Rep. Julie Reyes Oda

Authorizes the Department of Education to subsidize all tuition and mandatory fees for a resident student enrolled in a 4-year college campus of the University of Hawaii System with an education program or that offers an education degree for the semester or term that the student enrolls in a State-Approved Teacher Education Program under certain conditions. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD2)

Maddy summaryHCR 65 is a House Concurrent Resolution requesting the Hawaii Land Use Commission to coordinate with county planning commissions and county councils to review general plan amendments, district boundary changes, and zoning amendments at the same time (concurrently) instead of sequentially. This would directly affect the Land Use Commission, county planning bodies, and county councils across Hawaii, particularly for projects involving land reclassification. The key mechanism is requiring these entities to schedule reviews closer together, share public hearings, and develop protocols to reduce redundant processes. The goal is to speed up the land use amendment process, which currently takes months or years due to separate reviews, helping landowners, businesses, and government agencies address housing, development, and environmental needs more efficiently. This resolution does not change laws but asks state and county agencies to improve coordination.

Maddy summaryHCR 39 is a concurrent resolution requesting state agencies to gather data and analyze costs to advance children's health coverage. It directs the Health Data Advisory Council to confirm the number of uninsured children statewide and by county for 2025, and asks the Med-Quest Division (Hawaii's children's health coverage program) to estimate costs for extending continuous coverage from age 6 to 18 and covering children currently ineligible under federal rules. The resolution also requires Med-Quest and the State Health Planning Agency to collaborate on policy recommendations and submit a report to the Legislature by early 2026. This action does not create new law but seeks data to inform future policy decisions on achieving universal health coverage for children.

Maddy summaryHCR 125 is a concurrent resolution requesting the University of Hawaii to prioritize constructing "Halau o Kawaihuelani," a dedicated building for Hawaiian language and cultural programs. It directly affects the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language and the Kamakakōkālani Center for Hawaiian Studies at UH Mānoa, which currently operate in separate campus locations (Spalding Hall and the Kamakakōkālani building) due to space constraints. The resolution seeks to consolidate these programs into one facility to support Hawaiian language classes, faculty offices, and a performing arts space for Hawaiian music, dance, and theater. This would address current challenges with physical separation hindering collaboration and accommodating growing student enrollment (over 1,000 students per semester in language courses). The resolution formally asks the University of Hawaii leadership to prioritize this project but does not mandate construction.

Maddy summaryHCR 124 is a non-binding legislative resolution encouraging the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa to expand its I Hoa na Moolelo Project. This project provides a quarterly children’s magazine in Hawaiian for students in grades 2-6 at Kaiapuni schools on Oʻahu. The resolution specifically asks the Center to create more learning resources and opportunities for Hawaiian language use at home and in communities. It directly supports Kaiapuni students, families, and educators by promoting Hawaiian language immersion beyond school hours. The resolution does not create new law but formally recognizes the Center’s existing work in language revitalization.

Maddy summaryHCR 145 is a resolution urging Hawaii's Department of Education and Department of Health to collaborate on creating a strategic plan for the state's potential participation in the CDC's national autism prevalence surveillance program. It directs these agencies to identify necessary resources, train staff, and establish data-sharing agreements to prepare for seeking federal funding under the Autism CARES Act. The resolution specifically aims to help Hawaii gather accurate autism data for its communities - particularly Native Hawaiian and Asian populations where prevalence is higher - supporting better service planning. Agencies must submit a progress report to the legislature by January 2026. This is a preparatory step, not a funding measure, focused on building infrastructure for future CDC collaboration.

Maddy summaryHCR 185 is a resolution requesting the state Auditor to conduct a social and financial assessment of a proposed mandate requiring health insurers to cover Native Hawaiian healing practices (like lomilomi massage and ho'oponopono) offered at federally qualified health centers. This follows Hawaii law (HRS §23-51) that requires such an assessment before mandating insurance coverage for specific health services. The resolution specifically references House Bill 641, which proposes expanding existing insurance mandates to include these cultural practices. The Auditor’s report must evaluate the impacts and be submitted to the Legislature before the 2026 session.

Maddy summaryHCR 137 is a resolution urging the Hawaii Department of Transportation, Department of Education, and City and County of Honolulu to improve safety at the Kipapa Elementary School crosswalk on Kuahelani Avenue. It specifically recommends installing warning signage before the road curve, adding speed bumps with signage, placing "STOP Here for Pedestrians" signs 50 feet prior to the crosswalk, and adding solar-powered flashing signs at the crosswalk itself. These measures aim to address documented risks, including blind spots from parked cars and high traffic speeds, to better protect students crossing the busy thoroughfare. The resolution does not create new law but formally requests these visibility enhancements from relevant agencies.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 139) urges Hawaii's Department of Education, Department of Health, and relevant stakeholders to collaborate on a strategic plan to prepare for potential participation in the CDC's national autism prevalence surveillance program. It directly affects state agencies and community stakeholders by requesting they develop infrastructure for data collection, identify necessary resources, and engage providers to support CDC's autism monitoring efforts. The resolution focuses on gathering accurate autism prevalence data for Hawaii - particularly for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities where rates are higher - rather than creating new services or funding. It is non-binding and aims to position Hawaii to seek CDC funding under the Autism CARES Act, with a requirement for a progress report to the legislature by 2026.

Maddy summaryThis is a House Resolution (not a bill), urging three agencies to improve pedestrian safety at a specific crosswalk. It requests visibility enhancements - including warning signs before a curve, speed bumps with signage, and a solar-powered flashing crosswalk sign - for students at Kipapa Elementary School on Kuahelani Avenue in Mililani. The resolution cites existing safety risks like blind curves and parked vehicles, noting current crosswalk markings are insufficient. It does not create new law but formally asks the Department of Transportation, Department of Education, and City and County of Honolulu to implement these measures.