2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGIN AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

IT PERENNIAL ISSUES LIKE HOUSING HOMELESSNESSEN AGRICULTURE AND EDUCATION TO IT E'O MORE TIMELY MAYOR RICK BLANGIARDI CONCERNING FIREWORKS AND TAX REFORM.

WHAT ARE HAWAII 'LAWMAKERS PRIORITY EYEING THIS YEAR IN JOIN THE DISCUSSION AS ELECTED OFFICIALS PREPARE TO GO BACK TO THE CAPITOL NEXT ON INSIGHTS.

♪ ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAII.

I'M DARYL HUFF.

WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES FOR STATE LAWMAKERS AS THEY GET READY TO START A NEW LEGISLATIVE SESSION THIS COMING WEEK?

ONE CHALLENGE WE KNOW OF IS RESPONDING TO FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS AND CONTROVERSIAL POLICIES.

TONIGHT WE WILL HEAR DIRECTLY FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ABOUT WHAT THE 2026 SESSION MAY HOLD, WHAT ISSUES ARE RISING TO THE TOP, AND WHAT MAY FALL TO THE WAYSIDE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN TONIGHT'S SHOW.

YOU CAN EMAIL OR CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS, AND YOU'LL FIND A LIVE STREAM OF THIS PROGRAM AT PBSHAWAII.ORG AND THE PBS HAWAII YOUTUBE PAGE.

NOW, TO OUR GUESTS.

REPRESENTATIVE LAUREN MATSUMOTO SERVES HAWAII'S 38TH DISTRICT WHICH INCLUDES KUNIA, WAIPIO ACRES AND MILILANI.

SHE BEGAN SERVING AS THE STATE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER IN 2022 AND SITS ON THE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS AND ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMITTEES.

REPRESENTATIVE LINDA ICHIYAMA SERVES DISTRICT 32 WHICH INCLUDES SALT LAKE, MOANALUA AND ALIAMANU.

ORIGINALLY ELECTED IN 2010, SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE VICE SPEAKER OF THE STATE HOUSE.

LINDA IS PART OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION AND THE WATER AND LAND COMMITTEE.

SENATOR JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE REPRESENTS DISTRICT 24 WHICH INCLUDES KANEOHE AND KAILUA.

PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED A SENATOR IN 2018, HE SERVED IN THE HAWAII HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

HE CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE ASSISTANT MAJORITY WHIP AND THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION.

SENATOR KURT FEVELLA REPRESENTS DISTRICT 20, EWA BEACH ON THE ISLAND OAHU.

HE WAS ELECTED TO OFFICE IN 2018.

HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE SENATE MINORITY LEADER AND SITS ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM COMMITTEE AND THE HOUSING COMMITTEE.

LET ME START WIT WITH I'LL ALL F YOU START WITH REPRESENTATIVISM FIRST.

WHAT DO YOU SEE RISING TO THE TOP?

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE CHALLENGES YOU'RE FACING THIS YEAR.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO IS HE E'O SHARE A LITTLE BIT SOME OF OUR PRIORITIES FOR THIS UPCOMING SESSION.

THE HOUSE MAJORITY CAUCUS HAS BEEN WORKING VERY HARD DURING THIS INTERIM.

WE MET, PLANNED, DISCUSSED AND WHAT REALLY ROSE TO THE TOP I THINK IS COST OF LIVING, AFFORDABILITY, AND AS WE KNOW, BIGGEST COMPONENT OF THAT FOR FAMILIES IN HAWAII IS HOUSING.

SO ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES THIS SESSION IS GOING TO BE IT TO BUILD ON OUR O WORK, PREVIOUS SESSION, TO BUILD MORE HOUSING, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALSO LOOKING STRATEGICALLY AT REGULATORY REFORM TO REDUCE BOTTOM E'O BOTTLENECKS AND BARRIERS THAT ARE SLOWING DOWN THE BUILDING OF MORE HOUSING UNITS.

>>Daryl: LAUREN MATSUMOTO, REPUBLICAN SIDE.

WHAT DO YOU FOLKS SEE AS THE BIG CHALLENGE THIS YEAR?

>> SOMETHING WE DID AGAIN THIS YEAR.

DID OUR LISTENING TOUR.

WENT TO FIVE LOCATIONS ACROSS OAHU.

WE WENT TO WAIANAE, MILILANI, MOANALUA, EWA AND HAWAII KAI.

REVERSE TOWN HALL.

WE ASKED PEOPLE QUESTIONS.

AND WHAT WAS SO INTERESTING ACROSS ALL FIVE, TOP THREE ISSUES, EXACTLY THE SAME.

COST OF LIVING, CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY, AND GOVERNMENT REFORM.

SO OUR ENTIRE CAUCUS PACKAGE INVOLVES THOSE THREE ISSUES.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE REALLY FOCUSING ON THIS YEAR.

>>Daryl: COOKIE CHAIR OF THE CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMITTEE.

JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE COST OF LIVE BEING ISSUES FALL IN YOUR , WHAT DO YOU SEE THINGS THAT MIGHT ACTUAL HAVE SOME TRACTION IN THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, HEALTH CARE IS GOING TO BE BIG ONE.

AS REPRESE REPRESENTATIVISM SAIT OF LIVING IS ALWAYS THE TOP.

ICHIYAMA, TOM OF THE COST OF LIVING ISSUE IS HOUSING.

WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE USE FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN DELIVERED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN EXCHANGE FOR THE HEALTH CARE CUTS THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM TRUMP'S BIG BILL TO EXPAND RURAL HEALTH CARE ACCESS.

WHERE CONTINUALLY WORRIED ABOUT BENEFITS LIKE SNAP, AND MEDICAID BEING CUT.

JUSTEN T EJUST ENRIGHT TITLEMENN GENERAL.

SHORING UP CUTS HAPPENING FEDERAL LOVELY MAKE THE COST OF LIVINGEL -- LEVEL MAKE THE COST OF LIVING WORSE.

TACKLING INSURANCE COSTS LAST YEARS, TRYING TO MONITOR HOUSING SECTOR AND THEN UTILITY BILLS WE HAVE A PUC CHAIR COMING UP WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAINTAINING OUR CLEAN ENERGY GOALS ALSO MAINTAINING RATES.

AND AFFORDABILITY AND ELECTRICITY I. A LOT OF THINGS ACROSS THE BOARD.

>>Daryl: SENATOR FEVELLA WHERE DO YOU SIA ATTACKING PARTICULARLY COST OF LIVING.

>> BOTTOM LINE FIRST KEEP OUR PROMISE.

WE HAD A BIG TAX BREAK.

WE TALKEDDING ABOUT THAT LAST SESSION.

NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING IT BACK.

KNEE GO INTO EACH-NEED GO INTO EACH DIDN'T GET THE GOVERNOR TO REALIZE EACH DEPARTMENT ASKING AND HAVING POSITIONS NOT FILLED, NOT FILLED WITHIN 2 OR 3 YEARS, SHOULD BE TAKING IT BACK.

SOME OF THESE DEPARTMENTS HAVE BILLIONS MUCH DOLLARS THAT IS SITTING THERE ON THE TABLE, THAT THE TAXPAYORS ARE KNOWLNONE OFUS HAVE A HANDLE ON.

DON'T GET THAT, CANNOT MAKE OUR PROMISES EVERYTHING WE DO WITH HOUSING, MEDICAL, MEDICAID, ALL OF THAT, ONLY NOTHING.

IF WE CANNOT KEEP OUR PROMISE OVER THERE AND WORKING WITH OUR COLLEAGUES.

TO GET SOMETHING TO TRIP DOWN DEPARTMENTS WHO IS NOT SPENDING THE MONEY FOR THEIR VACANT POSITION.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS PRIORITY FOR MY COMMUNITY TOO.

>>Daryl: LET ME GIVE REPRESENTATIVE ICHIYAMAEL A CHANCE TO RESPOND.

I DID SEE INTERVIEW WITH A GOVERNOR HE SAID, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO IT PROPOSE TO REDUCE THE TAX BREAK FOR PEOPLE ABOVE A CERTAIN INCOME.

ELDTO YOU SEE ISSUE, CAN YOU AFFORD THE TAX BREAKS ON BOARD NOW MOVING FORWARD?

>> WELL, IN 2024, THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED HISTORIC TAX CUT, AND IT WAS INTEND TO TAKE EFFECT OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS.

7 YEARS IN FACT.

AND SO FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM HEARD FROM THE GOLFERS GOVR GOVERNORS PROPOSAL HAVEN'T SEEN THE LANGUAGE YET, IRNL TENDS TO FREEZE █THE CUTS HAPPENED SO FAR.

IRNL TENDS TO.

PEOPLE TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THOSE BREAKS.

INTENDS TO.

FUTURE ONES MAY NEED TO BE RE-EXAMINED.

AND I THINK IT GOES TO THE FACT THAT IN 2024, WE JUST HAD NO IDEA OF THE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY THAT WE WOULD BE LIVING IN TODAY.

AND SO IT I THINK WE DO HAVE TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT STATE SPENDING.

BUT ALSO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT WHAT CAN WE AFFORD.

>>Daryl: IT LAUREN MATSUMOTO, WHERE DO YOU SIT ON THAT?

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THESE TAX BREAKS CAN BE AFFORD.

>> I WAS ENCOURAGED ACTUALLY PASSED THEM IN 2024.

IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IT, HAWAII HAS THE 8TH HIGHEST PENNED SPSPENDING PER CAPITA ENTIRE NATION.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST BUDGETS.

TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THOSE HARD LOOKS AND WHAT ARE WE SPENDING MONEY ON.

TRIED TO PUSH FOR MANY YEARS FINANCIAL DATABASE.

HARD TO TRACK WHERE THE MONEY GOES IN OUR STATE.

EVEVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT HAS A DIFFERENT WAY OF HOW THEY TRACK THINGS.

AND SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF, GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT AND GO HOW ARE WE DOING ON SPENDING.

>>Daryl: SENATOR KEOHOKALOLES DO YOU FEEL THERE IS IT AVAILABLE MONEY WITHIN THE EXISTING STATE GOVERNMENT THAT COULD ALLOW TAX BREAKS TO CONTINUE BUT ALSO, MORE MONEY LIKE SENATOR FEVELLA SUGGESTING, THAT CAN BE COMBINDOUT THERE, THERE'S MONEYT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT COULD BE USED?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER AND MAKE THINGS MORE EFFICIENT.

IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

WE LAPSED FUNDING EVERY YEAR.

THAT ARE ALLOCATED FOR THE VACANT POSITIONS THAT KIRK BROUGHT UP AS AN EXAMPLE.

I THINK WHEN WE'VE ALSO HEARD DISCUSSIONS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT USING RAINY-DAY FUND.

YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHETHER IT'S RAINING OR NOT, IS THIS A DRIZZLE OR A DOWNPOUR?

EL WE HAVE THESE MIXED MESSAGES WE'RE GETTING LOCALLY ABOUT THE SOFT TOURISM MARKET.

REVENUE SNUB NUMBERS HAVE BEEN CAME IN BETTER THAN WE EXPECTED.

REVENUE NUMBERS P NATIONALLY ARE WITH IN A DOUBLE OR DISRUPTION CAUSING CONSUMER CONSUMERANGST.

TAP THE RAINY-DAY FUND, 2/3 OF THE LEGISLATURE TO SUPPORT THAT.

IF WE DO DECIDE TO TAKE ACTION OR PAUSE OR HOLD UP ANY OF THE INCOME TAX CUTS, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO SEE T DETAILED PROPOSALS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.

A LOT MORE WORK NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

STARTED THESE DISCUSSION AND THE MAIN THING IS WE SHOULDN'T DO ANYTHING DRASTIC.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DISRUPTION THAT WE'RE HAVING TO GOAL WITH GLOBALLY AND NATIONAL LEVEL.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR TO US HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY, ABOUT WHAT THE LONGTERM PLAN IS.

AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THE THINGS THAT ARE ON THE DOORSTEP NOW RESPONSIBLY.

>>Daryl: REPRESENTATIVE ICHIYAMA, WHAT IS IT IS IT LIKE GOING INTO A SEWER LEGISLATURE AND HOW DO WE REALLY -- INTO A LEGISLATURE, HOW MUCH DO WE KNOW WHAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE ECONOMY AND FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS?

I WAS WATCHING BRIEFING TODAY WHERE THEY SAID, THEY SAID LOSE THIS MONEY, THEN SAID WE HAVE THE MONEY BACK.

THEN S NO TAKING MONEY BACK WE TOOK BACK.

IT'S BACK IN AGAIN.

LAWSUIT.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE DEALING WITH THAT AND HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT KIND OF UNCERTAINTY?

>> THERE'S A WIP LASHING.

YOU SUBSCRIBED IT IT WHIP LASHING.

DESCRIBED IT PERFECTLY WE'VE BEEN LIVING WITH A YEAR, ON AND OFF AGAIN FUNDING.

SO I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE THAT WE HAVE SAID TO OUR COLLEAGUES IS THAT WE NEED TO BE PPREPARED SENATOR'S POINT RAINY-DAY FUND WE NEED TO BE PREPARED AND HAVE THOSE RESERVE IS NOT JUST NOW INTO THE FUTURE, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL COME NEXT.

>>Daryl: DO YOU THINK KURT FEVELLA WOULD YOU SUPPORT CUTTING IN RAIN DAY FUND IN ORDER TO COVER THE FEDERAL CUTS THAT MIGHT COME?

>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT TO CONSIDER, BUT TO ME, AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE TO MAKE DUE WITH WHAT WE PROMISE TO OUR PEOPLE.

PUT A PAUSE ON FREEZE ON THAT.

WE GOT TO JUSTIFY THAT.

BUT I WOULD SUPPORT IF IT BENEFITS THE PEOPLE OF HAWAII.

MOST DEFINITELY.

>>Daryl: LET ME ASK LAWSUIT MOVES DO YOUSUPPORT CUTTING INTE RAINY-DAY FUND TO BACKFILL SOME OF THESE PROGRAM MIGHT BE CUT?

LAUREN MATSUMOTO.

>> ALL OF US LOOK AT RAINY DAY FUND, LAST EFFORT LAST PLACE.

>>Daryl: A LOT OF MONEY SITTING IN THE BANK.

ALMOST $2 BILLION NOW.

GOTTEN UP THERE.

ONE-AND-A-HALF MILLION.

>> 1.7.

>>Daryl: OKAY.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

>> BUT AGAIN.

I THINK OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT OUR BUDGET, LOOK AT EVERYTHING A HOW WE'RE BUN RUNNG OUR GOVERNMENT.

WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY IN HAWAII COMPARED TO OTHER PLACES.

I MEAN LOOK AT STATE LIKE VERMONT, OR WE'RE SPENDING $5 BILLION P MORE THAN THEY ARE.

ANNUALLY OF I THINK IT'S OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT ARE WE SPENDING OR MONEY ON AND FIGURE OUT OUR PLAN FROM THERE.

I DON'T THINK DRASTIC CHANGES WE JUST CAN TAX CUTS.

PULL SOMETHING BECOME OR FREEZE.

PEOPLE PLANNING WHAT WE PASSED IN LEGISLATURE, IMPORTANT TO KEEP GOING ON WHAT WE HAVES PROPOSED AND PASSED BY THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> ADD ON AT THAT?

IS SOUNDS LIKE LOT OF MONEY.

IT DOES ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER WE HAVE A $20 BILLION STATE BUDGET.

AND WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A HEALTHY RESERVE IS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE BOND RATERS LOOK AT.

WHEN WE GO OUT TO BORE A MONEY AS A STATE, IT BORROW MONEY AS A STATE.

>> PANDEMIC TAUGHT US THAT REALLY NEED SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 10, 15% OF YOUR TOTAL SPEND AS A RESERVE IN ORDER TO WEATHER WORLDWIDE WEAPONS OF MASS PASME.

>>Daryl: SACRED ITERATES AG A KUNIA CREDIT RATING AS CONSUMER.

BET TO HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK AND BORROW MONEY CHEAPER.

>> EXACTLY.

SAVE OUR TAXPAYORS IN THE LONG RUN.

CONTINUE TO HAVE NEEDS TO FIX OUR SCHOOLS HOSPITALS.

BORROW MONEY CHEAPER RATE SAVES THEM MONEY IN THE LONGTERM.

>>Daryl: DO YOU THINK THAT, KIND OF WHAT THIS EXERCISE WE'RE DOING, WHERE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO DO.

DO YOU THINK IT'S HEALTHY FOR US AS A STATE TO BE FORCED TO LOOK HARD AT ALL OF THIS SPENDING?

>> BEEN WATCHING BUDGET HEARINGS, LISTENING TO DEPARTMENTS ON THEIR ASKING FOR SIX MORE POSITIONS GET 600 VACANT POSITIONS, I MEAN, SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY GOT TO LOOK HARD INTO IT.

DELA CRUZ LOOKS IT UP.

WHAT ARE WE DOING MONEY LEFT ON THE TABLE.

>>Chair Waters: IT NEED TO LOOK AT THAT TOO IF WE'RE GOING TO STARTING TO PULL BACK SOME OF STUFF WE PROMISED SOME.

STUFF GOING TO DELIVER.

>>Daryl: I'M GOING TO TURN TO SIM SO*FPL SOME OF OUR VIEWER IT'S.

QUESTIONS COMING IN.

ALONG THE SAME LINES.

TWO OF QUESTIONS ARE IMMEDIATELY ABOUT, AFFORDABILITY OF HOUSING.

WHAT IMMEDIATE STEPS CAN TAKE STEPS TO HELP LOCAL ALMOST FAMIS BUY A HOME.

REMEDIATE LACK OF AFFORDABILITY HOUSE IN THIS STATE.

START WITH SENATOR JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, WHAT ARE THE BIG, HITS THAT WE COULD DO FOR TO MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE?

WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE MOST DRAMATICALLY OR WHAT IS THE CHANGE THAT YOU THINK WILL WORK THAT WILL OPEN THE FLOOD GATES A LITTLE BIT MORE?

>> LINDA POINTED OUT, I THINK MAKING SURE THAT YOU CAN GET HOUSING THAT IS ALREADY IN THE PIPELINE.

THAT'S BEING PLANNED, WHERE FINANCING HAS BEEN SECURED.

GETTING IT TO CONSTRUCTION SO THAT IT CAN BE BUILT OUT.

IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF IT.

RATES CHANGE.

FINANCING PROGRAMS CHANGE.

THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS APPROPRIATED OVER THE LAST REALLY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS.

