Senate Floor

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

[Roll call]

Thank you. The Chair has read the journal of the preceding day and approves the same. Are there any introductions this morning? Senator Awa? Oh, Senator Rhoads?

Thank you, mister president. Just wanted to enter introduce one of my former staffers, Emile Boerland, who's now with OHA, and also former Senator, Brookwood Galloteria if you get rise and be recognized. Senator

Awa. Awa?

I don't normally do this, because my staff's recognition, I like to think, is is, reflected in their wages. But, because this is coming down to the end, I'd like to do just for the record in the journal, wherever it may be, because there's been a long standing stereotype for Republicans or the minority of, what group we represent. And my staff is sitting up here, Sam's staff, Kurt's staff, our minority office.

And I'd like to just turn the attention to them right now because this is is who represents the minority.

This is who's been working for all of the people that we represent, and and we have good Hawaiians like Makana Lewis. We got Samoans like Mark Taliai. Tongans like Petitavake. We got Korean, Japanese, like Ethan Yamamoto. Oh, already stood up.

We got Kahalu. We got mothers. We got fathers. Jesse Mackayanai, Jesse Rivera, Reggie Torres, long time coach, my former coach at Kahuku's up there. He's in Sam's office.

And and, you know, we got we got Jillian Anderson. I wish I could give her a middle name and a a Hawaiian middle name. But, anyway, that's the staff that has been representing the minority. Appreciate it.

Do we have any further introductions? If not, we're gonna take a brief recess so I can get my script ready. Lisette, please come back into order, madam clerk.

Mister \President, may be allowed a later introduction.

Please proceed.

I'd like to introduce in the gallery Jason and Millie from HSTA. They stand to be recognized. There they are.

Madam Clerk?

On page two, conference committee report numbers two thirty nine and two forty, four, forty eight hour notice.

So ordered.

Standing committee report numbers 39, 98, 40, 10 for one day notice.

So ordered.

Beginning on page six, advice and consent.

If there are no objections from the members, we will be taking advice and consent on consent.

Standing committee report numbers 3995 to 3997 on governor's messages for adoption.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes?

25 ayes.

Thank you. The nominees for said governor's messages have been confirmed. Senator Elefante.

Thank you, Mister President. May I be permitted for a late introduction?

Please proceed.

Thank you, mister president. Members and guests in the gallery, joining us in the gallery is GM774. Congratulations to Douglas Moore to be a member on the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board. If you could please stand to be recognized. And also joining mister Moore is fellow, board member Harry Yee.

If you could stand to be recognized. Thank you.

Do we have any other late introductions? If not, I believe I see Seth Colby confirmed as DAGS. Seth. Madam Clerk.

On page eight, adoption of resolutions, final adoption of Senate Concurrent Resolution 173, House Draft One.

Senator Wakai. Mister president, I move for the final adoption of Senate concurrent Resolution 175 HD1.

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. Said Senate Concurrent Resolution has been adopted.

Final reading.

If there are no objections from the members, we'll be taking final reading on consent.

Conference committee report number one twenty five, final reading of House Bill 1800, conference draft one relating to the state budget.

Is there any discussion, Senator Dela Cruz?

Thank you, Mister President, in support. Proceed. I just really wanna thank you, Senate President, Vice President, majority leader, and the entire Senate leadership, especially our subject matter committee chairs for their leadership as we address complex statewide issues. And of course, vice chair for handling the capital improvement project budget. Also, Mahalo to some of the other members in the other chamber.

And finally, thank you to governor Green and his administration. Colleagues, I urge you to support all this this measure because this budget fulfills a shared responsibility to protect tax breaks for Hawaii's working and middle class families. It enhances essential public programs and invests in long term resilience of the state. We are protecting tax relief for Hawaii's working families and middle class families. This all goes hand in hand with responsible budgeting.

The final version of SB3125 upholds the promise to deliver meaningful tax relief for roughly 90% of Hawaii's households. Preserving this tax break means less money for state for the state in tax revenues. However, the legislature protects these tax breaks to cost saving measures in the budget and beyond. The legislature worked with the administration to identify cost saving opportunities across the entire executive branch again except for the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. Savings totaled over $60,000,000 in the budget.

The legislature also tapped into non general funds with excess cash balances. Through Senate Bill 2921, a total of 45,000,000 will be transferred to the the general fund. I wanna thank the administration for their collaboration to identify underutilized to help continue the tax breaks passed by the legislature in 2024. Another cost saving strategy included changing the source of funding for certain state corporation and authorities from general funds to special and revolving funds.

These state corporations and authorities were established to function as quasi private entities with the ability to generate their own revenues.

Although, there is a bill to allow for transitional funding, this change in source of funding reduces the reliance on taxpayer funds. Totally saving a total of over $8,000,000 in the budget. In total, over 115,000,000 was saved to ensure Hawaii families get more money with each paycheck. The budget also enhances essential public services that are impacted by changes to federal funding and policies.

A report from the Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawaii details how the twenty twenty five One Big Beautiful Bill Act impacts the state.

For SNAP, Hawaii must now expand and enforce work requirements which could reduce benefits for some households. The federal law also shifts administrative cost to the state. The bill includes over 10,000,000 for SNAP to address these changes in federal funding and support. For Medicaid, new federal rules including work and enrollment requirements may also limit coverage for Hawaii residents. The budget bill includes over 200,000,000 for Medicaid.

The grant in aid funding increased from 30,000,000 to 40,000,000 this legislative session. This increase helps offset reductions in federal funding and ensures continued support for essential services. By strengthen strengthening the GIA program, the state is taking a proactive step to maintain stability and protect key programs during a period of federal uncertainty. Global conflict, supply chain disruptions, and severe local weather events continue to to drive up cost for fuel, food, and essential goods at home. These pressures expose the risk of over reliance on external systems.

