Rep. Kanani Souza

Establishes the class C felony offense of criminal property damage to critical infrastructure facilities. Expands the term "critical infrastructure" to include broadband, wireless, and cable networks. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summaryHB 2401 authorizes the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to provide loans or grants to eligible individuals seeking to purchase rental properties. This directly affects potential new landlords or investors who may struggle to secure traditional financing for acquiring rental units. The bill's key mechanism allows the fund to offer financial assistance for the purchase of rental housing, rather than solely for repairs or maintenance. As a newly introduced bill (pending committee referral), it has not yet been voted on or enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 2414 implements recommendations from Act 245, SLH 2024 to amend the Hawaii Penal Code, but the provided abstract does not specify the exact changes or who the bill directly affects. The bill’s key mechanisms remain unclear from the available context, as it only references broader administrative updates to the Penal Code without detailing provisions. The Hawaii House Judiciary, Health, and Agriculture (JHA) committee recently recommended passing the bill with amendments, but no concrete policy changes are described in the summary. Without specific details on the proposed Penal Code amendments, a substantive summary of the bill’s policy impact cannot be provided.

Requires the State's youth and adult correctional facilities to provide free and accessible voice communication services for incarcerated persons in state correctional facilities. Prohibits any state agency from deriving revenue or financial benefit from the provision of communication services to persons confined in state correctional facilities. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish service quality standards and rules for the free voice communication services. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Prohibits the Public Utilities Commission from approving costs of infrastructure, operations and maintenance, fuel, or other costs relating to supplying and using liquefied natural gas unless certain conditions are met. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to consider the effect of fossil fuels on renewable energy, stranded investment risks and costs, and costs and risks of reliance on a single fuel supply or monopoly supplier when making determinations of the reasonableness of the costs pertaining to electric or gas utility system capital improvements and operations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires the Hawaii Department of Transportation to identify any roadways other than Makakilo Drive that may be used as emergency egress routes in Makakilo. Requires the Department to plan for, design, and construct an emergency egress route in Makakilo under certain circumstances. Appropriates moneys.

Transfers land from the City and County of Honolulu to the Department of Transportation to complete the Makakilo Drive Extension project. Establishes the Makakilo Drive Extension Task Force to coordinate the project. Authorizes use of the Hawaii green infrastructure special fund to support sustainable design elements of the project. Appropriates funds.

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer a Hawaii Rx kids program to improve the economic stability of households with very young children who reside in the State through a one-time payment and several monthly payments.

Authorizes the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, to establish the Shade and Fruit Tree Program to support educational activities and encourage propagation of native shade trees and fruit trees for planting in Department of Education schools. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires contracts for services awarded to community-based organizations by the Judiciary in support of fulfilling the Judiciary's statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State to include certain protections against inflation. Appropriates funds to the Judiciary to increase the contract price in existing contracts for services provided by community-based organizations in support of fulfilling the Judiciary's statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)