TO SUPPORT MAKING SURE THAT THOSE DEVELOPMENTS ARE BUILT E'O BUILDING UNITS THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD.

SO SOME OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WORK WITH THE STATE AGENCIES AND THAT'S SOMEWHAT A WHAT THE SENATE PROPOSED.

WORK WITH THE STATE AGENCY IT'S THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT MONEY TO MAKE SURE THAT WHETHER IT'S RENTAL HOUSING, WHETHER WE'RE TAPING FUNDS THROUGH THE UNIT RESOLVING FUND USED TO HELP BRING STRUCTURES UP, INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'RE GETTING UNITS ONLINE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THAT WE'RE ALLOWING FOR REDEVELOPMENT.

IN FAST RESPONSIBLE WAY.

DEALING WITH SOME OF THE OTHER ANCILLARY ISSUES LIKE INSURANCE RATES.

LAST YEAR PASSED THE BIG INSURANCE RESCUE BILL CREATED A STATE INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR TO COVER CONDOS.

NOW WE NEED TO MONITOR AND MAKE SURE THAT IF PREMIUMS RISE IN SINGLE FAMILY MARKET WE'RE COVERING THAT.

IT'S NICKEL @DIMING OF THE COMMUNITIES T THAT MAKES THINGS DIFFICULT PUTS A LOT OF PRESSURE FOLKS IN THE HOUSING MARKET SO THINK ONE OF THE A PROICH APPROACHES NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, THAT WE HAVE FUNDED THAT WE WANT TO TRY TO ACCELERATE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE CAN GET IN THE HOMES GET DOWNS DONE AND UNITS ARE MOVING FAST.

>>Daryl: LAUREN MATSUMOTO, WHAT WAS YOUR CAUCUS SEE AS THE BEST THING TO DO TO MAKE HOUSING AFFORDABLE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS LOOKING ON THAT PATH TOWARD HOMEOWNERSHIP.

SOMETHING BEEN PUSH FORGIVE A LONG TIME, IS HULA MAE PROGRAM.

THAT EXISTED UP UNTIL 2013 TO HELP FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS P. ALWAYS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT IT BECAUSE THAT'S HOW MY HUSBAND AND I WERE ABLE TO AFFORD OUR HOME.

BUT THE PROGRAM WENT AWAY.

>>Daryl: HOW DOES IT WORK.

>> SO REALLY EXCITING.

IS SO IT GETS YOU A LOW INTEREST RATE.

BUT ALSO ONLY HAVE TO PUT 5% DOWN.

NOT HAVING TO GET THE 20% DOWN PAYMENT.

WHEN PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO BUY A HOME, USUALLY THAT DOWN PAYMENT THAT IS THE BIG HURDLE.

BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT MORTGAGE RATES WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE RENT, IT'S PRETTY SIMILAR.

ONCE YOU GET LOCK INTO THAT MORTGAGE RATE.

YOU HAVE THAT 5% DOWN.

BUT NOW, THEY HAVE REVITALIZED PROGRAM BECAUSE WE PASSED BILL TO HAVE THIS THEM REVITALIZES HULA MAE PROGRAM.

HALE KAMA'AINA PROGRAM.

OPENED IN NOVEMBER.

CHECK IT OUT HHFDC WEBSITE.

EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

NOW NOT JUST THE PROGRAM COMES WITH DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS GREAT STEM FORWARD THAT IS REALLY GOING TO HELP PEOPLE.

STEP FORWARD OUR CAUCUS THIS WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE INDIVIDUAL HOUSING ACCOUNT PROGRAM PEOPLE CAN SAVE UP FASTER DOWN PAYMENT BY USING PRETAX DOLLARS.

PUSHING PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR FIRST HOME, AND BEING ABLE TO LOCK INTO THESE MORTGAGE RATES SO THEY'RE ABLE TO HELP BE ABLE TO AFFORD COST OF LIVING HERE?

HAWAII.

>>Daryl: REPRESENTATIVE ICHIYAMA, IN TERMS OFFER YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS, AND COMING OFF OF WHAT REPRESENTATIVEEL MATSUMOTO SAID, THOSE SC KIRI TAKANISHI HOUSING MARKET.

MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE.

FRIEDRICH NICH WORKING CLASS PE.

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE BIGGEST GAP IN HOUSING NEEDS TO BE FILLED AMONG DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES?

ALREADY.

>> WE NEED TO BUILD HOUSING AT ALL PARTS ALONG THAT LADDER BECAUSE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS HAVE ENOUGH UNITS ACROSS THE SANG SINGLE FAMILIAR LITTLE HOME, STUDIO, ONE BEDROOM, TWO BEDROOM, SI SINGLE FAMILY HASINGLE-FAMILY HOMEAND PEOPLE D BUILD EQUITY.

AREA TIER 2 OR WORKFORCE HORHORSE WORK HOUSING.

LOW INCOME 80% OF AREA MEDIUM INCOME.

UNFORTUNATELY HAWAII WITH HIGH COST OF LIVING, THAT LEAVES OUT OUR TEACHERS, POLICE OFFICERS,EL NURSES, WOULD MAKE TOO MUCH BUT STILL CAN'T MAKE ENOUGH TO AFFORD A DOWN PAYMENT OR MORTGAGE ON A 3 BEDROOM HOME.

SO WE'VE BEEN REALLY FOCUSED ON FUNDING THE TIER 2 HOUSING THROUGH THE RENTAL HOUSING RAYA INVOLVING FUND AND LAST YEAR, PUT IN $100 MILLION TO HELP SUPPORT THAT GROWTH FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING 140% OF AREA MEDIUM INCOME.

REVOLVING FUND NOT WELL DO STILL NEED HELP, BUT HELP KEEP THEM IN HAWAII.

>>Daryl: EXPWROWNS ANOTHER THING OFF OF FOLKS.

BOUNCE ANOTHER THING.

OUT MIGRATION, PRICED OUT OF THE PAIR DAYS, HOW CAN WE KEEP RESIDENTS MY GREAT UG OUT OF STATE?

RAY FROM GOING.

EL MIGRATING.

LEAVING HAWAII IS ONLY RISING.

COST LIVING.

LOCALS PRICED OUT OF PARADISE.

WHAT CAN LAWMAKERS DO REDUCE THE COST FOR ALL HAWAII PEOPLE?

WHAT IS LEGISLATURE DOING TO SLOW OUTMIGRATION?

ITHAT SEEMS TO BE THE REAL R.E.A.L.

ISSUE HERE.

BEYOND HOUSING, PLATE LUNCHES COST RIDICULOUS, I MEAN, NO OFFENSE TO ZIPPY'S OH, MY GOSH.

TWENTY DOLLARS BOWL OF O TAIL SOUP OR SOMETHING.

OBJEOX TAIL SOUP.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE KIND OF EXPENSES?

SENATOR, WHAT ABOUT THAT KIND OF STUFF?

IT FOOD, GAS, BASICS LIKE THAT.

>> SO THE WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HERE?

LEGISLATURE CAN TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR?

IT'S TAXES.

THAT'S WHY WE PASS INCOME TAX CUTS.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I SHARE THE CONCERN FROM REALLY EVERYBODY AT THIS TABLE ABOUT GETTING SOME DETAIL ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IF WE'RE GOING TO STOP THE CUTS.

THESE WERE TAX CUT THAT IS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE IMPLEMENTED OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS.

SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME FOR THEM TO TAKE EFFECT.

AND THEN FOR.

TO REALLY FEEL THE RELIEF.

ALSO HAVING TROUBLE DEALING WITH THE INFLATION THAT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE OF THE DISRUPTION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

THESE PROGRAMS TAKE TIME TO WORK.

THOUSANDS OF HOUSING UNITS HAVE BEEN BUILT AS EXAMPLE.

OVER BECAUSE OF APPROPRIATIONS THAT WE PUT INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

FOR THE LAST 7, 8, 9 YEARS.

SO IT'S A REAL CHALLENGE FOR US TO, STATE BUDGET IS LIKE A BARGE.

TAKES A WHILE FOR TO US TURN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

SO I DO THINK IT'S REALLY CRITICAL THAT WE ARE VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE APPROACHEL CLAWING BACK OR PAUSING THE TAX RELIEF BECAUSE WHERE THE LEGISLATURE WE TAX AND THEN APPROPRIATE FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS.

THAT THE MAIN THING THAT EVERYBODY INPUTS WHETHER YOUNG FAMILY WITH KIDS OR KUPUNA OR IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR CAREER, YOU PAY TAXES.

SO THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE CAN HAVE CONTROL OVER, AND WE'VE ALREADY PUT THAT PROGRAM IN PLACE.

SO THE REAL CHALLENGE THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON, TRYING TO MAINTAIN THAT, PREROGATIVE.

>>Daryl:EL BRING THIS UP, EXCISE TAX IS THE MOST PERVASIVE TAX WE HAVE.

I MEAN, IT'S ON GROCERIES IT'S ON RENT, IT'S ON MEDICAL CARE.

IS THAT A PLACE TO FOR?

I MEAN, TO GO.

CAN YOU AFFORD TO, DO REFORM OF THE EXCISE TAX, REPRESENTATIVE ICHIYAMA?

>> ACTUALLY WE DID.

RECENTLY PASSED LEGISLATION TO EXEMPT PAYMENTS MADE FOR MEDICAID.

OTHER TRY CARE AND SO WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT IN PARTICULAR WHEN IT'S RELATED TO MEDICAL COSTS.

