House Floor

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

[Roll Call] Madam Speaker, all 51 Members are present.

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

Madam Speaker, may this matter be deferred.

So ordered. Item number three, messages from the governor. Mister Clerk, are there any messages from the governor?

Madam Speaker, there are none.

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

Yes, Madam Speaker. If you and the members will turn your attention to the addendum to today's order of the day. We are in receipt of a communication informing the House that the Senate has passed the noted House and Senate bills on final reading.

We are in further receipt of communications informing the House that the Senate has adopted the noted Senate Concurrent Resolutions.

We are also in receipt of a communication informing the House that the Senate has reconsidered action in disagreeing with the amendments proposed by the House and has moved to agree to the amendments to the noted Senate Concurrent Resolution.

Finally, we are in receipt of communications informing the House that the Senate has made changes to conferees to the noted House and Senate bills.

Members, are there any introductions? Representative Matayoshi.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In the gallery today, we have Jason Bradshaw who is a former, intern with me at Senator Daniel Akaka's office, and is now a fierce advocate for education.

And sitting next to him is Millie who I'm sure you all recognize from testimony, also doing a great job, helping HSTA and helping to advance our teachers. Welcome to your House of Representatives.

Vice Speaker Ichiyama.

Thank you Madam Speaker. Today I have the pleasure of introducing my legislative aide, Jen Elizondo. Please rise. Welcome to your House of Representatives. Thank you.

Representative Chun.

Thank you Madam Speaker. I see in the gallery today staff and volunteers from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Just want to welcome you to the House of Representatives.

Representative Kahaloa.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In the gallery today, we have members representing the office of Hawaiian affairs, including trustee Brickwood Kalutera.

If you could rise, if you're representing OHA this morning. Thank you for being here today and welcome to your House of Representatives.

Representative Iwamoto. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

I'd like to recognize and welcome, two amazing advocates and activists, Kat Brady and Henry Curtis. Please rise and welcome back to your house of representatives.

If there are no further introductions, recess subject to the call of the Chair.

If there are no further introductions, recess subject to the call of the chair.

Will the House come to order? We're on order of the date. Members, please refer to supplemental calendar number one. As you know the Senate President and I waived the Friday midnight deadline for the filing of committee reports and conference drafts for certain measures,

which were agreed upon in public on Friday evening. I wanted to take this opportunity to explain the procedural reasons why these reports and proposed drafts were not listed on Friday night, and the reasons why the President and I waived the deadline.

In November 2025, the Senate President and I prepared the legislative timetable setting 05/01/2025, as the last day to file fiscal bills for constitutional decking purposes prior to final reading.

In April, the President and I signed the joint conference committee procedures that provided in paragraph 11 C, that all conference committee reports for fiscal bills must be filed by 11:30pm on Friday, May 1.

However, several conference committees, even though they had reached agreement on the substance of their measures, did not have the time to prepare and adequately review the conference reports, and final form of the conference drafts prior to the 11:30pm deadline.

The President and I exercise our powers under rule 13 of the conference committee procedures to grant an exception to this deadline for these measures, which were agreed upon in public.

We allowed them to be filed with the respective clerk, clerk's offices by midnight, but two bills could still not meet this deadline. We then granted an additional exception to allow these two bills to be filed between midnight and 12:05AM on Saturday, May 2.

The President and I felt that since the conferences had reached timely agreement on their bills, allowing these measures to die based on an internal filing deadline was not in the best interest of the people of Hawaii.

Rather, we felt it important to exercise the discretion that the procedures gave us to waive that deadline, and ensure that drafting agencies had time to properly prepare reports and drafts, and Chairs had adequate time to review them before filing them for final decking.

When facing similar situations in the past, previous legislatures followed the same procedures we are following with these measures.

The conference reports and conference drafts for the measures received by 12:05AM on Saturday, May 2 are listed in today's supplemental order of the day.

These measures will receive the required 48 hour notice of final form as required by the constitution, and will be before this chamber for final reading on Friday, May 8. Floor amendments. Members, we are back on the regular order of the day.

We will first take up a few measures out of order. Please turn to page 24, and refer to CCR number 43-26. Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules of the house in order to consider certain House and Senate bills for final reading by consent calendar.

Representative Garcia.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Any questions? Members will be taking a voice vote. All those in favor, signify by saying Aye. All those opposed, say no.

The motion is carried. Representative Kahaloa.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt conference committee report number 43 dash 26 as listed on page 24 and that the accompanied Senate bill as amended pass final reading.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Representative Evslin.

Madam Speaker, I have a floor amendment to offer.

