Lawmakers press for audits and oversight, question housing 'ladder' initiative and emergency no‑bid contracts

A series of standing committee reports prompted floor remarks calling for increased oversight of emergency procurements, audits of housing programs and careful use of state resources.

Representative Cochran urged the legislature to pursue audits and stronger accountability, noting that emergency declarations should not become “a blank check.” Cochran referenced no‑bid contracts issued under emergency proclamations between 2020 and 2025 and said past contracts, including those tied to temporary housing after the Lahaina fire, have raised questions: “When public money flows to private vendors outside the competitive bidding process, the burden of proof falls on government to show it was spent wisely,” Cochran said.

Cochran also criticized the proposed timeline in one workforce strategy report that would delay final recommendations until 2045, calling that schedule “ridiculous” given the near‑term economic and population impacts from the Lahaina wildfire. She cited an auditor’s findings and urged follow-up by the state auditor.

On the housing ladder program, Cochran and others argued there were no clear performance metrics or timelines and warned against expanding mandates to agencies already under audit scrutiny. Cochran cited an audit warning from the state auditor that flagged nearly $1.7 million in improper or unsupported invoices tied to homelessness and housing offices and argued that directing additional collaboration or resources to an office under review would be premature.

Members supported entering comments into the record and asked for audit follow‑up. The standing committee reports were adopted, with members’ reservations noted in the record.