WE ALSO VERY COULD GO ANY SENT WAY GENERAL EXCISE TAX PYRAMIDS ON IT SEARCH.

COGNIZANT.

WHOLESALERS, DIFFERENT THAN RETAILERS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT GENERAL EXCISE TAX IS NOT A SALES TAX.

VERY UNIQUE IN THE COUNTRY IN THAT WE HAVE A TAX ON THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII.

AND BECAUSE.

>>Daryl: SHOULD IT BE A PRIVILEGE.

>> PRIVILEGE TO BE IN PARADISE?

TO DO BUSINESS.

> I DON'T MEAN TO GET TOO POLITICAL, BUT IT'S INTERESTING CONCEPT.

BASICALLY INCOME TAX ON BUSINESSES.

RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF YOUR REVENUE, YOU HAVE TO PAY THIS TS EXCISE TAX AS OPPOSED TO SALES TAX WORKS.

IS THAT DRAGON PEOPLE'S COST OF LIVING?

EXCISE TAX?

>> TO ME BEAUTY OF EXCISE TAX SO BROADBASED.

WE CAN KEEP IT LOW.

AND THAT IS WHY WHEN YOU COMPARE HAWAII TO THE OTHER STATES, WE DON'T HAVE 11 OR 9% 9 SALES TAX BECAUSE THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX IS SPREAD OUT WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP IT UP.

LOWER RATE.

>>Daryl: REPRESENTATIVE, YOU LOVE TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION.

>> WELL, OUR CAUCUS PUT IN FOR PROBABLY THE PAST 20 YEARS, TO ELIMINATE THE EXCISE TAX ON FOOD AND MEDICAL SERVICE.

>> WE SEE THOSE AS NECESSITIES.

ALMOST EVERY OTHER STATE DOES IT.

NOW, WE DO HAVE A GENERAL EXCISE TAX DON'T HAVE A SALES TAX.

BECAUSE IT'S REGRESS EVERYONE BY THE TIME YOU GET TO REGRESSIVE TIME TO THE PUBLIC IT IS GOING TO BE ABOUT 11%.

IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE HIGH COST LIVING, EVERY SINGLE YEAR,, THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE WE HEAR BACK.

FROM MY ENTIRE TIME IN THE LEGISLATURE, THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE.

SO I MEAN, ENCOURAGED THIS BILL HAS BEEN MOVING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

RECENTLY BEFORE IT WOULD NEVER GET A HEARING.

I THINK IT'S AT LEAST A CONVERSATION TO BE H HAD LOOK AT EAR IT STA OTHER STATE REMOVED S TAX OR LOWERED IT LIKE GEORGIA INCREASED STATE REVENUES PEOPLE ARE OUT SPENDING MORE.

SOMETHING TO LOOK AT.

FOR SURE.

THE SECOND PART WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COST OF LIVING TALKED ABOUT BUSINESSES.

WE ARE ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT PLACE IN THE ENTIRE NATION TO DO BUSINESS.

IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

WHETHER IT'S REGULATORY RED TAPE, DIFFERENT BURDENS WE PUT ON AND WE SEE SO MANY BUSINESSES GO OUT WHETHER IT'S SMALL, OKAZU STORE.

OR SAIMIN SHOP.

MY FAMILY, WITH FAMILY FARM.

VERY DIFFICULT.

MANY NULTY GENERATIONAL BUSINESS.

SMALL BUSINESS AS WE TALK ABOUT THAT WE WANT HERE IN HAWAII.

I THINK THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS TO TAKE A REALLY FIRM LOOK AT HOW WE ADDRESS OUR BUSINESSES AS WELL THE IN OUR STATE.

>>Daryl: WHAT ABOUT THAT?

THE DIFFICULTIES OF DOING BUSINESS IN THIS STATE?

HIGHLY REGULATED IN MANY WAYS.

MINIMUM WAGE IS WENT UP SIGNIFICANTLY IN JANUARY.

ARE THERE THINGS OUT THERE THAT COULD MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT LESS EXPENSIVE DO BUSINESS HERE?

>> I THINK A LOT OF IT DOES HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE, IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE IN PLACE REGULATIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT CONSUMERS ARE GETTING WHAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR, THAT WE HAVE PROCESSES TO PROTECT OUR DRINKING WATER,ER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT POLLUTING OUR COMMUNITIES, WHAT WE CAN DO AT THE STATE LEVEL IS USE TECHNOLOGY AND MAKE SURE THAT THESE PROCESSES PROCEDURAL EXPEDITIOUSLY.

WE'VE BEEN, AT THE WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE BEEN REALLY CRITICAL OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

BECAUSE THEY MANAGE ALL OF OUR TRANSPORTATION NETWORK.

ENERGY NETWORK.

VERY HIGH ELECTRICITY COSTS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

A LOT OF THE, SOME OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT WHEN OUR ENERGY PRODUCER COME NO, AND THINK ASK FOR RULINGS ON THINGS, THERE'S THIS LONG CUMBERSOME PROCESS.

WE DON'T HAVE CLARITY ON WHAT THE PLAN IS GOING FORWARD.

AND THEN WHEN YOU HAVE ECONOMIC DISRUPTION OR THINGS LIKE COVID WHERE YOU HAVE PRICE SPIKES, THEN LONGTERM PLANS TO DEVELOP ENERGY, OR TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR GRID, THEY GET THROWN INTO DISARRAY.

AND SO WE DO NEED TO BE MORE EFFICIENT AT THE GOVERNMENT LEVEL.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BRINGING ON PEOPLE THAT CAN DO THE JOBS AND NOT LET THESE POSITIONS JUST SIT VACANT.

BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE DEFINITELY WE C CAN DO.

WE SHOULD LOOK AT ALL OPTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO LOWERING COSTS.

GINNY GO BACK TO HOUSING BECAUSE IT'S WHERE WE MADE THE MOST SPECIFIC APPROPRIATIONS.

WE PUT THE MOST ATTENTION TO IT.

MOST OBVIOUS FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING IN THE COMMUNITY.

>>Daryl: GIVE SENATOR A CHANCE.

WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT THE COST OF LIVING COULD BE ADDRESSED?

TALKED ABOUT HOUSING A LOT.

EL JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE THEY HAVE DONE.

THERE'S A LOT OF HOUSING IN THE PIPELINE NOW.

ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT WILL WORK AND WHAT OTHER THINGS DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD TO P DO TO REDUCE COST OF LIVING?

>> BOTTOM LINE IS GREAT TO BUILD HOUSES BUT EVERYTHING IS A BACKLOG.

TAKES TOO LONG TO BUILD IT.

CONSTRUCTION COSTS GOES UP.

WE PROPOSE IN THE SENATE, PROPOSED LOOKING INTO HAVING OUR OWN STATE PERMITTING DEPARTMENT.

ALL YOU HAVE OUR SCHOOLS, ALL OF OUR ROADS, EVERYTHING THAT WE TRY TO BUILD STATE EVEN VISAS WE WITHIN OUR STATE, WANTS TO BE A PUBLIC HOUSING, SUPPORT PUBLIC HOUSING.

IT'S BACKLOG.

TWO MONTHS, 3 MONTHSMENT CONSTRUCTION COSTS GOES UP.

INCOURAGE DEVELOPER TO COME IN AND BRING HOUSING FOR OUR PEOPLE, MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.

TO BUILD HOUSES FOR THEM.

WHEN THE PERMITTING PROCESS TAKES TOO LONG.

CONSTRUCTION GOES UP.

LAPSE.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE GOT IT REALLY WORRY ABOUT.

IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT KO*PBGS OF LIVING ALSO HAD COST OF LIVING TALKED ABOUT THE SENATE ABOUT HOW WE COULD DO FOR MEDICAL, FEMININE HYGIENER PRODUCTS.

CERTAIN FOOD PRODUCT IS NOT TO TAX T AGAIN, PEOPLE THAT CANNOT AFFORD, TELL YOU DOCTOR TELL TO YOU EAT GOOD, EAT WELL, EAT YOUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

CAN'T AFFORD IT.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO THAT?

AGAIN, SENATOR DELA CRUZ TALK ABOUT FARMING.

WE GOT TO GROW OUR OWN.

WE'RE NOT GROWING OUR OWN.

EVERY YEAR, WE'RE NOT EVEN INCREASING TO REACH THE LEVEL THAT WE NEED TO GROW OUR OWN SO THAT WE CAN BE SELF-SUFFICIENT AND TAKING CARE OF OUR PEOPLE IN CASE WE HAVE NO CONNECTIVITY TO THE CONTINENT.

>>Daryl: GOOD THING TO BRING UP.

AT THIS POINT.

REPRESENTATIVE ICHIYAMA, ARE WE DOING MORE, SEEMS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF VACANT LAND OUT THERE AND WHAT THEY'RE PRODUCING ISEL MELONS AND ARE WE GETTING TO THE POINT WE CAN BE MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT AND ACTUALLY SAVE MONEY AND THINGS THAT THE LEGISLATURE CAN DO TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AS A COMMUNITY TO BE RESILIENT.

AND WE IMPORT SO MUCH OF OUR FOOD, AND SO MUCH JUST IN TIME SHIPPING.

IF WE'RE WERE TO LOSE THE PORT, HARBOR AT HONOLULU, OUR ENTIRE STATE WOULD BE IN REALLY BAD SHAPE.

FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE I DO AGREE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO GROW OUR OWN FOOD.