Mister Clerk, have copies of the floor amendment been distributed to the Members?

Yes, Madam Speaker. Copies of floor amendment number three have been distributed.

Representative Evslin.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt the floor amendment.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Any discussion on the proposed floor amendment? Representative Evslin.

In support.

Please proceed.

Thank you Madam Speaker. The CD1 in front of us on this bill extends the sunset for the drift equity pilot program. There's a current statutory limit of $10,000,000, that can be used, utilized from DRF for the pilot program.

This proposed amendment in front of us would, raise the ceiling to $20,000,000 giving HHFDC an additional $10,000,000 to put towards the program. This is vital to ensure that the highly successful DERF equity pilot program, can continue to be funded with this extension of sunset.

Thank you.

Members, we're going to take a voice vote. Vote Aye, if you are in favor of the floor amendment. Vote no, if you are opposed to the floor amendment. All those in favor say Aye.

Those opposed say no. The floor amendment has been adopted. Members, please note the 48 hour notice for this measure. Members, please turn to page 25, and refer to CCR number 50 dash 26. Representative Kahaloa.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt Conference Committee Report number 50 dash 26 as listed on page 25. And that the accompanying House bill as amended passed final reading.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, second the motion.

Representative Chun.

Madam Speaker, I have a floor amendment to offer.

Mister Clerk, have copies of the floor amendment been distributed to the Members?

Yes, Madam Speaker. Copies of floor amendment number four have been distributed.

Representative Chun.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt the floor amendment.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Any discussion on the proposed floor amendment? Representative Chun.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In support.

Please proceed.

So Madam Speaker, this floor amendment, just makes clear that in the event of an outbreak of a known disease, the meat donation pilot established by this measure will not continue until the outbreak is resolved as determined by

the Department of Agriculture and biosecurity. These reasons, I urge everyone to support the floor amendment. Thank you.

Members we will be taking a voice vote. Vote Aye if you are in favor of the floor amendment vote no if you are opposed to the floor amendment. All those in favor say Aye. Those opposed say no. The floor amendment has been adopted.

Members please note the 48 hour notice for this measure. Members please turn to page 27 and refer to CCR number 63 Dash 26. Representative Kahaloa.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt conference committee report number 63-26 as listed on page 27 and the accompanied House Bill as amended, past final reading.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Representative Templo.

Madam Speaker, I have a floor amendment to offer.

Mister Clerk, have copies of the floor amendment been distributed to Members?

Yes, Madam Speaker. Copies of floor amendment number five have been distributed.

Representative Templo.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt the floor amendment.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Any discussion on the proposed floor amendment?

Representative Templo.

Madam Speaker in support.

This amendment provides social media platforms with additional time to develop and implement the internal systems necessary to ensure user accounts and personal data are deleted in a verified and timely manner.

Please proceed.

Before you is a floor amendment for HB 1753, the Hawaii social media data deletion act, which extends the effective date from upon approval to 07/01/2027.

It will also allow additional time to further refine and narrow the definition of social media platform, which in it which in its current form may be overly broad.

I respectfully ask for your support. Mahalo.

Members, we are going to take a voice vote. Vote Aye if you are in favor of the floor amendment. Vote no if you are opposed to the floor amendment. All those in favor say Aye. Those opposed say no.

The motion has been adopted. Members please note the 48 hour notice for this measure. Please turn to page 29 and refer to CCR number 73-26.

Representative Kahaloa.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt Conference Committee Report number 73-26 as listed on page 29, and that the accompanied Senate bill as amended pass final reading.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Representative Chun.

Madam Speaker, I have a floor amendment to offer.

Mister Clerk, have copies of the floor amendment been distributed to Members?

Yes, Madam Speaker. Copies of floor amendment number six have been distributed.

Representative Chun.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt the floor amendment.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Any discussion on the proposed floor amendment? Representative Chun.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In support.

Please proceed.

Madam Speaker, this floor amendment clarifies that this measure applies except for real property owned in a county with a population of more than 125,000, but less than 195,000 in certain public lands.

Members we are going to take a voice vote. Vote Aye if you are in favor of the floor amendment vote no if you're opposed to the floor amendment. All those in favor say Aye. Those opposed say no. The floor amendment has been adopted.

Members please note the 48 hour notice for this measure. Now please turn to page 31 and refer to CCR number 88 dash 26. Representative Kahaloa.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt Conference Committee Report number 88-26 as listed on page 31 and that the accompanied House bill as amended pass final reading.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Representative Hasham.

Madam Speaker, I have a floor amendment to offer.

