Rep. Matthias Kusch

Establishes base selection criteria for exceptional trees. Establishes the significant tree designation, selection criteria, and related processes. Establishes the State Arborist Advisory Committee within the Department of Land and Natural Resources for administrative purposes. Requires County Arborist Advisory Committees to have at least six members, adopt new exceptional tree selection criteria, and designate significant trees. Directs the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the University of Hawaii to cooperate with State and County Arborist Advisory Committees to carry out the Exceptional Trees Program.

Establishes an agricultural crime prevention program within the Department of Agriculture to provide grants, education, administrative enforcement, and other services for the benefit of the State's agricultural industry. Clarifies, creates, and strengthens laws regarding crimes and violations related to agriculture or agricultural lands and hunting on private agricultural lands. Establishes clear distinctions between administrative and criminal penalties. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Removes from the standard condominium proxy form the option of giving a proxy vote to the board of directors of a condominium association as a whole or to those directors present at an association meeting.

Maddy summaryHB 1355 authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and allocates state funds for capital improvement projects benefiting the Island of Hawaii. It directly affects the Island of Hawaii by providing financial resources for infrastructure upgrades like roads, utilities, or public facilities. The key mechanism is the state's use of bond financing and direct appropriations to fund these projects, which are intended to support community development on the island. The bill is currently pending in the legislature, having been introduced and referred to committee in early 2025.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to conduct a study on methods to support department schools that may be impacted by electric utilities' planned public safety power shutoff program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Appropriates funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to expand the sewer network and lines within and throughout the Keaukaha homestead. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Prohibits sellers of foreclosed homes from bundling properties at a public sale and requires each foreclosed home to be sold separately. Specifies that the sale of a foreclosed property is not final until either fifteen days after the public sale or forty-five days if an eligible bidder submits a subsequent bid or written notice of intent to submit a subsequent bid. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires the department of education to equip all classroom doors with interior locks, maintain a public address system, feature an emergency access route, and maintain fire alarms. Mandates the establishment of school emergency plans. Requires schools conduct regular testing and emergency preparedness drills. Appropriates funds.

Authorizes condominium associations and planned community associations located in a zoning district that allows for transient vacation rentals to impose an impact fee on owners or members who use their units as transient vacation rentals. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes the Insurance Affordability Assistance Pilot Program within the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to assist eligible homeowners with sudden increases in property insurance premiums. Sunsets 6/30/2028.