AND BE LOCALLY SUSTAINABLE.

SO THE LEGISLATURE HAS FOR EXAMPLE,EL APPROPRIATED MONEY LAST YEAR FOR THE FARM TO FAMILIES PROGRAM.

WHERE WE ARE APPROPRIATING MONEY TO OUR FOOD BANKS TO HELP SUPPORT LOCAL FARMERS, BY PURCHASING LOCAL PRODUCE AND THEN GIVING THOSE FOOD FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO FAMILIES IN NEED TO THE F FOOD BANKS.

>>Daryl: ARE WE SEEING TRACTION THERE?

MORE FARMERS COMING ONLINE.

>> TOUGH ONE.

BECAUSE SOME OF IT IS ALSO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A THE LOT OF EXPERIENCED FARMERS AND NOT ENOUGH YOUNG FARMERS.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT.

IN OUR MAJORITY CAUCUS PACKAGE.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

WE NEED MORE YOUNG FARMERS.

BUT WE ALSO NEED WORKERS IN ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF FIELDS.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO EXPAND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS, AND MAKE SURE THAT HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE.

>>Daryl: ON THAT SUBJECT, WHAT CAN WE DO TO REDUCE THE COST OF FOOD HERE?

>> AGAIN, COMING FROM THAT FARMING.

>>Daryl: EXCISE TAX, YOU'RE A FARMER.

>> FARMING BACKGROUND.

I'M THE FOURTH GENERATION OF MY FAMILY WOULD FARMED.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY STUCK OUT TO ME ARE WORKING ON A FAMILY FARM, AND ALSO JUST TRYING TO HELP THEM SURVIVE, I THINK WE OFTEN FORGET THIS FARMS ARE BUSINESSES TOO.

OFTEN I FEEL LIKE WE SEPARATE WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO HELP AGRICULTURE IN HAWAII, AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO HELP BUSINESS A LOT OF OUR SMALL FARMERS ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE FARMERS OPERATE AN RAZOR, RAZOR THIN MARGINS.

AND IT JUST TAKES ONE THING TO GO GO OUT.

AFRAID OF AVIAN INFLUENZA OR HAVE ONE THING AND EVERYTHING IS WIPED OUT.

>>Daryl: SHOULD SAY EGG FARM.

>> EGG FARM.

YES.

>>Daryl: ETHICS COMMISSIONS.

>> I -- ETHICS COMMISSIONENINGS.

I CARE ABOUT CHICKENS.

HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO BE A FAFAX FARMER SELLING THINGS TO THE STORE GETTING 10 SENT ON THE DOLLAR.

DIFFICULT WITH MANY SOME LAWS WE PASSED THE NOT LOOKING MACRO PICTURE SOMETIMES PASS BUFFER ZONE LAW.

OUR FAMILY FARM COPTD HAVE ANY LIVESTOCK IN OUR PASTURE ANY MORE BECAUSE HOUSE AS CAME ACROSS THE STREET EVEN THOUGH OUR FARM WAS THERE 114 YEARS AGO.

THERE'S LIGHT CHALLENGES THAT FARMERS HAVE.

LIGHT CHALLENGE THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS RECOGNIZE,ER WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT BILLS THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE AND DIFFICULT THING IS THEY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE TIME TO COME AND TESTIFY.

BUT THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD WE CAN DO ZOOM TESTIMONY NOW.

MORE FARMERS PARTICIPATE IN SHARING THEIR STORIES.

>>Daryl: I WANTED TO BOUNCE OFF OF YOU SENIOR FEFERL WAS SAYING ABOUT -- SENATOR FEVELLA WAS SAYING ABOUT THE STATE PERMITTING SYSTEM FOR HOUSING.

REPUBLICAN GENERALLY ARE VERY HOME RULE SUPPORTIVE.

ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THAT IDEA?

DO YOU THINK YOUR CAUCUS WOULD BE COMFORTABLE ABOUT STREAMLINING PER MYTH TO POINT WHERE YOU'RE OVERRULING WAY COUNTIES DO IT.

>> HAPPY, HOUSE PASSED SHOT CLOCK BILL JUST RECENTLY COUNTIES HAVE 60 DAYS TO APPROVE A PERMIT.

NOT STUCK E'O STUCK IN MAJOR BBACKLOG GOES INTO EFFECT JULY OF THIS YEAR.

ONE STORYCY WANTED TO ENCLOSE MY CARPORT TO BE A GARAGE.

TIKTOK TOOK ME YEAR-AND-A-HALF TO GET A PERMIT.

>>Daryl: WASN'T MILL LILIUOKALANI A SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

>> NO.

MILILANIEL APPROVED.

IF YOU BEAT MTA TAKE A LONG TIME.

>>Daryl: LONG TIME ASSOCIATION I LOVE YOU MTA THAT PLUG THERE.

AGAINER ENTIRE, HOUSE, ENTIRE R TIRE LEGISLATION RECOGNIZED STREAMLINING THAT PROCESS REALLY IMPORTANT.

SO I'M GLAD WE PASSED THAT SHOT CLOCK.

SEE THAT THAT WORKS.

WHEN IT GOES INTO EFFECT IN JULY.

I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR HOUSING CHAIR HAS BEEN REALLY FOCUSED ON.

AND I'M HOPING IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>>Daryl: DO YOU W WANT TO ADD ANYTHING.

>> NO.

>>Daryl: COUPLE OF THESE THINGS ARE THE REFLEXES OF THE NATIONALEL STORIES OUT THERE.

REFLECTIONS.

I PROBABLY SHOULD ASK ONE OF THE A A TIME.

ONE ABOUT IMMIGRATION.

QUESTION IS WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHT RRS, THIS IS ANTSTEPHENIMMIGRATION ISSUESER PROTECTING LANGUAGE ACCESS.

SENATOR HOW IS THE ISSUE OF IMMIGRATION, CRACKED DOWN IMMIGRATION, HOW IS IT IN THE LEGISLATURE?

LAST YEAR, THERE WERE A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

BUT WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE LEGISLATURE IN DEALING WITH CAN IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWNS?

>> I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS INCREDIBLY DISTURBING TO SEE THE EIS I.C.E.

IN INVASION, MINNEAPOLIS, 2,000 AGENTS LOOKING FOR IMMIGRANT IT'S THEN SHOOTING HAPPENED.

AND THEN ADDED ANOTHER 800 TO CIVIL UNREST.

WHY DO YOU HAVE IMMIGRATION AGENTS TRY TO CALDWELL CIVIL UNREST IN TACTICAL GEAR WITH ASSRIFLES LOTS OF PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT BEING PUT FORWARD RIGHT NOW TO ASSERT THE STATE'S SOVEREIGN FORT AUTHORITY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

>>Daryl: HOW DOES THAT WORK?

, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> WELL, WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.

BUT THE 10TH AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES SAYS THAT ALL POWER IS NOT ENUMERATED IN THE CONSTITUTION TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BELONG IN THE STATES.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE IMMIGRATION AGENTS DOING CROWD CONTROL, THAT'S IS NOT FEDERAL FUNCTION.

HAVING A NATIONALIZED POLICE FORCE, LAST YEAR, BIG THYME OF LAST YEAR WAS TRYING TO RESPOND TO THE DISRUPTION IN GOAJ.

WHICH SAVED COUNTRY ABOUT $150 MILLION.

DOGE AND THEN WITH THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL PASS TH, $150 MILLION WAS ALLOCATED TO PUMP UP THIS YOU I.C.E.

POLICE FORCE.

SO I WAS VERY DISTURBED TO SEE I.C.E.

AGENTS KICK DOWN DOORS ON MAUI AND ZIP TIE TEACHERS.

TO TRY TO CHECK THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS INCLUDING U.S.

RESIDENTS.

SO THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS STATE OF HAWAII CAN ASSERT ITS PREROGATIVE IN THE SPACE.

TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN CONTROL OF NATIONAL GUARD.

TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLICE ARE POLICING COMMUNITIES.

AND OUR TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

RATHER THAN KICKING DOWN DOORS AND ARRESTING COFFEE FARMERS.

I HAVEN'T SEEN A GAMBLING HOUSE RAIDED BY I.C.E.

AGENT YET.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE WELCOMED IN A LOT OF COMMUNITIES.

STATE CAN TAKE ITS OWN PLACE RIGHTFULLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY IN THIS SPACE.

>>Daryl: DO YOU WANT IT RESPOND TO THAT?

>> YEAH.

I AGREE WITH HIM.

WE SHOULD BEEL RAIDING GAMBLING HOUSE A LOT OF THOSE GUYS ARE DEFINITELY.

>>Daryl: WASN'T THE QUESTION.

>> BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE YOU HAD SHOUGH HAVE A DIFFERENT PROCESS IN DOING THEM.

WE SHOULD HAVE HAWAII IS DIFFERENTLY.

HAWAII IS DIFFERENT IN THE CONTINENT.

I.C.E.

AGES COMING OVER HERE AND DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND TRY TO DO THE SAME THING THEY'RE DOING IN THE CON NEFNT, I WHOLE DIFFERENT PROCESS.

WE SHOULD POLICE OUR OWN PEOPLE.

BY DOING THEM THAT WAY, LIKE HOW SENATOR IS SAYING I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.

BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY'RE GOING FROM WHAT SUPPOSED TO BE DOING, IN REGULATING AND LOOKING FOR THEM, AND TO KNOCKING DOWN DOORS, CROWD CONTROL, AND VIOLENCE IS GEONLYGOING TO BRING VIOLENCE.

NO MATTER HOW YOU JUSTIFY VIOLENCE STILL BEING VIOLENT.

>>Daryl: BACK TOO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

WHEN YOU SAY WE SHOULD POLICE THIS OURSELVES, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT POLICING IMMIGRATION BY STATE LAW OR SOMETHING OAHU LIKE.>>Chair Waters: >> RIGHT NOW, IF KNOW KNOW WHERE THE PEOPLE STAY, WE GO AND WE HAVE A GUESS STATE POLICE OR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE STATE, WORK WITH THE AGENCY.

RIGHT NOW, I.C.E.

AGENT IS NOT WORKING WITH ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THEY DON'T GIVE NO LAW ENFORCEMENT ANY HEADS UP.

WE'RE GOING TO GO MAUI.

KICK DOWN THIS DOOR.

TELL MAUI POLICE.

DON'T DO NONE OF THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DON'T HAVE INTEGRATION WORKING WITH EACH OTHER.

THEY SHOULD HAVE.

>>Daryl: LET ME GIVE LAUREN MATSUMOTO A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THIS ISSUE.

>> I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT IT A LOT.

LOOK AT IMMIGRATION, FEDERAL ISSUE I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THE ISSUES WE CAN HANDLE IN THE STATE.

BUT MOST OF THEM ARE DONE FEDERALLY.

AND SO IT'S REALLY GOING TO DEPEND AS WE GO FORWARD.

I THINK THERE IS HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT MEETING WITH THEM GOING, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THE WORK THEY DO AND THE MISSION THAT THEY HAVE.

AND THE MISSION THAT I.C.E.

HAS.

AGAIN, IT'S DIFFERENT JURISDICTION.

AND REALLY IN MY MIND, A FEDERAL ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE HANDLED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>>Daryl: YOU'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING IN HAWAII?

>> I THINK EVERYBODY IS AWESOME WORRIED AND THERE ARE ALWAYS WORRIED THERE ARE PEOPLE.

ONE OF THE MISS HAWAII'S THAT I KNOW UNFORTUNATELY HER HUSBAND WAS DEPORT THE.

I THINK TRANSPARENCY IS IMPORTANT PIECE.

TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS.

BUT MY HOPE IS THAT LIKE YOU SAID, HAWAII IS DIFFERENT.

WE DON'T END UP LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER STATES THAT WE SEE ON TV.

>>Daryl: LAST QUESTION.

ON THIS ISSUE.

REPRESENTATIVE ICHIYAMA, WHAT DO YOU THINK LEGISLATIVE ROLE IS IN DEALING WITH THE NATIONAL IMMIGRATION ISSUE AND HOW IT PLAYS OUT HERE?

>> I WOULD ECHO REP MATSUMOTO SENTIMENT.

DIFFICULT BOTS THERE'S FEDERAL WILL YOU BECAUSE FEDERAL LAW.

PRPREPREEMPTION STATES WE'RE LIMITED.

ONE ROLE PLAY IN THE PAST AND HELPFUL IN THE FUTURE HELPING LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS ON THE GROUND.

WHETHER THAT IS U.H.

LAW SCHOOL, OR THROUGH LEGAL AID.

TO MAKE SURE THAT NO MATTER WHAT IS HAPPENING, THAT PEOPLE ARE GIVING THEIR DUE PROCESS.

THAT THEY'RE GIVEN ACCESS TO FULLY LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND THEIR RIGHTS TO PROTECTED BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR RIGHTS ARE, WHAT THE PROCESS SHOULD BE.

HAVING THAT LEGAL ADVICE AND HELP IS SOMETHING I THINK THAT THE LEGISLATURE CAN HELP STEP IN AND PROVIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>>Daryl: THIS QUESTION OPENS DOOR TO A BROADER PUBLIC HEALTH KIND OF ISSUE.

ROBERT KENNEDY JUNIOR ROLLED VACCINES, WHOLE A LOT OF DISRUPTION IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM.

TAKING PLACE.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THE QUESTION FROM SUZANNE IN KAUAI, WHAT IS YOUR VIEW FROM MANDATED VACCINES FOR OUR CHILDREN TO ATTEND SCHOOL?

PROPOSED BY GOVERNOR GREEN.

IWHAT WAS THE OUTCOME OF THE VACCINATION DEBATE LAST YEAR.

>> IT DID DID NOT PASS.

>>Daryl: THAT'S WHAT I WAS WONDERING ABOUT.

WHERE ARE WE, WE ARE GOING TO BE ASKED LEGISLATORS WILL BE ASKED TO BACKFILL VACCINE PROGRAMS OR SUPPORT MANDATORY VACCINATIONS THAT.

>> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

>>Daryl: THAT'S NOT OUT THERE?

>> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

>>Daryl: THERE'S A LOT TO THAT.

I THINK THE SHORT ANSWER IS WE SHOULD FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF OUR MEDICAL EXPERTS.

THAT'S WHAT WE DID DO YOU DURINE PANDEMIC WE NEEDED TO KIMO PEOPLE SAFE.

WE HAD THE LOWEST INCIDENCE OF DEATH IN THE COUNTRY.

BY A LONG SHOT.

KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

WE SHOULD FOLLOW OUR MEDICAL EXPERTS LOCALLY IS WHAT I'LL SAY WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINATIONS.

BUT I DO SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR'S EFFORT TO JOIN WESTERN HEALTH ALLIANCE.

SO THAT WE HAVE SCIENCE FORMING BASIS OF OUR HEALTH CARE DECISIONS.

THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE DISPUTES IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT PERSONAL CHOICE.

I RESPECT THAT.

THE BILL DID NOT PASS.

WHICH WAS GOING TO PROPOSED TO ELIMINATED SOME OF THEEL EXEMPTIONS IN THE VACCINE SCHEDULE FOR.

>>Daryl: TO MAKE IT HARD TO AVOID A VACCINE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND SO YOU KNOW THOSE PROPOSALS DIDN'T PASS.

WE LRNL A LOT OF LESSONS DURING THE PANDEMIC ANOTHER PERSONALLY I HATE TELLING PEOPLE YOU HAVE TO DO THIS, OR YOU HAVE TO DO THAT, WE'RE ISLAND STATE.

SO WE NEED TO BE EXTRA VIGILANT LAST IN LINE FOR SUPPLIES AND THINGS IF THERE'S A WORLDWIDE EMERGENCY HEALTHLET THE HEALTH CARE PRACTICE AND SCIENCE LEAD THE WAY.

WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH CARE DECISIONS.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS HAPPENING FEDERALLY.

AND SO I SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR'S EFFORT TO JOIN STATES THAT ARE WILLING TO TAKE THE LEAD IN THE ABSENCE OF GOOD DATA AND SCIENCE.

AND THEN WE CAN VALIDATE THAT AFFIRM THAT THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WILL BE PURSUING.

>>Daryl: DO EITHER OF YOU REPUBLICANS WANTS TO RESPOND TO THIS ISSUE ABOUT WHETHER THE ADMINISTRATION IS NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION IS PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK WITH HEALTH POLICIES.

>> I THINK WE SAW LAST SESSION, OVER 2,000 PEOPLE CAME OUT, WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE TAKING AWAY EXEMPTIONS WE HEARD VERY LOUD AND CLEAR FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WAS SOMETHING THEY WEREN'T HAPPY ABOUT.

BUT ONE OF THINGS THAT I DO ENJOY THAT IS COMING OUT OF THE ADMINISTRATION IS FOCUS ON WHOLE FOODS.

NUTRITION, AND GETTING IT PHYSICAL DISTANCE FITNESS.

BACK IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

PHYSICAL FITNESS.

>>Daryl: FRESH EGGS.

BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHEN I W WENT TO SCHOOL, PE WAS SOMETHING YOU DID EVERY WEEK.

MY BROTHER WAS PE TEACHER AT ONE OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS PART-TIME AND WE ONLY SEE STUDENTS TWO TIMES IN ONE QUARTER.

THAT'S ALMOST NOTHING.

SO I DO THINK I LIKE THAT EMPHASIS ON GOING BACK TO WHOLE FOODS, FROM OUR FARMERS.

>> FOCUSING ON PHYSICAL FITNESS SO WE CAN BE HEALTHIER.

HIGHEST OBESITY RATE OF ALL DEVELOPED NATIONS WE NEED TO WORK ON THAT.

>>Daryl: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT IS GOING TO COME TO THE LEGISLATURE, I DON'T KNOW WHO IS GOING TO INTREE DOS DEUCE IT PROPOSAL OUT OF STATE ELECTION COMMISSION DO AWAY WITH EASY MAIL-IN VOTING.

INTARO DININTRODUCTION, 2024 ELN HUNDREDS WAITING LONG INTO THE NIGHT TO CAST VOTES.

REMEDIES ISSUES ALIKE THIS INCREASE VOTING SUPPORT OF EARLIER VOTING.

WHERE DO YOU SEE US GOING WITH THAT?

ISSUE?

IS THAT GOING TO GET ANY TRACTION.

>>Daryl: DO YOU THINK THAT, THERE'S ANY INTEREST AT THE LEGISLATURE IN REDUCE AMOUNT OF MAIL-IN VOTING LIKE THE ELECTION COMMISSION.

