Rep. Trish La Chica

Maddy summaryHB 1928 would replace the current deposit system for beverage containers with a new program requiring beverage producers to fund recycling. This shifts the financial responsibility from consumers (who currently pay a deposit) to the companies making the drinks. Under the new system, a Producer Responsibility Organization would manage the recycling program instead of the existing state-run deposit program. The bill is currently under committee review and has not yet become law.

Specifies that the driver of a vehicle must wait until a pedestrian has crossed half of the crosswalk plus an additional lane of the roadway before the driver can proceed.

Appropriates funds for the Department of Health to develop and implement a public health and informational campaign and contract with community-based organizations to prevent substance misuse and treat substance use disorder among youth. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires the Department of Transportation to establish a Clean Transportation Alternatives Incentive Program that returns funds to eligible residents of the State who meet a certain income threshold or use a certain amount of gasoline as fuel for transportation.

Maddy summaryHB 2607 protects individuals' right to publicity by prohibiting the unauthorized use of a person's likeness or voice in AI-generated deepfakes. The bill directly affects people whose image, voice, or persona could be replicated without consent through artificial intelligence. Its key provision bans creating or distributing AI-generated content that mimics a person's identity for commercial or public purposes without permission. This creates a clear legal barrier against non-consensual deepfake exploitation, focusing on preventing harm rather than regulating AI technology broadly.

Authorizes the counties to require contractors to disclose information regarding their employees' wages, benefits, hours, and employment status. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Limits public access to summary possession records on the Judiciary's publicly accessible electronic databases unless and until a writ of possession is issued.

Expands the Hawaii promise program to provide scholarships for the unmet needs of qualified students at any four-year university of Hawaii campus who meet certain criteria. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Authorizes the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii to issue revenue bonds for the acquisition of the Saint Francis School campus located at 2707 Pamoa Road in Honolulu. Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii for the acquisition of the Saint Francis School campus located at 2707 Pamoa Road in Honolulu. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summaryHB 2402 creates a new misdemeanor offense for promoting gambling in the third degree. This bill directly affects individuals or businesses that actively encourage or facilitate gambling activities, such as operating unlicensed betting services. The key provision establishes a specific criminal penalty for these promotion activities, making them punishable as a misdemeanor under state law. The bill is currently in its early stages, having been introduced on January 27, 2026, and referred to committee on February 2, 2026.