Rep. Sue Lee Loy

Maddy summaryHCR 185 is a resolution requesting the state Auditor to conduct a social and financial assessment of a proposed mandate requiring health insurers to cover Native Hawaiian healing practices (like lomilomi massage and ho'oponopono) offered at federally qualified health centers. This follows Hawaii law (HRS §23-51) that requires such an assessment before mandating insurance coverage for specific health services. The resolution specifically references House Bill 641, which proposes expanding existing insurance mandates to include these cultural practices. The Auditor’s report must evaluate the impacts and be submitted to the Legislature before the 2026 session.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 179) requests the Hawaii Department of Education, working with the Department of Health and State Public Charter School Commission, to study how schools manage heat exposure during outdoor activities to protect student health. The study must examine current practices, assess using wet-bulb globe temperature as a heat stress measurement standard, and determine if existing protocols are sufficient. If gaps are found, the study would develop guidelines for all public and charter schools covering activities like sports, recess, and band practice, including hydration protocols, staff training for heat illness, and special considerations for students with medical conditions. The resolution requires the study and any proposed guidelines to be submitted to the Legislature by early 2026. This is a procedural request for research, not an immediate policy change.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 34) directs Hawaii state agencies to gather specific data and analyze costs related to children's health insurance coverage. It requests the Health Data Advisory Council to confirm statewide and county-level counts of uninsured children in 2025, and the Med-QUEST Division to estimate costs for extending continuous coverage for children aged 6-18 from 2 years to 12 years, plus costs for children ineligible under current rules. The agencies must collaborate on policy recommendations to achieve universal child health insurance coverage and submit a report to the Legislature by 2026. The resolution does not create new law but mandates data collection and cost analysis to inform future policy decisions.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural resolution (not a bill), requesting the Hawaii State Energy Office to convene a Geothermal Energy Working Group. The working group - comprising state agency representatives, county officials, industry stakeholders, and community experts - will evaluate regulatory and policy challenges for geothermal energy development in Hawaii and provide recommendations to the Legislature by January 2026. It does not create new laws but aims to identify pathways for accelerating geothermal energy, a stable renewable resource, to support Hawaii's clean energy goals.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 121) requests the University of Hawaii to prioritize constructing a new building called "Halau o Kawaihuelani" at UH Manoa. The resolution asks the university to fund this capital project to address space constraints for the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language, which currently shares cramped facilities in Spalding Hall. The proposed building would house the Center’s faculty/staff, Hawaiian language classrooms, and a performing arts space for Hawaiian music, dance, and theater. This is a procedural request to the university, not a binding law, directly affecting UH Manoa’s Hawaiian language programs and campus planning.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding House Resolution encourages the University of Hawaii to evaluate and expand its student mental health services. It specifically asks the university to hire additional mental health professionals and support staff, extend counseling hours, improve crisis response, and adopt proactive outreach initiatives. The resolution also requests the university provide periodic updates to the legislature on its progress. It does not mandate changes or allocate funding, serving only as a recommendation to address growing student mental health needs.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution requests that health insurers and managed care providers in Hawaii cover prosthetic and orthotic devices for residents with limb loss or mobility impairments. It specifically aims to address barriers faced by over 18,000 Hawaii residents who currently lack access to activity-specific devices (like those for running or swimming) due to restrictive insurance policies. The resolution asks insurers to provide this coverage to reduce preventable health issues like diabetes and obesity, which disproportionately affect people with disabilities. It is a non-binding request, not a law, and directs copies to major insurance providers and the Insurance Commissioner for consideration.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 62) requests the Office of the State Fire Marshal to form a working group to study vegetation management practices on public and private property. The group will evaluate property owner responsibilities for reducing wildfire risks, particularly near electric utility lines, and develop recommendations for minimum safety standards for tree trimming near power facilities. It specifically responds to wildfire risks identified after the 2023 Maui fires, including the role of invasive grasses and human-caused ignitions. The working group must include representatives from fire services, utilities, counties, and invasive species councils, but does not create new laws - only seeks recommendations for future policy.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 100) urges the Hawaii Department of Education to strengthen farm-to-school programs. It directly affects Hawaii schools, local farmers (especially small/medium producers), and Native Hawaiian crop growers by requesting four specific actions: streamlining procurement rules for farmers, creating a statewide farm database, offering financial incentives for local food purchases, and ensuring culturally significant foods like kalo are included in meals. The resolution does not create new law but asks the Department to report progress by 2026 on implementing these measures to help meet a 2030 goal of sourcing 30% of school meal ingredients locally. It addresses barriers like complex contracts and logistics that hinder current efforts to reduce Hawaii’s reliance on imported food.

Maddy summaryHCR 86 is a concurrent resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Education to establish an "Aloha Civics Working Group" to enhance civics education in public schools. The group, requiring specific members including the Superintendent of Education, university representatives, legislative staff, community organizations, and public members, must assess current civics programs, identify ways to integrate the Aloha Spirit's principles (kindness, unity, humility), develop teaching strategies, recommend educator training, and propose evaluation metrics. The group must submit its final report to the Legislature and Department of Education by January 2026, ahead of the next legislative session. This resolution directly affects Hawaii's public school curriculum and educator training by seeking to incorporate cultural values into civic learning.