Rep. Mahina Poepoe

Effective 7/1/2027, establishes the Environmental Stewardship Fee Program within the Department of Land and Natural Resources, through which the Department will collect a fee from visitors for a license to visit a state park, forest, hiking trail, or other state natural area. Establishes the Environmental Stewardship Fee Special Fund effective 7/1/2025. Allocates a certain amount of transient accommodations tax revenues to the special fund. Requires report to the Legislature on strategic plan and timetable for objectives and implementation of the environmental stewardship fee program. Appropriates funds for the environmental stewardship fee strategic plan and positions for the Environmental Stewardship Fee Program.

Appropriates funds for the Office of the Governor, in collaboration with the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, to oversee and administer grants to low-income residents, and condominium associations on behalf of low-income condominium owners, to fortify residential real property against hurricanes.

Maddy summaryHB 652 regulates individuals who charge fees for advising veterans on benefits applications. It requires these advisors to be licensed or registered with the state, aiming to prevent exploitation of veterans seeking assistance. The bill directly affects paid veterans benefit consultants, not veterans themselves. Key provisions include setting licensing standards and mandating disclosure of fees to ensure transparency. This is a regulatory measure focused on protecting veterans from unscrupulous advisors, not altering veterans' benefit eligibility or amounts.

Requires the State to provide written notice to certain persons regarding the ability to file a claim for redress under applicable wrongful conviction law. Requires the liberal construction of that law. Provides for advance compensation for petitioners under certain circumstances. Requires reports to Legislature from the Department of the Attorney General.

Requires any state or county department pursuing any major plan or work effort that is likely to significantly affect members of any community to: (1) Conduct a public hearing on the issue, and post notices on the department's website; and (2) Send direct notices of the public hearing to state and county elected officials who have constituents in the community.

Prohibits an employer from discriminating against a person in hiring, termination, or any term or condition of employment based on the person's status as a medical cannabis registry card holder, under certain conditions. Authorizes an employer to use a fit-for-duty test for medical cannabis qualifying patients in potentially dangerous occupations. Exempts certain occupations. Effective July 1, 3000. (HD1)

Maddy summaryHB 149 requires domestic and foreign corporations operating in the state to provide shareholders with annual reports detailing their political spending, including independent expenditures and contributions to candidates or causes. This directly affects all corporations subject to state jurisdiction, mandating transparency about their political activity. The key provision is the requirement for these reports to be shared with shareholders, increasing visibility into corporate political influence. The bill aims to clarify corporate political spending practices without altering campaign finance rules.

Creates the Aloha Aina Land Trust to rehabilitate and manage lands transferred by the United States military to the State after the leases for those lands expires. Appropriates funds.

Maddy summaryHB 1381 creates a working group within the judiciary to improve legal services for youth in the child welfare system. The group will develop strategies to address gaps in legal representation for young people navigating foster care or other child welfare cases. The bill provides funding to support the working group's operations and meetings. This directly affects youth in the state's child welfare system by aiming to ensure they have better access to legal assistance during critical proceedings.

Requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a climate education, environmental sustainability, and indigenous knowledge into the K-12 curriculum and climate education and environmental sustainability teacher training and professional development programs. Requires the University of Hawaii to develop and implement a series of courses on climate education and environmental sustainability, to be completed by every student prior to the student's graduation, and establish sustainability practices across all university campuses to promote sustainability. Requires the Department of Education and University of Hawaii to conduct annual sustainability audits across their respective campuses to assess the progress of each campus in integrating sustainability into their curriculum and operations.