as the intent of of reading, I just think we should use, our monies more wisely. And and this is a nice thing to have, but, not a necessity at this point. So that's the reason I'm voting no on this. Thank you.

1510, 1511, on the top on page 22. 1512, 1513, 1514. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. 1515. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

Representative Reyes Oda.

With reservations.

So ordered. Representative Gedeon.

Same request, please.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. That was 1515. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. Page 23. 1516 Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. 1517, Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. 1518, 1519. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Support with reservations and, just a comment.

Please proceed.

The reservation is is based on, the governor giving the governor the, authority to appoint the marine affairs coordinator. This bill is, assigning this, entity to the Hawaii technical development corporation.

And I think that corporation itself should be in charge of appointing their own coordinator and, the governor has enough things to do. He doesn't really have to be the one to assign this position. So that's the reason for my reservation. Thank you.

We're on the top of page. Representative Poepoe.

1519 with reservations.

So ordered. We're on the top of page 24. 1520. Representative Pierick.

Thank you for back at 1519 no vote.

So ordered. We're on the top of page 24. 1520, 1521, 1522. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Muraoka.

No vote, please.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

So ordered. Representative Gedeon.

No vote.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

No vote, please.

So ordered.

Can I make a brief comment?

Please proceed.

This bill was asking board of water supply to provide data publicly, and they testified, multiple times giving, strong opposition and very valid reasons why they are not able to do this.

So I think it's hard to pass legislation when the main entity is giving valid reasons that they shouldn't be shouldn't be mandated to do this. So that's the reason I'm voting on this. Thank you Madam Speaker.

1522. Representative Evslin.

In support.

Please proceed.

Yeah. I just wanna clarify that the strong opposition from the water managers in the housing committee was based on the Senate version of the bill. The house language which we put into the bill in the housing committee was language that was drafted in

collaboration with the water managers. It is language, that in previous meetings they said that they could support and implement and the intention is just for them to disclose where water is available for housing development across Hawaii. Thank you.

1523. We're on the top of page 25. 1524 Representative Shimizu.

My apologies, Madam Speaker. 1523. Our reservations, please.

So ordered. We're now on 1524. Representative Reyes Oda.

No vote.

So ordered. 1520 representative Shimizu.

Madam Speaker, my apologies again. On 1523, can I make a brief comment on my reservations?

Okay. Let's finish up on 1524. Any other okay. 1523. Please proceed.

1523, SB 2800, irrigation systems, appropriations. You know, I originally had, supported this bill with reservations. My thinking at this point in time is based on the tremendous flood damage and the time that's needed to assess that.

I think we personally, I think we should defer this and, spend the money in other areas of need. We should reassess this irrigation requirements and necessity, based on the outcomes of the flood damage assessments.

So that's my reason for voting no on this at at this time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

1525. Representative Pierick.

Thank you. No vote.

So ordered. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. 1526, 1527. On the top of page 26. 1528. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. 1529, 1530. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. 1531. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered, Representative Alcos.

So ordered, Representative Pierick.

No vote.

Reservations.

So ordered, representative Muraoka.

Reservations, please.

Representative Gedeon.

Reservations.

Represent so ordered. Representative Reyes Oda. Sorry.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Matsumoto.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

Reservations, please.

So ordered. Representative Souza.

Reservations.

So ordered. Moving on to 1532 Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

Reservations. Getting a lot of exercise standing up. Thank you.

So ordered. On the top of page 27. 1533 representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Reyes Oda.

With reservations.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

Reservations, please.

So ordered. 1534. Representative Iwamoto.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to, disclose that I have, a substantial personal financial conflict of interest. I do own over $200,000 dollars in meta stock, that may or may not be impacted by this bill.

Okay. You are part of a broader class and you, this will apply. So you are able to vote, and, there is no conflict of interest, and this will apply to the remaining of this session. Thank you. Representative Shimizu.

Madam Speaker, I'm losing track here. I wish I had that much, crypto myself, but, did I register, reservations on, SCR 1533? I'd like to do that if I didn't. Thank you.

So ordered. 1534, 1535. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Gedeon.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Muraoka.

No vote, please.

