Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Medicaid buy-in program for workers with disabilities. Requires the Department to adopt rules.
Establishes the Hawaii Agricultural Transportation Assistance Program, to consist of a reimbursement program for geographically disadvantaged farmers and livestock producers to mitigate the high costs of transportation for agricultural products, inputs, and supplies, and a grant program to assist small-scale farmers, ranchers, food hubs, and agricultural producers in rural or underserved areas with transportation costs directly related to the production and distribution of agricultural commodities. Establishes the Hawaii Agricultural Transportation Assistance Special Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.
Maddy summaryHB 2588 establishes an American Sign Language (ASL) Program at the University of Hawaii and appropriates funding for its operation. The program directly affects University of Hawaii students and future ASL interpreters by providing dedicated educational resources. Key provisions include creating the program structure and allocating state funds for its implementation. This bill represents a concrete policy change to support ASL education at the university level.
Requires state agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and Agribusiness Development Corporation, that administer agricultural leases, licenses, development programs, or procurement involving agricultural products to award points or preferences to agricultural projects incorporating agricultural workforce housing. Requires a report to the Legislature.
Allows the charge of unauthorized entry into motor vehicle in the first degree to be brought as a class B felony if property damage of $750 or more occurs or the person has a previous conviction for the same offense within the past five years.
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 12/31/2027. Effective 12/31/2026.
Requires the Hawaii Community Development Authority to establish a Community Action Center in Chinatown. Expenditure contingent upon the City and County of Honolulu providing matching funds. Appropriation.
Prohibits discrimination against a pharmacy or pharmacist with respect to participation, referral, reimbursement of a covered service, or indemnification. Establishes beneficiary cost sharing and deductible requirements for prescription drugs. Establishes minimum rates for which pharmacy benefit managers are to reimburse pharmacies for dispensing prescription drugs. For prescription drug benefit plans executed, amended, adjusted, or renewed on or after 7/1/2027, requires a pharmacy benefit manager to use pass-through pricing, or may alternatively use spread pricing if any savings realized by the pharmacy benefit manager are passed on.
Establishes mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment for certain class A felonies involving firearms. Changes from a class B felony to a class A felony the penalty for owning, possessing, or controlling any firearm or ammunition while being prosecuted for or having been convicted of committing a felony, a crime of violence, a criminal offense relating to firearms, or an illegal sale or distribution of any drug. Changes from a misdemeanor to a class A felony the penalty for ownership, possession, control, or transfer of ownership of any firearms or ammunition by a person who a court order has restrained from contacting, threatening, or physically abusing any person. Changes from a misdemeanor to a class A felony the penalty for carrying a firearm while under the influence of a controlled substance. Establishes possession of methamphetamine while carrying a firearm as a class A felony.
Authorizes the use of conservation banks for compensatory mitigation in a habitat conservation plan and associated incidental take license. Amends the membership and scope of authority for the Endangered Species Recovery Committee.
