Rep. Elijah Pierick

Establishes the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund Equity Program. Repeals the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund Equity Pilot Program. Clarifies that the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation may utilize funds in the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund for the purchase of equity in for-sale housing development projects and interim primary or secondary financing.

Requires the department of education to prohibit cell phone use during the instructional day, prohibit student access to social media through the school's internet, and implement a social media education campaign. Creates exemptions for students requiring accommodations, emergency situations, and teacher authorizations.

Increases the number of voter service centers in the State. Requiring all voter services centers to operate during the same days and hours statewide. Clarifies that during each day of operation, during all hours of operation, each voter service center is to provide in-person voter registration, receive absentee and election-by-mail ballots, allow voters to vote in person, and provide voting machine services for persons with disabilities. Appropriates moneys to the counties for the administrative costs of voter service centers.

Maddy summaryHB 282 allows tipped employees to deduct the full amount of tips they receive from their taxable income when filing state income taxes. This directly affects workers in service industries like restaurants, bars, and hotels who rely on tips as part of their earnings. The bill’s key provision reduces the taxable income of these employees, lowering their overall tax liability. It does not change how tips are reported or paid, only how they are treated for tax purposes. The bill is currently in committee referral after its initial introduction.

Maddy summaryHB 634 increases penalties for dog owners whose negligence causes unprovoked dog bites resulting in bodily injury to humans. It directly affects dog owners who fail to properly control or secure their dogs, leading to preventable attacks. The bill's key provision raises legal consequences for injuries stemming from owner negligence, specifically when bites occur without provocation. This change applies to cases where the owner's lack of care (e.g., failing to leash, confine, or address known aggressive behavior) directly leads to harm. The bill is currently pending introduction as of January 17, 2025.

Requires the department of human services to provide written notice to a parent of the parent's rights when conducting an investigation regarding a child who is or may be subject to imminent harm.

Proposes to amend the state constitution to suspend or bar criminally charged or convicted elected officials from office and impose term limit requirements on elected officials.

Maddy summaryHB 293 requires that a specific portion of funds generated from Hawaii's Public Land Trust (PLT) be transferred directly to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). It mandates the transfer of "all moneys in the pro rata portion" of PLT revenues, meaning a proportional share of these funds. This bill directly affects OHA, as it would make the organization the sole recipient of this designated revenue stream. The key mechanism is a mandatory transfer of these funds from the PLT to OHA, without requiring additional legislative action for each payment.

Maddy summaryHB 694 establishes a refundable child tax credit for families with children in the state. This means eligible families could receive money back from the state even if they owed no income tax, directly supporting households with children. The credit applies to tax returns filed for years starting after December 31, 2025. It creates a specific financial benefit tied to the number of qualifying children in a household.

Maddy summaryHB 598 prohibits health insurance plans from requiring patients to pay copays, deductibles, or other cost-sharing for certain diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations. This directly affects patients with insurance coverage who need these specific medical exams, such as those following abnormal mammogram results or for further evaluation beyond routine screening. The bill's key mechanism ensures insurers cannot impose out-of-pocket costs for these exams, making them fully covered under the plan. It applies to all health plans regulated under the bill's scope, removing financial barriers to necessary breast health diagnostics.