Rep. Jenna Takenouchi

Establishes a State Noxious Weed Coordinator position and updates the process for designating and managing noxious weeds. Allows public proposals to add, amend, or remove noxious weed designations. Requires notice and public reporting. Clarifies the authority of the Department and Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Authorizes updates to the noxious weed list to be adopted by order and classifies noxious weeds into three categories. Strengthens enforcement and penalties. Updates departmental duties for noxious weed control and eradication. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Implements certain recommendations of the SPEED Task Force. Requires the State Building Code Council to provide annual training to state and county permitting agency employees. Appropriates funds for the training, subject to a matching requirement from the counties. Effective 7/1/2055. (SD1)

Clarifies that the Board of Education, through the State Librarian, has exclusive authority over the development, use, support, and improvement and maintenance of public library system facilities. Allows the Board of Education to authorize the State Librarian to exercise exclusive control of certain land for development or expansion purposes, subject to legislative appropriation. Requires the Department of Education to expeditiously cooperate with the State Librarian and Hawaii State Public Library System to effectuate any project authorized by the Board of Education on certain lands. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Expands workers' compensation medical benefits for firefighters to include coverage for adenocarcinoma or mesothelioma of the respiratory system; cancer of the buccal cavity, cervix, colon, esophagus, ovary, pharynx, skin, female reproductive organs, including the uterus, endometrium, and fallopian tubes, and thyroid; and malignant melanoma. Specifies that an employer may deny medical benefits under workers' compensation law only if they prove that the cancer or disease was not associated with firefighting duties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes the Electronic Posting Pilot Project for any county with a population between one hundred thousand and 175,000, to be administered by the county clerk of each participating county. Allows county agencies to satisfy county-wide public notice requirements by posting notices on official county websites, while retaining publication as an option. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Provides that a determination of personal liability for another person's unpaid general excise taxes is an assessment subject to the due process procedures and appeals available for other assessments. Effective 1/1/2027. (SD1)

Requires the Disability and Communication Access Board to study the health care communication needs of patients who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or deaf-blind. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Establishes the Workforce Housing Regulatory Sandbox Program to be administered by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Establishes an advisory council within the Workforce Housing Regulatory Sandbox Program to advise on environmental and cultural practices within specific developments. Requires reports to the Legislature. Establishes a position. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Repeals the sunset for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna. Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna and for two positions to support the program. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Maddy summaryHB 2012 proposes a two-year pilot program to establish community literacy labs, funded by the Department of Education. The program would directly support adults in underserved communities by providing accessible literacy resources and training. Key provisions include appropriating state funds for implementation, with the Department of Education responsible for selecting pilot sites and managing the program over the two-year period. The bill is currently pending committee approval after receiving a favorable recommendation.