Establishes statewide goals for solid waste reduction and organic waste diversion. Requires each county to incorporate into its next integrated solid waste management plan revision a plan to divert certain organic waste generated within the county in alignment with established state benchmarks. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
Requires the Department of Agriculture to revitalize and enhance the Agricultural Statistics Program to collect data on local agricultural interests. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
Maddy summaryHCR 202 is a concurrent resolution (not a law) that strongly supports modernizing Hawaii's Patient Bill of Rights. It recommends updates to address current challenges like AI-driven insurance denials, provider shortages, and rural healthcare access. Key provisions include requiring insurers to provide clear written explanations of coverage, maintain accurate provider directories with telehealth details, guarantee emergency care access without post-service denial, and implement transparent appeals processes. The resolution also calls for insurers to report on network adequacy in shortage areas and ensure HIPAA-equivalent data security. It directs the Insurance Commissioner to enforce these standards but does not create new legal requirements itself.
Maddy summaryHCR 150 is a concurrent resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Taxation to establish a task force to study implementing a surcharge on vacant residential properties. The task force, including the Taxation Director, Business Development Director, and Housing Finance Executive Director, must research the impacts and implementation of a surcharge similar to provisions in HB 489 (which proposes a tax on homes vacant 180+ days annually). The group must submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature by September 2025, ahead of the 2026 session. This resolution does not enact the surcharge but seeks research to inform future policy.
Maddy summaryHR 176 is a House Resolution (not a bill) requesting Hawaii's State Office of Elections to form a working group to study changing the state's automatic voter registration system from an opt-in model (where voters must actively register) to an opt-out model (where registration is automatic unless declined). The working group, including election officials and advocacy representatives, must recommend changes and submit a report to the Legislature by 2025. This resolution directly affects Hawaii voters and election administrators by proposing a potential shift in how voter registration is handled. It does not enact new law but seeks to evaluate a policy change aimed at improving registration convenience and participation.
Maddy summaryHCR 80 is a concurrent resolution requesting the Hawaii Auditor to research how to implement a law tying legislative salaries to the median teacher salary. It asks the Auditor to examine the legal requirements, parameters, and examples from other jurisdictions, then submit a report to the Legislature by 2026. The resolution does not change current law but seeks factual analysis to inform future policy. It directly affects the process for determining legislative compensation, referencing the Commission on Salaries' constitutional role. The bill focuses on studying feasibility, not mandating salary changes.
Maddy summaryHR 132 is a House resolution requesting the Legislative Reference Bureau to study adopting fiscal notes - financial impact summaries for bills - into Hawaii's legislative process. Currently, Hawaii lawmakers vote on bills without knowing their financial costs, unlike 44 states that require such summaries. The study must examine implementation methods (statute vs. rules), associated costs, public accessibility, barriers like staffing, and lessons from states like Colorado and Texas, with a report due before Hawaii's 2026 legislative session. This resolution does not change current law but seeks to inform potential future policy.
Maddy summaryHR 144 is a House Resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Taxation to create a task force to study implementing a tax surcharge on vacant residential properties. The task force would examine how a surcharge - modeled after proposed House Bill 489 - could incentivize property owners to occupy or rent out vacant homes, potentially increasing housing availability and generating revenue for affordable housing programs. The resolution specifies the task force must include representatives from tax, business, and housing agencies, and submit findings by late 2025 to inform future legislation. This is a procedural step to research policy options, not an immediate law.
Maddy summaryHR 171 is a House Resolution urging Hawaii's Attorney General to investigate whether property management software with algorithms is being used to set or fix rental prices in the state's housing market. It requests an examination of how such software collects pricing data, recommends rent levels, potentially enables landlord collusion, and affects housing affordability. The resolution does not create new laws but asks the Attorney General to report findings - including whether these practices contribute to rising rents - by early 2026. It directly affects the Attorney General's office and aims to inform future legislative action on Hawaii's housing crisis.
Maddy summaryHCR 175 is a concurrent resolution urging Hawaii's Attorney General to investigate whether property management software using algorithms is enabling price-fixing or anti-competitive practices in the state's rental housing market. It specifically directs the Attorney General to examine how such software collects pricing data, recommends rent levels, and potentially facilitates collusion among landlords. The resolution requires a report detailing whether these practices contribute to rising rents and recommendations for addressing them, due to the Legislature by early 2026. This resolution does not change laws but seeks factual findings to inform future policy on Hawaii's severe housing affordability crisis.
