Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto

Maddy summaryHCR 190 is a resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Health to convene a Demolition Waste Reduction Working Group. It aims to address Hawaii's landfill capacity crisis by reducing construction and demolition waste, which makes up 21-40% of landfill mass, and aligning with the state's 2045 carbon neutrality goals. The working group would include health department leadership, industry representatives (construction, demolition, reuse, waste management), and community groups to develop strategies for scaling material reuse, removing barriers, and creating policy incentives. The group must submit annual reports with recommendations to the legislature, focusing on environmental justice and reducing landfill reliance. This resolution directly affects the construction sector, waste management industries, and communities near landfills disproportionately exposed to waste-related health risks.

Amends the Department of the Attorney General pilot project for a state-initiated expungement process of arrest records concerning promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree to include the possession of any schedule V substance in any amount. (HD1)

Authorizes the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center to transmit all expungement orders to the Judiciary to effectuate the purposes of Act 159, SLH 2023. (HD1)

Maddy summaryHCR 199 is a non-binding concurrent resolution urging the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources to prioritize restoring and protecting wetlands and anchialine pools. It specifically requests the department apply wetland protection policies to anchialine pools (unique Hawaiian coastal ecosystems) and asks Maui County to prioritize wetland conservation in Kihei over development where possible. The resolution emphasizes these natural areas' roles in filtering water, protecting coral reefs, supporting endangered species, and reducing flood risks. It does not create new laws or funding but expresses legislative support for existing environmental protections.

Maddy summaryHCR 208 is a non-binding resolution urging the U.S. Department of Defense to make recreational facilities on military installations in Hawaii accessible to all Hawaii residents. It specifically requests access to 10 facilities, including Hale Koa Hotel (Waikiki), Bellows Air Force Station (Waimānalo), and Pililāʻau Army Recreation Center (Oʻahu), which currently offer amenities like beaches, golf courses, and lodging. The resolution asks the DoD to develop secure access guidelines, referencing successful models from other states. It does not create new law but formally requests expanded public access to these existing military facilities. The resolution emphasizes that Hawaii residents, who contribute through taxes and military service, currently face restrictions despite the facilities' location on historically contested lands.

Maddy summaryHCR 188 is a concurrent resolution declaring climate change a public health emergency in Hawaii. It requires all state agencies - including Health, Transportation, Agriculture, and Land - to coordinate cross-departmental efforts to address climate-related health risks like extreme heat, disease spread, food insecurity, and mental health impacts. The resolution directs agencies to examine how their work affects public health and develop joint solutions, building on Hawaii’s 2021 climate emergency declaration. It does not create new laws or funding but mandates agency collaboration and reporting to the Governor and relevant department heads.

Maddy summaryHR 148 is a House Resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to step-by-step reduce the number of state inmates held in private, out-of-state prisons. It directly affects Hawaii inmates currently incarcerated in these facilities, which separate them from family and community support networks. The resolution requires the department to submit annual progress reports to the Legislature by 2027-2030, detailing their reduction efforts. This is a non-binding request, not a law, focusing on phasing out the practice of sending inmates to mainland private prisons.

Maddy summaryThis Hawaii House Resolution (HR 182) declares a public health emergency due to climate change impacts and requests all state departments to coordinate cross-sector solutions. It directs agencies like Health, Transportation, and Agriculture to identify and plan for climate-related health risks - including heat, disease, food insecurity, and mental health impacts - directly affecting Hawaii residents. The resolution does not create new laws but mandates statewide collaboration to strengthen public health responses.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution requests Hawaii's Department of Human Services to direct its Youth Services and Juvenile Justice Advisory Council to examine how many culturally rooted "aina-based learning" programs (land/sea-connected cultural education) are available for youth in the juvenile court system. It specifically asks the council to assess current program usage and create a list of approved organizations for courts to assign as community service alternatives. The resolution aims to connect youth, particularly Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Black youth disproportionately affected by fees and fines, with culturally relevant learning opportunities instead of standard community service. This would help address disconnection from cultural roots linked to higher recidivism rates, as noted in the resolution's background.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 200) urges the U.S. Department of Defense to make recreational facilities on military installations in Hawaii accessible to all Hawaii residents. It specifically requests access to facilities like Hale Koa Hotel, Bellows Air Force Station, Pililā'au Army Recreation Center, and others currently restricted to military personnel. The resolution asks the DoD to develop guidelines for safe public access, referencing successful models from other states. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change current access policies but formally requests the Department of Defense to consider expanding access.