This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Department of Transportation and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to form a working group to coordinate infrastructure planning for Hawaiian home land developments. The working group will include representatives from both departments, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and infrastructure experts to review planned projects over a five-year period and identify areas where transportation and development work overlap. Its main tasks involve evaluating opportunities to combine construction efforts to reduce duplicate costs, establishing a process for early project notification between departments, and identifying any legal or procedural barriers to better coordination. The group must submit a final report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027 and will dissolve by June 30, 2027.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution urges the Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health to create a Mental Health Emerging Therapies Task Force to prepare Hawaii for the potential integration of breakthrough mental health treatments like MDMA-assisted therapy and psilocybin-assisted therapy. The proposed task force would include representatives from state health agencies, universities, mental health professionals, and community members with lived experience to develop a statewide implementation plan. Key responsibilities include expanding clinical trial opportunities, creating training pathways for healthcare providers, and evaluating best practices from other states to ensure safe and equitable access. The resolution does not authorize funding or change laws but serves as a non-binding recommendation to establish a planning committee that will submit findings to the Legislature by 2027.
This Senate Resolution asks Hawaii's Department of Education to work with the Department of Health to study the costs and benefits of hiring mental health professionals for every public school, with staffing ratios of one professional per 250 students or one per smaller school. The study will also examine guidelines for creating safe, quiet spaces on school campuses where students can access telehealth services during regular school hours. The resolution directs the Department of Education to complete this study and submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027. This measure is a Senate Resolution, which means it expresses the Senate's position rather than creating immediate law.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Department of the Attorney General to submit an annual report on legal cases involving Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights and the state's public trust obligations under Articles XI and XII of the Hawaii State Constitution. The resolution cites numerous court decisions where state agencies were found to have failed in their constitutional duties to protect Native Hawaiian rights and public trust resources. The request aims to create a systematic record of litigation related to these specific constitutional provisions without mandating any policy changes or requiring specific outcomes from the reported cases.
This bill is a concurrent resolution that asks the next Hawaii Legislature to remove the "with reservations" voting option from its internal rules. Currently, Hawaii is the only state where legislators can formally vote this way, which counts as a favorable vote but allows members to express partial disagreement. The resolution requests that future rules require legislators to choose only between "aye" or "no" votes on measures. This change would affect all members of the Hawaii State Senate and House of Representatives in the Thirty-Fourth Legislature and subsequent sessions. The bill does not alter how legislation is passed, only how individual votes are recorded and counted.
This Senate Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance to study whether the state should create a sovereign wealth fund, which is an investment account designed to generate long-term financial returns for residents. The proposed fund would invest state assets such as tourism revenues, budget surpluses, and legal settlements outside the regular annual budget to build fiscal stability and support future generations. If the study finds it feasible, the report would include recommendations for potential legislation to establish the fund and distribute some investment earnings directly to qualified residents. This resolution does not create the fund itself but initiates a formal review of its practicality and benefits for the state.
This Senate Resolution requests the City and County of Honolulu to conduct a study on the financial and policy effects of the tax exemption for active-duty military personnel's vehicles. The study will examine how many military vehicles qualify for the exemption, calculate the lost tax revenue over the past five years, and project future impacts on road maintenance funding. It will also assess administrative costs and identify any federal legal restrictions that might affect the county's ability to change the policy. The findings are intended to help officials understand the current tax treatment of military vehicles and inform future decisions about infrastructure funding.
This Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Health to create a working group to study accessibility barriers in multi-family housing managed by condominium and planned community associations, which often fall outside federal Fair Housing Act protections. The study will examine disputes between residents and associations over accessibility modifications, assess how current laws address reasonable accommodations, and evaluate potential state funding options to help offset the costs of necessary upgrades. The working group will include representatives from disability rights organizations, aging services, civil rights agencies, and housing associations, and must submit a report with findings and legislative recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027. This initiative aims to gather data on how accessibility gaps affect residents' ability to age in place and identify practical solutions for improving housing accessibility in Hawaii.
This bill encourages the Hawaii Department of Education to offer a basic swimming course at either the primary or secondary education level. It directly affects students, parents, and the state education system by recommending the addition of water safety training to the curriculum. The resolution is based on concerns about Hawaii's high drowning rates and aims to provide equitable access to swimming skills for all children. It does not mandate the program but rather serves as an official recommendation to state education officials.
This Senate resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement to work together to create a state highway police force. The bill aims to improve road safety by adding a specialized enforcement unit that would supplement existing county police efforts. If established, this force would be trained to handle highway incidents, clear crash scenes quickly, and enforce traffic laws more effectively. The resolution directs these two state agencies to collaborate on the initiative, though it does not mandate funding or specific operational details.
This Senate Resolution asks Hawaii's Department of Education to develop a plan for removing processed meats from school meals by 2032 or replacing them with healthier, minimally processed alternatives. The bill directs the department to inventory current menus, create a timeline for the transition, establish nutritional standards for replacement foods, and estimate the costs involved. It also requires the department to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 session. The measure directly affects school food service providers and students by aiming to reduce exposure to carcinogens linked to processed meats like hot dogs and bacon.
This Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Health to conduct a study on the accuracy and clarity of recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable product labeling within the state. The study will examine whether current labels and symbols, such as the chasing arrows triangle, match actual recycling and composting capabilities in Hawaii, and will assess how misleading claims affect consumer decisions and waste management. Key provisions include evaluating specific product types, analyzing differences between home and industrial composting standards, identifying common contaminants caused by unclear labeling, and reviewing existing federal and state guidelines. The Department of Health is required to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 session, potentially including proposed legislation to improve labeling standards.
