Creates a School Psychologists Working Group within the Department of Education to recommend actionable steps or propose legislation for an immediate pathway to licensure for school psychologists that can be acted upon in 2026. Requires a report to the Legislature. Takes effect 7/1/2050. (SD1)
Expands programming and training for the comprehensive offender re-entry program under the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to reduce the rate of recidivism and increase inmate marketability and workforce readiness. Appropriates funds.
Establishes a paid family leave program for state and county employees. Authorizes a qualifying employee to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth or placement of a child or to care for a family member who has a serious health condition. Requires the employee to agree to subsequently work for the employer for at least 12 weeks upon return to service except under certain conditions. Effective 1/1/2026.
Appropriates funds to the Department of Accounting and General Services to hire a consultant to evaluate potential locations and designs for the Hawaii First Responders Memorial. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Maddy summaryHB 623 requires public school districts to adopt a policy banning student phone use during school hours. This applies to all public school students and would require schools to enforce the ban during instructional time. The bill directs the Board of Education to develop the specific policy framework for implementation. It is currently pending in committee for the 2025-2026 session.
Clarifies the level of environmental restoration that owners and operators of underground storage tanks or tank systems must satisfy in the event of a confirmed release of jet fuel. Specifies the restoration condition and quality acceptable by the Department of Health shall include the complete removal of all jet fuel, including jet fuel additives and all compounds resulting from the degradation of jet fuel or jet fuel additives, or the reaction of jet fuel or jet fuel additives with water or other chemicals. Establishes a rebuttable presumption that any detection of these contaminants in the vicinity of an underground storage tank or a tank system after a confirmed release is a result of the confirmed release.
Prohibits certain covered educational entities and Hawaii Health Systems Corporation facilities from collecting information regarding citizenship or immigration status or allowing officers of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enter certain facilities, except under specific circumstances.
Maddy summaryHB 334 makes intentionally destroying or damaging traffic cameras a class C felony, effective July 1, 3000. The bill directly affects individuals who deliberately damage these cameras, imposing serious criminal penalties. Key provisions establish that such actions will be prosecuted as a class C felony, a significant criminal charge. This policy change specifically targets vandalism of traffic enforcement infrastructure, not traffic citation issuance or driver behavior.
Maddy summaryHB 147 increases the amount of real property (like homes or land) protected from seizure when creditors attempt to collect debts. It directly affects homeowners and renters facing debt collection actions by raising the exemption threshold, meaning more property value remains shielded from forced sale. The key mechanism is a specific dollar amount increase for the exemption, which would prevent creditors from attaching or executing against a larger portion of a property's value. This bill is currently pending in committee, with recent actions recommending it be deferred for further review. It has not yet become law.
Allows newly graduated high school students to be eligible for workers' compensation coverage during the summer following their high school graduation while participating in Department of Education-sponsored work-based learning programs. Requires an annual report. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
