Rep. Matthias Kusch

Primary HB 1982

Passed · Hawaii House · Lead sponsor

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for certain geothermal resource exploration and development activities and the hiring of consultants. Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to engage in consultation with beneficiaries of Hawaiian home lands regarding activities funded and to comply with the environmental impact statements law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

EnergySupports EnergyFunds geothermal exploration/development, a renewable energy source, directly advancing clean energy infrastructure investment per bill summary.95% confidence

Passed Feb 18, 2026 0 co-sponsors Track

Primary HB 2186

In committee · Hawaii House · Lead sponsor

RELATING TO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.

Clarifies driver's obligations at crosswalks. Requires drivers to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians in crosswalks. Strengthens penalties for traffic violations, particularly in school zones. Creates additional criminal penalties when pedestrians suffer bodily injury. Provides heightened protections for blind and visually impaired pedestrians. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates additional criminal penalties for traffic violations causing pedestrian injury, expanding criminalization of traffic offenses rather than advancing reform.90% confidence TransportationSupports TransportationMandates driver stops for pedestrians, strengthens penalties, and enhances pedestrian safety - advancing transportation safety standards in crosswalks and school zones.95% confidence

In committee Feb 18, 2026 0 co-sponsors Track

Primary HB 2163

In committee · Hawaii House · Lead sponsor

RELATING TO PEDESTRIANS.

Requires the driver of a vehicle to stop for a pedestrian who is crossing the roadway within a crosswalk and not to proceed until the pedestrian has completely exited the crosswalk and the driver can safely proceed. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates driver stops for pedestrians in crosswalks, enhancing road safety standards directly related to transportation infrastructure and user safety.95% confidence

In committee Feb 18, 2026 0 co-sponsors Track

Primary HB 1731

In committee · Hawaii House · Lead sponsor

RELATING TO COMMUNITY CARE FOSTER FAMILY HOMES.

Clarifies that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who meet an intermediate care facility or nursing facility level of care shall not be denied residency in a licensed community care foster family home solely because of their disability or enrollment in a specific medicaid waiver program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures Medicaid waiver participants access foster homes, preventing denial based on disability or Medicaid status, supporting healthcare access for disabled individuals.90% confidence HousingSupports HousingPrevents housing discrimination against disabled individuals in foster homes, directly protecting tenant rights and ensuring housing access per topic indicators.95% confidence

In committee Feb 17, 2026 0 co-sponsors Track

Primary HB 1634

In committee · Hawaii House · Lead sponsor

RELATING TO EDUCATION EQUITY.

Requires the Department of Education to permit the participation of eligible homeschooled students in public high school extracurricular activities, subject to certain requirements and limitations.

EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access for homeschooled students by mandating public school extracurricular participation, directly addressing equity in education access per bill title and subjects.92% confidence

In committee Feb 17, 2026 0 co-sponsors Track

Primary HB 1561

In committee · Hawaii House · Lead sponsor

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires public charter schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to provide free meals to students whose family income is no more than three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

EducationSupports EducationRequires free school meals for low-income students via funding, expanding access to nutrition support critical for K-12 education.95% confidence

In committee Feb 17, 2026 0 co-sponsors Track

Primary HB 2025

In committee · Hawaii House · Lead sponsor

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Prohibits digital navigation applications from providing an alert, indication, or other type of notice to users of the presence of law enforcement personnel or a law enforcement operation at any specific location.

TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill restricts digital navigation apps from providing law enforcement location alerts, limiting a feature related to user privacy and digital rights as per topic definition.85% confidence

In committee Feb 17, 2026 0 co-sponsors Track

Primary HB 2587

In committee · Hawaii House · Lead sponsor

RELATING TO LABOR.

Clarifies the employment status of certain delivery drivers under state laws related to workers' compensation, wage and hour, temporary disability insurance, family leave, tax classification of business relationships, and unemployment insurance by establishing conditions under which delivery drivers are deemed employees of the business operating the delivery program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClassifies delivery drivers as employees, extending wage, benefits, and safety protections under labor laws rather than contractor status.95% confidence

In committee Feb 17, 2026 0 co-sponsors Track

Primary HB 1981

In committee · Hawaii House · Lead sponsor

RELATING TO A PROGRAM TO CHARACTERIZE CARBON SEQUESTRATION POTENTIAL AND GEOTHERMAL AND UNDERGROUND WATER RESOURCES STATEWIDE.

Establishes a Geothermal, Carbon Sequestration, and Underground Water Resource Characterization Program via slim hole bores and a related statewide environmental assessment. Appropriates funds for the program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for new geothermal/carbon sequestration program, directly allocating budget resources per bill's funding language.95% confidence EnergySupports EnergyFunds geothermal exploration and carbon sequestration program, advancing renewable energy infrastructure and resource characterization per bill's appropriations and subjects.92% confidence EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds carbon sequestration and geothermal programs, promoting clean energy and carbon capture, directly advancing environmental protection goals.95% confidence

In committee Feb 17, 2026 0 co-sponsors Track

Primary HB 1798

In committee · Hawaii House · Lead sponsor

RELATING TO PROPERTY DAMAGE OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES.

Establishes the class C felony offense of criminal property damage to critical infrastructure facilities. Expands the term "critical infrastructure" to include broadband, wireless, and cable networks. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by classifying critical infrastructure damage as felony, increasing penalties for property offenses.90% confidence TechnologySupports TechnologyExpands critical infrastructure to include broadband/cable networks, protecting internet infrastructure from property damage.90% confidence TransportationSupports TransportationBill protects critical infrastructure (including transportation infrastructure) by criminalizing property damage, aligning with transportation infrastructure protection.80% confidence

In committee Feb 17, 2026 0 co-sponsors Track