Rep. Tina Grandinetti

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.

Maddy summaryHB 2623 establishes a new tax surcharge on high-income individuals, estates, and trusts, applying to taxable years starting after December 31, 2026. The bill directly affects high earners and large wealth holders by imposing an additional tax on their "wealth proceeds," though specific income thresholds are not detailed in the abstract. Key provisions include defining the tax base as wealth-related income or assets and setting a future effective date to allow for planning. The bill is currently in early committee review, having been introduced and passed its first reading in January 2026.

Authorizes and appropriates moneys for the Board of Psychology to grant prescriptive authority privilege to clinical psychologists who meet specific education, training, and registration requirements. Requires the Board of Psychology to accept applications for prescriptive authority privilege beginning 7/1/2027. Requires reports to the Legislature.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 2150 removes a specific tax deduction for real estate investment trusts (REITs). It disallows REITs from deducting dividends they pay to shareholders when calculating their taxable income. This change directly affects REITs by increasing their taxable income and potentially raising their tax burden. The bill creates a concrete policy shift in how REITs are taxed under state law.

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 a hierarchy of duty for public trust resources to be applicable to the decisions made by the Department of Land and Natural Resources in the management of the State's public natural resources.

Prohibits a landlord or the landlord's agent from charging an application fee for a criminal background check or credit report if an applicant provides a certified copy of a recent criminal background check or credit report. Prohibits a landlord or the landlord's agent from charging an application fee if a recent comprehensive reusable tenant screening report is available. Requires a landlord or the landlord's agent to provide, upon request, a certified copy of an applicant's criminal background check or credit report.

Designates pricing practices based on surveillance data as unfair or deceptive acts or practices and unfair methods of competition in the conduct of any trade or commerce.