Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto

Establishes, and appropriates funds for, five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) positions within the Civil Rights Compliance Branch of the Department of Education. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes the Statewide Interagency Food Systems Coordination Team and the Interagency Food Systems Working Group within the Department of Agriculture. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires the Department of Agriculture to establish a Healthy Soils Program. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Transfers the Hawaii Child Nutrition Programs Agency from the Department of Education to the Department of Agriculture and codifies its establishment. Establishes a grant program to be administered by the Agency to support the funding of certain initiatives for the State's public schools. Appropriates funds for grants. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

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)

Prohibits the issuance of a certificate of inspection for a moped or motor vehicle that has been altered, installed, or otherwise modified in any way which will noticeably increase the noise emitted by the motor vehicle or moped above that emitted by the motor vehicle or moped as equipped from the factory, except for motorcycles and mopeds that do not exceed certain federal regulations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Beginning 1/1/2026, requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, health maintenance organizations, and health plans under the State's Medicaid managed care program to provide coverage for biomarker testing. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summaryHB 98 allows public school complexes to use authentic assessments - such as real-world projects, presentations, or portfolios - as part of classroom-based performance evaluations for students. It directly affects teachers and school districts by expanding assessment options beyond traditional tests. The bill requires schools to implement these assessments within their existing classroom structures, without mandating new statewide testing. Effective July 1, 3000, this change aims to provide more diverse ways to measure student learning. The bill passed committee with amendments in February 2025, reflecting broad support for this classroom-focused approach.

Maddy summaryHB 863 allocates state funds to the Department of Education specifically for teacher-requested classroom supplies. This bill directly affects K-12 public school teachers and students by providing resources for materials they identify as needed. The key mechanism is a funding appropriation that will be distributed through the Department of Education to schools, effective July 1, 3000. The bill passed committee with all 11 members voting in favor, indicating strong support for this funding measure.

Establishes an exemption from applicable county permit requirements for repetitive construction projects for facilities under the control of any state department or agency, under certain conditions. Clarifies that, except for projects in special flood hazard areas, contracts for the construction, renovation, or repair of facilities under the control of the Department of Education, University of Hawaii, or School Facilities Authority shall be exempt from county permitting requirements that related off-site improvements be made by the contracting government agency as a condition to the issuance of any permit. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)