This bill requests the Department of Transportation to work with utility companies to create a statewide plan for addressing aging or abandoned utility poles and lines along Farrington Highway and other high-risk road corridors. The key provisions ask the department to organize assessments of infrastructure, develop repair or removal schedules, prioritize areas with high traffic or wildfire risks, and clarify who is responsible for funding and maintenance. The bill also directs the department to review existing laws regarding utility maintenance obligations and submit a detailed report to the Legislature by early 2027 outlining findings and recommendations.
This bill urges county planning and permitting agencies in Hawaii to deny all permit applications for the construction, expansion, or use of warehouses by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for detaining individuals facing deportation. The resolution directs these agencies to refuse permits specifically for facilities intended to house large numbers of people in warehouse settings, citing concerns about mass incarceration and local resource strain. It is a non-binding recommendation that applies to county-level planning departments across Hawaii's major islands. The bill does not create new laws or penalties but instead asks local officials to exercise their permitting authority to block such facilities.
This House Concurrent Resolution urges state agencies that own or control land in West Maui to take immediate action to reduce wildfire risk in Lahaina and surrounding communities. The resolution specifically calls for aggressive vegetation management, fuel reduction, creation of defensible space, and improvement of emergency access routes on state properties. It references the 2023 Lahaina wildfires and ongoing concerns about unmanaged flammable grasses on public lands, noting that agencies like the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands hold significant land interests in the area. The measure aligns with existing state wildfire management efforts and emphasizes the responsibility of government landowners to proactively address fire hazards.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women and the Department of the Attorney General to form a working group focused on image-based sexual abuse. The group will review laws and policies from other states to identify ways to better protect survivors of nonconsensual sharing of explicit images and videos, including those involving artificial intelligence. The working group must include input from gender-based violence service providers and survivors, and it will submit a report with recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027. This resolution does not change any laws directly but instead asks state agencies to study the issue and propose future legislation.
This bill asks the Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission to study whether current state anti-discrimination laws cover decisions made by computer algorithms and automated systems. The Commission would examine if existing rules can handle discrimination claims involving artificial intelligence used in hiring, housing, credit, and public benefits. The study will also look at legal challenges, whether new guidance is needed, and if a complaint process should be created for these types of cases. The Commission must submit its findings and any suggested laws to the Legislature before the 2027 session begins. This is a non-binding request for analysis rather than a law that changes rules immediately.
This bill urges the County of Maui to actively enforce existing fire code provisions related to brush clearance, fuel breaks, roadside vegetation management, and emergency access. It specifically targets large landowners and properties near residential areas, temporary housing sites, and evacuation corridors where overgrown vegetation poses wildfire risks. The resolution calls for the use of available enforcement tools such as inspections, fines, and citations to ensure timely compliance with rules requiring vegetation clearance within specified distances from structures. By prioritizing enforcement in high-risk zones, the bill aims to reduce wildfire hazards and protect both permanent and temporary housing communities in West Maui.
This bill urges state and city transportation departments to collaborate with local community groups to develop and improve the coastal trail system on Oahu's North Shore. The resolution emphasizes the need for safe, non-vehicular pathways to address current unsafe road conditions and encourage walking and biking in the area. It calls for community involvement in all stages of trail planning, design, construction, and maintenance to ensure the trails meet local needs. The measure also references existing efforts like the Complete Streets Ordinance and Vision Zero Action Plan as context for improving transportation safety and accessibility.
This bill requests the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to conduct a study examining how state and county tax structures affect the state's long-term economic growth. The study will analyze factors such as business formation rates, startup survival, self-employment levels, and operational costs including taxes, energy, and labor. It will also evaluate how existing tax programs can be realigned to better support economic development while ensuring state and county programs are funded equitably. The resolution directs the department to work with the University of Hawaii's Economic Research Organization to develop policy recommendations based on the findings.
This Senate concurrent resolution urges Maui Health to work with partners to create a full-time medical residency program on Maui to address a critical shortage of physicians, which worsened after the 2023 wildfires. The bill specifically asks Maui Health to use available federal funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program and seek additional resources to establish the program in family medicine and internal medicine. It requires Maui Health to include local health centers in the planning process and submit a progress report to the Legislature by early 2027. The resolution is directed at healthcare administrators and stakeholders rather than imposing new laws or penalties.
This bill urges the Hawaii Department of Transportation to work with the community along the Hana Highway to find ways to manage roadside vegetation without relying heavily on synthetic chemical herbicides. It requests the department hold public meetings in east Maui to discuss concerns about environmental and health risks from herbicides like Garlon and Finale XL, which can harm water systems and aquatic life. The resolution asks the department to review current practices, explore organic or eco-friendly alternatives, and consider community-led stewardship programs while still maintaining road safety. The Department of Transportation is asked to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 session.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the U.S. Congress to remove cannabis from the federal Controlled Substances Act, support states that are expunging cannabis-related criminal records, and allow cannabis businesses to access full banking services. The bill directly affects cannabis dispensaries, businesses, and individuals with past cannabis convictions in Hawaii and other states. It seeks to align federal law with state-level legalization efforts by requesting federal action rather than creating new state laws. The resolution does not change any state laws but instead asks federal lawmakers to update national policies regarding cannabis classification and financial services.
This House Concurrent Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation to clarify which agency is responsible for the Honopou Bridge on Maui and to work together to address safety and emergency access issues. The bill calls for these departments to assess the bridge's structural condition, identify restrictions on emergency vehicle access, and develop a coordinated plan to repair or upgrade the bridge so it can safely support modern fire trucks and other emergency vehicles. Additionally, the resolution requires the agencies to conduct community outreach, estimate costs and funding options, and submit a detailed report with a timeline to the Legislature by early 2027.
