This Hawaii House Resolution urges the U.S. Congress to pass H.R. 2687, the End Kidney Deaths Act, which would create a federal tax credit system to encourage living kidney donations to strangers. The bill aims to address kidney disease disparities affecting rural and low-income communities by increasing the number of available organ donors through financial incentives for non-directed donations. The resolution highlights that kidney transplantation is more effective than dialysis for saving lives and reducing long-term healthcare costs, while noting that existing donor protections remain in place. This measure is presented as a bipartisan effort to expand access to life-saving transplants and reduce the number of patients waiting for kidneys.
This bill requests the Hawaii Attorney General and State Auditor to conduct a comprehensive audit of nonprofit organizations that receive state funding for homelessness-related services. The audit will examine financial records, performance outcomes, and compliance with state laws, focusing initially on organizations in Honolulu before expanding statewide. Key areas of review include how funds are spent, executive compensation levels, service effectiveness, and the accuracy of reported client data. The resolution aims to ensure transparency and fiscal responsibility in the use of public funds dedicated to addressing homelessness.
This House Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Education to help public high schools create foundations that provide scholarships and financial aid to graduates while also supporting the schools themselves. The bill directs the department to offer a statewide program that guides school foundation organizers through complex tasks like setting up nonprofit status, writing charters and bylaws, and managing finances and technology. It specifically aims to help schools that currently lack these foundations, building on earlier legislative efforts from 2012 that saw limited progress. The resolution clarifies that the Department of Education would assist with setup but would not oversee or manage the foundations once they are established.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Education to create a system that assigns responsibility for monitoring school construction and repair projects to local complex area leaders. Under this proposed framework, Complex Area Superintendents and their staff would track project progress from planning through completion, coordinate with school leaders to address needs, and submit quarterly reports on budget and timeline status to the state Office of Facilities and Operations. The Office of Facilities and Operations would keep overall management authority while providing technical assistance and reviewing the local reports to ensure projects stay on schedule and within budget. The Department of Education would also be required to develop clear procedures defining roles and responsibilities, and submit a report to the Legislature by early 2027 outlining the new framework and any recommendations for further action.
This bill proposes changes to the 2027 state budget for two departments: Land and Natural Resources and Agriculture and Biosecurity. It directs the legislature to approve additional funding for specific projects, including $3 million for land management activities like hazardous material cleanup and debris removal, and $28.8 million for improvements to the Wahiawa Dam. The legislation also adds $4 million for environmental testing and remediation work at Lake Wilson to address contamination and protect public health. These adjustments update the executive supplemental budget requests to reflect new financial needs for these state programs.
This House Resolution urges all state and county agencies in Hawaii involved in construction projects to implement transparency measures for contractor payments, similar to the system already used by the Public Works Division. The bill requires agencies to create public websites within one year that display information about job progress, payments to prime contractors, retainage amounts, and subcontractor payment status. Agencies unable to comply must submit written explanations of barriers to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 session. The resolution also expresses appreciation to the Public Works Division for its existing efforts and requests that agencies report their progress to the Legislature within 20 days of the 2027 session convening.
This bill requests the Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance to study the feasibility and benefits of establishing a state-owned sovereign wealth fund. The proposed fund would invest state assets, such as tourism revenues and budget surpluses, to generate long-term financial returns for the state's residents. The study would examine how the fund could support economic stability, fund infrastructure, and potentially distribute investment earnings to qualified residents as cash dividends. The Department is required to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the end of 2026.
This House Resolution requests that all state agencies in Hawaii use bi-level lighting systems in new buildings starting January 1, 2027. Bi-level lighting adjusts brightness based on motion sensors to reduce energy waste and lower electricity costs. The resolution directs copies to various state officials and agencies to implement this change in future construction projects.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution urges the Governor of Hawaii to reconsider the decision to opt out of the Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit Program, which would allow Hawaii to participate in a federal scholarship initiative. The bill explains that the program provides federal tax credits to donors who contribute to scholarship organizations, with funds used to offer educational scholarships to K-12 students from low- and middle-income households. If Hawaii were to opt in, the state could designate local scholarship organizations to receive donations, potentially expanding educational options for families without reducing public school funding. The resolution highlights that 23 states have already joined the program and notes Hawaii's current academic performance statistics as context for why participation might be beneficial. This document is a non-binding recommendation rather than a law, as it does not directly change policy but instead asks the Governor to review the decision.
This House Resolution urges Hawaii's county governments to eliminate real property taxes. It asks counties to study how to replace this revenue with other funding sources while maintaining essential services like public safety and infrastructure. The resolution highlights concerns about rising property costs affecting homeowners, renters, and elderly residents, but does not mandate any specific tax changes. Copies of this non-binding recommendation are sent to county mayors and council chairs for their consideration.
