Rep. Sue Lee Loy

Maddy summaryHCR 69 is a resolution requesting Hawaii's State Fire Marshal to convene a working group focused on wildfire risk reduction. The group will study regulations defining property owner obligations for vegetation management on public and private land and establish minimum safety standards, training, and qualifications for tree trimmers near electric utility lines. This follows the 2023 Maui wildfires, which highlighted risks from vegetation near power lines and high fatality rates in tree trimming work. The working group will make recommendations to inform future regulations, but the resolution itself does not create new laws.

Maddy summaryHCR 112 is a non-binding formal request urging the Honolulu City Council to adopt a "pedestrian first" policy through city ordinance. It directs the City Council to prioritize pedestrian safety in transportation decisions, referencing Honolulu's existing Oahu Pedestrian Plan and data showing high-risk areas cause 60% of pedestrian fatalities. The resolution does not create new laws but asks the city to formally adopt this policy framework for street planning. It specifically addresses the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Transportation Services and City Council members.

Maddy summaryHCR 58 is a concurrent resolution requesting the Hawaii State Energy Office to form a working group focused on geothermal energy. The working group, including state agency leaders, county planners, industry representatives, and community stakeholders, will evaluate regulatory barriers, permitting challenges, and policy gaps affecting geothermal development. It will assess geothermal’s potential to support Hawaii’s renewable energy goals and provide recommendations for policy reforms by early 2026. This resolution does not create new laws but directs an evaluation to address existing hurdles in developing geothermal energy.

Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to establish a five-year Community Land Trust Equity Pilot Program to provide community land trusts with a line of credit to fund the acquisition, rehabilitation, renovation, or construction of housing for certain households. Requires reports to the Legislature regarding the pilot program. Appropriates funds from the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund for establishment of the pilot program. Sunsets the pilot program on 6/30/2030. Takes effect 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Maddy summaryHB 429 appropriates state funds to hire teachers and teacher assistants, and to purchase equipment and services for public preschool programs. It directly affects public preschools by providing resources to expand staffing and facilities. The bill's key provision is the allocation of dedicated funding, which will become available starting July 1, 2050. This legislation focuses on increasing early learning capacity through financial support, without changing existing program rules.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 68) requests the Mayor, City Council, and Parks Department of Honolulu to create a dedicated animal education and training complex within Kalaeloa parklands. It directly affects Honolulu city officials and pet owners in Kapolei and District 3 (Waipahu to Waianae), where current park restrictions limit pet-friendly spaces and off-leash options. The resolution specifies the complex should include secure indoor facilities, storage for animal club equipment (like agility gear), bathrooms, and food prep areas - similar to Ala Moana’s McCoy Pavilion. As a procedural request (not a binding law), it aims to address gaps in public pet recreation without mandating action.

Maddy summaryHCR 104 is a concurrent resolution urging the Hawaii Department of Education (DOE) to strengthen farm-to-school programs. It directly affects Hawaii public schools, farmers, and the DOE by requesting specific actions to meet Act 175’s goal of sourcing 30% of school meal ingredients locally by 2030. Key provisions include streamlining procurement for small farms, creating a statewide farm database, offering financial incentives for local food purchases, and ensuring culturally significant foods like kalo are included. The resolution requires the DOE to submit a progress report to the Legislature by early 2026. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change laws but formally requests the DOE take these steps.

Maddy summaryHCR 39 is a concurrent resolution requesting state agencies to gather data and analyze costs to advance children's health coverage. It directs the Health Data Advisory Council to confirm the number of uninsured children statewide and by county for 2025, and asks the Med-Quest Division (Hawaii's children's health coverage program) to estimate costs for extending continuous coverage from age 6 to 18 and covering children currently ineligible under federal rules. The resolution also requires Med-Quest and the State Health Planning Agency to collaborate on policy recommendations and submit a report to the Legislature by early 2026. This action does not create new law but seeks data to inform future policy decisions on achieving universal health coverage for children.

Maddy summaryHCR 125 is a concurrent resolution requesting the University of Hawaii to prioritize constructing "Halau o Kawaihuelani," a dedicated building for Hawaiian language and cultural programs. It directly affects the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language and the Kamakakōkālani Center for Hawaiian Studies at UH Mānoa, which currently operate in separate campus locations (Spalding Hall and the Kamakakōkālani building) due to space constraints. The resolution seeks to consolidate these programs into one facility to support Hawaiian language classes, faculty offices, and a performing arts space for Hawaiian music, dance, and theater. This would address current challenges with physical separation hindering collaboration and accommodating growing student enrollment (over 1,000 students per semester in language courses). The resolution formally asks the University of Hawaii leadership to prioritize this project but does not mandate construction.

Maddy summaryHCR 186 is a concurrent resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Education, with the Department of Health and State Public Charter School Commission, to study how public and charter schools manage heat exposure during outdoor student activities. It directs the study to assess current practices, evaluate using wet-bulb globe temperature measurements (a standard for measuring heat stress), and develop guidelines if current methods are insufficient. The guidelines would cover hydration protocols, staff training for heat illness symptoms, accommodations for students with medical conditions, and acclimatization plans for outdoor activities like sports, recess, and marching band. The study must be completed and submitted to the Legislature by January 2026, with any proposed plan due by January 2027.