Rep. Garner Shimizu

Maddy summaryThis is a House Resolution (not a bill), urging Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources and other state agencies to collaborate with community groups on managing community forests located on public lands. It calls for shared stewardship of these forests - such as those in state parks, school grounds, and neighborhoods - to improve forest health and community well-being. The resolution highlights benefits like cleaner air, economic support for local businesses, and alignment with traditional Hawaiian practices, but does not create new legal requirements.

Maddy summaryHCR 111 is a resolution urging Hawaii's Department of Education (DOE) to provide a detailed report to the Legislature on the true costs of producing school meals. It requires the DOE to break down costs (including ingredients, operations, beverages, supplies, and logistics) and include meal count data by price tier (full-price, reduced-price, free) for the 2024-2025 through 2026-2027 school years. The resolution aims to ensure transparency around proposed meal price increases (e.g., from $2.50 to $4.75 for K-8) and prevent unnecessary hikes by verifying cost claims against existing law requiring meal revenue to cover at least half of production costs. The report must be submitted to the Legislature by January 2026.

Maddy summaryThis resolution requests Hawaii's Department of Education to post online updates about changes to gun safety and storage laws on its public website. It aims to provide students with current information on secure firearm storage requirements, without creating new legal obligations. The resolution does not alter existing laws but asks the education department to share existing legal updates with students. It is a procedural request, not a binding legislative measure.

Maddy summaryHR 30 is a House Resolution requesting the University of Hawaii to explore establishing an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and identify requirements for securing federal funding from the National Institute on Aging. The resolution directs the university to assess its current research capabilities, evaluate potential benefits, and outline steps to meet federal grant criteria, with a report due by December 31, 2025. This procedural request does not create a new program but seeks feasibility analysis for potential future research infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHCR 92 is a resolution requesting Hawaii's Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness and the City and County of Honolulu to establish a two-year pilot program creating safe, temporary living spaces for homeless individuals and families on public land in Honolulu. The program would provide designated locations with essential facilities like shelter tents, restrooms, storage, laundry, and access to meals and services - including mental health support and job opportunities - while requiring partnerships with nonprofits. It mandates a specific location by November 2025, full program launch by January 2026, and a legislative report evaluating outcomes before the 2026 session. The resolution directly affects unsheltered homeless residents in Honolulu, aiming to offer dignity and stability through a structured, community-supported pilot.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 140) requests Hawaii's Department of Human Services (DHS) to apply for and implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) for SNAP benefits. It directly affects low-income seniors aged 60+ without earned income, aiming to simplify their access to food assistance by waiving in-person interviews, extending benefit certification to 36 months, and allowing flexible verification. The resolution asks DHS to seek federal approvals and update its rules to adopt ESAP, which is designed to reduce barriers to SNAP enrollment for seniors. Hawaii currently does not participate in ESAP despite SNAP supporting over 130,000 residents and contributing $630 million annually to the state economy.

Maddy summaryHCR 31 is a concurrent resolution requesting the University of Hawaii to assess the feasibility of establishing an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. It directs the university to evaluate its current research capabilities, potential benefits for Hawaii, and the specific requirements to secure federal funding from the National Institute on Aging. The resolution requires the university to develop a phased plan, including infrastructure needs and community engagement, and submit a report by December 31, 2025. This resolution does not create the center but asks the university to explore steps toward one, directly affecting the University of Hawaii System and its research planning.

Maddy summaryHCR 168 is a concurrent resolution requesting the Hawaii State Fire Marshal and Fire Council to clarify specific terms related to wildfire suppression stages in the Hawaii State Fire Code. It specifically asks for clear definitions of terms like "uncontrolled," "contained," "controlled," "extinguished," and "fully extinguished," with "fully extinguished" requiring 48 hours of monitoring (72 hours during drought or red flag conditions) to prevent reignition. This resolution directly affects fire departments, public safety agencies, and residents by aiming to standardize communication and protocols during wildfire responses. The resolution was offered by the House of Representatives in 2025 and will be transmitted to relevant fire officials for action.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 163) requests the Hawaii State Fire Marshal and Fire Council to clarify specific terms related to wildfire suppression stages in the state fire code. It specifically asks for defined meanings of "uncontrolled," "contained," "controlled," "extinguished," and "fully extinguished," with a key requirement that "fully extinguished" must include 48 hours of hotspot monitoring (96 hours during red flag/drought conditions). The resolution aims to improve public communication, fire operation protocols, and safety regulations by standardizing terminology. It does not create new law but directs the State Fire Code to adopt these definitions.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 91) requests Hawaii's Department of Education to provide students with information about changes to gun safety and storage laws. It does not create new laws but asks the Department to share existing updates on secure storage requirements, which directly affects students in Hawaii public schools. The resolution cites concerns about unsecured firearms increasing risks to children and notes Hawaii has existing or proposed secure storage laws. (Note: This is a procedural resolution, not a bill, so the summary is concise as required.)