Mister Clerk, have copies of the floor amendment been distributed to the members?

Yes, Madam Speaker. Copies of floor amendment number seven have been distributed.

Representative Hashem.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt the floor amendment.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Any discussion on the proposed floor amendment? Representative Hashem.

Madam Speaker, the floor amendment is a very simple floor amendment, which just adds a sunset of 07/30/2030 to the underlying bill.

Members, we are going to take a voice vote. Vote I if you are in favor of the floor amendment. Vote no if you are opposed to the floor amendment. All those in favor say Aye. Those opposed say no.

Yeah. The floor amendment has been adopted. Members, please note the 48 hour notice for this measure. Please turn to page 34 and refer to CCR number 114-26.

Representative Kahaloa.

Madam Speaker I move to adopt Conference Committee Report number 114-26 as listed on page 34 and that the accompany Senate bill as amended passed final reading.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Representative Todd.

Madam Speaker, I have a floor amendment to offer.

Mister Clerk, have copies of the floor amendment been distributed to the Members?

Yes, Madam Speaker. Copies of floor amendment number eight have been distributed.

Representative Todd.

Madam Speaker I move to adopt the floor amendment.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker I second the motion.

Any discussion on the proposed floor amendment?

Yes Madam Speaker this amendment would just be sorry in support.

This amendment is just, clarifying in nature and does not make any substantive changes. Just making sure that the Department of Taxation is comfortable that the language is not, contradictory within the bill. Thank you.

Please proceed.

Members, we will be taking a voice vote. Vote Aye if you are in favor of the floor amendment. Vote no if you are opposed to the floor amendment. All those in favor say Aye.

Those opposed say no. The floor amendment has been adopted. Members, please note the 48 hour notice for this measure. Please turn to page 38, and refer to CCR number 140-26. Representative Kahaloa.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt Conference Committee Report number 140-26 as listed on page 38, and the accompanied House bill as amended, passed final reading.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Representative Todd.

Madam Speaker, I have a floor amendment to offer.

Mister Clerk have copies of the floor amendment been distributed to the Members.

Yes, Madam Speaker. Copies of floor amendment number nine have been distributed.

Representative Todd.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt the floor amendment.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Any discussion on the proposed floor amendment? Representative Todd.

Thank you. In support.

Please proceed.

This floor amendment would provide some language for the appropriation to the major disaster fund that if it's not expended, it would lapse back to the general fund on 06/30/2027. And it would also add some guardrails and reporting.

This language has been vetted by the administration, and they are comfortable with these requirements. Thank you.

Members, we are going to take a voice vote. Vote Aye if you are in favor of the floor amendment. Vote no if you are opposed to the floor amendment. All those in favor say Aye.

Those opposed say no. The floor amendment has been adopted. Members please note the 48 hour notice for this measure. Please turn to page 50 and refer to CCR number 217-26. Representative Kahaloa.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt Conference Committee Report number 217-26 as listed on page 50, and that the accompanied Senate bill as amended passed final reading.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Representative Hashem.

Madam Speaker, I have a floor amendment to offer.

Mister Clerk, have copies of the floor amendment been distributed to Members?

Yes, Madam Speaker. Copies of floor amendment number 12 have been distributed.

Representative Hasham.

Madam Speaker, I approve I move to adopt the floor amendment.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Any discussion on the proposed floor amendment?

Madam Speaker, I stand in support.

Please proceed.

So the floor amendment is to just correct some drafting errors that we had in the original CD. Intent of the bill is still still the same.

Members, we are going to take a voice vote. Vote Aye if you are in favor of the floor amendment. Vote no if you are opposed to the floor amendment. All those in favor say Aye. Those opposed say no.

The floor amendment has been adopted. Members please note the 48 hour notice for this measure. Please turn to page 53 and refer to CCR number 238-26. Representative Kahaloa.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt Conference Committee Report number 238-26 as listed on page 53, and that the accompanied Senate bill as amended passed final reading.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Representative Matayoshi.

Madam Speaker, I have a floor amendment to offer.

Mister Clerk, have copies of the floor amendment been distributed to the Members?

Yes, Madam Speaker. Copies of floor amendment number 11 have been distributed.

Representative Matayoshi.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt the floor amendment.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Any discussion on the proposed floor amendment? Representative Matayoshi.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In support.

Please proceed.

Madam Speaker, as you know, the house inserted a fail safe provision into this bill. The provision has two parts. One of them is if the court strikes down a certain provision in the bill, the fail safe will trigger.

Another allowed the attorney general to determine if the provision was unenforceable, then, the fail safe would also trigger.