>> I LIKE MAILING VOTING BECAUSE GIVES ME COMMUNITY AGING OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR VOTE.

PROBLEM IS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH AREAS.

WE NEED TO INCREASE AREAS.

>>Daryl: LOCATION VOTING.

>> TO HAVE ACCESSIBILITY.

IF PEOPLE WANT TO DO WALK IN VOTING, THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DO IT.

I WASN'T SUPPORTING FOR THE WHOLE ALIEN VOALGT.

BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE VERY TRADITIONAL.

ALIEN VOTING.

LIKE TO DO THAT FAMILY THING FOR THEM.

FOR THE AGING COMMUNITY, AND PEOPLE IS DISABILITY.

GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR PANELA.

OPINION.>> GREAT DO TO DO WITH G BALLOTS BECAUSE WE HAD A BILLING BACK UP AT KAPOLEI, BIG BACK UP IN KAPOLEI.

SEEN PEOPLE IN FOUR.

>> SOME DOESN'T GET TO VOTE.

TRAGEDY.

ACCESSIBLE MORE AREAS FOR PEOPLE TO HAWAII TO BE ABLE TO VOTE IN IF HE WANT TO VOTE IN PERSON.

>> WE'RE NOT GETTING RID OF MAIL-IN VOTING I THINK SHENANIGANS TAKES PLACE OF OFFICE OF LENGTHENSES THEY'RE NOT BASED IN FACT.

ELECTIONS, THEY'RE BASED OFF THIS PERSISTENT LIE THAT, THE ELECTION WAS RIGGED BECAUSE ONE PERSON DIDN'T LIKE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO ADMIT THEY LOST IN ELECTION.

FEDERAL LEVEL.

MAIL IN VOTING IS BROADLY POPULAR.

I THINK IT IS I THINK PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO RUN ON PROMISE TO GET RID OF MAIL-IN VOTING WILL NOT FIND A LOT OF VOTES IN THEIR FAVOR.

NEED TO INCREASE ACCESS TO EARLY VOTING GIVING PEOPLE MORE ABOUT CHOICE TO VOTE THE WAY THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE.

ADDRESS LONG LINES ON ELECTION DAY.

WANT TO SHOW UP IN PERSON WANT TO HOLD A BALLOT PUT IN THE BOX THEMSELVES FINE.

EXPAND THAT OWMPLET NOT GETTING RID OF MAIL-IN VOTING.

>> FOR FOR POUR THAT INTRODUCING BILL VOTING CENTERS FOR EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT.

NO THE NONCOMPENSATED GOT BAG TO HUNDREDS OF, DID NOT GOING BACK TO UNHAS OF POLLING PLACES BEING ABLE TO HAVE ONE FOR EVERY COUNCIL DISTRICT.

THAT WOULD BE NINE ON OAHU.

WE SAW VERY CLEAR FOR THE LAST TWO ELECTION TRIED TO SAY EVERYBODY DO MAIL-IN VOTING AND WITH PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE, ELECTION IS NOT BEING CALLED UNTIL WE WEE HOURS VERY IMPORTANT.

>>Daryl: THAT WOULD BE LIKE NINE ON EVERY COUNTY WORK OUT.

OKAY.

COUPLE OF PERENNIALS.

GAMBLING ANY FORM ON THE TABLE AS A REVENUE GENERATOR THIS YEAR.

>> COULD THAT HELP COVER SOME OF THE LOSSES OF FEDERAL FUNDS.

MIKE IN MAKIKI.

SENATOR PROMOTED.

YOU REPRESENTATIVE MATSUMOTO.

ICHIYAMA.

GETTING TIRED.

>> NO WORRIES.

>>Daryl: BEEN A LONG DAY.

DO YOU SEE GAMBLING?

I MEAN, EVEN PARTICULARLY IN HAWAIIAN COMMUNITY.

STILL IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER REQUEST.

I WOULD EXPECT TO HAVE A CASINO AND FOR NATIVE HAWAIIAN REVENUE.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IT DISCUSSION TO CONTINUE.

AND I THINK LAST YEAR, WE SAW THAT ONLINE SPORTS BETTING MOVE IS FAR AS EVER MOVED IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT CAREFULLY.

I DON'T KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE SILVER BULLET TO CURE A BUDGET WOES.

SOME OF THE ESTIMATES FOR SPORTS BEDDING IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 15 TO $20 MILLION SPORT SPORTS BETTING.

NOT GOING TO FILL THE GAP WE HAVE TO FILL THIS COMING SESSION I DON'T THINK WE LOOK AT IT REVENUE MEASURE.

IMPORTANT DISCUSSION TO HAVE BECAUSE OF THE GAMBLING SPORTS BETTING ALREADY TAKING PLACE, HIN HAWAII AND FACT THAT WE ARE NOT CAPTURING ANY OF THAT REVENUE.

IT ALL GOES TO THE MAINLAND.

OR OVERSEAS.

SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE IT WILL WIND UP THIS LEGISLATURE, PROBABLY BE UP FOR DISCUSSION.

>> I WOULDN'T BET ON IT.

WERE YOU WAITING FOR THAT.

>>Chair Waters: SENATOR FEVELLA?

>> YES, THERE'S NO REGULATION.

SPORTS, HARD TO REGULATE.

ETHIOPIAN PRIGHTNEW OUR COMMUNIY DON'T HAVE THIS MUCH IN EWA BEACH.

ILLEGAL GAMBLING ESTABLISHMENTS AROUND TOWN.

ONLY ATTRACT NEGATIVE THINGS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW THAT DO SPORTS BAILING LOSING THEIR MARRIAGE.

LOSING THEIR HOUSE.

LOSING THEIR JOB.

BECAUSE THERE IS ADDICTION TO THAT.

BECAUSE IT'S SO ACCESSIBLE.

WE SHOULD DO IS REGULATE IT.

EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY REVENUE, WE SHOULD REGULATE IT BECAUSE WHY?

WE'RE AN ISLAND.

REGULATE IT BUT A ALLOW IT.

>> THAT'S THE THING.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO REGULATE AND ALLOW IT IF THERE IS NO PARAMETERS FOR SAFETY SYSTEMS IN THAT AREA NOT GOING TO GAMBLE WHOLE HOUSE AWAY AND FAMILY NOT GOING TO LOSE THEIR HOUSE.

NOT GOING TO LOSE YOUR WIFE.

CHILDREN NOT GOING ON THE STREET HOMELESS.

WHERE ARE THOSE PARAMETERS?

THERE AIN'T.

IF TELL YOU RIGHT NOW REGULATE ANY KIND OF NETWORKING COMING INTO HAWAII WE CAN.

ERING HAS TO COME THROUGH THE INTERNET.

WE CAN REGULATE TO SPECTRUM OR THROUGH ANY CABLE COMPANY AN REGULATE THEM.

AND THROUGH REGULATION, SPECTRUM OKAY.

WE DO THIS.

HAS TO HAVE A PARAMETER.

SOMEBODY CANNOT BET 100,000.

>>Daryl: KEEP MOVE BEING.

>> THANKS.

>>Daryl:-KEEP MOVING.

>>Daryl: YOUR CAUCUS BEEN SPHED FAST AGAINST GAMBLING, RIGHT.

>> YEAH.

ONE OF THOSE THINGS MADE IT CONFERENCE THIS YEAR.

SAT ON THAT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

FARTHEST IRISH EVER SEEN IT GO.

A LOT OF CONCERNS I HAVE HEARD THAT IS JUST THE FIRST STEP.

TO THEN OPEN THE DOOR TO MORE TYPES OF GAMBLING, TURNING WAIKIKI INTO NEXT LAS VEGAS P OF A THINK VAST MAJORITY OF US DO NONETHELESS NOT WANT A LOT OF CONCERN.

>>Daryl: NEXT PERENNIAL, REPORT PRESIDENT MAY LOWER STATUS OF MARIJUANA.

MAKE IT LESS SERIOUS DRUG.

IT CHANGE REGULATION AROUND DID NOT SURE HAPPENED YET OR YET AT ALL.

IF TRUE, WOULD THAT MAKE IT YEARS TO IT REALLY LIES YEARS TO LEGALIZE REACT LEGAL RL MARILYN.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

-- REGULATE MARIJUANA, TRIED YEAR AFTER YEAR TO GET THAT DONE GAMBLING COMINGS UP EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

PUTTING NAY BILL CHANGED MY MIND ON THIS.

AFTER SEEING THE COMMUNITY COME OUT AND REALLY FIGHT EACH OTHER ON SOME OF THESE CULTURAL ISSUES I THINK GAMBLING AND CANNABIS ARE MORE CULTURAL ISSUES THAN THEY ARE ABOUT POLICY BECAUSE THERE ARE VALID REASONS TO SUPPORT AND OPPOSE ON IT.

ON THE TWO ON BOTH SIDES.

I THINK SHOULD HAVE INITIATIVE PUT TN ON THE BALLOT.

PUTTING IT WILL OUT LEGISLATION THIS YEAR TO DO THIS.

BECAUSE I THINK ARE ON THOSE TWO QUESTIONS IN PARTICULAR R YOU NEVER GET LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT AND IT'S BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY RALLIES AROUND THE ISSUE.

AND IT GETS REALLY ICKY.

MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR US TO HAVE REALLY GOOD AND MEANINGFUL POLICY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>>Daryl: LET ME ASK MORE SPES IMPLEG.

WHAT DO YOU PUT ON THE BALLOT IN THAT CASE?

