Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto

Appropriates funds for critical repairs, maintenance, demolition, design, and construction for facilities of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Establishes and appropriates funds for positions within the University of Hawaii for the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summaryHB 887 requires human services providers - such as agencies offering childcare, elder care, or mental health services - to pay employees the local prevailing wage rate for similar work. This means providers must pay wages determined by local labor market standards, not lower rates. The bill directly affects organizations employing workers in these service sectors by mandating fair compensation aligned with regional wage norms. It does not specify enforcement details or exceptions, focusing solely on establishing this wage requirement.

Requires the State Auditor to conduct management and financial audits of Medicaid health care insurance contractors at least once every two years, with the first audit report to be submitted no later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2027. Appropriates funds.

Maddy summaryHB 148 protects individuals who make claims about sexual misconduct from defamation lawsuits, directly affecting those reporting such incidents and potential defendants. The bill states that a defamation claim cannot succeed unless the person making the claim was proven to have acted with "malice" (knowing it was false or with reckless disregard for the truth). This creates a legal shield for accusers in sexual misconduct cases, preventing lawsuits based solely on the truthfulness of their allegations. The bill remains pending in the 2026 session after being carried over from 2025.

Establishes a process, beginning on January 1, 2026, for automatically preregistering or registering public, charter, and private school-enrolled students who are at least 16 years old to vote.

Makes the members of the Elections Commission subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. Clarifies that a majority of all members to which the Elections Commission is entitled shall constitute a quorum to do business. (HD1)

Maddy summaryHB 691 allocates state funds to the Campaign Spending Commission for permanent staff positions. This bill provides ongoing financial support for the commission's core operations by funding full-time roles, rather than changing campaign finance rules. It directly affects the commission's staffing structure but does not alter regulations for voters, candidates, or political groups. The bill is currently pending in committee and has not advanced to a vote.

Increases the buffer zone for restricted use pesticides around schools to one-half mile. Allows the use of restricted use pesticides within the buffer zone as part of invasive species control conducted by the Department of Agriculture or invasive species committees organized under the University of Hawaii Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit.

Establishes a general excise tax exemption for the gross proceeds or income from the manufacture, production, packaging, and sale of diapers. Establishes a surcharge on the general excise tax and use tax for the sale or use of luxury cars.

Maddy summaryHB 462 adopts an Interstate Compact designed to phase out corporate welfare by creating a multi-state agreement among participating states. The bill directly affects businesses receiving state-level tax incentives, subsidies, or other financial benefits previously classified as "corporate welfare." Its key mechanism is establishing a coordinated framework where states collectively eliminate these subsidies through mutual agreement, rather than individual state action. This procedural bill does not create new state laws but enables states to work together to end such financial support for corporations.