Rep. Matthias Kusch

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution requests the Hawaii State Center for Nursing to compile a comprehensive list of recommended safe patient staffing ratios for all nursing specialties across healthcare settings and maintain a public repository of this information. The bill directs the center to make this repository available to the public no later than twenty days before the start of the 2027 legislative session. It also urges healthcare facilities to consider implementing these recommended staffing standards. The resolution is based on findings that safe staffing levels improve patient outcomes and support nurse retention, and it directs copies of the measure to state health officials and hospital executives.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution formally endorses Waikiki as a World Surfing Reserve, recognizing the area's historical significance as the birthplace of surfing and its cultural importance to Native Hawaiian heritage. The resolution highlights Waikiki's unique combination of world-class surf breaks, ecological value, and economic impact as a major tourist destination, while noting threats like climate change and pollution. It directs copies of the resolution to local government officials and community leaders to encourage further protection efforts for the area's surfing ecosystem and natural resources.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Education and Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to jointly create a Farmer-to-Institution Coordination Plan aligned with the AINA Kitchen Network rollout. The plan would identify specific crops and products needed by the new regional kitchens, assess gaps between current local production and future demand, and outline strategies to help farmers scale their operations through infrastructure investment and multi-year contracts. The resolution also requires the plan to include a timeline with measurable milestones that match the phased construction schedule of the AINA Kitchen Network. This initiative aims to address systemic procurement challenges and ensure local farmers can meet the growing demand for locally sourced school meals.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Education to create a committee to plan a new K-12 Hawaiian language immersion school in Kapolei. The committee would include education officials, teachers, community members, and parents to develop an action plan that addresses facility needs, teacher recruitment, and curriculum development. The resolution outlines a phased timeline to open kindergarten through second grade by the 2027-2028 school year, with additional grades added in subsequent years. It also requests that the Department of Education allocate initial faculty and administrative positions to support the program's launch.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution urges Hawaii state agencies to create a statewide peer counselor program for high school students to address loneliness and social disconnection. The proposed program would involve collaboration between the Department of Education, Department of Health, and Office of Wellness and Resilience to train students in active listening, ethical boundaries, and culturally responsive practices. Student peer counselors would serve as trained points of connection within schools, promoting belonging and helping identify students experiencing isolation while referring them to licensed mental health professionals when needed. The resolution recommends implementing the program in phases starting with pilot programs in select schools and includes the Hawaii State Youth Commission in program development and evaluation.

Maddy summaryThis bill asks the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to submit an annual report on the Hawaii Genuine Progress Indicator (HI GPI) to the state legislature, starting in 2027. The report would provide a comprehensive assessment of the state's economic, social, and environmental well-being using metrics that go beyond traditional measures like GDP. The bill requires the report to include an executive summary, detailed indicator results across economic, social, and environmental categories, methodology explanations, policy implications, and supporting data tables. The department must also make the report available online and send copies to relevant legislative committee chairs.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Transportation to evaluate adopting a demerit points-based driver's licensing system. The bill asks state officials to consider tracking traffic violations by assigning points to driver licenses, similar to systems used in 40 other states and the District of Columbia. It is intended to address Hawaii's high number of traffic fatalities by providing a structured way to monitor and discourage dangerous driving behaviors. The resolution directs copies to the Department of Transportation and county mayors for their consideration.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution requests the State Building Code Council to create a new set of basic shelter standards that would allow for low-cost, rapidly deployable housing solutions during emergencies. The bill aims to address Hawaii's housing shortages by establishing minimum safety and sanitation requirements for temporary housing like prefabricated units and single-wall homes, which currently cannot be built under standard building codes due to stricter permanent housing requirements. These basic shelter standards would only be used during declared emergency proclamations for natural disasters or other crises, and the housing would be limited to government agencies and nonprofit organizations to prevent profit-driven misuse. The resolution also includes a pathway for these temporary units to be converted to permanent housing if they later meet full building code standards, while requiring consultation with local officials and stakeholders to ensure the standards are appropriate for Hawaii's climate and cultural context.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution asks the Department of Land and Natural Resources to transfer land parcels for the East Kapolei Transit-Oriented Development Project to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. It also urges the Housing Corporation to partner with the Hawaii Community Development Authority to help develop non-housing parts of the project, such as commercial and retail spaces. The resolution is based on the Housing Corporation's existing expertise in housing development and its established partnerships with other agencies for similar projects. This bill does not mandate any action but expresses the legislature's preference for how state agencies should organize their responsibilities for this development.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution directs the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to conduct a study on the state's food manufacturing strengths and strategic export markets. The study will assess competitive advantages, define high-value products, analyze production costs, and identify logistical barriers to international trade. It also requests collaboration with the University of Hawaii and other agencies to update educational programs and align funding with identified export opportunities. The resolution aims to support small businesses in scaling production for premium markets while accounting for Hawaii's high operational costs.