This budget prioritizes 129,000,000 for climate and hazard resilience, environmental stewardship, and sustainable tourism. These investments are not only to protect our natural resources but reinforce the foundations of Hawaii's economy. These in these investments uplift local farmers and entrepreneurs that improves food security here at home while expanding economic opportunities beyond our shores. Altogether, these investments improve the long term resilience and self reliance of the state. To close again I want to thank the Senate leadership, members of the other chamber, and the Green Administration for their assistance.

Colleagues, I urge you to all support this budget because it fulfills a shared responsibility to protect tax breaks for Hawaii's working and middle class families, enhances essential public programs, and invest in long term resilience of the state. With your approval, I would like to insert written remarks into that journal, Mister President.

Before recognizing any other speaker, if there are no objections to me editing my own remarks, I believe I said Seth Colby, the DAGS director, and he would be the budget and finance director, madam clerk, if you would make that correction to my late introduction. Senator Moriwaki.

Thank you, Mister President. I rise in support.

Please proceed.

I too want to thank you and our colleagues for setting the priorities that are reflected in the CIP budget. I want to especially thank the Ways and Means chair for his leadership and guidance in crafting the state budget and the collaboration with the House CIP Chair, Lisa Kitagawa and her staff and for the governor and his administration. As to the CIP budget, I thank members in helping to identify district areas of need.

The focus of this budget continues to center on essentials, health and safety, compliance, infrastructure, maintenance, and modernization of state assets. We also stressed our Senate priorities, affordable housing and infrastructure, education and workforce development, economic development and diversification, and environmental sustainability.

Some highlights of the CIP fiscal twenty seven budget include investments in housing and affordability. 351,000,000 helping to ensure that local families, seniors, and students have access to stable and attainable housing. Strong support for health care and public safety, 436,700,000 with 157,700,000 for new outpatient facilities, medical centers, repairs, and infrastructure upgrades. 166,000,000 for public safety improvements statewide and 120,000,000 to enhance the safety and reliability of our highways, harbors, and airports.

Continued investment education and workforce development, the $6,618,000,000 including 478,000,000 for the Department of Education and 140,000,000 to the University of Hawaii.

Support for food security and agriculture, 86,000,000, with 64,000,000 dedicated to repairing and improving irrigation systems statewide and 22,000,000 to acquire enhanced agricultural lands, strengthening local food production and long term sustainability, and 20,000,000 in CIP grants in aid to projects across the state with a high priority on meeting the health and safety needs of those serving the most vulnerable in our communities, advancing affordable and supportive housing, enhancing economic opportunities, and preserving historic and cultural venues.

We look forward to these partners advancing their projects to best support their communities. I present this fiscally responsible budget that puts our community first. It is a culmination of the hard work of many, And I, again, I thank you, Senate President, and all of you colleagues, and especially the Ways and Means chair, Senator Dela Cruz, and his staff. And I also want to thank my staff, CIP staff, Joseph Kopshay, and district staff, Alex Ozawa, staff, Alex Ozawa, Nikotovich, Venus de Los Santos, and Trevor Thomashow.

Mahalo to you all.

Thank you. Further discussion, Senator Fevella?

Thank you, Senator President. I stand in support.

Please proceed.

First of all, I wanna thank you, Senator President, Vice President, and leadership, for this bill. It helps our communities. Most of all, I want people to understand out there in TV land, out there in the real world that doesn't understand what's happening here in a square building, how hard our chair and our vice chair work and and kinda battled back and forth with our house colleagues and how to come up with a bill that would be good for our working families.

So, again, I wanna give a lot of credit to Senator Dela Cruz and his staff and our Senator sorry. It was Senator Moriwaki and their staff because without them working hard late at night and probably on the weekends, we wouldn't have something like this.

So I, I'm gonna just read my quote and then I'll I'll end. Families in my districts, of course, Hawaii, are feeling the pressures of high everyday costs from groceries to housing. Preserving this tax relief is a right decision because of putting money back into the pockets of the local residents who need it most. Arrangement of arrangement of reflection reflect our communities and to support the working families while maintaining the responsibility that path forward for the state.

So again, thank you guys again for thinking about our working class families because again, we are hurting.

You guys see the gas prices is almost $6. Yeah. Everything else is going higher. And and we needed this. And and by having this done against Senator Dela Cruz and Senator Moriwaki, maybe a lot of people out there don't appreciate you.

I know plenty of guys in this chamber does, but I do appreciate you guys, and I appreciate the leadership. And, of course, I in a minority too, we have a lot of good talks knowing that we have a both side nonpartisan kind of attitude here in this chamber. Maybe not in the other chamber, but this chamber, we're family. So again, thank you guys all for thinking of the working family. Love you guys.

Take care and God bless.

So Senator Fevella, I would just say yes to your comment that the Shell station on ward across from Asahi Grill, I filled gas this morning and had to look twice at the sign displaying the cost per gallon as I saw how much it was gonna cost me to fill my vehicle. Further discussion. If not, I'm gonna do something that I'm not supposed to do and I usually don't do. But we talked about this since November, what the 30,000 foot goal for the Senate would be.

And where we arrived is a simple statement to protect the most vulnerable in our community, support the Alice families because everyone is struggling, And how can we find economy that also helps create jobs for our young people because our goal is to retain them?

Sounds like a great thing, which I I thought it was. But then we handed it off to Senator Dela Cruz and said, okay. Now fill in all of the details to that narrative. And to Senator Dela Cruz, vice chair of Milwaukee, the ways and means committee and staff, I wanna commend you for the amazing job that you did. We began with federal reductions.

And then we were under attack for the DEI programs And more specifically, the reduction of native Hawaiian funding for programs like Puna Naleo, Tutu and Me. Super Bowl weekend, we were hit with a significant storm only to be followed a little later by two storms of biblical proportion without FEMA being funded because of the gridlock in Washington DC and no clear direction if FEMA was going to assist us.

