Senate Standing Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection

Good morning and welcome. This is our Thursday, 04/02/2026, 9:20 AM decision making agenda in Conference Room 229 at the Hawaii State Capitol. This is a joint decision-making agenda between the Hawaii State Senate Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and the Committee on Judiciary to make decisions on four bills that have been previously heard in their respective subject matter committees. I will yield to the Judiciary Chair for the first measure.

Thank you. First up is H—House Bill 1134. This is relating to meat donation, exempts the donation of wild meat or meat products, including access to your charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization for the purpose of feeding needy individuals, certain laws regarding the inspection of transportation of meat. Recommendation is to go ahead and pass it out with technical amendments only.

However, I do wanna put in the committee report that I—it was my understanding that the bill had a separate path for wild meat, as opposed to domestic meat.

So, I just want to raise—I just want to clarify that the wild meat is not being intermixed with, you know, farm, farm raised animals. There's some danger in cross contamination per the Department of Health's testimony. So, there'll be some extra committee language on that. Questions or concerns? Any?

Seeing none. Senator Gabbard for the vote.

[Roll Call]

Thank you, CPN. Same recommendation. Chair votes aye.

Thank you. Vice chair also votes aye. Senator Lamasau is excused. Senator McAfee? Yes.

[Roll Call]

Thank you. The next measure on the agenda is House Bill 1782 House Draft three, Senate Draft one relating to artificial intelligence for the protection of minors. Members I'd like to take a little bit more time to try and work on amendments for this measure. So the recommendation is to defer decision making on this measure for the CPN committee to April 7at 09:30am in Conference Room 229.

We can we can go to that same time too. So we'll go ahead and follow you on that.

Okay. Thank you very much. The next measure is House bill 2101 House draft one, Senate draft one relating to the commercial relating to commercial aquarium collection. The recommendation on this measure is to pass unamended. Members, any comments or concerns?

Chair.

Senator McKelvey.

I'm very concerned about being limited to a walking considering this performance of this will come to Big Island. So I'm gonna be respectful with.

So noted. Any other comments or questions?

Yeah. Same. You know, when when this over and over this one comes up with this session, this came up, and fisherman from Italy was brought in my office, opponent of the bill, pushing it. Hey. Here's why we should vote for it.

And then suddenly, it's not supporting what he was pushing for. I find that, you know, Kinda like teasing our people for a issue.

I cannot give I I But members, your your concerns are noted. Prior concurrence on this measure was not granted.

Okay. Then no.

And so the measure the recommendation is on the table. Got it. Okay. Okay.

Appreciate you sharing that with me, Don. So I appreciate you Yeah.

Members, any other discussion?

Okay.

Okay. We're we're gonna amend the recommendation on this measure. We're gonna roll to end the calendar and I'll move to the next measure.

Okay. Yeah. Oh, okay. That sounds good.

So for JAC, the same same we're not gonna defer on the voting. We'll just go ahead and vote now. So recommendation is same as CPC shares described, which was Unamended. Correct? Unamended.

Questions or concerns? If not, Vice Chair Gabbard.

On HB 2,101, SD one, chair's recommendation is to pass unamended. Chair Rhodes?

Aye.

Senator San Buenaventura Excused. Senator Owa?

Aye.

Vice Chair reads aye. Senator Chang?

No.

The measure is adopted.

Okay. The last, well, the next measure on this agenda is House Bill 2137 House Draft three Senate Draft one relating to artificial intelligence. The recommendation on this measure is to pass with amendments adopting the Attorney General's requested amendment to delete certain exemption language, adopting the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women's Proposed Amendments, Amendment, and adopting the Motion Picture Associations proposed amendments. Members, any discussion? Okay.

Seeing none, passing with amendments, chair votes aye.

Thank you. Of the CPN members present, any voting with reservations, objections? Hearing none, your recommendation is adopted. Yes.

Same recommendation for JAC members, so questions or concerns? If not, vice chair.

SP 2,137 HD three SD one. Recommendations to pass the amendments. If the members present, any more votes or reservations? Hearing none, the motion passes.

Alright, CPN members, we're gonna return to the vote on House Bill 2,101, House draft one, Senate draft one, relating to commercial aquarium collection. The recommendation is, to pass unamended and the chair votes aye.

No.

Thank you. Vice chair also votes aye. Senator Lamasawa is excused. Senator McKelvey?

No.

Senator Awa?

Your recommendation is not adopted.

Okay. We'll adjourn this agenda.

Good morning and welcome to decision making on—this is a Thursday, 04/02/2026, 9:30 AM, agenda in Conference Room 229 at the State Capitol. This is a decision-making agenda on Senate Concurrent Resolution 166, SR 157. This measure was previously heard in this committee on 03/25/2026.

And the recommendation on this measure is to pass with amendments, adding a whereas clause noting that any investment in energy infrastructure generational commitment, adding a whereas clause noting that the PUC is mandated by law to consider increased renewable energy generation to reduce the state's fossil fuel reliance, adding a whereas clause noting that statutory authority allows the PUC to favorably consider costs related to renewable energy as an alternative to fossil fuels.

Amend—deleting the "be it resolved" and "further resolved" clauses and adding a new be it resolved and be it further resolved clause, well, multiple clauses, to express the legislature's intent that in making any determination regarding a generational energy commitment for the state, the PUC must exercise sound judgment and a—sound and independent judgment, carefully consider all relevant information when balancing short term energy needs and the state's long term energy commitments, make any commitment using sound evidence based decision making while ensuring transparency in the process, and we'll make the same associated amendments to the Senate resolution. Members, any discussion?

Just a quick discussion. I noted the testimony of former commissioner Vina Merida on it. However, I think that the concern that this could impinge upon the independence of the PUC isn't really there because this is a resolution. So, but I do wanna note that, her comments. I appreciate them, but I'm gonna support it because it's a resolution.

Thank you, Senator. I'd also note, I mean, the, the, attempt here with the amendments was not to unduly read into the policy aspects of the process to leave that, leave that to the PUC, but just reiterate the nature, the significance of, of the conversation being had at the moment and ensure that at least for our committee's sake, it is our expectation that the Public Utilities Commission conduct thorough, transparent, and evidence-based analysis in making major decisions about our energy future.

I actually really thank you for walking us through the amendments and so far as how it reflects on the original rest of it. Thanks.

Okay. If there are no other comments, then the recommendation is to pass with amendments.

And as soon as we have the vote sheets.

Sorry about that. Okay. The recommendation is to pass with amendments and the chair votes aye.

[Roll Call]