After speaking with the current and former AG and a number of other legal scholars in the field, we've determined that we want to leave in the court fail safe, but remove the AG fail safe.

We also bolster some of the language, making it very clear that the court, if it makes a decision the federal district court, if it makes a decision like in the previous cases, that failsafe will still trigger.

And, we are pushing back the effective date another six months to 07/01/2027 to allow the next legislature to correct any, unforeseen consequences that this bill might present.

Members, we will be. Representative Souza.

Oh, Madam Speaker. Thank you. I rise in support of the floor amendment.

Please proceed.

Thank you. You know, I would usually just refer to the my colleague who is offering the floor amendment and, his remarks and support. But I think this measure is too important to not make the record absolutely clear, especially as this measure moves forward.

So I do rise in support, and the current language in SB 2471 SD2 HD2 CD1 granting the attorney general authority to invalidate a law on constitutional grounds should be removed because it fundamentally disrupts the balance of powers.

Determining the constitutionality of a law is the role of the judiciary, not an executive branch official. This concern is not limited to a single provision. It is embedded throughout the bill wherever foreign corporation is referenced.

The bill repeatedly states if the subsection is held invalid for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction or determined to be unenforceable in the opinion of the attorney general, then act blank. Session laws of Hawaii 2026 shall be deemed invalid and have no force or effect.

This language gives the attorney general's opinion the same practical effect as a court ruling allowing a single executive official to nullify an enacted law without judicial review.

This is particularly problematic because constitutional interpretation is often unsettled and evolves over time. Reasonable legal minds frequently disagree.

By inserting this language across multiple sections, the bill creates a standing mechanism for the attorney general to act as a one person constitutional arbiter, converting legal uncertainty into a unilateral decision and denying the courts the opportunity to issue a definitive

ruling. There is already a well established process to address unconstitutional laws, judicial review. Once enacted, laws can be challenged in court through a transparent adversarial process with checks and appeals.

Injecting the attorney general into this role after enactment is not only redundant, it is obstructive. Finally, concentrating this authority as single executive office creates the potential for overreach.

It undermines legislative independence and reduces accountability to the public who elect lawmakers and not the attorney general to make policy decisions.

For these reasons, this language should be removed to preserve the separation of powers and maintain a fair balanced lawmaking process. Instead, the language in the amendment before us today, floor amendment number 11, is better suited to achieve the objective desired.

And I wanna thank all of the community members who have been reaching out in support of this particular change. So mahalo, Madam Speaker, and my colleague from Kaneohe. Thank you.

Representative Matayoshi.

Still in support.

Please proceed.

Thank you to the previous speaker. The purpose of inserting the AG in here was specifically to address a kind of case that already happened in Hawaii regarding election contributions.

So the in this case, the, court issued an injunction for both the plaintiffs but did not or refused to apply it generally, and the state of Hawaii itself decided to not enforce it.

So in that case, we did not have a clear definitive court ruling that this provision was unconstitutional or whatnot, but the state took it upon itself to refuse to stop enforcing it. So in that case, it was kind of analogous to the AG.

Again, though, we have clarified the language in the bill through this floor amendment to make sure that if this situation happens per court order, the fail safe will still trigger.

So I don't think we need the AG language in there right now, but the reason we put it in was not to give the AG some sort of carpalage power to do this.

It was to address a specific situation that has already happened in the courts of the state of Hawaii, over the federal courts of the state of Hawaii to address that problem. Thank you.

Members, we are going to representative system.

Thank you, speaker. I'd like to acknowledge the words of the former speaker and also just say that in effect, the AG would have the authority to make this null and void, and it's highly unusual to insert this language. So, thank you, and I stand on my words.

Members, we're going to take a voice.

Madam Speaker?

Representative Belatti.

Thank you. In support.

May have the words of the Representative from Makakila and couple adopted as if they were my own.

Please proceed.

So ordered.

A brief remarks.

Please proceed.

Really brief I really think that this session is going to be defined about with a theme of how equal branches of government, act and conduct ourselves.

And that while I appreciate, the, a while I appreciate the intent of the, of the attorney language, the attorney general language. I think the removal of that is very wise and that as we craft these, kinds of clauses moving forward, that we really,

really pay attention to the balance of powers, the separation of powers, and checks and balances. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Members, we are going to take a voice vote. Vote Aye if you are in favor of the floor amendment. Vote no if you are opposed to the floor amendment. All those in favor say Aye.

Those opposed say no. The floor amendment has been adopted. Members please note the forty eight hour notice for this measure. Members please turn to page one. We will be taking up the state executive budget.

