Rep. Terez Amato

Establishes green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines for state facility systems, infrastructure, transit projects, and other areas in the Hawaii State Planning Act to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. Adds definition of "green infrastructure". Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, in partnership with the Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force, to submit a report to the Legislature making recommendations for implementing the green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines. Establishes full-time equivalent ( .0 FTE) policy analyst positions within the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development. Appropriates funds.

Establishes an installation goal for customer-sited distributed energy resources in the State. Ensures that fair compensation is provided to distributed energy resources exports as part of grid service programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes a carbon displacement tax credit for taxpayers of locally produced goods. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to certify tax credit amounts.

Establishes the Hawaii Agricultural Crimes Council. Expands the duties of the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with and support the Council. Establishes the Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Maddy summaryHB 941 would allow pedestrians to cross roadways against the flow of traffic (e.g., walking against moving vehicles) in specific situations where it is otherwise prohibited by state traffic rules. This directly affects pedestrians who may need to cross in non-standard ways, such as at unmarked crosswalks or in areas with poor visibility, and indirectly affects drivers who must adjust to this change in pedestrian movement. The bill’s key provision creates an exception to the standard traffic code for pedestrian crossings under defined conditions, though the exact circumstances are not detailed in the provided abstract. It does not change existing traffic laws for vehicles but modifies pedestrian movement rules in limited scenarios. The bill is currently pending review by the Transportation Committee.

Allows tenants who prevail in a lawsuit for a violation of the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code to be awarded damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and costs of the suit.

Provides that complex area superintendents have the authority to implement the farm to school and farm to school meals programs. Requires certain school cafeteria supervisors to report directly to complex area superintendents. Establishes school cafeteria supervisor positions. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to conduct a compensation review of school cafeteria supervisor positions. Appropriates funds.

Requires, for tenancies greater than 90 days, a landlord to notify a tenant of any intent to raise the rent for any subsequent rental agreement or any intent to terminate a rental agreement 60 days before the expiration of the original rental agreement. Requires 90 day's notice for a landlord or tenant to terminate tenancies of three years or more and 60 days' notice to terminate tenancies of less than three years, with certain exceptions. Increases the amount of notice required to terminate tenancies that are less than month-to-month. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes new requirements for identifying certain top contributors for election campaign purposes. Prohibits structuring, assisting in structuring, or attempting to structure or assist in structuring any solicitation, contribution, expenditure, disbursement, or other transactions. Establishes additional penalties regarding campaign finance violations. Adds and amends various definitions for purposes of campaign finances. Amends reporting requirements for schedules filed for noncandidate committee reports. Repeals certain required information for noncandidate committees making only independent expenditures for late contribution reports. Expands information required for a noncandidate committee that makes independent expenditures of more than $500. Increases the aggregate amount that triggers when a person is required to file a statement of information. Repeals an authorization for a nonprofit organization operating as a noncandidate committee to use a donation for certain expenditures. Requires certain noncandidate committees to maintain transfer records. Requires certain information to be reported to a noncandidate committee. Repeals the requirement to identify certain top contributors.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to evaluate its facilities for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and compile a list of non-compliant facilities. Requires report to the Legislature.