Rep. Terez Amato

Establishes green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines for state facility systems, infrastructure, transit projects, and other areas in the Hawaiʻi State Planning Act to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. Requires report to the Legislature. Establishes positions within the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes a Plant-Based Building Materials Working Group to report on how best to grow plants and develop plant-based building materials in Hawaiʻi and provide economic development and green jobs while sequestering greenhouse gases to help achieve the State's climate target. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires contested cases, environmental assessment cases, or environmental impact statement cases involving large-scale renewable energy projects over twenty megawatts in size to be appealed from an agency's decision directly to the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court for final decision. Requires the cases to be prioritized and decided expeditiously. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires the Hawaiʻi state energy office to adopt rules governing a clean fuel standard for alternative fuels in the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

By 1/1/2027, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a family and medical leave insurance program and begin collecting payroll contributions to finance payment of benefits. By 1/1/2028, requires the Department to start receiving claims and paying benefits under the program. Specifies eligibility requirements and employee protections under the program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Authorizes, and establishes a regulatory framework for, the administration of psilocybin for therapeutic use. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Requires the Department of Health to administer a three-year rural community health worker pilot program that enables community health workers to provide outreach, education, training, and navigation to individuals residing in rural communities in the State and address social determinants of health. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes a pilot program to offer tuition waivers for certain community college students starting in fall 2025. Requires the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaiʻi to submit a report. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes the Homeless Services Special Fund. Allows counties to apply for matching funds from the Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund for certain housing projects. Increases the conveyance tax rates for certain properties. Establishes conveyance tax rates for multifamily residential properties. Establishes new exemptions to the conveyance tax. Allocates collected conveyance taxes to the Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund, Homeless Services Fund and, and Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund. Amends allocations to the Land Conservation Fund and Rental Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Requires the Department of Agriculture's Aquaculture Development Program to conduct a feasibility study to identify potential sites in the State for restorative aquaculture activities. Makes an appropriation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)