Representative Kahaloa.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt Conference Committee Report number 125-26 as listed on page one, and that House Bill number 1800 HD1 SD1 CD1 as amended past final reading.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Any discussion on this item? Representative Todd.

Hi. In support.

Please proceed.

Sorry. Madam Speaker. Aloha. At the midpoint of our session back in March, I gave a two or three minute speech on the budget and described it as a work in progress in the wake of uncertainty.

While we cannot be adequately prepared for every possible outcome, the budget before us today positions the state well to respond to both our present and future needs.

Through our work with the Senate and the administration, we have crafted a budget that preserves our essential services, stabilizes our financial plan, and ensures the health and safety of our people.

As this is the second year of our biennium, HB 1800 is a supplementary budget bill which tweaks the plan that was set forth last year.

The finance committee staff has spent months digging into departmental budgets, oftentimes staying here late at night and on weekends to make sure that no stone was left unturned.

In the past, the budget has been described as a statement of values. With that in mind, this bill makes large investments in our social safety net, dedicating expanded resources for snap and Medicaid.

It provides assistance for local farmers and small businesses and protects and perpetuates our natural resources through the first set of appropriations for the green fee.

In addition, while identifying areas where we can spend less without hurting government operations, we've made it a priority to have no cut to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands.

And have dedicated over $35,000,000 in direct appropriations and additional funding to reduce the wait list and improve quality of life for homesteaders.

When I last spoke on the budget and tax plan, I asked for patience and expressed confidence that we would find a way forward in spite of our challenging financial outlook.

Today, we can present a budget and tax plan where middle class families receive an even larger tax cut than what was promised in Act 46. Essential services are secure and even expanded, and our financial plan is stable.

Thank you to the Senate and administration for their partnership, and to both the majority and minority caucuses for their patience and understanding. We are all in this together, and the finance committee is looking forward to the work ahead. Mahalo.

Representative Shimizu.

In support with reservations.

Please proceed.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'd like to acknowledge the finance chair, the committee, and all of his staff for the great effort. I wanna acknowledge that. I can see the tremendous effort and thought that was put into this.

Of course, as a minority caucus, we probably would have done some things a little differently, and that's the cause for reservation. But I wanna acknowledge and mahalo the finance chair and committee, and also for taking the time to brief our minority caucus, with his update.

I think our caucus really appreciated that respect. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Representative Garcia.

With reservations, and I'd like to adopt the words of the previous speaker as my own.

So ordered. Representative Alcos.

Reservations, and I would like to enter comments into the journal.

So ordered. Representative Muraoka.

Reservations.

So ordered. K. Representative Morikawa for the vote. Excuse me. Representative Cochran.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. And I really appreciate everyone's pretty much blood, sweat, tears, energy effort into this, you know, difficult, task of balancing this budget and making sure we try to please all the people all the time, but once we wrap our head around that,

that'll never happen, then we can, yeah, live in our own skin moving forward. So I have I'm rising in support with reservations.

Yes. Well, in support with reservations.

Representative Cochran, in support?

Please proceed.

And with some brief comments, please. So as I've notated all throughout this session in reference to the Kahali initiative, I still see, proviso line items in this budget for 24,400,000 for FY26, and 18,000,000 for FY27.

And despite the auditor's warnings that were presented to all of us here, so that is the primary reason for my, reservations, in voting this budget through at this time. So thank you for this opportunity.

Again, thanks to everyone's efforts.

Mahalo. Representative Pierick.

Thank you. And reservations?

Please proceed. So ordered. Representative Yamashita.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, in support.

Please proceed.

Yeah. And may I enter comments into the journal?

So ordered. Thank you. Okay. If there are no further comments, Representative Morikawa for the vote.

Madam Speaker, on the measure before us, all Majority Members vote Aye.

Representative Garcia.

Thank you Madam Speaker. On the measure before us all Minority Members vote Aye.

Have all votes been cast? House Bill number 1800 HD1 SD1 CD1 passes final reading. Recess, subject to the call of the Chair.

Will the House come to order? Mister Clerk, are there any announcements?

Yes, Madam Speaker. I have been informed by a Representative of the President of the Senate that the Conference Committee Report for House Bill number 1800, House Draft 1, Senate Draft, Conference Draft 1 was adopted and said House Bill relating to the state budget

passed final reading in the Senate at 08:58AM on 05/06/2026. In addition, I have been informed by the assistant clerk of the House that at 10:10AM on this day, House Bill number 1800, House Draft 1, Senate Draft 1, Conference Draft 1 was duly transmitted by the

legislature to the governor pursuant to Article seven, section nine of the Hawaii State Constitution.

