Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto

Maddy summaryThis is a non-binding resolution (not a bill) passed by Hawaii's state legislature. It asks the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use existing federal water infrastructure funds - specifically the Clean Water State Revolving Fund - to support Honolulu's $174 million wastewater plant upgrade project at Sand Island. The resolution cites the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's $50+ billion water infrastructure investment as the funding source and notes the project aims to improve plant capacity and environmental outcomes by 2028. It directly affects Honolulu's wastewater treatment infrastructure and seeks federal assistance through established EPA programs.

Maddy summaryHCR 88 is a concurrent resolution requesting Hawaii’s Housing Finance and Development Corporation to create a task force to study whether a state-run equity conversion mortgage program for kupuna (elderly homeowners) is feasible. The task force would examine how such a program - similar to federal reverse mortgages - could help kupuna access home equity to cover living costs without selling their homes or taking on new monthly debt. It would specifically review details like eligibility, consumer protections, and housing transition plans, referencing related legislation (HB 1306). The resolution does not create the program but asks for a feasibility report to be submitted to the 2026 Legislature. This affects kupuna homeowners facing fixed incomes and rising home ownership costs.

Maddy summaryHCR 48 is a non-binding House Concurrent Resolution urging future Hawaii legislatures to propose and the public to ratify a constitutional amendment guaranteeing all residents the right to a clean environment and stable climate. It cites environmental concerns in Hawaii, including water pollution from the Red Hill facility and climate impacts like rising sea levels, and references similar amendments adopted in Montana, New York, and Pennsylvania. The resolution does not create new legal rights itself but formally encourages future action toward this constitutional change. It is a procedural step, not a law affecting current policies or individuals.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 44) encourages future Hawaii legislatures to propose a constitutional amendment and urges voters to ratify it, which would guarantee all residents the right to a clean, healthy environment and stable climate. It does not create new legal requirements or change current law - it is a symbolic resolution referencing environmental concerns like water pollution and climate impacts in Hawaii. The resolution cites examples from Montana, New York, and Pennsylvania where similar constitutional amendments were adopted. It directly addresses future Hawaii lawmakers and voters, not current policy or affected individuals.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 194) strongly supports and recommends implementing the Revised 2025 Hawaii Patient Bill of Rights, which would modernize patient protections for all Hawaii residents covered by health insurance. It proposes key changes including requiring insurers to provide clear, translated explanations of coverage; maintain up-to-date provider directories with telehealth availability; ensure timely specialist referrals; prevent denial of emergency care based on retrospective review; and establish simpler appeals processes with online tools and hotlines. The resolution specifically addresses current issues like AI-driven coverage denials, provider shortages (affecting 35% of Hawaii's population in shortage areas), and network adequacy in rural communities. It does not create new law but urges adoption of these patient-focused provisions to improve transparency, access, and data security in Hawaii's healthcare system.

Maddy summaryHCR 138 is a concurrent resolution requesting the Legislative Reference Bureau to study adopting fiscal notes into Hawaii’s legislative process. Fiscal notes would disclose the potential financial impact of bills on state/local government, a practice used in 44 states. The study must examine implementation methods (statute vs. rules), associated costs, public accessibility, barriers like staffing, and lessons from states like Colorado and Texas. It aims to inform whether Hawaii should require such disclosures before lawmakers vote. The Bureau must submit findings by early 2026.

Maddy summaryHCR 12 is a resolution urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide federal funding for Honolulu's wastewater infrastructure upgrades. It specifically requests assistance through the EPA's Clean Water State Revolving Funds - part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's $50+ billion water infrastructure investments - to support a $174 million project at the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project, scheduled for completion by October 2028, aims to improve the plant's efficiency, capacity, and waste management capabilities, directly benefiting Honolulu residents and supporting the city's growth. The resolution does not allocate funds but formally requests federal action to advance this local infrastructure initiative.

Maddy summaryHR 83 is a House Resolution requesting the Auditor to study implementing a law that would tie Hawaii legislators' base salaries to the median salary of licensed teachers. It asks the Auditor to research how such a law could work, including examining other jurisdictions with similar policies, and to report findings to the Legislature by late 2025. The resolution does not change salaries but seeks research on aligning legislative pay with teacher compensation as a symbolic and practical measure. This would directly affect how legislators are paid, though no current law requires this. The resolution is procedural and does not enact policy changes itself.

Maddy summaryHCR 181 is a non-binding resolution 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 to an opt-out model. The working group would include election officials, Honolulu Department of Customer Services, and advocacy groups like Common Cause Hawaii and the League of Women Voters. The resolution aims to address low voter turnout (32.1% in 2024) by exploring how an opt-out system could streamline registration and increase participation, with the group required to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature by late 2025. This resolution does not change election law but seeks to evaluate potential improvements to voter registration processes.

Maddy summaryHCR 38 is a resolution requesting Hawaii's Tax Review Commission to study how to implement the state's existing Hawaii Long-Term Care Financing Program (established by Act 245 in 2002). It directs the Commission to identify possible financing methods, including reconsidering a 2003 proposal for a Long-Term Care Income Tax Credit, and to report findings to the Legislature by early 2026. The resolution does not create new law but asks the Commission to analyze implementation options and costs for the program, which aims to provide affordable long-term care for eligible residents regardless of income. This is a procedural step to advance a program framework that lacks operational details.