Rep. Dee Morikawa

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.

Establishes a paid family leave program for state and county employees. Authorizes a qualifying employee to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth or placement of a child or to care for a family member who has a serious health condition. Requires the employee to agree to subsequently work for the employer for at least 12 weeks upon return to service except under certain conditions. Effective 1/1/2026.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the Department of Education to establish a cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator training program for public school students in grades six through twelve as part of existing health or physical education curriculum. Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the establishment of a cardiac emergency response plan in all public elementary, middle, intermediate, and high schools in the State.

Allows foreign medical school graduates applying for a license to practice medicine and surgery to substitute one year of required medical training or experience in a hospital with one year of fellowship training where the parent program or hospital is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Requires the Department of Transportation to establish and implement a five-year Interisland Transportation Fee Reimbursement Pilot Program, to be funded by revenues received from the rental motor vehicle surcharge. Extends the increase of the rental motor vehicle surcharge by $0.50 each year from 12/31/2027 to 12/31/2031. Appropriates funds.

Requires the department of education to equip all classroom doors with interior locks, maintain a public address system, feature an emergency access route, and maintain fire alarms. Mandates the establishment of school emergency plans. Requires schools conduct regular testing and emergency preparedness drills. Appropriates funds.

Maddy summaryHB 1441 creates a new criminal offense for "organized retail theft," defined as coordinated thefts involving multiple people or large-scale operations targeting retail businesses. It establishes specific penalties for this offense, including potential fines and imprisonment. The bill also mandates the creation of an organized retail theft task force to investigate and address such incidents. This legislation directly affects retail businesses, law enforcement agencies, and individuals committing organized theft. The task force will coordinate efforts between state and local authorities to tackle this specific type of crime.

Maddy summaryHB 1288 would create a Rare Disease Advisory Council within the state Department of Health. The council would provide recommendations to the state on addressing the needs of people living with rare diseases. This bill establishes a formal advisory body to help inform state health policies and programs for rare disease patients. The bill is currently in committee referral.

Maddy summaryHB 1429 allocates state funds for capital improvement projects (such as infrastructure or facility upgrades) specifically in the 15th, 16th, and 17th legislative districts. It directly affects residents and local governments within those districts by providing financial resources for physical improvements. The bill’s key mechanism is a funding appropriation, directing state budget resources to these geographic areas without creating new regulations or policies. As of January 2025, it has been introduced and referred to the Finance Committee for review. This is a procedural budget allocation bill with no additional policy provisions.

Maddy summaryHB 1463 requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to conduct a study on whether establishing a state lottery is feasible. The bill does not create a lottery but mandates this analysis to evaluate potential impacts, costs, and benefits. This study would inform future legislative decisions about a possible lottery, directly affecting state agencies and potentially residents if a lottery is later approved.