Rep. Terez Amato

Maddy summaryThis is a House Resolution (not a bill), urging Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources and other state agencies to collaborate with community groups on managing community forests located on public lands. It calls for shared stewardship of these forests - such as those in state parks, school grounds, and neighborhoods - to improve forest health and community well-being. The resolution highlights benefits like cleaner air, economic support for local businesses, and alignment with traditional Hawaiian practices, but does not create new legal requirements.

Maddy summaryHCR 111 is a resolution urging Hawaii's Department of Education (DOE) to provide a detailed report to the Legislature on the true costs of producing school meals. It requires the DOE to break down costs (including ingredients, operations, beverages, supplies, and logistics) and include meal count data by price tier (full-price, reduced-price, free) for the 2024-2025 through 2026-2027 school years. The resolution aims to ensure transparency around proposed meal price increases (e.g., from $2.50 to $4.75 for K-8) and prevent unnecessary hikes by verifying cost claims against existing law requiring meal revenue to cover at least half of production costs. The report must be submitted to the Legislature by January 2026.

Maddy summaryThis resolution requests Hawaii's Department of Education to post online updates about changes to gun safety and storage laws on its public website. It aims to provide students with current information on secure firearm storage requirements, without creating new legal obligations. The resolution does not alter existing laws but asks the education department to share existing legal updates with students. It is a procedural request, not a binding legislative measure.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 133) requests Hawaii's Office of Wellness and Resilience to develop a report addressing developmental needs of children born during the 2019-2023 pandemic (specifically those born 2020-2023). The report must cover trauma-informed care strategies, current services from state agencies (like Education, Health, and Human Services), support for families affected by the 2023 Maui wildfires, and resources for educators facing pandemic-related stress. It does not create new laws but mandates a comprehensive analysis to inform future support for children aged birth to 5 who experienced pandemic disruptions. The Office must submit the report to the legislature by December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 134) urges Hawaii's Sister-State Committee to evaluate and develop recommendations for establishing a formal sister-state relationship between Hawaii and New Zealand. It focuses on strengthening cooperation in economic development, arts/cultural exchange, education, and environmental sustainability, building on shared Polynesian heritage and mutual commitments to indigenous cultures and sustainability. The resolution does not create new laws but requests the committee assess potential collaboration areas and advises the Governor to implement the relationship if recommended. It directly affects Hawaii's state agencies and the Sister-State Committee, encouraging future partnerships with New Zealand.

Maddy summaryHR 24 requests the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to add a new acknowledgment section to the existing Plant and Animal Declaration Form, which travelers must complete when arriving in Hawaii with plants or animals. This section would require travelers to affirm they are aware of laws protecting Native Hawaiian cultural sites, burial grounds, places of worship, and wildlife conservation regulations. The bill does not create new laws or penalties but aims to inform travelers about existing protections through a form they already complete. It directly affects all passengers, crew, and officers required to submit the declaration form upon entering Hawaii. The resolution specifies the acknowledgment must cover awareness of relevant federal, state, and county laws governing cultural sites and wildlife.

Maddy summaryHCR 187 is a non-binding resolution urging Hawaii's governor to prepare a contingency plan if federal Medicaid funding is reduced. It specifically addresses potential impacts on Hawaii's Med-QUEST program, which covers about 20% of residents and serves vulnerable groups like children, seniors, and low-income individuals. The resolution highlights that federal funding covers 73% of Hawaii's $3 billion annual Medicaid spending and notes that proposed federal cuts could require $3.2 billion in annual state funding to maintain coverage or lead to 156,000 residents losing Medicaid benefits. As a procedural resolution, it does not change policy but seeks to prompt state-level planning for a hypothetical funding scenario.

Maddy summaryHR 30 is a House Resolution requesting the University of Hawaii to explore establishing an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and identify requirements for securing federal funding from the National Institute on Aging. The resolution directs the university to assess its current research capabilities, evaluate potential benefits, and outline steps to meet federal grant criteria, with a report due by December 31, 2025. This procedural request does not create a new program but seeks feasibility analysis for potential future research infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 81) urges Hawaii's Department of Education to establish an annual Climate Week in all public schools statewide. It aims to directly affect students by promoting climate awareness, education, and participation in environmental projects through school-based activities. The resolution proposes collaborating with environmental organizations to develop interactive, student-led sustainability initiatives during this designated week. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but encourages existing educational programs to integrate climate action.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 103) requests Hawaii's State Commission on the Status of Women to form a working group focused on strengthening state-level protections under Title IX. Title IX is the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education programs receiving federal funds. The working group - comprising the Attorney General, education officials, university leaders, and advocacy representatives - will develop recommendations to address gaps in current protections, particularly regarding unreported sex-based discrimination and harassment in Hawaii schools. The group must submit its report to the Legislature by January 2026, with no new laws enacted by this resolution itself.