And against the backdrop of all of that adversity, The ways and means committee got the job done with the product we have here today. What resonates to me, Senator Dela Cruz, in particular, and the work that you did is when one of our members got up a little over a month ago to speak against the budget.

And when we had an opportunity to sit at lent to talk about everything that this budget is going to achieve and how we would protect the most vulnerable in our communities.

We didn't just change minds. We changed hearts and we've got support now where there was opposition for the work that you and your team have put together. And to Senator Moriwaki, we've tried to be incredibly strategic in how we use the capital budget. Tourism is soft and it's usually been tourism coming back that has brought back our budget.

That's not gonna be the case, but as we invest in affordable housing and we invest in creation of job opportunities through the capital budget and then just the economy that the capital budget generates, to strengthen that other leg.

I truly appreciate all of the work that you have done and, where you've gotten us today. And I'm going to walk out of here proudly with the work product that you've put together. Do we have any further discussion? Do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations?

Any no votes?

25 ayes.

Thank you. HB1800 CD1 passes. Final reading. Mister President. Senator Rhoads?

May I be permitted a late introduction.

Please proceed.

I just wanted to introduce the everyone from the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights up here on the up here in the yellow shirts. I recognize my constituent, Kinani Kai, way up on the top, in the wheelchair there. Doctor Agbayani, Liza Ryan Gill, and Mandy Fernandez. I'm sorry. I don't I can't see the other people, but welcome to the Senate.

Mahalo.

Madam Clerk.

Beginning on page nine, floor amendments. First one is conference committee report 114, final reading of Senate Bill 3125, conference draft one relating to income tax. Senator Dela Cruz.

Mister Senator Dela Cruz.

Mister president, I wish to offer a floor amendment to SB 3125 CD one.

Madam clerk, please identify the amendment.

Floor amendment number seven, proposing an amendment to Senate Bill 3125 conference draft one, copies of which have been distributed to the members.

Senator Dela Cruz.

Mister president, I move that floor amendment number seven be adopted.

Senator Moriwaki? I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Senator Dela Cruz?

Thank you, mister president. This floor amendment proposes non substantive amendments to ensure that the renewable energy technologies tax credit ramp down occurs by 2031 and the enactment of each section is set to the appropriate effective date.

Is there any further discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. Floor amendment number seven has been adopted. Senator Dela Cruz.

Mister president, I move to separate SB 3125 CB one from conference committee report number 114.

Senator Moriwaki?

I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. The clerk is directed to file conference committee report number 114.

Forty eight hours notice is hereby given for final reading of SB 3125 CD two.

Conference committee report number 140, final reading of House bill 2275, conference draft one, relating to funding adjustments for state programs.

Senator Dela Cruz.

Mister president, I offer to I wish to offer a floor amendment to House bill 2275, CD one.

Madam clerk, please identify the amendment.

Floor amendment number eight, proposing an amendment to house bill 2275 conference draft one, copies of which have been distributed to the members.

Mister President I move that floor amendment number eight be adopted.

Senator Moriwaki.

Senator Dela Cruz?

I second the motion.

It's been moved then seconded, is there any discussion? Senator Dela Cruz?

Thank you, mister president. This floor amendment is being offered to add reporting requirements on monies used for the major disaster fund and require that the funds lapse at the end of fiscal year 2027.

Any further discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. Floor Number 8 has been adopted. Senator Dela Cruz?

Mister president, I move to separate house bill 2275 CD one from conference committee report number 140.

Senator Moriwaki?

I second that motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. The clerk is directed to file conference committee report number 140, forty eight hours notice, is hereby given for final reading of HB 2275 CD two.

Conference committee report number 63, final reading of House bill 1753, conference draft one relating to social media.

Senator Keohokalole.

Mister president, I wish to offer a floor amendment to house bill 1753, conference draft one.

Madam Clerk, please identify the amendment.

Floor amendment number nine, proposing an amendment to house bill 1753, conference draft one, copies of which have been distributed to the members.

Senator Keohokalole.

Mister president, I move that floor amendment number nine be adopted.

Senator Rhoads.

I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Senator Keohokalole.

Thank you, mister president. This floor amendment makes changes to the effective date of the measure to ensure uniform adoption of this important piece of legislation across platforms holding consumer data for Hawaii residents.

Is there any further discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. Floor amendment number nine has been adopted. Senator Keohokalole.

Mister president, I move mister president, I move to separate house bill 1753 CD one from conference committee report number 63.

Senator Rhoads.

I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. The clerk is directed to file conference committee report number 63, forty eight hour notice is hereby given for final reading of HB 1753 CD two.

On page 10, conference committee report number 238, final reading of Senate Bill 2471, conference draft one relating to the powers of artificial persons.

Senator Keohokalole. Mister president, I wish to offer a floor amendment to Senate Bill 2471, conference draft one.

Madam Clerk, please identify the amendment.

Floor amendment number 10, proposing an amendment to Senate Bill 2471, conference draft one, copies of which have been distributed to the members.

Senator Kehoe, Keohokalole.

Thank you, mister president. I move that floor amendment number 10 be adopted.

Senator Rhoads.

I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Senator Keohokalole.

Thank you, mister president. As you may have been informed by, numerous members of the community, this, floor amendment makes clarifying changes to the terminal in severability clauses in multiple sections of the bill, removes the AG's discretionary authority, to terminate the measure and defers to the court action. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there any further discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. Floor amendment number 10 has been adopted.

Senator Keohokalole.

Mister president, I move to separate SB 2471 CD one from conference committee report number 238.

Senator Rhoads.

I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. The clerk is directed to file conference committee report number 238.

Forty eight hour notice is hereby given for final reading of SB 2471 CD two.

Conference committee report number 43, final reading of Senate bill 2069 conference draft one relating to the dwelling unit revolving fund.

Senator Chang.

