Rep. Terez Amato

Maddy summaryThis bill asks the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents to consider renaming Leeward Community College to Puʻuloa Community College. The proposal is based on Puʻuloa's deep cultural and historical significance to the local area, including its connection to traditional food production and Hawaiian stories. The resolution requests that the Board of Regents evaluate this name change to better reflect the campus's location and strengthen its cultural identity. If approved, the change would affect the institution's official name but does not alter its operations or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill urges Hawaii's Department of Education to work with teachers to create an artificial intelligence literacy curriculum for students in grades six through twelve. The resolution recommends that the curriculum be developed using peer-reviewed research, global AI literacy frameworks, and existing Hawaii-based programs, with a focus on ethical AI use, equitable access for all students, and regular assessments of student progress. It also requests that the curriculum be updated regularly to keep pace with evolving technology and social norms. As a concurrent resolution, this measure does not change law directly but serves as a formal recommendation to state education officials.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii Department of Education to create a standardized swimmer classification framework for public schools to improve water safety and equity. The resolution asks the department to adopt a specific system developed by Leahi Swim School and Na Kama Kai, which defines three proficiency levels: Swimmer, Water Safe Individual, and Water Smart Individual. Each level includes specific criteria such as swimming distances, treading water, stroke proficiency, and knowledge of ocean safety and environmental stewardship. The framework is intended to guide physical education, athletics, and enrichment programs by establishing clear benchmarks for student water competency.

Maddy summaryThis bill urges the Hawaii Department of Education to start initiatives aimed at reducing teacher turnover in the state. It directly affects the state's education system by calling for research into why teachers leave, particularly focusing on issues like low salaries, housing costs, and challenges in rural areas. The resolution requests the department to create an advisory board with educators, students, and community members to recommend retention strategies and encourages ongoing recognition efforts for teachers. This is a non-binding concurrent resolution that serves as a formal recommendation rather than a law with mandatory requirements.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution urges Hawaii state agencies to create a statewide peer counselor program for high school students to address youth loneliness and social disconnection. The program would involve trained student peer counselors who receive standardized instruction in active listening, ethical boundaries, and culturally responsive practices to foster peer connections and early identification of emotional distress. The Department of Education would lead implementation in collaboration with the Department of Health, Office of Wellness and Resilience, and Hawaii State Youth Commission, starting with pilot programs in select schools before statewide rollout. The resolution emphasizes face-to-face interaction, trust-building activities, and clear referral pathways to licensed mental health professionals while prioritizing culturally appropriate approaches for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students.

Maddy summaryThis bill urges the Hawaii Department of Education and Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to create a joint plan that connects local farmers with the new AINA Kitchen Network, a statewide system of regional kitchens designed to serve school meals. The resolution calls for the two agencies to work together with other partners to identify which crops and proteins the kitchens will need, assess current local production capacity, and develop strategies to help farmers scale up their operations. Key provisions of the requested plan include securing multi-year contracts to give farmers the stability needed to invest in infrastructure, providing technical assistance and workforce development, and ensuring supply meets the phased rollout of the kitchen network. The bill aims to address past procurement failures and funding gaps while supporting Hawaii's goal of sourcing 30% of school meal ingredients from local producers by 2030.

Maddy summaryThis bill urges the Hawaii Department of Transportation to modify the dimensions of rumble strips on a specific section of Kamehameha V Highway on Molokai, east of mile marker 9.5. The resolution states that the current rumble strips are too aggressive and cause drivers to swerve or straddle lane lines to avoid the intense vibration, which creates new safety risks by pushing vehicles into narrow shoulder areas used by cyclists and pedestrians. The bill recommends changing the strip design to a shallower sinusoidal or mumble profile that provides necessary lane-departure warnings without encouraging avoidance maneuvers. This is a non-binding recommendation aimed at improving road safety while reducing noise pollution for local residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii Department of Health to create a working group to study accessibility barriers in multi-family housing managed by condominium and planned community associations, which are not covered by the federal Fair Housing Act. The study will examine disputes between residents and associations over accessibility modifications, analyze how current laws define responsibilities for common area improvements, and assess the impact of these barriers on residents' ability to age in place. The working group will include representatives from disability rights organizations, housing authorities, and senior advocacy groups, and will evaluate potential state funding options to help offset modification costs. The Department of Health is required to submit a report with findings and legislative recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Concurrent Resolution that urges the County of Maui to adopt ordinances establishing wildfire safety standards for plantation towns and other high-risk communities. It recommends that Maui look to Kauai's recent ordinance as a model, which requires new and remodeled buildings in wildfire-prone areas to incorporate measures like ember-resistant construction, noncombustible zones around structures, defensible space, and vegetation management. The resolution asks Maui to integrate these wildfire safety standards into zoning, permitting, and redevelopment decisions while considering the unique characteristics of historic plantation towns. It also directs copies of the resolution to county officials including the mayor, council chair, fire chief, and planning director to facilitate implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Department of Transportation and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to form a working group that will coordinate infrastructure planning for Hawaiian home land developments. The working group will include leaders from both departments, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and infrastructure experts to review overlapping projects and identify ways to reduce costs through synchronized planning. Specifically, the group will map out planned improvements over a five-year period, evaluate opportunities to combine construction efforts like road and drainage work, and assess potential cost savings from joint execution. The group is tasked with developing a standardized coordination process, identifying legal or procedural barriers to cooperation, and recommending any necessary changes to make coordinated planning permanent. The working group must submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the end of 2026 and will dissolve on June 30, 2027.