Rep. Nadine Nakamura

Repeals the requirement to transfer the Oahu Regional Health Care System from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to the Department of Health. Repeals certain changes to the Hawaii Revised Statutes that were made by Act 212, SLH 2021. Requires the Oahu Regional Health Care System to enter into an agreement with the Department of Health regarding Oahu Regional Health Care System taking care of low acuity patients in the Department's custody by December 31, 2025.

Provides the Governor with discretion to not fill a vacant legislative position if the vacancy occurs one hundred twenty days or less from an upcoming primary election until after the results of the primary election are certified.

Makes emergency appropriations and commensurate reductions to pay for anticipated operating shortfalls in the fourth quarter due to the limited ability to transfer funds between programs.

Clarifies the definition of "covered employer" under the Hawaii Retirement Savings Act. Requires covered employers to automatically enroll covered employees into the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program unless the covered employee chooses to opt out. Effective upon approval.

Authorizes the Hawaii Medical Board as the State of Principal License to investigate and request criminal history records of qualified physicians seeking licensing through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. Appropriates funds. Effective 07/01/2025.

Maddy summaryHB 985 appropriates funding to the Department of Agriculture to continue its existing statewide pesticide drift monitoring study. The bill directly affects the Department of Agriculture, which will use the funds to maintain and expand monitoring efforts tracking pesticide movement beyond target areas. It does not change pesticide regulations or impose new requirements on farmers but ensures ongoing data collection on drift impacts. This funding mechanism supports the agency's current program, aiming to gather information on pesticide drift patterns without altering legal standards.

Expands the scopes of practice for occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech pathologists to allow those professionals working for or contracted by the Department of Education to diagnose medical conditions that can be treated with their respective services.

Maddy summaryHB 986 increases the maximum amount allowed in the pesticide use revolving fund, which supports pesticide regulatory programs. This change directly affects the state's pesticide oversight system by allowing it to collect and retain more funds. The bill raises the fund's ceiling without altering existing regulations or adding new requirements, effective July 1, 2025. It is a procedural adjustment to the fund's financial structure.

Clarifies and updates the responsibilities of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division of the Department of Health to reflect the current mental health systems of care that address the mental health needs of children and adolescents in the State.

Retroactively repeals the sunset date of the authorization for primary caregivers to cultivate medical cannabis for their qualifying patients. Clarifies that each location used to cultivate cannabis can be used to cultivate cannabis for no more than five qualifying patients. Effective 1/1/2025.