Mister president, I wish to offer a floor amendment to SB 2069, CD one.

Madam Clerk, please identify the amendment.

Floor amendment number 11, proposing an amendment to Senate Bill 2069 conference draft one, copies of which have been distributed to the members.

Senator Chang.

Mister president, I move that floor amendment number 11 be adopted.

Senator Hashimoto.

I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Senator Chang.

Thank you, mister president. This floor amendment increases the expenditure ceiling from $10,000,000 to $20,000,000. We inadvertently admitted this increase to the expenditure ceiling when we merely extended the sunset rather than making the program permanent in the CD one.

Thank you. Any further discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. Floor amendment number 11 has been adopted.

Senator Chang.

Mister president, I move to separate SB 2069 CD one from conference committee report number 43.

Senator Hashimoto.

I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Any discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. The clerk is directed to file conference committee report number 43.

Forty eight hours notice is hereby given for final reading of SB 2069 CD two.

Conference committee report number 50, final reading of House bill 1334, conference draft one, relating to meat donation.

Senator San Buenaventura.

Thank you, mister president. I wish to offer a floor amendment to HB 1334 c d one.

Madam Clerk, please identify the amendment.

Floor amendment number 12, proposing an amendment to House Bill 1334, conference draft one, copies of which have been distributed to the members.

Senator San Buenaventura.

Mister president, I move that floor amendment number 12 be adopted.

Senator Richards?

I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Senator San Buenaventura?

Mister president, the the Senate floor amendment number 12 enhances the intent of the Senate for safe donation by changing the word viral to disease outbreaks.

Thank you. Is there any further discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. Floor amendment number 12 has been adopted.

Senator San Buenaventura.

Mister president, I move to separate HB 1334 CD one from conference committee report number 50.

Senator Richards. I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. The clerk is directed to file conference committee report number 50.

Forty eight hour notice is hereby given for final reading of HB 1334 CD two.

Conference committee report number 73, final reading of Senate bill 2169 conference draft one relating to the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

Senator Richards.

Mister president, I wish to offer a floor amendment to Senate bill 2169 CD one.

Madam clerk, please identify the amendment.

Floor amendment number 13, proposing an amendment to Senate bill 2169 conference draft one, copies of which have been distributed to the members.

Senator Richards.

Mister president, I move to that the four amendment number 13 be adopted.

Senator DeCoite.

I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion, Senator Richards?

Yeah. Thank you, mister president. This is to, correct a typo in the bill, and it has to deal with the word, changing it from by to in. And what this does is it clarifies the exemption of Maui County, and it accommodates some of the private water systems.

Thank you. Is there any further discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. Floor amendment number 13 has been adopted.

Senator Richards.

Mister president, I move to separate Senate bill 2169 CD one from conference committee report number 73.

Senator DeCoite. I second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. The clerk is directed to file conference committee report number 73.

Forty eight hour notice is hereby given for final reading of SB 2169 CD two.

On page 11, conference committee report final reading of House Bill 1823, Conference Draft One, relating to the Coastal Zone Management Act.

Senator Lee.

Thank you, mister president. I wish to offer a floor amendment to HB1823 CD1.

Madam clerk, please identify the amendment.

Floor amendment number 14, proposing an amendment to House Bill 1823 Conference Draft One, copies of which have been distributed to the members.

Senator Lee.

Mister President, I move that floor amendment number 14 be adopted.

Senator Kanuha.

Second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Senator Lee.

Thank you, mister president. This measure relating to the Coastal Zone Management Act is intended to help speed projects for Lahaina and some other areas similar. Its intent is to apply to public government projects, and there's been some confusion it would apply to private projects, which was not the intent. So in an abundance of caution, this floor amendment puts in place a four year sunset.

Thank you. Any further discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. Floor amendment number 14 has been adopted.

Senator Lee.

Thank you, mister president. I move to separate, to HB1823 CD1 from conference committee report number 88.

Senator Kahuna.

Second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. The clerk is directed to file conference committee report number 88.

Forty eight hours notice is hereby given for final reading of HB1823 CD2.

Conference committee report number 217, final reading of Senate Bill 2401, conference relating to regional shoreline mitigation districts.

Senator Lee.

Thank you, mister president. I wish to offer a floor amendment to SB 2401 CD one.

Madam clerk, please identify the amendment.

Floor amendment number 15, proposing an amendment to Senate Bill 2401, conference draft one, copies of which have been distributed to the members.

Senator Lee.

Mister president, I move that floor amendment number 15 be adopted.

Senator Kanuha.

Second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Senator Lee.

Thank you, mister president. This measure makes, some technical changes excuse me. This floor amendment makes some technical changes removing duplicative language. It also moves language regarding the authority of BLNR to approve plans and permits from the OPSD planning statute to the BLNR permitting statute where it appropriately belongs.

And finally, clarifies language allowing temporary erosion control measures when an emergency erosion control permit runs out, provided that the applicant engages with the state to develop and implement a long term shoreline adaptation plan that protects beaches in the public trust and allows for the removal of the temporary erosion control measures.

Is there any further discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. Floor amendment number 15 has been adopted. Senator Lee.

Mister president, I move to separate SB 2401 CD one from conference committee report number two seventeen.

Senator Kanuha.

Second the motion.

It's been moved and seconded. Is there any discussion? Any objections? If not, the motion is carried. The clerk is directed to file conference committee report number two seventeen.

Forty eighty, forty eight hour notice is hereby given for final reading of SB 2401 CD two.

On pages 11 to 32, final reading of the non fiscal consent calendar. Final reading of the non fiscal consent calendar beginning with conference committee report number 41 on Senate Bill 2140 on page 11 to conference committee report number 236 on Senate Bill 3325 Conference Draft One on page 32.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes? Senator San Buenaventura?

Senate president, just a reservation on SCCR 232-26, SB2694.

So noted. Any other reservations?

