Rep. Gregg Takayama

Maddy summaryHB 558 proposes creating a Nuclear Energy Task Force within Hawaii's State Energy Office. The bill requires this task force to produce reports for the state Legislature, focusing on nuclear energy considerations. This is a procedural bill that establishes a study group (not a policy change) and directly affects Hawaii's energy office and legislative oversight process. It is currently pending in the 2026 session.

Requires the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to collect data and submit to the Legislature a report focused on the health disparities experienced by individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities in the State prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027. Appropriates funds.

Amends the definition of "eligible business activity" for enterprise zone program purposes to include retail sales of tangible personal property manufactured and sold in the enterprise zone that is to be used or consumed by the purchaser and not for resale, the processing of value-added agricultural products grown within an enterprise zone, and the provision of professional services by health care professionals in health care related sectors.

Establishes fees that medical providers may charge for requests for a patient's medical records from the patient's family member, caregiver, or representative. Requires medical providers to respond to requests in a timely manner. Establishes penalties.

Appropriates funds for the Office of the Governor, in collaboration with the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, to oversee and administer grants to low-income residents, and condominium associations on behalf of low-income condominium owners, to fortify residential real property against hurricanes.

Requires all accident and health or sickness insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations operating in the State to adopt policies, procedures, and criteria for approving or denying requests for prior authorization that are the equivalent to the guidelines for prior authorization established by Medicare.

Adds psychology, physician assistant, marriage and family therapist, mental health counselor, clinical social worker, rehabilitation counselor, and school counselor students to the definition of "eligible student" under the qualifications for the healthcare preceptor tax credit. Amends the definition of "preceptor" by adding psychologists, physician assistants, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, clinical social workers, rehabilitation counselors, and school counselors to the list of preceptors eligible to receive the tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025.

Authorizes physicians to practice at organized ambulatory health care facilities even if the physician does not have hospital privileges at a licensed hospital in the same geographic location as the ambulatory facility. Provides that a written transfer agreement is not required to transfer a patient from an organized ambulatory health care facility to a licensed hospital.

Maddy summaryHB 123 exempts routine fisheries operations and management activities from state environmental review requirements. This directly affects fishing businesses, state fisheries agencies, and any entities managing day-to-day fishing activities within the state. The bill removes the need for environmental assessments for standard operations, such as fishing gear deployment or stock management. It does not apply to major construction projects or large-scale developments that typically trigger separate environmental reviews.

Exempts from the general excise tax amounts received by a nurse entrepreneur for health care-related goods and services purchased under Medicaid, Medicare, or TRICARE.