Rep. Tina Grandinetti

Maddy summaryThis is a House Resolution (not a bill), urging Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources and other state agencies to collaborate with community groups on managing community forests located on public lands. It calls for shared stewardship of these forests - such as those in state parks, school grounds, and neighborhoods - to improve forest health and community well-being. The resolution highlights benefits like cleaner air, economic support for local businesses, and alignment with traditional Hawaiian practices, but does not create new legal requirements.

Maddy summaryHCR 111 is a resolution urging Hawaii's Department of Education (DOE) to provide a detailed report to the Legislature on the true costs of producing school meals. It requires the DOE to break down costs (including ingredients, operations, beverages, supplies, and logistics) and include meal count data by price tier (full-price, reduced-price, free) for the 2024-2025 through 2026-2027 school years. The resolution aims to ensure transparency around proposed meal price increases (e.g., from $2.50 to $4.75 for K-8) and prevent unnecessary hikes by verifying cost claims against existing law requiring meal revenue to cover at least half of production costs. The report must be submitted to the Legislature by January 2026.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 134) urges Hawaii's Sister-State Committee to evaluate and develop recommendations for establishing a formal sister-state relationship between Hawaii and New Zealand. It focuses on strengthening cooperation in economic development, arts/cultural exchange, education, and environmental sustainability, building on shared Polynesian heritage and mutual commitments to indigenous cultures and sustainability. The resolution does not create new laws but requests the committee assess potential collaboration areas and advises the Governor to implement the relationship if recommended. It directly affects Hawaii's state agencies and the Sister-State Committee, encouraging future partnerships with New Zealand.

Maddy summaryHCR 187 is a non-binding resolution urging Hawaii's governor to prepare a contingency plan if federal Medicaid funding is reduced. It specifically addresses potential impacts on Hawaii's Med-QUEST program, which covers about 20% of residents and serves vulnerable groups like children, seniors, and low-income individuals. The resolution highlights that federal funding covers 73% of Hawaii's $3 billion annual Medicaid spending and notes that proposed federal cuts could require $3.2 billion in annual state funding to maintain coverage or lead to 156,000 residents losing Medicaid benefits. As a procedural resolution, it does not change policy but seeks to prompt state-level planning for a hypothetical funding scenario.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 140) requests Hawaii's Department of Human Services (DHS) to apply for and implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) for SNAP benefits. It directly affects low-income seniors aged 60+ without earned income, aiming to simplify their access to food assistance by waiving in-person interviews, extending benefit certification to 36 months, and allowing flexible verification. The resolution asks DHS to seek federal approvals and update its rules to adopt ESAP, which is designed to reduce barriers to SNAP enrollment for seniors. Hawaii currently does not participate in ESAP despite SNAP supporting over 130,000 residents and contributing $630 million annually to the state economy.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution urges the University of Hawaii (UH) to create a program specifically addressing housing instability among students, directly affecting UH students facing homelessness or housing insecurity (as noted in a 2020 Hope Center study showing 14% experienced homelessness). It requests UH use findings from its current 2025 survey on student basic needs insecurity to develop this program, strengthen mental health services, and improve awareness of available resources. The resolution is non-binding and serves as a formal request to UH leadership, not a legislative mandate.

Maddy summaryHCR 106 is a concurrent resolution requesting the Hawaii State Energy Office to study whether establishing a green bonds program is feasible for the state. It directs the office to evaluate best practices for managing such a program, identify clean energy projects that could benefit from it, and explore public-private partnerships. The study must also examine how green bonds align with existing climate goals, including Hawaii’s 2035 renewable energy target. The office must submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by January 2026. This resolution does not create new law or funding - it only asks for a feasibility assessment.

Maddy summaryHR 93 is a non-binding House Resolution urging the University of Hawaii (UH) to create a "Homeless Student Stability and Housing Resource Program" to address housing insecurity among students. It cites a 2020 study showing 44% of UH students experienced housing insecurity (including 14% who were homeless), with only 15% receiving emergency aid due to lack of awareness. The resolution requests UH use its ongoing 2025 Basic Needs Committee survey to develop a plan improving housing access, mental health services (noting UH's current 1:4,010 mental health staff-to-student ratio), and resource awareness. This resolution does not create new law but formally asks UH to act based on documented student needs.

Maddy summaryHCR 140 is a resolution urging Hawaii's Sister-State Committee to evaluate establishing a formal sister-state relationship with New Zealand. It focuses on strengthening ties in economic development, arts/cultural exchange, education, and environmental sustainability, highlighting shared Polynesian heritage and regional cooperation goals. The resolution does not create new law but recommends the committee develop steps for potential collaboration. It emphasizes mutual interests in areas like renewable energy, marine conservation, and cultural programs between the two regions.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution urges Hawaii's governor to develop a plan for state Medicaid (Med-QUEST) if federal funding is cut. It highlights that Medicaid covers 1 in 5 Hawaii residents (including 1 in 3 children) and relies on 73% federal funding, with potential cuts risking coverage for 156,000 people - 34% of Hawaii's Medicaid population. The resolution notes maintaining coverage would require significant state funding increases, while dropping expansion could eliminate federal support for 156,000 vulnerable residents. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change policy but requests proactive planning.