SOME STATES LEGALIZED IT WITH THE BATTLE MEASURE AS OPPOSED TO, MORE NARE A THING THAT SAYS NARROW THING ALMOST LIKE A POLYNESIAN BOWL SITE AS AS OPPOSED TO PA FASTING LAW ON THE BALLOT.

>> STATE LIKE YA OKLAHOMA SPECIFIC REGIMES ON THEIR BALLOT.

DIDN'T WORK OUT WELL BECAUSE THEN WHEN IT IMMEDIATELY BECAME CLEAR, THAT YOU NEEDED TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM, THEY GOT TO PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT TOO.

I THINK YOU ASK REALLY BROAD KEAHI QUESTIONS TO GET A SENTIMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY REALLY BROAD QUESTIONS COMPELLING ELECTION RACE AND WHEN THERE ARE COMPELLING QUESTIONS TO PUT TO THE ELECTORATE YOU GET TURN OUT AND GET COMMUNITY INVOLVED.

ONE OF THE ONES I REALLY LIKE TO SEE ON THE BALLOT.

I'VE SEEN POLLS GO EITHER WAY ON SOMETHING LIKE CANNABIS.

DIDN'T HAVE SUPPORT FOR IT LAST YEAR.

SO WHAT WE TRIED TO DO WAS REFORM THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO GET MARIJUANA CARDS THAT DON'T GO TO THE DISPENSARIES.

GETTING IT FROM THE BLACK MARKET.

>>Daryl: DID I A LOT WITH THAT.

ROLLING OUT NOW.

RIGHT?

REPRESENTATIVER ICHIYAMA, WOULD THAT BE PART OF YOUR HESITATION THIS YEAR, WHEN IT COMES TO LEGAL EYEING MARIJUANA, THAT LEGALIZING MARIJUANA, WE'VE GOT THIS BIG NEW PROGRAM ROLLING OUT SEE HOW GOES FIRST.

>> I THINK SO.

DID A LOT OF REFORM FOR THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

SEEN A LOT OF CBD PRODUCTS EXPAND, THROUG THROUGH THE STATE DIDN'T HAVE THE HE REGULATORY STRUCTURE TO KEEP UP WITH IT.

YOU THIS PRODUCTS UNTESTED OR MISS LABELED OUT ON STORE SHELVES.

AND SO FROM THE CONSUMER PROTECTIONEL PER PERSPECTIVE REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET THAT INDUSTRY UNDER CONTROL AND REGULATED IT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT BEFORE WE RECALLEL BROAMP THE QUESTION OF RECREATIONAL ADULT USE CANNABIS.

BEFORE WE BROACH THE QUESTION.

>> I DON'T SUPPORT.

>>Daryl: I KNOW YOU DON'T EITHER RIGHT?

IMPORTANT QUESTION.

BECAUSE DIDN'T MEAN TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH.

TRY TO GET ALL OF THESE.

>> BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING IN.

CONSIDER LEGISLATURE DO ANYTHING TO HELP THE SURGE IN HIGHWAY DEATH ACROSS THE STATE?

SEEMS THAT THE PROGRAM, PROBLEM IS ONLY GETTING WORSE.

THE QUESTION FROM NADINE.

REPRESENTATIVE ICHIYAMA, I MEAN, THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS FLOATING AROUND LAST YEAR AND BUNCH OF THEM DIDN'T PASS.

WHERE DO YOU T THE HE FOCUS IS GOING TO BE THIS YEAR ON, HIGHWAY SAFETY?

>> I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR US TO ADDRESS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY SEEN A NUMBER OF FATALITIES MORE SO THIS YEAR THAN IN PAST YEARS.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK OF DIRECTOR ED SNIFFEN AND ONE, ROLLINGING OUT SAFE DRIVING APP.

>>Daryl: GOT BUMPS EVERYWHERE.

YES.

THAT'S TRUE.

S WILL, DASH CAMS SYSTEM.

TO HELP IMPROVE OUR STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM OVERALL.

SO I REALLY THINK IT'S A COMMUNITY EFFORT.

FOR EVERYONE TO BE SAFER DRIVES.

SLOW DOWN AND BE AWARE OF WHAT'S AROUND THEM.

>>Daryl: RED LIGHT I'M SORRY.

ER TRAFFIC, SPEED CAM RAYS, KIND OF FELL APART AT THE END FOR THE LAST SESSION.

CAMERAS.

GAPS IN LAW.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED BECAUSE THEY CAN'T USE SHERIFFS OR NONSWORN PERSONNEL TO PUT OUT THE SPEEDING TICKETS.

DO YOU SEE FIXING THAT RIGHT AWAY?

>> IT'S BEEN MY UNDERSTANDING HE RO*L THE OUT TEN SPEED.

>>Daryl: DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLEEL REVIEWING THEM, TICKETS ARE TRICKLING OUT AND THRESHOLD IS LIKE.

>> HAD TO ADDRESSES THRESHOLD.

I AGREE.

THAT'S WHY THEY DID THE PILOT PROGRAM WITH WARNINGS TO FOLKS INITIALLY.

AND VOLUME WAS MUCH MORE THAN THEY EXPECTED I AGREE SOMETHING WILL HAVE TO MONITOR CLOSELY.

>>Daryl: REPRESENTATIVE MATSUMOTO.

DO YOU FOLKS WHAT ARE YOUR GUYS IDEAS ABOUT HIGHWAY SAFETY.

I THINK REP I ICHIYAMA COVERED.

HIGH SCHOOLS PARED WITH HPD AND DOING A LOT MORE AWARENESS CAMPAIGNSES WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

IT ALWAYS HAS HAPPENED BUT I'VE SEEN REALLY BIG PUSH IN THE LAST YEAR AND THEY EVEN STARTED TO DOING IT WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS STUDENTS BECAUSE THE IDEA OF YOU TELL THE KIDS, AND THEY'LL TELL THEIR PAINTS.

NOT SUPPOSED TON YOUR PHONE WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING.

THEIR PARENTS MAKE SURE YOU IMROWRT SEAT BELT ON.

THERE'S BEEN A WONDERFUL PUSH BY HPD TO FOCUS ON THAN A THAT COMMUNITY EFFORT HAS GONE A LONG WAY.

>>Daryl: REPRESENTATIVE, SENATOR, GETTING.

>> IT'S OKAY.

>>Daryl: ANY WAY,.

>> JARRETT THAT'S FINE.

>>Daryl: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

ABOUT THE SPEED, TRAFFIC FATALITIES?

BIG DEAL ON THE WINDWARD SIDE TOO.

>> IT IS.

YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR, WHAT THE DEADLIEST YEAR WE'VE HAD IN A 20.

ANDEL IT'S THE THINGS EVERYBODY KNOWS.

SPEEDING, DISTRACTED DRIVING, DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.

YOU KNOW THE SPEED CAM RAY PROGRAM WAS INTENDED TO TRY AND HIT THE MOST DANGEROUS DANGER S SINUS INTERSECTION.

>> WE W WANT TO MAKE THAT WORK WE DON'T WANT TO HARASS THOUSAND OF PEOPLE FOR, GOING FIVE OR 7 MILES OVER.

WE WANT TO TRY ENCOURAGE PEOPPEOPLE WOULD DRIVING RECKLESSLY TO STOP DOING THAT.

AND PEOPLE SHOULDN'T GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AT ALL, TO TAKE USUAL USTAKE UBERER OR FR.

DOING OVER THE YEARS WITH TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR SNIFF TRYING TO JUST REDESIGN OUR HIGHWAYS.

THAT WERE BUILT DECADES AGO.

THAT WERE NOT MEANT TO DEAL WITH TYPE OF VOLUME, THAT WE HAVE NOW.

WITH THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY GOT A GIANT TRUCK OR SUV.

EVEN WE HAVE AN SURVEL AND A VAN.

THESE ROAD WERE MADE FOR SEDANS, TWO LINE HIGHWAYS MEANT FOR REALLY ONE CAR AT A TIME.

TO GO EXTRA FAST.

AND WE HAVE LOTS OF VOLUME AND LOTS OF SPEED.

WE GOT TO REDESIGN THINGS TO MAKE SURE WE ACCOMPLISH THAT.

>>Daryl: YOU HAVE ABOUT 20 SECOND.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT BEST WAY TO SAFE ROADS.

>> CAME BEFORE US PROGRAM SPEEDING RULING OUTEL WORKING A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE IT.

EL SNRN SAID.

SENATOR WORK IN THE AREAS YEAH EXPAND THE PROGRAM TO OTHER COMMUNITIES I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO DO A LOT MORE IN WAIKIKI AREA.

>>Daryl: YOU DO SUPPORT THE SPEED CAM RAYS.

>> I GOT A NOTICE IN THE MAIL TOO.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

>>Daryl: ON THAT NOTE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING FOR TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION.

THANK OUR GUESTS: REPRESENTATIVE LAUREN MATSUMOTO AND SENATOR JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, AND REPRESENTATIVE LINDA ICHIYAMA AND SENATOR KURT FEVELLA.

NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, RACING ON OAHU STREETS HAVE BEEN A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN FOR MANY YEARS.

WILL A PROPOSED RACE TRACK ON THE WEST SIDE SATISFY RACERS' NEED FOR SPEED?

PLEASE JOIN US THEN.

I'M DARYL HUFF FOR INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI‘I.

ALOHA.

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