Rep. Terez Amato

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 139) urges Hawaii's Department of Education, Department of Health, and relevant stakeholders to collaborate on a strategic plan to prepare for potential participation in the CDC's national autism prevalence surveillance program. It directly affects state agencies and community stakeholders by requesting they develop infrastructure for data collection, identify necessary resources, and engage providers to support CDC's autism monitoring efforts. The resolution focuses on gathering accurate autism prevalence data for Hawaii - particularly for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities where rates are higher - rather than creating new services or funding. It is non-binding and aims to position Hawaii to seek CDC funding under the Autism CARES Act, with a requirement for a progress report to the legislature by 2026.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 125) requests the Hawaii Department of Transportation, Department of Education, and Maui County Department of Public Works to collaborate on addressing traffic safety and congestion around Haiku Elementary School. It directs these agencies to assess current traffic patterns, propose infrastructure improvements (like safer crosswalks and signage), and develop plans for managing school drop-off/pick-up times. The resolution requires them to consult with parents and community members and submit a report with recommendations to the Legislature by January 2026. This resolution directly affects students, families, and staff at Haiku Elementary School and the surrounding community. It is a procedural request for study and reporting, not a law imposing new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis Hawaii House Resolution (HR 182) declares a public health emergency due to climate change impacts and requests all state departments to coordinate cross-sector solutions. It directs agencies like Health, Transportation, and Agriculture to identify and plan for climate-related health risks - including heat, disease, food insecurity, and mental health impacts - directly affecting Hawaii residents. The resolution does not create new laws but mandates statewide collaboration to strengthen public health responses.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution requests Hawaii's Department of Human Services to direct its Youth Services and Juvenile Justice Advisory Council to examine how many culturally rooted "aina-based learning" programs (land/sea-connected cultural education) are available for youth in the juvenile court system. It specifically asks the council to assess current program usage and create a list of approved organizations for courts to assign as community service alternatives. The resolution aims to connect youth, particularly Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Black youth disproportionately affected by fees and fines, with culturally relevant learning opportunities instead of standard community service. This would help address disconnection from cultural roots linked to higher recidivism rates, as noted in the resolution's background.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 34) directs Hawaii state agencies to gather specific data and analyze costs related to children's health insurance coverage. It requests the Health Data Advisory Council to confirm statewide and county-level counts of uninsured children in 2025, and the Med-QUEST Division to estimate costs for extending continuous coverage for children aged 6-18 from 2 years to 12 years, plus costs for children ineligible under current rules. The agencies must collaborate on policy recommendations to achieve universal child health insurance coverage and submit a report to the Legislature by 2026. The resolution does not create new law but mandates data collection and cost analysis to inform future policy decisions.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 200) urges the U.S. Department of Defense to make recreational facilities on military installations in Hawaii accessible to all Hawaii residents. It specifically requests access to facilities like Hale Koa Hotel, Bellows Air Force Station, Pililā'au Army Recreation Center, and others currently restricted to military personnel. The resolution asks the DoD to develop guidelines for safe public access, referencing successful models from other states. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change current access policies but formally requests the Department of Defense to consider expanding access.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges Hawaii's Department of Health to launch education, outreach, and vaccination drives at schools with vaccination rates below 30% starting in the 2025-2026 school year. It requires partnering with community health centers and local healthcare providers to increase access and address vaccine hesitancy through culturally appropriate engagement. The resolution also directs the Department of Health to collaborate with the Department of Education to develop a long-term plan and submit a report to the Legislature by early 2026 detailing funding and administrative needs. It directly affects schools with low vaccination rates, particularly those in underserved communities, and references successful models from other states to inform Hawaii's approach. The resolution is non-binding but sets a clear timeline and partnership framework for improving school vaccination rates.

Maddy summaryHR 192 is a House Resolution (not a bill) urging Hawaii's State Department of Agriculture and Maui County Agriculture to address axis deer overpopulation. It specifically requests policies to make USDA-certified meat inspections more accessible and affordable for local hunters, enabling them to process and distribute venison. The resolution also directs the creation of a joint task force to develop a program for affordable venison processing and community distribution, with a report due by November 30, 2025. This affects Maui hunters, agricultural agencies, and residents seeking access to locally sourced venison.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 191) is a non-binding request urging Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to prioritize restoring and protecting wetlands and anchialine pools - unique Hawaiian ecosystems. It specifically asks DLNR’s Division of Aquatic Resources to extend wetland protections to anchialine pools and requests Maui County to prioritize wetland conservation (notably in Kihei) over development where possible. The resolution highlights that wetlands and anchialine pools support biodiversity, improve water quality, protect coral reefs, and reduce flood/fire risks, but does not create new legal requirements or funding. It serves as a policy recommendation for existing state and county environmental responsibilities.

Maddy summaryHR 59 is a House Resolution requesting the Land Use Commission to coordinate with county planning commissions and county councils to review general plan amendments, district boundary changes, and zoning amendments at the same time (concurrently) instead of sequentially. This would directly affect landowners, developers, and government agencies seeking to change land use for housing, infrastructure, or business purposes. The key mechanism requires state and county bodies to schedule reviews together, share public hearings, and create protocols to reduce redundant processes and lengthy delays. The resolution does not create new laws but asks agencies to streamline existing procedures to expedite land reclassification.