Rep. Garner Shimizu

Maddy summaryHB 1758 removes the requirement that prosecutors prove a perpetrator knew an elderly victim was vulnerable due to age in felony assault cases. This change directly affects elderly crime victims and prosecutors handling assault cases where the victim's age is a factor. The bill simplifies prosecution by allowing felony assault charges to be filed based solely on the victim's age, without needing to establish the perpetrator's knowledge of that age. It modifies the legal standard for aggravated assaults against elderly individuals.

Maddy summaryHB 1816 increases the maximum grant amount available through the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project and appropriates funds to support this program. The bill directly affects property owners who need to convert or replace outdated cesspools to meet environmental standards. Its key mechanism is raising the financial support limit for eligible conversions, funded by the state appropriation. This change aims to make compliance more affordable for affected property owners without altering the program's eligibility rules.

Requires only selected redemption centers to send monthly or semi-annual distribution reports and supporting records to the Deposit Beverage Container Program. Repeals the requirement that all deposit beverage distributors develop and submit an internal control process to the Deposit Beverage Container Program and obtain independent audits for years ending in an odd number.

Amends various election provisions to increase public access to in-person voting, increase public confidence in elections, and impose accountability in the election certification process. Key features include increased access to voter service centers open on election day, abolition of ranked choice voting, public access to election records, signature verification in the presence of official observers, reform of the mandatory recount process, the use of physical ballots during election audits, and subjecting the chief election officer position to election instead of appointment.

Beginning 1/1/2027, prohibits the sale, possession, or use of a pesticide containing one or more neonicotinoid pesticides, under certain conditions. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to evaluate the potential impacts of and adopt any necessary control measures for neonicotinoid pesticide use on pollinating insects, native migratory and resident birds, aquatic organisms, and human health.

Requires leases used in the conveyance of available lands as defined by section 203 of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, as amended, to conform to the requirements for securitization by federally insured lending programs.

Maddy summaryHB 564 authorizes the issuance of state bonds and allocated funds to finance capital improvement projects within the 32nd Representative District. It directly affects residents and local entities in that district by providing dedicated funding for physical infrastructure projects like parks, roads, or public buildings. The bill does not specify project types but enables the state to raise capital through general obligation bonds and existing appropriations for these district-focused improvements. The bill is currently pending in committee and has not yet been enacted.

For contracts entered into on or after 10/1/2025, requires mortuaries and pre-need funeral authorities that contract to provide cremation services to provide written notice if precious metals are recovered after cremation and a disclosure that the person has thirty days to claim the precious metals after receipt of the notice. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summaryHB 1441 creates a new criminal offense called "organized retail theft" for coordinated theft schemes targeting retail businesses. It sets specific penalties for this offense and establishes an organized retail theft task force to investigate and address such incidents. The bill directly affects retailers by providing new legal tools to combat large-scale theft operations and law enforcement agencies through the task force structure. Key provisions define the crime, outline penalties, and mandate the task force’s formation without specifying exact penalty levels.

Prohibits restaurants from imposing a mandatory gratuity service charge for the sale of food or beverage services unless the party includes ten or more customers, the service charge does not exceed eighteen per cent, and the customer is notified of the service charge.