Establishes a fishpond inventory working group within the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program to create an inventory and map of all fishponds on state land and conduct a literature review. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
Requires the University of Hawaii System to collect, analyze, and publicly report certain graduate outcome data. Requires and appropriates funds for the development and maintenance of a graduate outcomes dashboard. Appropriates funds for positions within the University of Hawaii's Office of the Vice President of Academic Strategy. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)
Requires the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to develop an alternative pathway for a visiting international educator permit aligned to the duration of the educator's J-1 visa program. Permits the Department of Education and charter schools to hire unlicensed individuals as teachers on an emergency basis for five, rather than three, years. Requires HTSB to extend the five-year period in the case of a declared state of emergency. Requires the Department of Education to provide support to assist emergency hires in meeting the requirements of licensure and require the training be mandatory for emergency hires in their fourth and fifth years. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)
Requires release on recognizance for defendants charged with violations, traffic offenses, nonviolent petty misdemeanors, nonviolent misdemeanors, and nonviolent class C felonies, subject to conditions. Establishes exclusions for specified offenses, threats to public safety, and certain other circumstances. Requires findings when bail or detention is imposed, ongoing review of continued detention or conditions, and a prompt hearing if bail cannot be posted. Requires prosecutors to notify victims of pretrial decisions. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)
Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii Departments of Health, Human Services, and Education to create a coordinated plan to address fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which affect individuals exposed to alcohol during pregnancy. The plan would explore establishing a statewide FASD coordinator, strategies for accessing federal funding, and methods to improve awareness and training for healthcare providers and educators. It aims to reduce the economic and social costs of FASD by improving early identification, treatment access, and support for affected families. The departments must submit their findings and recommendations to the Legislature by December 15, 2026.
Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to create a coordinated support system for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries who are homeless or have extremely low incomes. The resolution asks these agencies to assess how many people are affected, identify gaps in current housing assistance, and explore options like transitional housing models on trust lands. It also directs them to evaluate funding sources, partner with nonprofit organizations, and ensure all plans comply with the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act before submitting a report to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 session.
Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii Department of Transportation to fix and update its administrative rules for the Driver Education Program based on recommendations from a state auditor's report. The auditor found that the department has not certified any driver education curricula for over twenty years and lacks proper oversight and clear policies for instructor certification. As a result, the bill asks the department to establish curriculum task forces, certify required materials, and create consistent procedures for instructor training and renewal. The department must also submit a report on its progress and updated rules to the legislature by the start of the 2027 session.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a joint legislative working group to study and design a statewide mattress stewardship program in Hawaii. The group will include government officials, elected representatives, county mayors, and industry stakeholders such as manufacturers, retailers, and recyclers. Its main task is to evaluate how to manage discarded mattresses responsibly by considering collection systems, recycling options, funding methods, and consumer protections. The working group must submit its findings and recommendations, including any proposed laws, to the legislature by the end of 2026. This initiative aims to address environmental concerns related to mattress disposal without creating the program itself.
Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution urges Hawaii state and county officials to stop using "excited delirium" as a medical diagnosis, cause of death, or legal theory. The measure is based on findings that this concept lacks scientific validity, is not recognized by major medical organizations, and has no official diagnostic code. It specifically calls for medical determinations and legal proceedings to rely on scientifically valid principles instead. The resolution also directs copies to county mayors and council leaders and is named in memory of veteran Sheldon Haleck.
Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women and the Legislative Reference Bureau to create a working group focused on improving protections for survivors of image-based sexual abuse. The group will include representatives from law enforcement, legal offices, service providers, and survivors to review policies in other states and recommend changes to Hawaii law. The working group must submit a report with its findings and proposed legislation to the Legislature before the 2028 session begins and will be dissolved by the end of 2027.
