Establishes an exemption from mediation in paternity proceedings where there are allegations of domestic abuse. Clarifies the exemption from mediation in divorce proceedings as it relates to domestic abuse. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
Makes mandatory the suspension of the driver's license of a driver or registered owner of a vehicle for operating a motor vehicle without a motor vehicle insurance policy.
Establishes the Hawaii Food Security Special Fund to restore Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit levels to those provided in federal fiscal year 2023. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.
Exempts from the crime of cruelty to animals in the second degree the extermination of insects, vermin, and pests, and the extermination of feral chickens on private property by the property owner, under certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and implement a Child Care Provider Subsidy and Bonus Program to provide subsidies to retain the existing child care workforce in licensed infant and toddler child care centers, group child care centers, and group child care homes and bonuses to registered family child care homes. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Maddy summaryHB 327 allocates state funds to create a childcare center for state employees and their families, managed by the Office of the Governor. The bill directs the Governor's office to establish this facility, which would provide childcare services directly to eligible state workers. It appropriates the necessary funding to operate the center, effective July 1, 3000 (a date likely intended as a placeholder). This policy change creates a new childcare resource specifically for state employees, without altering existing childcare programs or funding for other groups.
Expands workers' compensation medical benefits for firefighters to include coverage for adenocarcinoma or mesothelioma of the respiratory system; cancer of the buccal cavity, colon, pharynx, and thyroid; and malignant melanoma. Specifies that an employer may prove that the cancer or disease was not associated with the firefighting duties to deny medical benefits under workers' compensation law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Authorizes the issuance of special number plates to recognize the island of Kahoolawe. Specifies the decal size for all special number organizational plates. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
Maddy summaryHB 709 proposes a new process for landlords and homeowners to remove unauthorized individuals from residential properties (like homes or apartments), bypassing standard police involvement for certain trespass cases. It creates a limited alternative method focused specifically on residential settings, requiring property owners to follow defined steps instead of contacting law enforcement directly. The bill does not change general trespass laws but offers a streamlined option for property owners dealing with unauthorized occupants. As of now, the bill is pending in committee after being deferred by the House committee on February 12, 2025.
Maddy summaryHB 178 appropriates state funds to establish a dedicated "state tea agent" position at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR). This bill directly affects UH Mānoa CTAHR by funding a specific staff role focused on tea-related agricultural support. The bill does not change existing laws or regulations but allocates budget resources for this new position. As a funding measure, it is procedural in nature with no broader policy implications.