25 ayes.

Thank you. All bills on the non fiscal consent calendar from SB2140 CD1 on page 11 to SB3325 CD1 on page 32 pass final reading.

Mister President?

Senator Keohokalole?

May I be permitted two late introductions?

Please proceed.

Thank you. Joining us in the gallery today are representatives from the ILWU, and I would like to take a second to acknowledge them. Ikaika Decker, Jesse Andrade, and a high school classmate from Saint Louis School, who the journal should note is an absolute legend. Ikaika Kernan, please stand and be recognized by the legislature.

Also sort of sitting kind of all around them are representatives from the local maritime industry, including young brothers and I would like to note their presence and the fact that they are all sitting together.

And thank you, Mr. President, for your demand that community come together and forge a compromise on some especially hard issues that directly impact the neighbor islands. So can all of the representatives from Young Brothers in the local maritime industry, including a law school classmate, Dave Veltri, who is a Muay Thai practitioner not to be trifled with, Please also rise and be recognized. Welcome to the Senate.

I guess why is Ikaika Kernan a absolute legend? Is it because he's from Kauai?

That that certainly is part of the story.

Mister President. Senator Elefante.

Thank you. May I be please be be permitted for late introduction?

Please proceed.

Thank you. Also in the gallery, we have members from our local labor union workforce. If you could please stand to be recognized, Pane Maiatoga the third and we also have Mike Iosua. If you could please stand so that you could be recognized. Mahalo.

So Madam Clerk, before we get to the nonfiscal ordinary calendar, I'm gonna call for a short recess. So if you need the facilities, this would be a good time, and then we'll come back and finish. Take one last hard look in the gallery if we have any other late introductions. When we come back after the recess, we'll get that done.

So Madam Clerk, before we get to the nonfiscal ordinary calendar, I'm gonna call for a short recess. So if you need the facilities, this would be a good time, and then we'll come back and finish. Take one last hard look in the gallery if we have any other late introductions. When we come back after the recess, we'll get that done.

Will the Senate come back into order, madam clerk?

We're on page 33 on the nonfiscal ordinary calendar. Final reading, Conference committee report number 44. Final reading I'm sorry. Yes. Conference committee report 44.

Final reading of Senate Bill 2697, conference draft one, relating to transportation.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes? No votes, Senator Awa, Decorte, and Favela, and Keohokalole, San Buenaventura.

20 ayes, five nos.

Thank you. SB 2697, CD one passes. Final reading.

Conference committee report number 48, final reading of Senate Bill 2721, conference draft one, relating to the administration of justice.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Reservation Senator Lamasao. Any no votes?

No votes Senator Awa, DeCorte and Fevella.

22 ayes, three noes.

Thank you. SB 2721 CD one passes final reading.

Conference committee report number 55, final reading of House bill 1692, conference draft one relating to traffic safety.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes? No votes, Senator Awa, DeCorte, and Fevella.

22 ayes, three noes.

Thank you. HB 1692, CD one passes final reading.

Conference committee report number 56, final reading of Senate Bill 2568, conference draft one, relaying the offenses against public servants.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes? No votes, Senator Awa, DeCorte, and Fevella.

22 ayes, three noes.

Thank you. SB 2568 CD one passes final reading.

Conference committee report number 57, final reading of Senate Bill 2983, conference draft one, relating to natural resources.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes? No votes, Senator Awa, DeCorte Fevella.

22 ayes, three noes.

Thank you. SB 2983 CD one passes final reading.

Conference committee report number 67, final reading of House bill 2279 conference draft one relating to expungement orders.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes?

25 ayes.

Thank you. HB 2279 CD one passes final reading.

On page 34, conference committee report number 69, final reading of House bill 1548, conference draft one, relating to sentencing.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes? No votes, Senator Awa, DeCorte, Fevella.

22 ayes, three noes.

Thank you. HB 1548 CD one passes final reading.

Conference committee report number 76, final reading of Senate bill 3255 conference draft one draft one relating to currency.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes? No vote, Senator San Buenaventura.

No vote, Senator Awa.

23 ayes, two noes.

Thank you. SB 3255 CD one passes final reading.

Conference committee report number 80, final reading of House bill 1550, conference draft one relating to health.

Is there any discussion? Senator San Buenaventura.

Thank you, Senate president. I stand in support of HB 1550, h HD two SD two CD one.

Please proceed.

HB 1550 was initially drafted to legalize testing paraphernalia, but was later amended to address the governor's intent to veto the bill create that created chapter three twenty nine, which addressed the proliferation of CBD by inadvertently empowering DOH to intimidate certifying physicians. And then it got amended to remove drug paraphernalia from the uniform substances act, which was originally in SB 2418. This is the most controversial part of CD one.

To address this most controversial portion, I just want to remind the Senate that in 2017, nine years ago, this body decriminalized the possession of drug paraphernalia. It's not a felony, just a fine.

The attorney general recognized that in her testimony. So in her opposition, she noted that we decriminalized drug paraphernalia possession nine years ago. So that we did this because we know that drug paraphernalia going like rolling papers, water pipes can be used for tobacco. In fact, if when today, when we pass and abolish, single use of lithium ion smoking devices, we are in fact telling the public that we would rather that they use this type of paraphernalia rather than the disposable vapes.

We recognize so nine years ago, the prosecutors claimed that the sky would fall. We've had a history of nine years.

The sky did not fall. We did not increase drug use. And in fact, what we have done was we have allowed more fentanyl strips, more testing to be done, But now the volunteers realize that they could be fined because it is a citable offense. And that's the reason why HB 1550 came into play. Let me read to you what the Department of Health testified to and the reason why we introduced HB 1550.

The department supports steps to increase access to items and supplies that help people who use drugs to reduce risks of infection, injury, or overdose even when not able to do to discontinue drug use. By removing steps to reduce infection disease, It prevents them from transmitting diseases such as hepatitis to the rest of us. It controls diseases and outbreaks because they realize sometimes rehabilitation and just saying no is not enough. The Department of Health then goes on.

