Rep. Gene Ward

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution urges the Hawaii State Legislature to establish a State Department of Government Efficiency, which would investigate wasteful spending. It cites voter support for examining government expenditures (77% in a poll) and reducing spending over tax increases (83%), along with projected $5.6 billion in lost revenue from tax cuts by 2031. The resolution highlights past inefficiencies in state spending as justification for creating the department. It is a non-binding request, not a law, intended to prompt legislative action.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 74) requests the U.S. Transportation Secretary to initiate a performance review of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project under an existing federal funding agreement. It directly affects the project's management and federal funding, citing $12.45 billion in estimated costs (up from $5.5 billion) and a delayed completion timeline (now 2030) due to cost overruns and delays. The resolution references the Amended Full Funding Grant Agreement, which requires such reviews to assess whether satisfactory progress is being made. Hawaii has already provided $3.9 billion in state funding through tax surcharges to support the project. The resolution is procedural and does not alter project funding or timelines.

Maddy summaryThis is a House Resolution (HR 75), not a bill, urging the Hawaii Legislature to require mandatory inquiries into all child fatalities and serious injuries occurring within the state's child welfare system. It references numerous past cases (e.g., Reubyne, Peter Boy Kema, and Geanna Bradley) where systemic failures led to preventable harm, citing lawsuits and settlements. The resolution calls for the Legislature to mandate these reviews, rather than creating new legal requirements or policy changes. It serves as a formal request for oversight, not an enacted law.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges Hawaii's Department of Law Enforcement, City and County of Honolulu, and Honolulu Police Department to partner with local businesses to create safe disposal programs for illegal fireworks. It aims to help residents safely discard unused fireworks (avoiding home storage or trash disposal) following a deadly 2024 explosion and a prior disposal event that collected over 1,300 pounds from 121 residents. The resolution does not create new laws but encourages regular disposal events and interagency collaboration. It directly affects Honolulu residents handling fireworks and the targeted city/state agencies.

Maddy summaryHR 164 is a House Resolution (not a bill) urging the Hawaii State House of Representatives to amend its internal rules. It specifically proposes removing committee chairs' unilateral power to defer bills without a full committee vote, clarifying when "recommit" can be used to prevent legislative stalling, and prohibiting members from calling points of order during others' speeches. These changes aim to strengthen democratic processes by reducing power concentration and ensuring members can vote on substantive issues. The resolution directly affects how House members conduct committee and floor proceedings.

Maddy summaryHR 132 is a House resolution requesting the Legislative Reference Bureau to study adopting fiscal notes - financial impact summaries for bills - into Hawaii's legislative process. Currently, Hawaii lawmakers vote on bills without knowing their financial costs, unlike 44 states that require such summaries. The study must examine implementation methods (statute vs. rules), associated costs, public accessibility, barriers like staffing, and lessons from states like Colorado and Texas, with a report due before Hawaii's 2026 legislative session. This resolution does not change current law but seeks to inform potential future policy.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 162) urges Hawaii's State Department of Transportation and Honolulu's City and County Department of Transportation Services to improve safety and traffic flow in Hawaii Kai and Kalama Valley. It specifically requests installing crosswalks near Kalama Valley Community Park and at Hawaii Kai Drive/Kealahou Street, studying traffic calming measures to reduce speeding, and adjusting traffic signal timing - including potential flashing yellow lights during low-traffic hours on Kalaniana'ole Highway - to prioritize pedestrian safety and reduce driver wait times. The resolution directly affects pedestrians, drivers, and residents in these communities who face dangerous conditions due to lack of crosswalks and inefficient traffic signals. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but formally requests specific actions from transportation agencies.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges Honolulu to revise property tax rules for kupuna (Hawaiian elders aged 60+ on fixed incomes). It proposes two key changes: basing property assessments on original purchase price (not current market value) with a 2% annual increase, and capping annual property taxes at 3% of the owner’s income. The resolution does not create new law but asks Honolulu to consider these adjustments to reduce tax burdens for elderly residents facing rising costs. It is a non-binding request directed to the city and county government.

Maddy summaryHR 155 is a Hawaii state House resolution urging the Peace Corps to immediately establish a mission in the Marshall Islands. It calls for coordination with U.S. agencies (like the Department of Defense and USAID) and international organizations to address the Marshall Islands' health challenges (including cancer from nuclear testing), food insecurity (90% imported food, high obesity/diabetes rates), and economic reliance on U.S. Compact funding. The resolution does not create new law but expresses legislative support for renewed Peace Corps engagement, noting their prior service (1966-1996) and current needs like improving education (only 9% college graduation).

Maddy summaryHCR 53 is a non-binding concurrent resolution urging the City and County of Honolulu and housing developers to coordinate infrastructure planning with community stakeholders before approving new housing projects. It directly affects Honolulu officials, developers, and residents in areas like West Oahu where infrastructure upgrades lag behind rapid development. The resolution highlights Hawaii’s $1.1 billion unfunded infrastructure gap and links inadequate infrastructure to delays in addressing the state’s 50,000-unit housing shortage. It calls for proactive collaboration to ensure water, sewer, and transportation systems are in place prior to construction, referencing specific concerns like premature development contracts and federal grant shortfalls. This resolution has no legal force but aims to guide future planning practices.