Establishes the broadband infrastructure grant program to award grants to applicants to extend deployment of infrastructure used to provide broadband service to unserved and underserved areas of the State. Renames the Hawaii technology loan revolving fund to the Hawaii broadband infrastructure special fund. Establishes the Hawaii broadband and digital equity office within the department of business, economic development, and tourism. Requires the governor to appoint a strategic broadband coordinator to head the Hawaii broadband and digital equity office. Appropriates funds from the moneys received pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. (CD1)
Sponsored bills
Requires and establishes benchmarks for each state department to ensure that a certain percentage of the produce purchased by that department consists of fresh local agricultural products or local value-added, processed, agricultural, or food products. Requires a report to the legislature on each department's progress toward meeting these benchmarks. (SD2)
Allows the board of land and natural resources to adopt, amend, or repeal administrative fee schedules for certain activities related to state parks through regular or special board meetings rather than through administrative rulemaking. (CD1)
Lowers the age at which enhanced penalties apply for crimes against seniors from sixty-two years of age to sixty years of age. Makes commission of certain criminal offenses against a senior's person or property applicable if the perpetrator knows or reasonably should know the senior victim's age. (SD1)
Raises the maximum age of minors for which safe storage of firearms is required from sixteen to eighteen years.
Reorganizes and integrates the land use commission within a modified office of planning, which is renamed as the office of planning and sustainable development. (CD1)
Amends the class C felony offense of manufacturing, purchasing, or obtaining firearm parts to assemble a firearm having no serial number to also prohibit possession of those firearm parts. Amends Act 74, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020, to repeal language that specified the prospective application of that Act. Effective 1/1/2022. (HD1)
Establishes a framework for the regulation of electric foot scooters by the State and counties. Amends definitions of "moped" to exclude electric foot scooters. Retains personal injury protection benefits for any individual sustaining injuries while using or operating an electric foot scooter. (SD2)
Allows applicants to the University of Hawaii who earned a high school diploma from a public high school in the State with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and also provides evidence that they qualified for and received special education services for two or more years during enrollment in grades seven through twelve to be eligible for the Hawaii state scholars program. (CD1)
Requires the Hawaii natural energy institute, in consultation with the department of health, to conduct a comprehensive study to determine best practices for disposal, recycling, or secondary use of clean energy products in the State. (CD1)