Rep. Ikaika Hussey

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)

Adds the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission or the Chairperson's designee to the Commission on Water Resource Management. Clarifies that only the five, non-ex-officio members appointed by the Governor are required to have substantial experience in water resource management.

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish a Chamber of Commerce Competitive Grant Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summaryHB 722 would allow workers who are on strike to receive unemployment benefits, directly affecting employees participating in labor disputes. Currently, striking workers are typically ineligible for these benefits, but this bill removes that exclusion. The key provision changes eligibility rules to include striking workers under the state's unemployment insurance program. The bill is currently pending in committee review for the 2026 session.

Establishes a process, beginning on January 1, 2026, for automatically preregistering or registering public, charter, and private school-enrolled students who are at least 16 years old to vote.

Amends the definition of "eligible business activity" for enterprise zone program purposes to include retail sales of tangible personal property manufactured and sold in the enterprise zone that is to be used or consumed by the purchaser and not for resale, the processing of value-added agricultural products grown within an enterprise zone, and the provision of professional services by health care professionals in health care related sectors.

Establishes a tax credit for landlords who charge below-market rent and assesses an additional privilege tax on landowners who charge above-market rent, under certain conditions. Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to determine median market rent for rental units by geographic area for the purposes of the below-market rent tax credit and above-market rent tax.

Maddy summaryHB 948 requires the Department of Transportation to build, maintain, and operate customs and security facilities at commercial harbors. This bill directly affects commercial harbor operators and port authorities by mandating state-level facility management. Key provisions specify the DOT's responsibility for constructing, maintaining, and operating these security-focused facilities. The bill does not alter existing customs procedures but shifts operational responsibility to the DOT for harbor security infrastructure.

Part I: Establishes requirements for kauhale projects, including reporting requirements by the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions (OHHS). Requires the Auditor to conduct a management and performance audit of the kauhale initiative. Appropriates funds for the continued operation of the kauhale initiative. Part II: Establishes the Ohana Zones Program as a permanent program within OHHS. Appropriates funds to DHS for the continued implementation of the Ohana Zones Pilot Program. Part III: Requires OHHS to submit a report every four months to the Legislature detailing the expenditure of funds appropriated toward the kauhale and ohana zones initiatives and conduct a comprehensive needs assessment. Part IV: Changes references to the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness to "Coordinator on Homelessness". Specifies that the Coordinator on Homelessness shall report directly to the Director of Human Services. (CD1)

Maddy summaryHB 474 allocates funds to the Department of Health to support its existing Fall Prevention Campaign. The bill directly affects the Department of Health by providing dedicated funding for ongoing fall prevention efforts, which target reducing injuries among older adults. Key provisions include appropriating specific budget resources to sustain current campaign activities like community outreach and safety education. This is a funding measure, not a new policy, and does not create new requirements for individuals or organizations.