Rep. Matthias Kusch

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution formally recognizes 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists in Hawaii, aligning with a United Nations designation. The measure highlights the ecological, economic, and cultural importance of Hawaii's rangelands, which cover over one million acres and support ranchers who contribute more than $50 million annually to the state economy. It encourages state agencies, the University of Hawaii, and local organizations to promote education and research on rangeland management while recommending policies that conserve these lands and protect ranchers' livelihoods. The resolution is transmitted to key state and local officials, including the Governor, Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity, University of Hawaii President, and county mayors.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution asks Hawaii's Public Utilities Commission to provide a written update on how it is implementing the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, a role established by state law to oversee electric system reliability and interconnection processes. The resolution requests specific information on which functions have been implemented, reasons for any delays, and a timeline for full implementation, with the report due before the 2027 legislative session. It directs the Commission to submit this information to the Legislature and relevant state officials, focusing on ensuring the reliability administrator fulfills its statutory duties regarding renewable energy interconnection and grid standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii State Energy Office to form a working group to study the potential impacts of large data centers on the state's electric utilities, ratepayers, natural resources, and climate goals. The working group will include representatives from state agencies, electric utilities, consumer advocates, and environmental organizations to examine how these energy-intensive facilities could affect Hawaii's isolated power grids and water resources. The group will evaluate policy options such as ensuring data center developers pay for necessary grid upgrades and protecting existing customers from higher utility bills. This study is proactive, preparing Hawaii for potential future data center proposals while considering the state's constitutional duty to protect natural resources and meet its renewable energy targets.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges the U.S. Department of Defense to review and potentially reopen its environmental cleanup decisions at military sites in Hawaii, specifically regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). It calls for expanded investigations beyond areas previously linked to firefighting foam to include all historical uses of PFAS-containing materials, equipment, and waste streams at military facilities. The measure requests that the Department of Defense apply updated scientific knowledge and recent federal hazardous substance designations to assess groundwater, soil, and water contamination more thoroughly before closing sites.

Maddy summaryThis 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.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Resolution that urges Hawaii state and local officials to stop using "excited delirium" as a medical diagnosis, cause of death, or legal theory. It directly affects law enforcement agencies, medical professionals, courts, and county governments across Hawaii by calling for the prohibition of this term in official records and legal proceedings. The resolution states that "excited delirium" is not recognized by major medical organizations or included in standard diagnostic manuals, and it requests that medical and legal decisions instead rely on scientifically validated principles. Named the Haleck Resolution in memory of a veteran who died during a law enforcement encounter, it asks county mayors and council chairs to adopt this guidance to ensure accountability and accurate reporting.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution asks the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women to work with the Legislative Reference Bureau to create a working group focused on image-based sexual abuse. The group would include survivors, service providers, law enforcement, and prosecutors to review laws and policies from other states and recommend improvements for prevention, intervention, and survivor protection. The working group must submit a report with findings and potential legislation to the Legislature by early 2028 and will dissolve by the end of 2027. This resolution does not change any laws directly but sets up a process to study and propose future policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to work with state and county agencies, community organizations, and Native Hawaiian leaders to create a comprehensive statewide food security strategy. The plan aims to address high rates of food insecurity affecting households, particularly children and marginalized communities, by assessing access barriers and recommending policy changes. Key requirements include reducing food costs, expanding access to nutritious and culturally appropriate foods, and aligning efforts with existing county food plans. The Department must submit the strategy to the Legislature by the beginning of the 2028 session to inform future policy and funding decisions.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution requests the creation of an Arts Data and Mapping Task Force to conduct a statewide survey of arts and arts education programs across Hawaii. The task force, led by the Hawaii Youth Symphony and including representatives from various arts, education, and government organizations, will gather information about existing programs, their geographic distribution, and the populations they serve. The group will develop a comprehensive database and interactive map to help identify gaps in access and underserved areas, while explicitly avoiding any assessment of program quality or effectiveness. The task force will submit interim and final reports to the Legislature by 2028 and 2030, respectively, to inform future policy and funding decisions.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution requests the creation of a working group to examine staffing shortages and security contracting issues at Hawaii state courts. The bill identifies that the Department of Law Enforcement has taken on expanded duties without matching increases in Deputy Sheriff positions, leading to vacancies and increased reliance on private security contractors. The proposed working group will include leaders from the judiciary, law enforcement, human resources, finance, and the attorney general to evaluate solutions for staffing levels, recruitment, and reducing long-term dependence on private security contracts. The resolution aims to address fiscal risks and accountability concerns associated with replacing public security personnel with private contractors at state court facilities.