Rep. Matthias Kusch

Maddy summaryHB 1602 allocates funds to create one full-time staff position within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. The bill establishes a grant specialist role focused on administering grant programs. This funding directly affects the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity staff, enabling them to manage grant-related work. The bill is procedural, specifically authorizing budget resources for a new position, with no broader policy changes.

Authorizes the issuance of reimbursable general obligation bonds in four tranches to provide the necessary funds for the Condominium Loan Program. Appropriates funds from the Hurricane Reserve Trust Fund to provide initial coverage of the bond payments. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summaryHB 1641 bans the sale, lease, rental, distribution, possession, or operation of high-speed electric bicycles. It directly affects individuals who own or use these bikes and businesses that sell or rent them. The bill establishes specific penalties for violating these prohibitions. This legislation creates a clear legal restriction on high-speed e-bike activities within the state.

Removes the barrier that requires applicants for professional or vocational licensing to be United States citizens, United States nationals, or persons with work visas. Allows an applicant to provide the applicant's individual tax identification number with a sworn affidavit in lieu of social security numbers when the applicant does not have a social security number. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Excludes the sale of a motor vehicle to a lessor of rental motor vehicles for use as a rental motor vehicle as a sale at wholesale. Imposes the maximum allowable excise tax on the use of tangible personal property in the State for the importation or purchase of a motor vehicle by a lessor of rental motor vehicles for use as a rental motor vehicle. Establishes a Teacher Temporary Hazard Pay Special Fund to pay a temporary hazard pay bonus to certain eligible teachers. Beginning 7/1/2026 until 7/1/2030, deposits the additional tax revenue generated by this Act into the Teacher Temporary Hazard Pay Special Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. Sunsets 7/1/2030. (HD1)

Prohibits residing in, on, or within fifty feet of a freshwater waterway. Authorizes law enforcement officers to enforce the prohibition. Specifies that violation is a civil violation, not a criminal offense. Establishes procedures for the removal, inventory, storage, and disposal of unattended personal property. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Restricts motor vehicles that tow a motor vehicle or trailer from the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes going in the same direction, with exemptions. Specifies penalties for restricted motor vehicles who drive in the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes moving in the same direction. Applies restrictions and penalties to a county with a population of 500,000 or more. (HD1)

Establishes a five-year pilot program allowing retirants to be rehired for exempt service for one-year terms under certain circumstances. Provides that retirants employed under the program are excluded from the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund and will not experience an interruption of pension benefits. Requires an employer of a retirant under the program to contribute to the Employees' Retirement System. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to submit a report to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes a Teacher National Board Certification Incentive Program to incentivize public charter school teachers who achieve national board certification under the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Requires that incentives paid to public charter school teachers under the Teacher National Board Certification Incentive Program established for public charter school teachers and other teacher differentials be paid from funds appropriated to the State Public Charter School Commission, instead of the per-pupil allocation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Changes the name of entities organized under chapter 421C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, from consumer cooperative associations to cooperative associations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)