This bill requests the City and County of Honolulu and the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to create a coordinated strategic action plan for addressing behavioral health and homelessness on the Waianae Coast. The plan would analyze emergency response times, hospital utilization, and current shelter capacity to identify service gaps and high-need areas in the region. It also requires the agencies to evaluate how well outreach teams, behavioral health providers, and first responders work together and to explore options for establishing a regional crisis stabilization center. The agencies must include community-based service providers in the planning process and submit their findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 session.
This bill asks the Disability and Communication Access Board in Hawaii to study how deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind individuals communicate in healthcare settings. The study will examine the availability of interpreters, patient preferences for communication methods, special needs of hospitalized patients, and legal requirements for healthcare providers. Based on the findings, the Board will update existing guidance to better address these communication needs and submit a report to the Legislature by early 2027.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the University of Hawaii to create a specific language pathway focused on the Niihau dialect of Hawaiian. The bill recognizes that the Niihau dialect is distinct from standard Hawaiian due to its isolation and continued use as a primary language by the community. It aims to address concerns that external language revitalization efforts may inadvertently dilute this unique dialect by formally acknowledging its preservation needs within higher education. The resolution directs the university system to consider this request while noting that state agencies already support Niihau speakers through interpreter services.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution nominates John D. Waiheʻe III for induction into the Aloha Order of Merit, a state honor established in 1993 to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to Hawaii. The resolution cites his historic achievements as the first Native Hawaiian governor of any U.S. state and highlights his long-term service in roles including chairing the Democratic Governors Association and the Education Commission of the States. By formally nominating him, the Legislature initiates the process for his recognition under Hawaii Revised Statutes section 5-7.6, which requires nominees to have achieved national or international recognition and demonstrated extraordinary service to the state.
This bill requests the Hawaii Department of Transportation to fix and update its administrative rules for the Driver Education Program based on recommendations from a state auditor's report. The auditor found that the department has not certified any driver education curricula for over twenty years and lacks proper oversight and clear policies for instructor certification. As a result, the bill asks the department to establish curriculum task forces, certify required materials, and create consistent procedures for instructor training and renewal. The department must also submit a report on its progress and updated rules to the legislature by the start of the 2027 session.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Education to add tax instruction to the state's financial literacy graduation requirement for public school students. The bill recommends that tax education cover practical topics such as completing a 1040 tax form, understanding W-4 forms, payroll deductions, and federal versus state income taxes. While the resolution does not mandate changes, it formally requests that the Department of Education incorporate tax literacy as a major topic area alongside existing financial education standards. The measure is intended to ensure students gain comprehensive knowledge about personal finances, including tax responsibilities, before graduating from high school.
This bill establishes a joint legislative working group to study and design a statewide mattress stewardship program in Hawaii. The group will include government officials, elected representatives, county mayors, and industry stakeholders such as manufacturers, retailers, and recyclers. Its main task is to evaluate how to manage discarded mattresses responsibly by considering collection systems, recycling options, funding methods, and consumer protections. The working group must submit its findings and recommendations, including any proposed laws, to the legislature by the end of 2026. This initiative aims to address environmental concerns related to mattress disposal without creating the program itself.
This House Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to conduct an independent, comprehensive analysis of energy options that could reduce costs and financial risks for residents while meeting the state's renewable energy goals. The bill asks the commission to evaluate various strategies, including renewable energy and storage technologies, through 2055 and consider long-term impacts beyond the 2045 renewable energy deadline. The resolution directs the commission to engage external experts to ensure the analysis is objective and thoroughly examines different pathways for energy generation and storage. This measure focuses on informing future state and utility planning decisions rather than mandating specific actions or outcomes.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution expresses support for using the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund to provide interim loans for predevelopment costs on government affordable housing projects across Hawaii. The measure aims to help cover expenses like site analysis, technical studies, design work, environmental assessments, and permit preparation that occur before construction begins. Unlike previous practice, this resolution encourages extending such funding to projects owned or administered by entities other than the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. The resolution also specifies that these interim loans would be repaid by developers through the project's permanent financing source.
This bill requests the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to provide a written status update on the implementation of the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, an independent oversight body established in 2012 to manage electric system reliability and interconnection processes. The resolution asks the Commission to detail which specific functions of the Administrator have been implemented, explain any delays in full implementation, and offer a forecast timeline for completion. The bill directs the Commission to submit this report to the Legislature within 20 days before the start of the 2027 Regular Session and copies to several state officials. This procedural measure aims to increase transparency regarding the progress of implementing reliability standards and interconnection procedures for Hawaii's electric grid.
This bill requests that all state agencies in Hawaii install bi-level lighting systems in any new buildings or facilities constructed starting January 1, 2027. Bi-level lighting uses motion sensors to adjust brightness based on occupancy, aiming to reduce energy waste and lower electricity costs compared to traditional lighting that stays on at full intensity. The resolution directs the request to various state departments and agencies responsible for construction and facility management. As a concurrent resolution, it serves as a formal recommendation rather than a mandatory law, though it outlines a clear policy preference for energy-efficient lighting in future state projects.
This House Concurrent Resolution urges Hawaii state and county officials to stop using "excited delirium" as a medical diagnosis, cause of death, or legal theory. The measure is based on findings that this concept lacks scientific validity, is not recognized by major medical organizations, and has no official diagnostic code. It specifically calls for medical determinations and legal proceedings to rely on scientifically valid principles instead. The resolution also directs copies to county mayors and council leaders and is named in memory of veteran Sheldon Haleck.
