Rep. David Alcos

Exempts food and groceries from the general excise tax. Expands a 2024 session law exempting certain medical and dental services to include all medical and dental services.

Requires educational institutions with elementary students to allow faculty and staff to provide time and space for students to engage in student-led group prayer or individual student prayer. Prohibits discipline or admonishment based on participation or non-participation in prayer.

Requires that each county council district feature at least one voter service center for elections. Prioritizes using public schools as voter service centers. Requires the clerk to advertise for volunteers. Requires each county council district to have one voter service center open on election day.

Amends provisions relating to criteria in family court determinations regarding custody and visitation rights. Clarifies that no court shall consider a parent's affirmation of their child's gender identity or expression in a custody determination.

Maddy summaryHB 283 would eliminate the state individual income tax for all residents, directly affecting every person who files a state income tax return. The bill's key provision removes the requirement for individuals to pay tax on their earnings, effectively replacing the current tax structure with a different revenue source (though specifics aren't detailed in the abstract). As a newly introduced bill (first reading passed January 17, 2025), it remains pending further committee review and has not yet become law.

Creates the offense of urinating or defecating in public. Provides penalties for public urination or defecation. Requires mental health evaluation and supportive services for a person experiencing homelessness who is arrested for urinating or defecating in public places.

Requires public schools with elementary students to allow faculty and staff to provide time and space each day for students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and Hawaii Ponoi.

Maddy summaryHB 575 creates a new income tax deduction specifically for tips received by tipped employees, such as restaurant servers and bartenders. This means workers can subtract their tip earnings from their taxable income, reducing the amount of income subject to state income tax. The bill directly affects service industry workers who rely on tips as a significant part of their compensation. The key provision establishes a clear, stand-alone deduction for tip income in the state's tax code.

Protects consumers, who are purchasing their first vehicle, from predatory interest rates by setting a maximum interest rate of two per cent for consumers with a credit score below six hundred and zero per cent for consumers with a credit score of six hundred or more. Authorizes existing avenues of redress from usury under chapter 478 to apply to this Act.

Provides that a new certificate of birth issued by the State shall include a designation of the sex of the person born, based on the genitalia of the person. Authorizes amendments of designations of sex on certificates of birth, provided that the birth registrant is an adult, and a new designation is based on the genitalia of the birth registrant, as confirmed by a physician or physician's assistant. Requires certain original certificates to be unsealed and new certificates to be marked as amended with regard to sex designation.