Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto

Prohibits foreign entities from owning, leasing, or holding a controlling interest in more than an unspecified number of acres of agricultural land. Limits the lease term for agricultural land by foreign entities. Requires foreign entities that own or lease interest in agricultural lands to file an annual report with the Department of Agriculture. Appropriates funds.

Maddy summaryHB 495 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit Hawaii legislators to a maximum of 16 years of service in the state Legislature, affecting all current and future members of the House and Senate. The key provision would cap total service time, preventing lawmakers from serving indefinitely. This amendment is currently pending introduction in the Hawaii Legislature, with no committee action taken as of its January 2025 filing. The bill does not change existing term limits for other elected offices.

Establishes the Hawaii Food Security Special Fund to restore Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit levels to those provided in federal fiscal year 2023. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Establishes a state-owned bank implementation board within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to determine the need for, potential costs and benefits of, and prerequisites to establishing a state-owned bank. Requires a report to the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 675 requires judges to assess and document a defendant's ability to afford bail before setting a monetary amount. This directly affects individuals facing pretrial detention who cannot pay bail, ensuring judicial consideration of financial circumstances. The key provision mandates judges to make specific findings about affordability rather than automatically imposing cash bail, aiming to prevent unnecessary detention for those unable to pay. The bill is currently pending introduction in the legislature.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure that the inherent and inalienable right of the people, including present and future generations, to clean water and air, a healthful environment and climate, healthy native ecosystems, and beaches shall be protected and shall not be infringed.

Requires each public high school in the State to require students to complete and pass 2 full years of Hawaiian language courses as a condition of graduation.

For purposes of the state ethics laws, subjects legislators to all ethics laws applicable to employees by including legislators within the definition of "employees". Repeals references to legislators under the state ethics laws made redundant by the inclusion.

Prohibits the construction, modification, or expansion of any waste or disposal facility on land that is near or above a significant aquifer as determined by the Department of Health. Reduces the required buffer zone around waste or disposal facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 462 adopts an interstate compact designed to coordinate state efforts across multiple states to eliminate corporate tax breaks and subsidies. The bill does not create new state laws but enables participating states to collectively phase out "corporate welfare" programs - such as targeted tax credits or exemptions for businesses. It directly affects state governments by requiring them to join the compact and align their policies with the agreement's goals. This is a procedural bill focused on interstate cooperation, not direct regulation of corporations.