Rep. Dee Morikawa

Establishes braille literacy as a policy of the State. Requires literacy assessments for eligible low vision and blind students to include braille instruction and the use of braille. Authorizes the Department of Education to adopt administrative rules. Establishes the Braille Literacy Resource Center. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Establishes within the Department of Agriculture a working group to review and make recommendations on amending or repealing unnecessary or obsolete laws pertaining to agriculture. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Establishes a family caregiver tax credit for nonpaid family caregivers. Requires the Department of Taxation to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys to the Executive Office on Aging. The tax credit applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD2)

Appropriates funds to establish grant specialist positions to assist farmers and ranchers in meeting the requirements to receive grants offered by the United States Department of Agriculture, State, counties, or private entities. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Appropriates moneys to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the contracting of services for start-up business financing and support. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Establishes the Hawaii Farm to Families Program to alleviate food shortages in the State. Requires reports to the Legislature before the Regular Sessions of 2026 and 2027. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Establishes short-term management initiatives for the coconut rhinoceros beetle response program. Appropriates funds for activities and positions related to coconut rhinoceros beetle infestation control. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Maddy summaryHCR 42 is a resolution encouraging Hawaii's counties to develop their own biosecurity plans. It does not require counties to create these plans but urges them to tailor strategies to local challenges like climate, agriculture, and invasive species threats. The resolution emphasizes that plans should prioritize each county's specific needs for preventing harmful plant and animal invasions. It also recommends counties collaborate with each other and state agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture, to improve invasive species response efforts.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to submit an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for reentry services to connect offenders with community-based services. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Maddy summaryHCR 66 is a concurrent resolution requesting the State Building Code Council to update Hawaii's building code to allow "point access block" construction for residential buildings up to six stories. This design places units around a central stairway/elevator core (instead of traditional double-loaded corridors with hallways on both sides), enabling better natural lighting, ventilation, and flexible floor plans (including larger 2-4 bedroom units). The resolution highlights that this approach can reduce construction costs (by eliminating extra stairways/hallways), improve energy efficiency, and align with modern fire safety standards using sprinklers. It specifically asks the Council to adopt this change to increase housing supply on limited land.