There is little evidence to suggest that access to drug paraphernalia leads people to initiate or increase drug use.

In contrast, barriers to accessing items usually categorized as drug paraphernalia are clearly associated with increased risks of infection, injury, and overdose. So for those reasons, for health reasons, we I I urge you to pass HB 1550.

Thank you. Further discussion, Senator Fevella.

Thank you, Senator president. I stand in opposition.

Please proceed.

I understand what the previous speaker is saying, but due to illegal drugs, we understand the paraphernalia and obtaining clean needles for hepatitis and HIV. There was a health issue because there was a needle thing. But, again, the statistic shows again on how much of them doing actually participating in the needle exchange. Same like with these strips. Right now, you guys know how fentanyl how dangerous fentanyl is.

So if even if I go buy fentanyl and I have a strip and I'm gonna test it, I still can die before I test it because that's how potent it is. So again, we're allowing not allowing, but we are making provisions for people continue to do illegal drugs instead of pushing out more education and awareness from the young age to now to know just like how we did with tobacco, just like how we're doing with the vaping.

Education is more better than we go on and put testing strips that we don't even know the statistics if it's even gonna work. Nobody that I know that sells and deals drugs in my community is gonna go and say, hey. I want these testing strips because I might overdose and die.

So again, this is another avenue of keeping these guys on their habits. We're talking generations and generations, colleagues, of ice addiction in my community. Now they're dying of fentanyl. So they're gonna test the ice, you get fentanyl. They're gonna test the Marijuana if they get fentanyl.

But even when they tested them, they still gotta touch it. I remember a case where a Kaneohe police officer pulled over person for speeding just by going in a car and doing a visual check, fell down and almost died. If it wasn't for the Narcan, he would have died on the scene. That's how dangerous this is.

So we wanna allow people to go who doesn't have any professionalism besides being one drug addict to test so that they don't die or kill. So there's different between needles now. Yeah. Because taking fentanyl, you're gonna die. Needles, I can understand the health so called health risk.

But even with that, in my community, for ten years in Haul Bush, we found needles after needles, put them inside the container. None of those guys that was out there was participating in the needle exchange program. So again, this is another program again, not saying it's not gonna work, but statistically, if I'm doing drugs, I'm not gonna get off my bed to go look and go test. We can barely get people to test their diabetes every morning, and you're gonna have somebody to test their drugs.

So this is the reason why I'm opposition to this bill.

Thank you, Senator president. And I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Further discussion? Senator Moriwaki?

Mister president, I rise in opposition.

Please proceed.

Mister president, HB 1550 was intended as as a preview as Senator San Buenaventura indicated to reduce the harm caused by unknown toxic substances and drugs that were being consumed leading to overdose and death. 1550 was a narrow exclusion to the drug paraphernalia law, to a law for drug test strips and other testing of drugs that were causing harm to its users. However, the amendments made in the conference draft inserted other bills that died through the legislative process.

These amendments include further decriminalizing the use of drug paraphernalia by excluding planting, cultivating, harvesting, storing, concealing, injecting, and inhaling, or otherwise introducing into the human body a controlled substance, including all Schedule one drugs, it is not prudent for the state to signal any interest or intention in decriminalizing dangerous drugs like meth, LSD, or heroin. This bill also repeals the Department of Law Enforcement's authority to inspect medical cannabis use and certification records.

We are told that the governor sought the repeal because it violates HIPAA patient privacy rights. But the current medical cannabis inspection enforcement law does not require the DLE to violate any laws governing patient privacy. Rather, it authorizes assurances our medical cannabis laws are being followed. For these reasons, mister president, I urge my colleagues to vote no.

Thank you. Further discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes?

No votes, Senator Awa, Decorte, Fevella, Elefante, Hashimoto, Chang, Lamasao, Inouye, Lee, Kim, Gabbard, Wakai, Kidani, McKelvey, Moriwaki, and Dela Cruz. House bill 1550, CD one fails. We have a housekeeping measure on Senate Concurrent Resolution number one seventy three at the top of your agenda was listed and noticed for approval. During the recess, a quick sound check revealed that Senator Wakai mistakenly said one seventy five instead of one seventy three.

We just want for the record, we're making the editorial correction 173, and that was posted and that was what was approved SCR 173.

Next item, madam clerk.

Conference committee report number 81, final reading of Senate bill 2818, conference draft one relating to voting.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes? No votes.

Senator Awa, DeCorte, Fevella?

22 ayes, three noes.

Thank you. SB 2818 CD one passes final reading.

Conference committee report number 94, final reading of Senate Bill 847, Conference Draft oOne relating to psychologists.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Reservation, Senator Marwaki. Any no votes?

25 ayes.

Thank you. SB847 CD1 passes final reading.

Conference committee report number 127, final reading of SB2999, CD 1 relating to a clean fuel standard.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes? No votes, [Roll Call]

Oh, I'm sorry. [Roll Call]

22 ayes, three noes.

Thank you. SB2999 passes CD 1 passes final reading.

Conference committee report number 130 , final reading of SB2239, CD 1 relating to voter registration.

Is there any discussion? Unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes? No votes, [Roll Call]

24 ayes, one no.

Thank you. SB2239 CD 1 passes final reading. Conference committee report number 131, final reading.

Conference committee report number 131, final reading of House Bill 1741, conference draft one, relating to housing.

Is there any discussion? If not, do you have—do we have—unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes?

25 ayes.

Thank you. HB 1741, CD 1 passes final reading.

Conference committee report number 133, final reading of HB2023 CD 1 relating to transportation.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes? No votes, [Roll Call]

20 ayes, five nos.

Thank you. HB2023 CD 1 passes final reading.

