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House advances slate of committee reports; members voice reservations on several measures
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Summary
The House took voice votes to advance a large slate of standing committee reports; members registered multiple 'no' votes and 'reservations' on particular reports and debated a proposal to restrict refuse collection hours amid safety and implementation concerns.
The Hawaii House of Representatives advanced numerous standing committee reports by voice vote during its floor session. Members repeatedly entered "no vote" or "reservations" on specific reports while the broader slate was carried by voice vote.
Representative Kahalua moved to adopt standing committee reports listed as 1398-26 through 1432-26 (as read on the floor) and other reports; the chair put the motion and members responded in a voice vote that the chair declared carried. Multiple members recorded "no vote" or expressed reservations on individual reports during the floor consideration.
Representative Moraoka spoke against a measure that would limit refuse collection to certain hours on privately owned vehicles, saying the proposed restriction could worsen public safety rather than improve it. He stated: "Right now, it's just a noise nuisance. What happens during the day when people are going to school, dropping their kids off at school, and you got some big rubbish truck reversing out in the street? It goes from noise nuisance to now a traffic, potentially a fatality when some child runs behind this vehicle." Moraoka said early-morning pickup schedules currently reduce traffic and pedestrian interactions.
Representative Shimizu registered reservations on several reports and noted concern about extensive opposition in testimony: "...opposition from 16 different departments and entities," and said she was unsure about the logistics of implementing the bill. Representative Cochran said she strongly supported a particular bill discussed in committee and was surprised departments did not already maintain the requested records.
Representative Takayama asked the chair for a ruling on a potential conflict of interest because an adult daughter works as an associate public defender; the chair ruled there was no conflict, stating that the daughter is a member of a broad class and the ruling would apply to the measure unless circumstances change.
The House also heard an announcement from Representative Garrett that the Higher Education Committee will hold a public hearing on Senate Bill 2602 (SD1) relating to the general fund on March 25 at 2:15 p.m. in Conference Room 309. The session concluded with a motion to adjourn; the House adjourned until 12:00 noon Monday.
