Rep. Tina Grandinetti

Maddy summaryHB 869 expands the Hawaii Community College Promise Program to provide scholarships to all qualified students, removing prior restrictions. It directly affects eligible students attending Hawaii community colleges by making the scholarship available regardless of previous eligibility criteria. The bill's key provision broadens the program's scope while appropriating state funds to cover the expanded coverage. This change creates a concrete policy shift in scholarship access without specifying additional student qualifications.

Adds psychology, physician assistant, marriage and family therapist, mental health counselor, clinical social worker, rehabilitation counselor, and school counselor students to the definition of "eligible student" under the qualifications for the healthcare preceptor tax credit. Amends the definition of "preceptor" by adding psychologists, physician assistants, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, clinical social workers, rehabilitation counselors, and school counselors to the list of preceptors eligible to receive the tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025.

Maddy summaryHB 887 requires human services providers (such as home care or childcare agencies) to pay workers the prevailing wage rate for similar work in their area. This means providers must pay standard local wages, not lower rates, for services like personal care or early childhood education. The bill directly affects agencies employing these workers by mandating fair compensation based on regional wage standards. It is a new legislative requirement currently pending introduction.

Establishes a refundable Family Caregiver Tax Credit for nonpaid family caregivers. Requires the department of taxation to report to the legislature before the convening of each regular session.

Prohibits the resetting of lease rents for long-term commercial leases above a level that is economic for the lessee's actual use of the property. Requires that a lessee whose long-term commercial lease has been terminated be compensated for the value of buildings, infrastructure, and businesses created by the lessee that will be retained by the lessor. Allows a lessee the right to purchase the property at fair market value.

Exempts the tax collected on the sale of groceries that are eligible under the supplemental nutrition assistance program or special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, regardless of the means of purchase and the program eligibility of the purchaser.

Maddy summaryHB 178 appropriates state funds to establish a new position for a state tea agent at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR). This bill directly affects UH Manoa's CTAHR program by funding a dedicated specialist focused on tea agriculture. The key mechanism is a budget allocation to create this role, supporting research and outreach related to tea cultivation in Hawaii. The bill is procedural, focusing on funding a specific staff position rather than changing laws.

Establishes and provides criteria for overdose prevention centers, including standards for the Department of Health to designate certain facilities as overdose prevention centers. Establishes an Overdose Prevention Center Oversight Committee. Provides immunity from state criminal prosecution for certain offenses for persons using a designated overdose prevention center and persons operating a designated overdose prevention center.

Maddy summaryHB 355 creates a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for homeowners who pay to retrofit their residences with wind-resistant devices. It directly affects taxpayers who incur expenses for qualifying storm-resistant home improvements. The credit reduces the homeowner's state income tax liability dollar-for-dollar based on eligible retrofit costs. This policy change provides a financial incentive for residential storm safety upgrades without generating tax refunds.

Requires a trigger lock for all firearms purchases from a licensed dealer. Requires licensed firearms dealers to provide purchasers with notice regarding the law on firearms storage. Amends the requirements for the secure storage of firearms and establishes fines for violations. Amends the offense of criminally negligent storage of a firearm.