Conference committee report number 165, final reading of House Bill 182, Conference Draft One, relating to conservation mitigation banks.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes? [Roll call]

22 ayes, three noes.

Thank you. HB182 CD1 passes final reading.

On page 36, conference committee report number 172, final reading of House Bill 649, Conference Draft One, relating to small boat harbors.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes? Oh, reservation, Senator Richards.

25 ayes.

Thank you. HB649 CD1 passes final reading.

Conference committee report number 180, final reading of HB1890, CD 1, relating to education.

Is there any discussion? Senator Kim.

Thank you, Mister president. I rise in strong support of HB1890 CD 1.

Please proceed.

Mister president, for more than a decade, the issue of annual step movement for teachers has been brought before this legislature and raised in collective bargaining without lasting resolution. That uncertainty has had real consequences. When teachers cannot count on predictable year to year progression, it becomes harder to commit to this profession in Hawaii. The current teacher shortage in Hawaii is happening right now in our classrooms.

While salaries may look average on paper, when adjusted for cost of living in our state, our teachers are effectively the lowest paid in the nation.

The reality is simple. Many cannot afford to stay here. Nearly half of our teachers exit within five years. That kind of turnover disrupts learning, burdens our schools, and denies our students of the students of the stability they deserve. This is not just a workforce issue, members.

It is an education issue. HB1890 makes a clear and responsible step forward. It codifies annual step increases and longevity progression in law while still respecting the collective bargaining process requiring legislative appropriation. It does not remove negotiation, but it provides structure, clarity, and consistency where it's been lacking. And during this time with a challenging and tight budget, this Bill sends a message that we value our teachers, that we recognize their service, and we are committed to giving them a reason to stay.

Keeping experienced, dedicated teachers in our classroom is one of the most important investments we can make in our students and in the future of this state. This Bill reflects that commitment, Mister president, and I wanna take this opportunity to thank my staff, Kathy, Sierra, and Anne. You know, we took on k12 this year along with higher education, and it's been challenging, but I think that we were able to manage it. So I'd urge all of you to vote yes on this measure. Thank you.

Further discussion. Senator Kidani, then Senator McKelvey.

Thank you, Mister President. I'd like the words of the previous speaker entered in the journal as if they were my own.

So honored Senator McKelvey, then Fevella, then Elefante.

In strong support

Please proceed.

And would like the words of the chair of education and of the records if they were my own.

So honored Senator Fevella.

Strong support, Senator president.

Please proceed.

Previous speaker, Senator Kim's into the journal as my own.

So honored Senator Elefante.

Thank you, mister president. In support.

Please proceed.

Thank you. Mister president and colleagues, did you know that the late first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, advocated Congress to recognize and acknowledge our hardworking teachers, and she did that. And in the spirit of collaboration, yesterday actually was national teacher appreciation day. And this week, we celebrate all our teachers and appreciate and appreciate all of them for their hard work.

I'd like to take this moment to thank the education Chair, the Senator from Kalihi, the Vice Chair of education, the Senator from Mililani Town, and also the House education Chair and House education Vice Chair, and also to the Vice Chair of labor and technology.

Collectively and all of us as you've heard previously, I echo the sentiments from the education chair. Really our teachers are overworked. They do so much for our students. And as a graduate of public schools from kindergarten all the way to twelfth grade, I've seen firsthand including a labor strike during that time when I was in high school, of the impact and what our teachers stood for.

You see them paying out of their own pockets for things on such salaries that they make which doesn't even compare to some other states or counties on the national level.

And this thing, while it may be very simple and little, it's very meaningful and impactful that will go a long way of their step increases in their annual salary. So I wanna really mahalo HSTA and all the advocates and all the hardworking teachers and the teachers that are in the classroom today as they educate the future of Hawaii. This is very meaningful and impactful making history by really taking this vote today that it's something that they've worked on for over a decade.

So with that, Mister President, in strong support. Mahalo.

Thank you, Senator DeCorte. In strong support. Please proceed.

Thank you very much. You know, this session, we had a lot of passionate discussions in the education committee, and I really wanna thank the chair and vice chair for continuing to champion not only great programs in our schools, but also to ensure that our teachers are valued. We see you. We hear you. We feel you, and we're answering the call.

And it took a lot of aggressiveness and a lot of intense discussions to ensure that we get here to this point. But it's very important that we as a body not only address it, acknowledge it, but we put action behind it. And with this Bill passing and with everybody's collective support, that's what we're messaging to the teachers. At the ones that have been hanging in there on a thread, going paycheck to paycheck, continuing to pay for their own supplies.

This is not just a Monday through Friday job.

This is a 24/7 job. I've seen testifiers from HSTA actually come and bring their little ones to testify to ensure that HSTA continues to have a voice.

And I've seen parents and teachers, zoom in in support of what we're doing in the education committee, and I just wanna also commend my, education committee members, Senator from Maui and, Senator from Honolulu, for continuing to get behind what we're trying to do in the education committee, which is number 1, ensure that our students get a quality education, that we're not rubber stamping anything, and we're not gonna be sticking with the status quo, that we are gonna continue to have a vision forward process for Department of Education and to make sure we hold everybody, accountable.

That's including ourselves too. So, Senate President, I just wanted to share my strong support.

Thank you.

Thank you. Senator DeCoite.

Thank you, Mister President. Strong support. I would like the words of the education chair, and certainly to the journal office as if it was my own. Thank you.

So honored. Further discussion Mister president.

Senator Kim?

I was remiss in not thanking the labor Chair for his cooperation and collaboration as we moved forward on that Bill. Also, my committee, our education committee who worked really hard long hours and we had, like was said, intense discussion. So I wanna thank them. And, again, HSTA and my staff, mahalo.

Thank you. Any further discussion, Senator Lumosao?

Senator Perez, I would like to just enter, the words of the prior speakers into the journal as if they were my own.

So ordered. Further discussion, Senator Keohokalole?

