Senate Commerce Committee advances wide slate of House bills; splits on sports-wagering measure

The Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection advanced a broad package of House measures on April 2, 2025, approving committee recommendations on bills addressing health care, education funding, licensing and taxation while narrowly passing House Bill 1308, a measure to regulate sports wagering.

The committee adopted recommendations on scores of bills, most with no substantive floor debate, and in many cases instructed that committee reports reflect requested appropriations or agency amendments. The measures include amendments requested by advocacy groups and state departments and several appropriation items; the committee recorded limited recorded dissent on a small number of measures.

Among the items the committee passed with amendments or instructions to include agency language were HB 700 (inserting clarifying language relating to dementia data collection and standardized cognitive assessments per Alzheimer’s Association testimony), HB 242 (moved reporting deadline from 2026 to 2027 per Department of Health testimony), HB 303 (adopting technical changes and a clarified definition of a nationally accredited pharmacy residency program per the Hawaii Pharmacists Association), and HB 1179 (adopting Department of Human Services amendments relating to the Med-QUEST Division on page 9). The committee also approved HB 1293 with budget language: it inserted a $250,000 cap and a $20,000,000 general-revenue appropriation in fiscal 2026 for Department of Education food services; the committee noted requested procurement posting amendments from the State Procurement Office.

The most heavily discussed bill was HB 1308, the sports-wagering measure. The committee adopted multiple substantive changes: relocating the primary regulating agency from DBEDT to the Department of Law Enforcement, assigning enforcement of the general excise tax on sports wagering to the Department of Taxation (DOTAX), adding a prohibition on sports wagering at youth sports events as defined in the bill, and inserting multiple funding and fine amounts (including $250,000 and various smaller funds and fines) and an effective date of July 1, 2025. The transcript records some senators expressing concerns about social impacts and regulatory costs; those concerns were recorded in discussion but not attributed to a named speaker in the transcript.

The committee recorded roll-call detail for HB 1308 showing mixed votes: the chair voted aye and the vice chair voted no; several senators were recorded voting aye, no, or “with reservations” (the transcript records “reservations” for some members). The motion was adopted.

Votes at a glance (selection of measures from the hearing): - HB 496 — Recommendation: pass with amendments (defecting the date to 02/19/50). Recommendation adopted. - HB 700 — Pass with amendments adopting Alzheimer’s Association language (dementia data collection, standardized assessments). Recommendation adopted. - HB 1316 — Pass unamended. Recommendation adopted. - HB 139 (HD2, SD1) — Pass unamended (insurance-related). Recommendation adopted. - HB 250 (HD2, SD1) — Pass with amendments (added objective on treatments for chronic conditions; clarified purpose of automating determinations to decrease delays in care). Recommendation adopted. - HB 303 (HD2, SD1) — Pass with amendments (Hawaii Pharmacists Association technical amendments). Recommendation adopted. - HB 480 (HD1, SD1) — Pass unamended (workers’ compensation). Recommendation adopted. - HB 918 (HD2, SD1) — Pass unamended (labeling). The committee recorded one no vote by Senator LeBlanc; recommendation otherwise adopted. - HB 1179 (HD1, SD1) — Pass with amendments adopting Department of Human Services changes relating to Med-QUEST. Recommendation adopted. - HB 86, HB 110, HB 133, HB 202, HB 212, HB 242, HB 286, HB 395, HB 399, HB 401, HB 442, HB 474, HB 549, HB 563, HB 613, HB 620, HB 650, HB 705, HB 718, HB 773, HB 778, HB 782, HB 784, HB 862, HB 879, HB 939, HB 943, HB 960, HB 961, HB 969, HB 8984, HB 1079, HB 1137, HB 1153, HB 1156, HB 1164, HB 1167, HB 1168, HB 1170, HB 1171, HB 1220, HB 1293, HB 1294, HB 1320, HB 1370, HB 1424, HB 1427, HB 1477, HB 1494 — Committee recommendations adopted as noted on the record (many passed unamended; several passed with amendments or appropriation language reflected in the committee report as stated during the hearing).

The committee repeatedly instructed that committee reports reflect agency-requested appropriation amounts or technical language when noted on the record. For measures where a specific appropriation or proviso was mentioned (for example HB 1293 and HB 1308), the hearing record indicates the amounts or provisos to be inserted; those details are recorded in the committee audio/transcript and will appear in the committee reports.

The committee closed the hearing after adopting the recommendations; the transcript records that members were polled for reservations or objections in each committee present roll call, and the committee chair announced the adoption of the recommendations. The transcript does not include floor scheduling details beyond the repeated note that committee reports would reflect the adopted language.