Rep. Kanani Souza

Prohibits with certain exceptions, the use of facial coverings and requires visible identification by law enforcement officers and their vehicles in the performance of their duties. Requires state and county law enforcement agencies to establish policies regarding state and county cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement. Prohibits law enforcement officers from prolonging a stop to inquire about a person's civil immigration status. Establishes criminal offenses for use of a mask or facial covering by a law enforcement officer, lack of visible identification, and unauthorized civil immigration arrest or detention. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD2)

Requires the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to develop an alternative pathway for a visiting international educator permit aligned to the duration of the educator's J-1 visa program. Permits the Department of Education and charter schools to hire unlicensed individuals as teachers on an emergency basis for five, rather than three, years. Requires HTSB to extend the five-year period in the case of a declared state of emergency. Requires the Department of Education to provide support to assist emergency hires in meeting the requirements of licensure and require the training be mandatory for emergency hires in their fourth and fifth years. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Maddy summaryHCR 8 is a concurrent resolution urging Hawaiian counties to approve building permits for home safety modifications within 45 days of receiving a complete application. It specifically targets modifications (like ramps or grab bars) recommended by a healthcare provider for older adults (62+) or people with disabilities, when the county deems them essential for safety or health. The resolution does not create new law but seeks to reduce delays that contribute to fall risks and hospitalizations, emphasizing counties must act on complete applications within the 45-day timeframe.

Maddy summaryHCR 6 is a Hawaii legislative resolution affirming that hospitals must provide life-saving emergency care - including abortion services when medically necessary - to stabilize pregnant patients under the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). It addresses confusion caused by recent shifts in federal guidance about EMTALA's requirements, particularly following the 2025 rescission of federal affirmations supporting emergency abortion care. The resolution urges all Hawaii hospitals, including religiously affiliated ones, to uphold EMTALA's standards without delay or denial of care. It does not create new law but reinforces Hawaii's commitment to ensuring pregnant patients receive timely emergency treatment as required by federal statute.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution urges Maui Health to partner with state agencies and medical stakeholders to create a full-time medical residency program on Maui, addressing a critical shortage of physicians that worsened after the 2023 wildfires. The bill specifically recommends using federal Rural Health Transformation Program funding to cover initial costs while seeking additional resources from grants and private partnerships. It requests collaboration with the John A. Burns School of Medicine and local health centers, and asks Maui Health to submit a progress report to the Legislature by early 2027. This non-binding resolution aims to improve access to primary care and specialist services for Maui's underserved population without mandating specific actions.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution asks the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to review and update the specific roles and missions of the system's four-year campuses. The request aims to ensure each campus has a clear, non-overlapping purpose that better serves students and the state's needs. The resolution directs the Board to consider workforce demands, student access, geographic coverage, and resource efficiency during this review. The Board must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by twenty days before the 2027 Regular Session begins. This document is a formal request rather than a law, as it relies on the Board of Regents' existing authority to manage university operations.

Establishes a Uniform Towing Practices for Public Parking Facilities Working Group within the Department of Transportation to examine existing state and county laws, ordinances, rules, and administrative practices relating to towing from public parking facilities and develop recommendations for uniform standards applicable to towing from state and county parking facilities. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 7) urges Hawaii counties to approve or deny building permit applications for home safety modifications within 45 days of receiving a complete application. It specifically targets modifications prescribed by healthcare providers for older adults (62+) or people with disabilities, such as ramps or grab bars, when deemed essential for safety or health. The resolution does not create new law but recommends a 45-day timeline to reduce delays causing fall risks and hospitalizations. It applies directly to county permitting departments and affected residents seeking urgent home modifications. (Note: As a non-binding resolution, it relies on voluntary county action, not enforcement.)

Maddy summaryHB 2114 creates the Hawaii Benefits Hub within the state's Office of Enterprise Technology Services to centralize access to human services. It requires the Chief Information Officer to develop and implement a single statewide portal for residents to apply for government benefits, replacing current fragmented systems. The bill appropriates funding for this portal's development and operation, effective July 1, 2030. This directly affects Hawaii residents seeking services like food assistance, healthcare, or housing support by simplifying their application process.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 15) expresses legislative support for Kamehameha Schools' admissions policy, which prioritizes Native Hawaiian students as a remedy for historical educational disparities. It specifically requests the Hawaii Attorney General to file an "amicus curiae" (friend of the court) brief defending this policy in any future lawsuits challenging it. The resolution notes that Kamehameha Schools are privately funded and distinct from the 2023 Supreme Court case involving Harvard, which did not apply to them. It does not alter the admissions policy itself but urges state legal support for its defense.