Thank you, mister Clerk. Let's move on to part one consent calendar. Five A unfinished business representative Kahaloa.

Madam Speaker, I move to adopt the Conference Committee Reports listed on pages two through 20 and that the accompanying House and Senate bills as amended past final reading representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker second the motion.

Members there will be no discussion as these are items agreed to by this body for placement on the consent calendar. Representative Morikawa for the vote.

Madam Speaker on the measures before us all Majority Members vote Aye with the exception of the following. On page 10 CCR number 104-26, SB number 3076 SD1 HD2 CD1 Rep Kong votes no.

On page 12, CCR number 141-26, HB number 2452 SD1 CD1, Rep Iwamoto votes no. On page 13, CCR number 143-26, HB number 2339, HD1 SD1 CD1, Rep Amato, and Iwamoto vote no.

And on page 19, CCR number 227-26, SB number 2360SD1 HD2 CD1, Rep Iwamoto votes no.

Representative Garcia.

Thank you Madam Speaker. On the measures before us, all Minority Members vote Aye.

Have all votes been cast? Said bills passed final reading. Members, please remember to submit to the clerk the list of House and Senate bills on the consent calendar for which you will be inserting written comments in support or in opposition.

This must be done by adjournment of today's floor session. Let's move on to part two ordinary calendar five B unfinished business.

Members we are on page 21. Representative Kahaloa.

Madam speaker, with the exception of Conference Committee Report numbers 43-26 and 50-26, I moved to adopt the Conference Committee Reports listed on pages 21 through 26 and at the company House and Senate bills as amended past final reading.

Representative Morikawa.

House Speaker, I second the motion.

Any discussion on these items beginning with CCR number 12-26. 15-26. Representative Iwamoto.

Reservations.

So ordered. 16-26, 19-26. Representative Kila.

Madam Speaker, in support.

Please proceed.

And during that time I got to connect with the Nanakuli Wai'anae homeless liaison who serves in the DOE. Madam Speaker, the Nanakuli Wai'anae complex has one of the highest unhouse populations with over 600 students in our DOE schools. It is so high that we are the only complex that has two coordinators

Madam Speaker, the measure before us may seem so small, but it has such a huge impact. Madam Speaker, over the interim I spent a lot of time with our communities and our district.

to help support this initiative. Through the conversations and discussions with these coordinators, they shared often the biggest barrier with working

with these unhoused students is just trying to get an ID. A lot of our unhoused youth may actually be in foster home, foster care, or unaccompanied. But current law without parental support prohibits them from getting an ID at 18 an an an ID at the age of 18. When we talk about making fair laws, I think it's one thing, but try to make laws equitable.

With this measure before us, although it has a delayed implement date implement date of a year, it has a chance to really uplift a lot of our young people who are experiencing homeless or unhouse nest and just trying to put themselves one step forward.

An idea is a pathway to getting a job. An idea is a pathway of going to college. And when we talk about legislation that we bring from our communities, it was from those homeless coordinators that I that we present this before the body.

So it may seem so minuscule, but in one year may have a huge impact on our youth. And those youth will one day grow up to potentially have a great pathway because of this legislation that we are passing today.

So I really wanna thank my colleagues for helping move this bill forward, and I look forward to seeing how we can continue to uplift our most vulnerable in the legislature.

Representative Tam.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In support.

Please proceed.

I would just like to have the comments made by the representative from Not A Coolie inserted into the journal as if they're my own and a brief comment.

So ordered, please.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise in support of this measure. Young people are being asked more of themselves these days, especially with the high pressures of family life.

And by giving them, civil identification cards, it opens a lot of doors for them and opportunities to be part of society and to function in society. So for the reason, I urge my colleagues to support this measure before us.

Let's move on to CCR number 20-26, Representative Kahaloa.

Madam Speaker, I move to recommit Conference Committee Report number 20-26 and the attached proposed conference draft to conference committee.

Representative Morikawa.

Madam Speaker, I second the motion.

Any discussion? Members will be taking a voice vote all those in favor say Aye. All those opposed say no. The motion is carried. Members we are back on the main motion page 22 CCR number 22-26. Any discussion? 23-26, 25-26. Representative Amato.

Reservations.

So ordered. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.

So ordered. Moving on to Oh. Representative Marten.

Thank you, Speaker. I rise in opposition. I have

Please proceed.

Thank you. I have concerns about the language in this bill that removes the requirement that the families living in the farm dwelling, the worker housing, do not have to have any income associated with agricultural production.

