Appropriates funds to: (1) the counties for more voter service centers for in-person voting; (2) the Office of Elections to print and mail the digital voter information guide to all registered voters; and (3) the Office of Elections to support a public outreach and engagement campaign to encourage greater voter participation.
Extends the statute of limitations for offenses based on misconduct in office by a public servant to allow prosecution at any time during the defendant's period of public service and up to ten years thereafter.
Requires the Department of Human Services to amend the Hawaii Medicaid State Plan or request approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for an amendment under the Medicaid State Plan to include naturopathic medicine.
Requires insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for the cost of prosthetic devices, including activity-specific prostheses, and orthotic devices for policies, contracts, plans, and agreements issued or renewed on or after 1/1/2027. Establishes an unspecified minimum yearly benefit for prosthetic devices and orthotic devices.
Establishes a cost-benefit analysis requirement that defines a specific financial impact threshold for administrative rules. Requires legislative action through concurrent resolution to approve an agency’s major rule change above the threshold of one million dollars.
Establishes heightened penalties for the offense of bribery under certain circumstances. Increases the penalty for official misconduct from a class C to a class A felony.
Requires the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to establish a nutrition and metabolic health curriculum for medical students at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. Requires a report to the Legislature.
Maddy summaryHB 1534 allows actively practicing advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to claim exemption from jury duty service. The bill directly affects APRNs who are currently working in their field, removing a requirement to serve on juries. Key provision: APRNs can formally request exemption by providing proof of active practice, streamlining their ability to avoid jury service without needing individual court approval. This changes the standard requirement for all eligible citizens to serve, specifically targeting APRNs due to their critical healthcare roles.
Establishes restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence, algorithms, or other software tools for purposes of decision-making in health insurance utilization reviews. Requires a licensed health care provider to review all adverse actions by the health carrier.
Exempts food and groceries from the general excise tax. Expands the general excise tax exemption implemented in 2024 for certain medical and dental services to include all medical and dental services.
