Rep. Mahina Poepoe

Maddy summaryThis bill requests that each county's planning department create building permit requirements to make parking and business hours more accessible for older adults, known as kupuna. It would require private businesses and shopping malls to set aside special hours when kupuna can enter more easily and increase the number of designated parking spaces for both disabled and non-disabled older adults. The resolution is a non-binding request to county officials rather than a law that mandates immediate changes, so it does not directly affect businesses or residents on its own. Its purpose is to encourage local governments to consider the needs of Hawaii's aging population when updating building codes and parking standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to form a working group focused on improving consumer awareness of invasive plant species and reducing their spread through plant sales. The working group would develop a comprehensive labeling system to indicate the invasiveness risk of plants sold in the state, aiming to help buyers make more informed decisions. The group would include representatives from various agricultural, retail, and environmental organizations and must submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027. This initiative is designed to address the fact that most invasive plants in Hawaii are imported intentionally through horticulture, with the current list of prohibited species last updated in 1992.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii Department of Education to create clear policies for storing and administering oral antihistamines in public schools. It would allow trained school staff to give these allergy medications to students who have a doctor-approved plan and written parental consent. The resolution outlines requirements for staff training, standardized consent forms, and secure storage procedures to ensure safe medication management. The Department of Education is asked to report its actions to the legislature within 20 days before the 2027 session.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii Department of Education to form a working group to address findings from an auditor's report on the state's farm-to-school and local food procurement programs. The working group will consist of up to seventeen members representing educators, farmers, distributors, nutrition professionals, and legislators to review challenges in meeting the goal of sourcing at least 10% of school meals from local producers. Key tasks include improving data collection on locally sourced food, streamlining procurement processes to better identify local products, and strengthening coordination between the education and agriculture sectors. The group must submit a report to the legislature by the end of 2026 with recommendations for policy changes or new legislation to support local food initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution urges Hawaii's Department of Education to work with teachers to create an artificial intelligence literacy curriculum for students in grades six through twelve. The bill requests that the curriculum be developed using peer-reviewed research, global AI literacy frameworks, and existing local resources while focusing on ethical use, equitable access, and regular assessments. By establishing this educational framework, the resolution aims to prepare students for an increasingly technology-driven workforce without mandating specific curriculum content or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill urges the Hawaii Department of Education to officially recognize competitive cheerleading as a Title IX sport, which would grant high school cheer athletes the same resources and protections as other varsity sports. The resolution requests that the state education department develop guidelines and safety standards in collaboration with the Hawaii High School Athletic Association to meet federal criteria for classifying cheerleading as a sport. By doing so, the bill aims to ensure equitable access to certified coaching, athletic training, facilities, and transportation for female cheerleaders while promoting gender equity in school athletics. This is a non-binding resolution that calls for administrative action rather than creating new laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii Department of Education to form a working group to address findings from an auditor's report on the state's farm-to-school and local food procurement initiatives. The working group will include representatives from education, agriculture, food distribution, schools, and community organizations to review challenges identified in the audit, such as lack of strategic planning and coordination issues. The group will develop strategies to improve data collection, streamline local food procurement processes, and strengthen partnerships between schools and local farmers. The Department of Education is asked to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the legislature by the start of the 2027 session.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii Department of Education to create clear policies for storing and administering oral antihistamines in public schools. It directly affects students with allergies, school staff, and parents by establishing a framework for managing mild allergic reactions during the school day. The key provisions require schools to have written parental consent, individualized physician-approved allergy plans, and trained personnel who can recognize allergy symptoms and properly administer the medication. The resolution also asks the Department to develop standardized forms for consent and protocols, and to report back to the Legislature within 20 days of the 2027 session with findings and any proposed legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill declares that affordable housing credits issued under Hawaii state law are perpetual assets that remain valid until they are used to fulfill housing obligations, rather than having expiration dates. It directly affects counties and developers by requesting that local administrative agreements and policies do not impose time limits or restrictions on these credits beyond what state statutes authorize. The resolution aims to clarify that memoranda of agreement between counties and housing agencies are meant to facilitate credit management, not to diminish their value or transferability. By seeking alignment with existing state law, the bill intends to protect the financial incentives for developers and ensure a stable pipeline for affordable housing construction.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House resolution that asks the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to evaluate the state's emergency shelters and create a plan to strengthen their ability to withstand hurricanes. The agency will identify all designated disaster shelters, assess their structural capacity to handle hurricane-force winds, and publish a public list showing each shelter's location and resilience level. Additionally, the resolution requires the agency to develop recommendations for improving shelter capacity through upgrades or retrofits and submit a report to the Legislature by early 2027. This measure directly affects emergency management officials and aims to provide residents with clearer information about safe shelter options during storm events.