Rep. Julie Reyes Oda

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Resolution that urges the Hawaii Department of Education to officially recognize robotics as an interscholastic sport and to allocate state funding to support robotics programs across the state. The resolution highlights that robotics programs currently face challenges due to insufficient resources, a lack of mentors, and inconsistent funding, which has led to the decline of several teams. It calls on the Department of Education to conduct an assessment to determine the appropriate level of fiscal support needed to maintain these programs and directs copies of the resolution to key education officials. The measure does not create new funding but requests the department to evaluate and potentially dedicate existing resources to sustain robotics education initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests Hawaii's congressional delegation to ask the U.S. Department of Agriculture to explain why school lunch nutrition standards have not been updated to match the latest Dietary Guidelines. It directly affects Hawaii public schools, which rely on federal guidelines to plan menus and meet state goals for sourcing 30% of food locally by 2030. The resolution highlights concerns that delays in updating standards have made it difficult for schools to develop compliant meal plans and progress toward local food procurement targets. The bill asks federal officials to provide clearer information about upcoming changes to the nutrition standards that will impact school food programs.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution asks Hawaii's members of Congress to ask the U.S. Department of Agriculture to explain why it has delayed updating school lunch nutrition rules to match the latest dietary guidelines. The bill directly affects Hawaii public schools, which rely on these federal standards to plan menus and meet local goals for sourcing 30% of food from Hawaii by 2030. It highlights that current delays make it difficult for schools to plan meals and that only 5.43% of school food spending went to local products in 2024, far below the state's target. The resolution requests that federal officials provide more information about upcoming changes and address the gap between released dietary guidelines and updated school nutrition standards.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution affirms the Hawaii legislature's commitment to public safety and fair treatment for domestic violence survivors within the state's justice system. It recommends that the Judiciary review policies related to case assignment, training, and victim notification to improve consistency and efficiency. The resolution also urges the Honolulu Office of the Prosecuting Attorney to implement reforms such as assigning experienced attorneys to domestic violence cases, requiring mandatory training for all prosecutors, and ensuring timely case assignments. Additionally, it suggests the state consider expanding victim support services including emergency funds, mental health counseling, pro bono legal services, emergency housing, and childcare assistance.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Resolution that asks Hawaii's Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study how to increase remote work opportunities for state residents and make it easier for out-of-state companies to hire them. The resolution directs the department to evaluate ways to clarify tax and regulatory rules for remote employers, simplify hiring processes, and ensure worker protections remain intact while prioritizing long-term Hawaii residents. The department must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027, and copies are sent to state leadership including the Governor and relevant agency directors.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a non-binding resolution that formally affirms the Hawaii Legislature's commitment to improving public safety and fair treatment for domestic violence survivors within the state's justice system. It recommends several policy improvements, including enhanced coordination between state and community service providers to ensure victims receive timely information about available resources such as emergency housing, counseling, and legal assistance. The resolution urges the Judiciary and Honolulu Office of the Prosecuting Attorney to review existing practices and implement specific reforms, such as assigning experienced attorneys to domestic violence cases and requiring mandatory training for prosecutors. While it does not create new laws or allocate funding, it serves as an official statement of legislative intent and calls for administrative changes to improve consistency, efficiency, and victim support in handling domestic violence cases.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution urges Hawaii's Department of Education to provide students with information on how to preregister to vote before they turn 18. The bill directs schools to distribute voter registration materials, offer guidance on eligibility and submission procedures, and designate the last two weeks of September as a dedicated period for voter registration activities. It also requires the department to make paper application forms available and provide resources on accessible voting options for students with disabilities. The resolution aims to increase civic engagement among youth by making voting information more accessible in public schools, where civics education is already part of the curriculum.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a non-binding resolution that urges Hawaii's Department of Education and Board of Education to create a plan for transitioning school buses to electric vehicles. It directs these agencies to collaborate with districts that have already made the switch, such as Oakland, to study potential benefits like reduced emissions, lower maintenance costs, and improved student safety. The resolution requires a report with findings and recommendations to be submitted to the Legislature by late 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill encourages the Hawaii State Department of Education to collaborate with the Office of Hawaiian Education to form a working group that would plan for a new K-12 Hawaiian language immersion campus in West O'ahu. The working group would include representatives from state agencies, universities, community organizations, and local families to study potential locations, enrollment needs, staffing requirements, and governance structures. The group is required to meet quarterly for one year and submit a report with recommendations and a roadmap to establish the campus by 2040. This resolution does not authorize funding or mandate the creation of the school, but rather directs state agencies to begin planning and research.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Concurrent Resolution that urges the U.S. Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, limited to proposing amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit federal power and jurisdiction, and restrict terms of office for federal officials and members of Congress. The resolution applies on behalf of the State of Hawaii and includes specific conditions, such as reserving the right for states to recall delegates if they breach instructions and explicitly excluding any amendments that would change the Bill of Rights. It also states that Congress should only call the convention after receiving applications from two-thirds of state legislatures and should not set rules for the convention or determine delegate numbers. The bill does not change any laws or policies directly but serves as a formal request to the federal government to initiate a process for potential constitutional amendments.