Creates a framework for the licensure of rural emergency hospitals at the state level by the Department of Health. Clarify Medicaid reimbursement policies for hospitals transitioning from a critical access hospital designation to a rural emergency hospital designation. (CD1)
Establishes a two-year Librarian Pilot Program to serve one school complex on Oahu and one school complex on an island other than Oahu. Appropriates funds. (CD1)
Maddy summaryHB 862 allows school districts to use motorcoaches, small buses, and vans for student transportation services, provided they meet specific safety and operational requirements. This bill directly affects public school districts that rely on transportation services for students. The key provision expands the types of vehicles eligible for school bus use beyond standard school buses, while requiring compliance with established safety standards. The bill passed committee with amendments in February 2025 but has not yet become law.
Establishes the Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development (SPEED) Task Force to identify actions taken, challenges encountered, and legislative measures necessary to facilitate, expedite, and coordinate state and intergovernmental development permit processes. Appropriates funds. (CD1)
Requires the Department of Transportation or appropriate county to scan any cat or dog carcass found on a state or county roadway for a microchip, record certain information, report that information to the appropriate county animal services or animal service contractors, and make reasonable efforts to contact the registered owner. Authorizes the Department of Transportation and each county to coordinate with each other to share scanner resources or protocols. (CD1)
Appropriates funds to support the efforts of the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources in the removal of the majano anemone from Kaneohe Bay. (CD1)
Maddy summaryHB 622 changes the reporting schedule for the Department of Education. It specifically moves the due date for the department's annual computer science legislative report from June 30 to October 31.
Maddy summaryHouse Bill 345 proposes to establish the ‘ōpae ‘ula as the official state shrimp of Hawaii. This designation aims to support the protection of anchialine pool ecosystems throughout the islands, which are the natural habitat for the ‘ōpae ‘ula.
Allows a patient who has been seen in person by a health care provider who is in the same medical group as the prescribing provider authorized pursuant to section 329-33, HRS, to be prescribed an opiate prescription for a three-day supply or less via telehealth. (SD1)
Requires the design of all new state building construction where parking is to be included to provide that a number of the parking stalls, as determined by the Department of Accounting and General Services, shall be electric vehicle charger-ready. Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office, in consultation with the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Transportation, to conduct a survey and identify certain high-priority state facilities. Establishes a goal of the State to retrofit state facilities to be electric vehicle charger-ready. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)
