Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution affirms the Hawaii legislature's commitment to public safety and fair treatment for domestic violence survivors within the state's justice system. It recommends that the Judiciary review policies related to case assignment, training, and victim notification to improve consistency and efficiency. The resolution also urges the Honolulu Office of the Prosecuting Attorney to implement reforms such as assigning experienced attorneys to domestic violence cases, requiring mandatory training for all prosecutors, and ensuring timely case assignments. Additionally, it suggests the state consider expanding victim support services including emergency funds, mental health counseling, pro bono legal services, emergency housing, and childcare assistance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Office of Elections in Hawaii to form a working group to study the costs and policy effects of removing primary elections and adopting ranked-choice voting for general and special elections. The proposed working group would include election officials, legislators, political party representatives, and public experts to analyze fiscal impacts, administrative needs, and potential constitutional changes. Members would examine data from jurisdictions that use ranked-choice voting, evaluate voter participation trends, and develop recommendations on whether to propose constitutional amendments to implement these changes. The group is tasked with submitting a final report with findings and proposed legislation to the Legislature by early 2027.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution asks Hawaii's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to study how large private trusts, particularly those created under Chapter 554G, are currently registered and reported to the state. The resolution directs the department to review existing rules for trustees and trust companies, assess whether current laws allow for tracking these trusts by asset size, and determine if new reporting requirements are needed. The department must provide its findings and recommendations to the legislature by early 2027, including any proposed legislation to improve transparency for trusts with significant assets. This request aims to help policymakers understand the scale and economic impact of these financial arrangements without revealing confidential beneficiary information.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests that Hawaii's State Building Code Council and local counties update their building codes to include national standards for off-site construction methods like modular and prefabricated building. The proposed standards would cover planning, design, fabrication, inspection, and mechanical systems to promote faster, safer, and more cost-effective construction while supporting energy efficiency and disaster resilience. The resolution also asks for a statewide registry of pre-approved building designs to streamline the approval process and reduce redundant reviews. Officials are directed to consult with industry stakeholders and labor groups to ensure the new standards fit Hawaii's unique climate and workforce needs before adoption.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a non-binding resolution that formally affirms the Hawaii Legislature's commitment to improving public safety and fair treatment for domestic violence survivors within the state's justice system. It recommends several policy improvements, including enhanced coordination between state and community service providers to ensure victims receive timely information about available resources such as emergency housing, counseling, and legal assistance. The resolution urges the Judiciary and Honolulu Office of the Prosecuting Attorney to review existing practices and implement specific reforms, such as assigning experienced attorneys to domestic violence cases and requiring mandatory training for prosecutors. While it does not create new laws or allocate funding, it serves as an official statement of legislative intent and calls for administrative changes to improve consistency, efficiency, and victim support in handling domestic violence cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii Board of Education and Department of Education to create a working group that will design a Climate Literacy Seal of Excellence program for public schools. The proposed working group would include educators, university faculty, industry representatives, and student members to develop a framework for recognizing students who complete advanced climate science coursework and experiential projects. The group is tasked with outlining course requirements, certification criteria, teacher training needs, and an implementation timeline, with final recommendations due to the Legislature by early 2027.

Maddy summaryThis resolution asks Hawaii's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to study how large private trusts, particularly those created under Chapter 554G, are currently registered and reported to the state. The study will examine whether existing laws allow for tracking these trusts and whether new reporting requirements should be added to help policymakers understand their scale and economic impact. The department must submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027, which may include suggestions for new laws to improve transparency without revealing confidential beneficiary information. This request for evaluation is intended to inform future policy decisions regarding oversight of sophisticated trust structures in Hawaii.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution urges Hawaii's Department of Education to provide students with information on how to preregister to vote before they turn 18. The bill directs schools to distribute voter registration materials, offer guidance on eligibility and submission procedures, and designate the last two weeks of September as a dedicated period for voter registration activities. It also requires the department to make paper application forms available and provide resources on accessible voting options for students with disabilities. The resolution aims to increase civic engagement among youth by making voting information more accessible in public schools, where civics education is already part of the curriculum.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution asks Hawaii's Office of Elections to form a working group that studies whether to replace primary elections with ranked-choice voting in general and special elections. The proposal would allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference rather than selecting a single candidate, with the goal of increasing voter participation and ensuring candidates receive majority support. The working group would analyze costs, administrative requirements, legal implications, and potential impacts on political parties before making recommendations to the Legislature. This measure does not change election rules immediately but instead initiates a review process to determine if such changes are feasible and beneficial for Hawaii.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution urges the Governor to reactivate the Hawaii Health Authority to develop a plan for transitioning Hawaii to a single-payer healthcare system. The bill directs the Authority to create a proposal for implementing this system as soon as possible after obtaining federal waivers to maintain Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE funding. It requests that the Authority submit a progress report with recommendations to the Legislature by late 2026. The resolution does not enact the healthcare system itself but serves as a formal recommendation to the executive branch.