Rep. Julie Reyes Oda

Maddy summaryHCR 134 is a concurrent resolution requesting the Hawaii Auditor to assess the financial and social impacts of eliminating patient copays for specific follow-up breast exams. It directs the Auditor to analyze HB 598 (which proposes banning cost-sharing for diagnostic exams for symptomatic patients and supplemental exams for high-risk patients or those diagnosed with breast cancer). The assessment must consider how this change would interact with federal laws like the Affordable Care Act and include projected costs beyond essential health benefits. The Auditor must submit findings to the Legislature by January 2026. This resolution does not change policy but prepares for potential future legislative action.

Maddy summaryThis resolution requests Hawaii's Insurance Commissioner to study alternative insurance models for condominium associations and unit owners, addressing severe premium increases (300-600% in 2024) that have left many properties underinsured. It specifically directs the study to examine mutual insurance standards and building life insurance models, which would require 60-year contracts, maintenance schedules, escrow accounts for premiums, and predictable premium adjustments. The study must evaluate feasibility and include recommendations for potential legislation, with a report due to the Legislature by early 2026. This affects all Hawaii condo associations and unit owners facing coverage shortages that risk mortgage access and rebuild costs after disasters.

Maddy summaryHCR 85 is a resolution requesting Hawaii's Insurance Commissioner to study alternative insurance models for condominium associations and unit owners. It specifically directs the study to examine mutual insurance models and building life insurance, which would require developers to secure long-term coverage (60+ years), establish maintenance schedules, and manage premiums in escrow accounts. The study must develop standards for mutual insurance and evaluate building life insurance's feasibility, including how premiums would be calculated based on building materials and maintenance. The resulting report, due by early 2026, will inform potential future legislation to address soaring insurance costs affecting hundreds of condominium associations.

Maddy summaryHCR 46 is a non-binding request urging Hawaii's Department of Education to make school recreational facilities (like pools, gyms, and fields) available to the public during non-peak hours and non-school days. It aims to improve access for residents, particularly in underserved rural and low-income communities facing barriers to recreational amenities. The resolution references existing rules requiring advance online applications but seeks to expand access beyond current practice. As a concurrent resolution, it does not create new law but asks the Department of Education to act on this recommendation.

Maddy summaryHR 39 is a House Resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Education to make public school recreational facilities (like pools, gyms, and fields) available to the public during non-peak hours and non-school days. It aims to address inequitable access to recreation, noting that 29% of U.S. residents lack walkable park access and low-income/rural communities in Hawaii face significant barriers. The resolution builds on existing rules requiring school facilities to be publicly accessible but seeks to expand access without the current 10-day online application requirement. It directly affects residents, particularly in underserved communities, by potentially increasing opportunities for physical activity outside of school hours. This is a request, not a binding law, and would require the Department of Education to act on the proposal.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution designates the State of Hawaii as a "Purple Heart State" to honor military personnel awarded the Purple Heart for combat wounds, death, or captivity. It does not create new laws or funding but formally recognizes Hawaii's support for veterans through legislative action. The resolution directs certified copies to the Governor and the Department of Defense's Veteran Services office. This symbolic gesture directly affects Purple Heart recipients and veterans in Hawaii by affirming state-level appreciation for their service.

Maddy summaryHCR 126 is a procedural resolution requesting Hawaii's Legislative Reference Bureau to review all mandatory reports required by law to be submitted to the Legislature. The Bureau must identify reports that are outdated (e.g., for programs that no longer exist) or no longer provide useful information, then recommend which should be discontinued. This review is based on existing law requiring the Bureau to track report submissions, with findings due to the Legislature by early 2026. The resolution does not change any laws but aims to reduce unnecessary administrative burdens.

Maddy summaryHCR 34 is a Hawaii state resolution urging Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. It specifically requests a convention limited to proposing amendments that impose fiscal restraints on federal spending, reduce federal power and jurisdiction, and establish term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. The resolution explicitly states the convention must not consider changes to the Bill of Rights and includes detailed procedural requirements for how Congress should handle such a request. As a concurrent resolution, it does not create new law but formally expresses Hawaii’s position to Congress. This is a procedural request, not a legislative action affecting residents or federal policy directly.

Maddy summaryHCR 50 is a concurrent resolution requesting the Hawaii Department of Law Enforcement and Department of Health to form a task force focused on Oahu streams. The task force must develop recommendations for humane no-trespassing policies, improve coordination between state and county agencies regarding stream encampments, connect individuals experiencing homelessness to services, and address environmental pollution. It requires specific members including agency directors, county leadership, and legislative chairs, with a report due by August 2025. This resolution does not create new laws but seeks to coordinate existing resources to address health, safety, and environmental concerns near Oahu's waterways.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (HCR 15) urges Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources and the City and County of Honolulu to implement "green fire breaks" in West Oahu. It proposes using native, fire-resistant vegetation instead of flammable invasive plants to create natural barriers that slow wildfire spread and provide more time for evacuations and emergency response. The resolution specifically targets West Oahu, which the state identifies as having a high wildfire risk due to dry weather, urban development, and steep terrain. It also directs consultation with the State Fire Council during implementation planning.