Rep. Mahina Poepoe

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 184) requests Hawaii’s Department of Health to establish a Demolition Waste Reduction Working Group. It directly affects state agencies, the construction and demolition industries, and community groups focused on environmental justice and circular economy practices. The working group must develop strategies to reduce construction/demolition waste, scale material reuse, align with Hawaii’s carbon neutrality goals (by 2045), and create policy recommendations. The resolution requires the group to include health officials, industry representatives, and community experts, and to submit annual reports to the legislature with findings and proposed actions.

Maddy summaryHCR 131 is a concurrent resolution urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Hawaii’s State Department of Transportation to support expanded air service using short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft, which can operate on shorter runways common in rural Hawaii. It directly affects residents of rural communities like Molokai, Lanai, and Hana, who face reduced service and higher costs for essential air travel. The resolution requests the State DOT to study incentives for STOL operations and directs the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a feasibility study on a rural air service program, including funding and partnerships, with a report due by early 2026. This is a non-binding request for action and study, not a new law.

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 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 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 140) requests Hawaii's Department of Human Services (DHS) to apply for and implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) for SNAP benefits. It directly affects low-income seniors aged 60+ without earned income, aiming to simplify their access to food assistance by waiving in-person interviews, extending benefit certification to 36 months, and allowing flexible verification. The resolution asks DHS to seek federal approvals and update its rules to adopt ESAP, which is designed to reduce barriers to SNAP enrollment for seniors. Hawaii currently does not participate in ESAP despite SNAP supporting over 130,000 residents and contributing $630 million annually to the state economy.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution urges the University of Hawaii (UH) to create a program specifically addressing housing instability among students, directly affecting UH students facing homelessness or housing insecurity (as noted in a 2020 Hope Center study showing 14% experienced homelessness). It requests UH use findings from its current 2025 survey on student basic needs insecurity to develop this program, strengthen mental health services, and improve awareness of available resources. The resolution is non-binding and serves as a formal request to UH leadership, not a legislative mandate.

Maddy summaryHCR 106 is a concurrent resolution requesting the Hawaii State Energy Office to study whether establishing a green bonds program is feasible for the state. It directs the office to evaluate best practices for managing such a program, identify clean energy projects that could benefit from it, and explore public-private partnerships. The study must also examine how green bonds align with existing climate goals, including Hawaii’s 2035 renewable energy target. The office must submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by January 2026. This resolution does not create new law or funding - it only asks for a feasibility assessment.

Maddy summaryHCR 31 is a concurrent resolution requesting the University of Hawaii to assess the feasibility of establishing an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. It directs the university to evaluate its current research capabilities, potential benefits for Hawaii, and the specific requirements to secure federal funding from the National Institute on Aging. The resolution requires the university to develop a phased plan, including infrastructure needs and community engagement, and submit a report by December 31, 2025. This resolution does not create the center but asks the university to explore steps toward one, directly affecting the University of Hawaii System and its research planning.