Rep. Diamond Garcia

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution asks Hawaii's members of Congress to ask the U.S. Department of Agriculture to explain why it has delayed updating school lunch nutrition rules to match the latest dietary guidelines. The bill directly affects Hawaii public schools, which rely on these federal standards to plan menus and meet local goals for sourcing 30% of food from Hawaii by 2030. It highlights that current delays make it difficult for schools to plan meals and that only 5.43% of school food spending went to local products in 2024, far below the state's target. The resolution requests that federal officials provide more information about upcoming changes and address the gap between released dietary guidelines and updated school nutrition standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii State Energy Office to create an Offshore Wind Energy Working Group to study and provide recommendations on offshore wind development in the state. The working group will gather existing data, engage with community stakeholders, assess the suitability of offshore wind projects, and develop best practices for future initiatives. This measure directly affects state energy officials, local communities near O'ahu, and various government agencies that receive copies of the resolution. The bill aims to balance renewable energy goals with environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic concerns while honoring the legacy of Representative Gene Ward.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution affirms the Hawaii legislature's commitment to public safety and fair treatment for domestic violence survivors within the state's justice system. It recommends that the Judiciary review policies related to case assignment, training, and victim notification to improve consistency and efficiency. The resolution also urges the Honolulu Office of the Prosecuting Attorney to implement reforms such as assigning experienced attorneys to domestic violence cases, requiring mandatory training for all prosecutors, and ensuring timely case assignments. Additionally, it suggests the state consider expanding victim support services including emergency funds, mental health counseling, pro bono legal services, emergency housing, and childcare assistance.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a non-binding resolution that formally affirms the Hawaii Legislature's commitment to improving public safety and fair treatment for domestic violence survivors within the state's justice system. It recommends several policy improvements, including enhanced coordination between state and community service providers to ensure victims receive timely information about available resources such as emergency housing, counseling, and legal assistance. The resolution urges the Judiciary and Honolulu Office of the Prosecuting Attorney to review existing practices and implement specific reforms, such as assigning experienced attorneys to domestic violence cases and requiring mandatory training for prosecutors. While it does not create new laws or allocate funding, it serves as an official statement of legislative intent and calls for administrative changes to improve consistency, efficiency, and victim support in handling domestic violence cases.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution urges Hawaii's Department of Education to provide students with information on how to preregister to vote before they turn 18. The bill directs schools to distribute voter registration materials, offer guidance on eligibility and submission procedures, and designate the last two weeks of September as a dedicated period for voter registration activities. It also requires the department to make paper application forms available and provide resources on accessible voting options for students with disabilities. The resolution aims to increase civic engagement among youth by making voting information more accessible in public schools, where civics education is already part of the curriculum.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii State Energy Office to create an Offshore Wind Energy Working Group to study and provide recommendations on offshore wind energy development in the state. The working group will review existing data, engage with community stakeholders, assess the suitability of offshore wind projects, and develop best practices for future development. The bill aims to balance renewable energy goals with environmental, cultural, and community concerns while honoring the legacy of Representative Gene Ward.

Maddy summaryThis bill encourages the Hawaii State Department of Education to collaborate with the Office of Hawaiian Education to form a working group that would plan for a new K-12 Hawaiian language immersion campus in West O'ahu. The working group would include representatives from state agencies, universities, community organizations, and local families to study potential locations, enrollment needs, staffing requirements, and governance structures. The group is required to meet quarterly for one year and submit a report with recommendations and a roadmap to establish the campus by 2040. This resolution does not authorize funding or mandate the creation of the school, but rather directs state agencies to begin planning and research.

Maddy summaryThis bill encourages the Hawaii Department of Education to offer a basic swimming course at either the primary or secondary education level. It aims to address the state's high drowning rates and the financial barriers that prevent many families from providing water safety training. The resolution does not mandate the program but instead urges the state education agency to consider implementing swim education. Copies of the resolution are sent to the Superintendent of Education and the Chairperson of the Board of Education for their awareness.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a House Concurrent Resolution that urges the U.S. Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution, limited to proposing amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit federal power and jurisdiction, and restrict terms of office for federal officials and members of Congress. The resolution applies on behalf of the State of Hawaii and includes specific conditions, such as reserving the right for states to recall delegates if they breach instructions and explicitly excluding any amendments that would change the Bill of Rights. It also states that Congress should only call the convention after receiving applications from two-thirds of state legislatures and should not set rules for the convention or determine delegate numbers. The bill does not change any laws or policies directly but serves as a formal request to the federal government to initiate a process for potential constitutional amendments.

Maddy summaryHB 146 allocates state funds to the Judiciary to support its 'Ōlelo Hawai'i Initiatives, which aim to integrate the Hawaiian language into court proceedings and services. The bill directly affects the Judiciary by providing resources for language programs, including staff training, translation services, and community outreach. Key provisions involve using the appropriated funds to expand Hawaiian language access in judicial settings, such as court documents and interpreter services. The measure is effective starting July 1, 3000, as specified in the bill's abstract.