So ordered. Representative Matsumoto.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

No vote, please.

So ordered. 1536. On the top of page 28. 1537 Representative Pierick. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Reyes Oda.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

Thank you. No vote.

So ordered. Representative Muraoka.

No vote, please.

So ordered. Moving on to 1538, 1539 representative Pierick.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

No vote with a brief comment, please.

Please proceed.

You know, this bill is taking on responsibility that I feel is unwise at this time, especially with our budget requirements and just trying to find money. I don't think it's a wise thing to incur more debt and establish something that is gonna obligate us for future debt.

So that is the reason I'm voting no on this. Although it's a good idea, I wish we could help everybody, but in this time, I think we need to make hard decisions, and that's what I will do. Thank you.

1540, Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. 1541, Representative Alcos.

1540 reservations.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

Reservations.

So ordered. 1541. On the top of page 29. 1542, 1543, 1544. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. 1545. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. On the top of page 30. 1546. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered, Representative Alcos.

Same request.

So ordered, Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered, representative Muraoka.

No vote, please.

So ordered. Representative Gedeon.

Same request.

So ordered. Representative Matsumoto.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

No vote with a brief comment.

Please proceed.

Speaker, maybe am I idealistic? I'd like to think that we can put aside our differences and and try to work together to accomplish greater things. So I feel that it's important for us to work together with the Federal Government, especially as we are trying to gather their

assistance for FEMA. And and we shouldn't be creating enemies. So that that's my my take on this. Again, I I'm hopeful that we can find ways to overcome our differences and and work together for the greater good. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Representative Kila.

Reservations, Madam Speaker.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. 1547. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered, Representative Alcos.

So ordered, Representative Muraoka.

No vote.

No vote, please.

So ordered, representative Gedeon.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. No vote. But a comment.

Please proceed.

First of all, thank you colleagues for your patience in my expressing, the reasons for my no votes. You know, I think it's one thing to ask people who have means to pay more, in taxes and and so forth.

But I think when we start having, unequal justice where someone who commits the same crime is, required to pay more, it it sets a dangerous precedent. And I don't think that's what we wanna promote.

So I feel like if if you commit the same crime, you have the same penalties, whether it's a misdemeanor, whether it's a class c felony all the way up to class a.

There's no distinction on you as a person and the crime you committed and what is your debt to our society. So no vote.

Representative Reyes Oda.

With reservation.

So ordered. Representative Garcia.

Opposition.

Please proceed.

And I'd like to adopt the words of the representative from from Mona Lua as my own. Equal justice Madam Speaker under the law. No vote.

So ordered. Representative Gedeon.

Same request.

So ordered. Representative Matsumoto.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. 1548. Oh, Representative Souza.

On 15, Are we on 1547? Yes. Okay.

I'm good. Thank you. Oh, 1548. Representative Garcia?

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Gedeon.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

No vote with a brief comment, please.

Please proceed.

I get the intention of this. There's just some practical difficulties that will make things very difficult for our, hospitality industry. You know,. We're trying to address cost of living and we need to support businesses. And of course, tourism is one of our most important industries.

And it is just difficult when we we make things difficult for people to do business here. So that's the reason for my no vote, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Any other votes on 1548? Moving on to 1549. Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

Reservations.

So ordered. 1550. Top of page 31. 1551. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Pierick.

Reservations.

So ordered. 1552. Representative Pierick.

No vote.

So ordered. 1553. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

Reservations. You had a brief comment.

Please proceed.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The testimony that I heard was there there is current policy in place to accomplish what this bill is stating. So, this bill has appropriations. I don't think it's necessary to spend money on this bill when the testifiers did state that they are able to

accomplish this with policy that's already existing. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

1554, 53. Please proceed.

Thank you. No vote.

So ordered. 1554. Top of page 32. 1555 Representative Garcia.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

No vote.

So ordered. 1556. Representative Gedeon.

Apologies. Could we go back to 1555?

Yes. We can. Go ahead.

Thank you. No vote.

So ordered. 1555. Representative Matsumoto.

No vote.

No vote. So ordered. Representative Muraoka.

No vote.

So ordered. Representative Alcos. Okay. Okay. We're back to 1556.