Rep. Lauren Matsumoto

Establishes the facilities relocation task force to identify and address the issue of the inequitable location of mental health facilities, clean and sober homes, homeless shelters, and supportive living homes across the island of Oahu, particularly on the Waianae Coast. Appropriates funds.

Maddy summaryHB 2521 exempts the sale of groceries, healthcare services, and utility services from the general excise tax. This means businesses selling these specific items or services - like grocery stores, hospitals, and electricity/water providers - would no longer pay this tax on those transactions. The bill defines key terms to clarify which services qualify for the exemption. It directly affects businesses in these sectors by reducing their tax burden on core customer transactions.

Ensures Department of Education and charter school students receive nonpartisan information, before reaching voting age, on how to properly preregister or register to vote.

Requires the department of education to equip all classroom doors with interior locks, maintain a public address system, feature an emergency access route, and maintain fire alarms. Mandates the establishment of a school emergency management plan. Requires schools to conduct regular testing and emergency preparedness drills. Appropriates funds.

Maddy summaryHB 2510 creates an income tax credit for employers who provide paid family and medical leave to their employees. The bill directly affects businesses that offer this benefit, reducing their state income tax liability based on the leave provided. Key provisions establish a specific credit amount tied to the cost of providing paid leave, incentivizing employers to adopt such policies without mandating it. This policy change modifies tax incentives to encourage broader employer-sponsored leave coverage.

Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to establish a permanent Return-to-Home Program to return homeless individuals in the State to families and relatives in their home states. Requires the Office to report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Establishes a three-year homelessness sanctuary pilot program to be administered by the Coordinator on Homelessness on designated land for the pilot program, which shall serve as a safe location for unhoused women and young children, under the age of ten, to reside and access services. Requires the Coordinator on Homelessness and the Coordinator's partner agencies to provide certain facilities and services to the designated location. Requires reporting to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Exempts food and groceries from the general excise tax. Expands the general excise tax exemption implemented in 2024 for certain medical and dental services to include all medical and dental services.

Requires the Department of Human Services to record any child welfare interview conducted by the Department when administering certain child welfare services. Requires the Department to store the recordings for a minimum of five years and under certain conditions. Prohibits the sharing of the recordings unless certain conditions are met. Establishes criminal penalties for violating prohibitions against sharing of the recordings.

Maddy summaryHB 2525 establishes a refundable state income tax credit for police officers who remain employed and reside in designated housing within the state. It directly affects eligible sworn police officers by providing them with a tax credit to offset housing costs. The bill's key mechanism is a state-funded tax credit that officers can claim on their income tax returns, reducing their overall tax liability.