Thank you, Mister President. In support, I'd like to adopt the words of the education Chair as if they were my own, the first one and the second one, and thank her and the ways and means Chair for their work getting this done. Thank you.

Thank you for the discussion. Nice to see the collaboration back. Do we have, unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes?

25 ayes.

Thank you. HB1890 CD 1 passes. Final reading.

Conference committee report number 187. Final reading of House Bill 1839 Conference Draft One relating to immigration.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? [Roll call].

23 ayes, two noes.

Thank you. HB 1839 CD1 passes final reading.

Conference committee report number 197, final reading of House Bill 2592, conference draft one, relating to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes? No votes, Senator San...

Reservation.

Reservation, Senator San Buenaventura. Any no votes?

25 ayes.

Thank you. HB 2592, CD 1 passes final reading.

Conference committee report number 198, final reading of Senate Bill 3157, conference draft one, relating to transportation.

Is there any discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Reservation, Senator San Buenaventura. Any no votes?

No votes Senator Awa, Senator Fevella. Do you have a no vote on—no vote for Senators Awa and Fevella.

23 ayes, two noes.

Thank you. SB 3157, CD 1 passes final reading.

On page 37, Conference Committee Report number 199, final reading of Senate Bill 2861, Conference Draft 1, relating to the Office of Wellness and Resilience.

Is there any discussion, Senator San Buenaventura?

Thank you, Senate President. I stand in support of SB 2861.

Please proceed.

Thank you. Senators, the passage of this bill is really a fulfillment of a promise made four years ago when members of the Mālama ʻOhana working group wanted it to be revised during conference to be more forward thinking and not be oppressed by DHS. In the since then, we've had a year of listening to of Mālama ʻOhana, the revised version of Venus Medeiros of Hale Kipa, Laurie Tochiki of DVAC.

Basically, having a year of sessions of talking to people who've had problems with DHS, with child abuse complaints, and basically asking for support. And we've also all heard the news of what has happened when there hasn't been too much support.

Since then, my House counterpart is now director of Department of Human Services. We have by the passage of this bill as well as SB 3204, we can actually now say that the programs and the recommendations that they requested has actually been funded. Because last year, we couldn't say that.

And now, in case people want to know, we are pushing for resilience instead of automatically removing the child. We recognize the fact that 70% of child abuse cases are neglect and threatened harm. Cases where supports to families who really need it need not mean need not necessarily mean removal of the child.

And for those reasons and for the reasons that we are gonna be able to fund these resiliency type of projects, we can hold our head high that we are reforming our child welfare system, that we are recognizing families for what they are, and that we are supporting those who really need the support when they need it most. Thank you.

Thank you. Further discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes?

25 ayes.

Thank you. SB 2861, CD 1 passes final reading.

Conference Committee Report number 202, final reading of Senate Bill 28, 2580, Conference Draft 1, relating to the motion picture digital media and film production income tax credit.

Is there any discussion? Senator DeCoite.

Thank you, Mr. President. In strong support.

Please proceed.

Today, I rise with gratitude and pride as this measure heads to final reading. First and foremost, I wanna sincerely thank you, the WAM Chair, and my colleagues for your support. Also, I wanna thank the Finance Chair and House Majority Leader who in last year, we struggled to get support from the other side to pass this measure.

And under this leadership, we got this over the finish line with collaboration and willingness to work through this important measure. Mahalo for recognizing the value of investing in Hawaii's creative economy and the many local families and small businesses that depend on this industry.

Also want to acknowledge the countless advocates, industry professionals, local workers, unions, and small businesses, educators, and community partners who stood behind this bill from day one. Your voices mattered. Your testimony mattered.

And your continued belief in Hawaii's potential helped move this measure forward. I'm especially proud to have introduced and played a significant role in shaping this legislation. This bill is about more than tax credits. It's about creating opportunities for local people, strengthening our workforce, and supporting our local businesses.

And ensuring Hawaii remains competitive in an industry that brings millions of dollars into our economy while showcasing while showcasing our islands to the world. This bill is committed to investing in Hawaii's workforce by rewarding productions that hire local under this measure. This measure sends a message to Hawaii.

Hawaii believes in its local workforce, supports economic opportunity, and it's committed to keeping our state competitive while investing in our people. Again, mahalo to everyone who helped and moved this bill forward. I humbly ask for your continued support and your vote on final reading. Mahalo, Mr. President.

Thank you. Further discussion? Senator DeCorte.

Strong support.

Please proceed.

Permission to enter the words of the Senator from Molokai into the journal as if they were my own.

So ordered. Senator Fevella.

Thank you, Senator President. Strong support.

Please proceed.

I wanna thank the Chair for moving this forward. You know, we had a struggle with the movies and CBS left Hawaii, and everything tanked. And all of our workers and vendors was out of work. And, you know, a lot of people don't remember.

But I remember Senator Dela Cruz, Dane Wicker, and Stacy Ferreira when we had went to CB, CIS, and We started bringing these things up and picking out what we needed to tighten up and what we needed to get going forward.

And if it wasn't for Senator from Molokai coming along on the journey and learning with each other, this wouldn't be where it is today. There's a lot of collaboration and hard work on everybody's part. But again, we got something that we're moving forward.

And, again, like she said earlier, this is one of the largest moneymakers. Everybody bring tourism. But what bring tourism to Hawaii? People still coming to Hawaii for the original Hawaii Five-0 and original Magnum, P.I. because they like to see the waves.

They like to see the surf. This is the best way that we can sell or promote Hawaii through movies and the movie industry. Again, I wanna thank the Chair from Molokai and the rest of you guys, Senator Dela Cruz, for working on this for a while. Thank you, Senate President.

Thank you. Further discussion? If not, do we have unanimous consent? Any reservations? Any no votes?

25 ayes.

Thank you. SB 2580, CD 1 passes final reading.