Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto

Maddy summaryHB 1444 would change motor vehicle safety inspection requirements from annual to biennial, meaning inspections would be needed every two years instead of yearly. This directly affects vehicle owners who must get inspections to keep their vehicles registered. The key provision is extending the inspection interval, reducing the frequency of required checks. The bill proposes this change to adjust the inspection schedule without altering safety standards.

Exempts food and groceries from the general excise tax. Expands a 2024 session law exempting certain medical and dental services to include all medical and dental services.

Increases the bonus for teachers who achieve and maintain a current national board certification from $5,000 to $10,000. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires the Department of Education to authorize and facilitate complex areas or individual public schools to form their own farm to school meal programs through partnerships to meet the local farm to school meal goal of thirty per cent of food served in the school to consist of locally sourced products by 2030. Allows the Department of Education to establish a plant-based meal program no later than the 2026-2027 school year. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to collect data and submit to the Legislature a report focused on the health disparities experienced by individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities in the State prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027. Appropriates funds.

Establishes fees that medical providers may charge for requests for a patient's medical records from the patient's family member, caregiver, or representative. Requires medical providers to respond to requests in a timely manner. Establishes penalties.

Requires and appropriates funds to pay salary differentials to English language educators as an incentive to attract and retain these educators. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires all accident and health or sickness insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations operating in the State to adopt policies, procedures, and criteria for approving or denying requests for prior authorization that are the equivalent to the guidelines for prior authorization established by Medicare.

Maddy summaryHB 1502 requires property and casualty insurance companies to establish specific pre-disaster planning and post-disaster assistance measures for policyholders. It directly affects homeowners and businesses covered by these insurance policies, as well as the insurers themselves. Key provisions mandate that insurers develop and implement plans to protect policyholders before disasters occur and provide clear support after events like hurricanes or wildfires. The bill takes effect on July 1, 3000, as stated in the official abstract.

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.