Establishes and appropriates moneys for a Missing Indigenous Person Alert program to help locate indigenous persons who are missing and thought to be in danger.
Requires the Department of Taxation to establish a pilot program that would grant participating landlords a certain general excise tax exemption for each unit they rent to a long-term tenant with a pet. Requires the Department of Taxation to submit reports to the Legislature.
Maddy summaryHB 1288 would create a Rare Disease Advisory Council within the state Department of Health. The council would provide recommendations to the state on addressing the needs of people living with rare diseases. This bill establishes a formal advisory body to help inform state health policies and programs for rare disease patients. The bill is currently in committee referral.
Maddy summaryHB 1268 would expand family leave coverage to include an employee's domestic partner and the child of that domestic partner. Currently, most family leave policies cover spouses and biological children, but this bill would extend eligibility to domestic partners and their children under the same leave provisions. The bill is currently pending committee review after its January 2025 introduction. It does not change existing coverage for spouses or biological children.
Establishes the Accessible Wilderness and State Parks Trails Program within the Division of State Parks of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Establishes the Accessible Wilderness and State Parks Trails Program Special Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.
Requires all accident and health or sickness insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations operating in the State to adopt policies, procedures, and criteria for approving or denying requests for prior authorization that are the equivalent to the guidelines for prior authorization established by Medicare.
Establishes the rare disease advisory council to increase awareness and effective medical intervention for rare diseases. Establishes the rare disease advisory council special fund. Requires DOH and DOE to incorporate the importance of annual physical examinations for children in programs and literature. Amends the insurance code to include coverage for individuals with velocardiofacial syndrome and other genetic disorders. Exempts from cost sharing. Appropriates funds.
Maddy summaryHB 917 establishes mandatory minimum prison terms for individuals convicted of possessing methamphetamine or fentanyl. It directly affects people found guilty of these specific drug possession offenses. The bill requires judges to impose a set minimum prison sentence for these convictions, removing judicial discretion to issue shorter sentences. This policy change alters sentencing outcomes for low-level drug possession cases under current law. (Note: The bill is new, with no committee action or voting history yet.)
Provides that leaders of nonprofit organizations shall be exempt from county liquor commission criminal history check requirements for license applicants.
Appropriates funds for eight full-time agricultural technician, and four full-time coordinator positions at University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.