I realized that it is very important to have places for our farm workers to live, and I really appreciate the work that's been done on this. Pressure to, use agricultural land as residential land. And for that reason, I have concerns.

Representative Evslin.

In support.

Please proceed.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I do just wanna clarify that the language for the definition of a farm dwelling, there was currently currently in statute, there's two operative piece of that definition.

Unit has to be accessory to a farm, or, the occupants have to have income from the farm. The current county interpretation statewide, is that the accessory to a farm, definition essentially, trumps the income producing definition.

So nobody is checking for income currently, because all these units are accessory to a farm. So this was simply cleanup language. It doesn't actually change the on the ground interpretation of the definition of farm dwelling.

For the second component of a bill, the farm employee housing, I you guys all know I'm a champion for accessory dwelling units. I have long been concerned about ADUs on ag land. There's a lot of potential for abuse when we're allowing ADUs on AG land.

An ADU can be, you know, essentially just a large single family home. Often a ADUs and ag land can be CPR'd off from the main home and sold. This leads to a speculative market and the chopping up of our agricultural land.

The intention of the bill here is twofold, to set some boundaries on what that accessory unit could look like. 800 square feet and it cannot be CPR'd off from the main unit.

This is to ensure that it's allowed, but it's likely to go to a family member or an agricultural worker. And by defining it, then counties would, presumably allow that type of unit and hopefully not go the whole way down allowing for a full ADU.

Counties still have a lot of flexibility over what they're allowing and not allowing on AG land, but this at least had some carterals on that front. Thank you.

Let's move on to 20 Representative Perruso.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise in opposition, and I'd like to adopt the words of my colleague from Kailua as if they were my own.

So ordered.

Let's move on to 26-26. Representative Reyes Oda.

With reservations.

So ordered. Representative Souza.

With reservations.

So ordered. Representative Garcia.

Opposition.

Please proceed.

Thank you MadamSspeaker. And permission to in to insert written comments in the journal.

So ordered. Moving on to 27-26, 28-oh, representative Reyes Oda. On 27-26?

Correct. '27. With reservations.

So ordered. Representative Shimizu.

In opposition.

Please proceed.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Permission to enter written comments into the journal?

So ordered.

Thank you.

Moving on to the top of page 23, Conference Committee Report, 28-26. 29-26. Representative Cochran.

Thank you, madam speaker. I rise in opposition.

Please proceed.

Thank you very much. So while well intended, intentioned, this contains provisions that fundamentally undermine its stated goal of fostering lasting affordable housing.

The measure amend Section 201H-38 to require that 80% of units in HHFDC's projects be sold to qualified residents. Yet, it reduces the owner occupancy requirement from ten to five years.

Even more concerning, it repeals the financial viability screening that previously insured buyers demonstrated genuine need for assistance.

The practical effect is clear. Units developed with public support could revert to market rate just after five years.

Individuals who do not require affordable housing could access these programs. Weakening of deed restrictions further exacerbates this issue as the bill fails to enforce perpetual affordability for the lifetime of the project.

Hawaii and its people deserve housing solutions that provide permanent stability and genuine affordability.

Taxpayer investments should yield lasting benefits for our communities, not temporary fixes that allow public support to be exploited. So for these reasons, I must respectfully urge my colleagues to oppose HB 1740 CD1. Mahalo for this time, Madam Speaker.

Representative Iwamoto.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise in opposition and ask that the words of the representative from Lahaina be entered into the record as my own. So ordered.

Representative Evslin.

In support.

Please proceed.

Thank you Madam Speaker. The current 21H test 38 program is a critical incentive that leads to the development of affordable housing.

Currently, in that program, a majority of units have to be affordable to qualify for potential waiver of fees and certain regulations. And this has been a critical tool to developing affordable housing. Most light tech projects are gonna be done through the 21H program.

But, what the 21H program, all that it requires is that a unit stay affordable for ten years. After that ten year period there's no restrictions. So majority of the units have to be affordable for ten years and then no restrictions.

That other 49% of units don't have any restrictions on it. This bill sets up an alternative pathway for 02/2008. That current pathway still exists. LITEC projects and other affordable projects will likely still go through that current pathway.

This alternative pathway says 80% of units have to be deed restricted forever. Not just ten years, but forever to ensure that the occupant of the unit is domiciled in Hawaii, and the buyer of the unit.

So this intention here is to create a permanent, sort of locals only housing market of deed restricted units that are available only to residents that are gonna be living full time in the unit.

The changes to the, the financing language. This is language which required HHFDC just to check check that an applicant can qualify, that they have the available asset to debt ratio to qualify for financing.

