Rep. Matthias Kusch

Establishes statewide, uniform standards to promote agricultural tourism activities in the State for all counties that have adopted an agricultural tourism ordinance. Requires agricultural tourism activities to be registered by the county planning department. Requires agricultural tourism activities to coexist with an agricultural activity on a farming operation and requires termination of the agricultural tourism activities upon cessation of the agricultural activity, except under certain circumstances. Makes conforming amendments. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Authorizes a county planning commission, by special permit, to permit land uses exclusively providing residential housing for purposes of agricultural workforce housing, long-term rental, or workforce fee simple ownership in an agricultural district, under certain conditions. Repeals 6/30/2035. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Maddy summaryHB 1278 appropriates state funds to assess and remove hazardous trees on state lands across Hawaii. It directly affects Hawaii's state land management agencies, providing the necessary budget for these safety-related tree removal operations. The bill's key mechanism is the allocation of specific funding for tree assessment and removal, effective July 1, 2030 (note: "3000" in abstract appears to be a typo). This is a procedural funding measure, not a policy change, focused solely on enabling tree removal work on state property.

Amends the law authorizing the killing of mongoose by clarifying the circumstances under which mongoose may be killed and authorizing feral chickens to be killed under certain circumstances. (HD1)

Requires the Department of Agriculture to revitalize and enhance the Agricultural Statistics Program to collect data on local agricultural interests. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Maddy summaryHCR 126 is a procedural resolution requesting Hawaii's Legislative Reference Bureau to review all mandatory reports required by law to be submitted to the Legislature. The Bureau must identify reports that are outdated (e.g., for programs that no longer exist) or no longer provide useful information, then recommend which should be discontinued. This review is based on existing law requiring the Bureau to track report submissions, with findings due to the Legislature by early 2026. The resolution does not change any laws but aims to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens.

Maddy summaryHCR 50 is a concurrent resolution requesting the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement and Department of Health to form a task force focused on Oahu streams. The task force must develop recommendations for humane no-trespassing policies, improve coordination between state and county agencies regarding stream encampments, connect individuals experiencing homelessness to services, and address environmental pollution. It requires specific members including agency directors, county leadership, and legislative chairs, with a report due by August 2025. This resolution does not create new laws but seeks to coordinate existing resources to address health, safety, and environmental concerns near Oahu's waterways.

Maddy summaryHR 97 is a House Resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Taxation to establish a one-time "Tax Amnesty Day." It would allow businesses and individuals with unpaid taxes to settle their liabilities without penalties or fines. The resolution cites Hawaii's 2009 Tax Fresh Start Program, which collected $14.4 million in unpaid taxes, as a model for increasing compliance and revenue. The request asks the Department to develop guidelines, public outreach plans, and submit a report to the Legislature by 2026. (Note: This is a procedural request, not a binding law.)

Maddy summaryHR 171 is a House Resolution urging Hawaii's Attorney General to investigate whether property management software with algorithms is being used to set or fix rental prices in the state's housing market. It requests an examination of how such software collects pricing data, recommends rent levels, potentially enables landlord collusion, and affects housing affordability. The resolution does not create new laws but asks the Attorney General to report findings - including whether these practices contribute to rising rents - by early 2026. It directly affects the Attorney General's office and aims to inform future legislative action on Hawaii's housing crisis.

Maddy summaryHCR 175 is a concurrent resolution urging Hawaii's Attorney General to investigate whether property management software using algorithms is enabling price-fixing or anti-competitive practices in the state's rental housing market. It specifically directs the Attorney General to examine how such software collects pricing data, recommends rent levels, and potentially facilitates collusion among landlords. The resolution requires a report detailing whether these practices contribute to rising rents and recommendations for addressing them, due to the Legislature by early 2026. This resolution does not change laws but seeks factual findings to inform future policy on Hawaii's severe housing affordability crisis.