Rep. Sonny Ganaden

Amends the appropriation of Act 279, SLH 2022, to conform its lapsing provision by 1 year, to conform to constitutional limitations. Appropriates moneys to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for fiscal year 2024-2025 to give practical effect to the legislative intent behind Act 279. Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling will be exceeded.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the Department of Education to ensure that inclusive curricula are available to all students at public schools. Makes it a discriminatory practice to refuse to approve, remove, or prohibit the use or access of inclusive or diverse materials in schools and public libraries on the basis of materials featuring or written by LGBTQ+ individuals.

Amends the beach protection policy of the coastal zone management program to recognize that unauthorized structures, materials, armoring, or hardening structures, including seawalls and revetments, sandbags, geotextile fabrics, and sand burritos, placed in the shoreline are a nuisance per se. Strengthens state and county abatement and cost recovery authority of, and allows citizen suits for, this type of nuisance.

Beginning 1/1/2025, prohibits the issuance of building permits for new single-family dwellings that are part of a development of ten or more dwellings and do not include a rooftop photovoltaic energy generating system, under certain circumstances. Authorizes the Hawaiʻi state energy office to use moneys from the energy security special fund to administer variances.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to further reduce its homestead program applicant waitlist.

Establishes a statewide firefighting helicopter program, to be administered by the State Fire Marshal. Appropriates funds to obtain helicopters, facilities equipment, and supplies; hire and train staff; and do other things necessary to ensure that the program is ready to begin providing aerial firefighting services on July 1, 2025. Declares that the expenditure exceeds the state general fund expenditure ceiling for 2024-2025. Establishes that this measure only takes effect if another bill is passed that establishes a State Fire Marshal position.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to establish a two-year agricultural crime pilot project to examine the effectiveness of prosecuting agricultural crimes, including agricultural theft and agricultural vandalism, in the City and County of Honolulu and County of Kauai. Appropriates funds.

Establishes the public employee health benefits working group to investigate the feasibility of establishing and offering a fully self-insured health benefits plan with no deductible or monthly premium cost to state and county public employees. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Requires certain employers to provide a minimum amount of paid sick leave to employees to be used to care for themselves or a family member who is ill or needs medical care and supplemental paid sick leave to employees under certain public health emergency conditions.

Appropriates funds for student housing capital improvement projects at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa.