Rep. Chris Todd

Grants the Public Utilities Commission the ability to authorize preferential rates for the purchase of renewable energy from facilities that meet certain prevailing wage requirements. Requires public utilities to forward certain requests for preferential rates to the PUC for approval. Appropriates funds. Effective 07/01/3000. (HD1)

Exempts state projects from county building permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy requirements under certain conditions. Requires counties to accept the dedication of state projects exempt from the county permitting process. Prohibits state agencies responsible for state projects exempt from county building permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy requirements from applying for county building permits. Defines building permit, state agency, state lands, and state project.

Effective 7/1/2027, establishes the Environmental Stewardship Fee Program within the Department of Land and Natural Resources, through which the Department will collect a fee from visitors for a license to visit a state park, forest, hiking trail, or other state natural area. Establishes the Environmental Stewardship Fee Special Fund effective 7/1/2025. Allocates a certain amount of transient accommodations tax revenues to the special fund. Requires report to the Legislature on strategic plan and timetable for objectives and implementation of the environmental stewardship fee program. Appropriates funds for the environmental stewardship fee strategic plan and positions for the Environmental Stewardship Fee Program.

Maddy summaryHB 652 regulates individuals who charge fees for advising veterans on benefits applications. It requires these advisors to be licensed or registered with the state, aiming to prevent exploitation of veterans seeking assistance. The bill directly affects paid veterans benefit consultants, not veterans themselves. Key provisions include setting licensing standards and mandating disclosure of fees to ensure transparency. This is a regulatory measure focused on protecting veterans from unscrupulous advisors, not altering veterans' benefit eligibility or amounts.

Establishes a paid family leave program for state and county employees. Authorizes a qualifying employee to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth or placement of a child or to care for a family member who has a serious health condition. Requires the employee to agree to subsequently work for the employer for at least 12 weeks upon return to service except under certain conditions. Effective 1/1/2026.

Authorizes manufacturers and distributors to sell directly to consumers items activated or installed through remote electronic transmission. Clarifies the applicability of the Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Act to common entities. Amends the grounds for denying, suspending, revoking, or otherwise taking adverse action on a licensee. Prohibits a manufacturer or distributor from requiring a dealer to purchase or lease any electric vehicle charging station at the dealer's expenses unless provided notice of intent to sell the manufacturer's or distributor's electric vehicles. Clarifies the conditions for the transfer of a franchise. Clarifies the requirements for reimbursing a dealer for parts and labor.

Maddy summaryHB 471 requires the state Board of Education to create a Korean language program in public schools and appropriates funding for it. This bill directly affects school districts that would implement the program and students seeking Korean language education. The key provision mandates the Board to establish the program using designated state funds. Currently, the bill has been referred to education and finance committees but was recommended for deferral by the committee on January 30, 2025.

Creates regulation requirements for managers of homeowners' associations, planned community associations, cooperative housing corporations, and condominium unit owners' associations in the State. Requires licensure of association managers beginning 7/1/2027. Establishes an Association Manager Licensing Board within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Creates the Aloha Aina Land Trust to rehabilitate and manage lands transferred by the United States military to the State after the leases for those lands expires. Appropriates funds.

Requires the Executive Office on Early Learning to establish parent-staff early learning collectives to combine professional early-learning services with structured parental involvement. Establishes an Early Learning Cooperative Advisory Council. Appropriates funds.