Rep. Diamond Garcia

Maddy summaryHB 1444 would change motor vehicle safety inspection requirements from annual to biennial, meaning inspections would be needed every two years instead of yearly. This directly affects vehicle owners who must get inspections to keep their vehicles registered. The key provision is extending the inspection interval, reducing the frequency of required checks. The bill proposes this change to adjust the inspection schedule without altering safety standards.

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.

Maddy summaryHB 846 raises the dollar threshold for the handyman exemption under contractor licensing law from $1,500 to $2,500. This means contractors performing small home repair jobs under the new limit ($2,500 per job) would no longer need a state license. The bill directly affects small-scale contractors and homeowners seeking minor repairs, reducing regulatory burden for simpler projects. It is a procedural change to existing licensing rules, not a new policy.

Increases the bonus for teachers who achieve and maintain a current national board certification from $5,000 to $10,000. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires the Department of Education to authorize and facilitate complex areas or individual public schools to form their own farm to school meal programs through partnerships to meet the local farm to school meal goal of thirty per cent of food served in the school to consist of locally sourced products by 2030. Allows the Department of Education to establish a plant-based meal program no later than the 2026-2027 school year. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amends the definition of "eligible business activity" for enterprise zone program purposes to include retail sales of tangible personal property manufactured and sold in the enterprise zone that is to be used or consumed by the purchaser and not for resale, the processing of value-added agricultural products grown within an enterprise zone, and the provision of professional services by health care professionals in health care related sectors.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires that each Department of Education public school student earn 2 credits in Hawaiian language as a graduation requirement. Establishes a 2-year pilot program for Hawaiian language instruction at a central Oahu elementary school and Nanakuli High and Intermediate School. Appropriates funds.

Provides that a person who commits theft of property or services the value of which does not exceed $750, commits theft in the second degree if the person was convicted two or more times for any theft offenses in the five years prior to the current offense.

Establishes certain minimum registered nurse-to-patient staffing requirements for hospitals. No later than 9/1/2025, requires hospitals to create hospital registered nurse staffing committees. Beginning 7/1/2026, requires hospitals to implement registered nurse staffing plans. Appropriates funds.

Requires the department of education to designate athletic sports teams based on the biological sex assigned to players at birth. Prevents males from participating in female sports.