They're not typically doing that checking because the bank is doing that checking. So the the language is redundant. The bank will already have to do that check.

And regarding the five year owner occupancy requirement, the bill says that you can, own another unit when you purchase one of these. The intention here is that under 21H currently, it prohibits somebody from owning another unit.

This makes it impossible for somebody to upsize or downsize. If you have some children, yet you have a studio, you cannot upsize into a, you know, one bedroom or two bedroom, because you're not allowed to own any other property.

If your children move out and you wanna downsize, the same thing. So what this says is that you can own other property, but you gotta sell that property within two years.

The idea is that somebody can move around within these units, but it does not create a speculative market because ultimately you still have to live in the unit because you'll have to dispose of your other property within two years. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Okay. Let's move on to CCR number 34-26, 35-26, 41-26. Representative Shimizu.

In opposition.

Please proceed.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

I've spoken on this before and as a former person in the construction industry, this this bill is bothersome for me, so I need to get it off my chest. The real victims in this situation are the workers who are getting underpaid and cheated by a dishonest competitor.

Second, legitimate honest contractors who bid by the rules, lose out on projects and income to an unfair competitor.

And lastly, an owner who has no idea that they have just signed up for a very costly and painful problem. So with this bill, the owner instead becomes a major victim, in my opinion, by losing their contractor and their permit.

They now need to find a replacement. They have to figure out what's the cost of the work that is still unfinished and try to negotiate an agreement with the new replacement. And also reapply for a permit that they probably waited months for approval.

By passing this bill, we will have the unintended consequence of penalizing the innocent owner instead. And hopefully, the cheated workers are fairly reimbursed.

Although the contractor that was, removed may have financial issues to prevent or delay this from even happening. And hopefully, this dishonest contractor will be punished accordingly, which the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is already tasked with this enforcement

and could have and should have been enforcing to penalize any contractor who has been caught doing this dishonest practice and charge fines and penalties and even establish a reasonable time frame that this removed contractor should be disqualified from doing business.

Thereby proactively preventing this situation from occurring in the first place. And to add to this dilemma, the bill has since added an explicit owner occupant exemption that removes protection and corrective action that this bill is trying to establish from these homeowners.

And now allows these dishonest contractors a safe haven market to continue in their unscrupulous ways, hurting innocent workers, owners, and legitimate contractor competitors.

Madam Speaker, although this bill is well intended, I don't see this bill resolving this situation. But unfortunately makes the problem even more chaotic and hurtful. I recommend we defer this bill. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Moving on to CCR number 42-26, Representative Cochran.

Hello, Madam Speaker. I rise in opposition.

Please proceed.

Comments. Thank you so much. So HHFDC builds, pilot program, mandating the county again. In written testimony, the administrator from State Procurement Office says the board of directors would be exempt from Chapter 103D, which is the procurement code.

And that which establishes the legal framework for procurement in this state. And so it opens the door for potential, could be unethical, you know, I mean the bidding process and just a lot of, procurement rules will be wiped out and they wouldn't have to, follow.

So that's my reasoning for opposition. Mahalo.

Representative Iwamoto.

Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise in opposition.

Please proceed.

So this bill provides numerous overly broad exemptions to state and county laws, permitting, and zoning. This bill goes even further, by stating contracts for professional services, construction, and development related to Hawaii builds pilot program projects shall be

subject to approval by the corporation's board of directors and shall be exempt from Chapter 103D of the Hawaii revised statute, which is our procurement code as was mentioned by the representative from Lahaina.

And I just wanna make sure that everyone know understands that this the language of the procurement code specifically lists requirements of ethical public procurement, including ensuring that all persons are afforded an equal opportunity to compete in a fair and open

environment, avoid the intent and appearance of unethical behavior, and to identify and eliminate any conflicts of interest. So I ask why would we want to exempt these projects that will do good from all of these important and, safeguards. Thank you.

Representative Amato.

With reservations.

So ordered. Okay. Let's move on to Conference Committee Report number 44-26. We're now at the top of page 25, 47-26, 48-26, Representative Reyes Oda.

With reservations.

So ordered. Okay. 49-26. On the top of page 26, 51-26, Representative Cochran.

When you have an opportunity back to, 49.

Okay. Let's go back to 49-26, Representative Cochran.

Yeah. I just want to, stand and support and, request written comments into the journal. Please.

Thank you.

So order.

So we're on page 26 at the top. CCR number 51-26, 52-26, 54-26. Representative Amato.

Reservations.

So ordered. 55-26. Representative Garcia.

Reservations.