Rep. Darius Kila

Exempts state projects from county building permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy requirements under certain conditions. Requires counties to accept the dedication of state projects exempt from the county permitting process. Prohibits state agencies responsible for state projects exempt from county building permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy requirements from applying for county building permits. Defines building permit, state agency, state lands, and state project.

Authorizes Executive and Administrative Departments and Agencies to enter into intergovernmental and partnership agreements with private sector entities, nonprofit organizations, and other governmental bodies. Requires annual report to the Legislature.

Requires the Hawaii emergency management agency to inventory all designated emergency shelters and their ability to withstand a category one hurricane or higher. Requires Hawaii emergency management agency to publish a publicly available list of shelters and their respective hurricane ratings. Appropriates funds for a hurricane shelter retrofit program and director.

Requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority and School of Travel Industry Management at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to jointly perform a study regarding the design, construction or purchase, and operations and management of a state hotel. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Appropriates funds for the Office of the Governor, in collaboration with the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, to strengthen existing hurricane shelters and develop new hurricane shelters to withstand category five hurricanes.

Requires clean and sober homes with five or more residents to obtain a conditional use permit issued by a county agency. Requires, rather than permits, the Department of Health to establish a clean and sober homes registry and requires the Department to conduct unannounced visits and inspections of homes on the registry.

Maddy summaryHB 471 requires the state Board of Education to create a Korean language program in public schools and appropriates funding for it. This bill directly affects school districts that would implement the program and students seeking Korean language education. The key provision mandates the Board to establish the program using designated state funds. Currently, the bill has been referred to education and finance committees but was recommended for deferral by the committee on January 30, 2025.

Prohibits any person from disassembling, dismantling, or demolishing iron projects unless the person has completed an apprenticeship program for ironworkers approved and registered with the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations. Establishes penalties. Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to adopt rules.

Maddy summaryHB 663 would authorize the state to issue special vehicle license plates commemorating the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). These plates would be available for purchase by vehicle owners, with proceeds potentially supporting OHA's work. The bill is currently pending in committee (referred to CAA, JHA, FIN) and has been deferred by the committee as of January 29, 2025, meaning it has not advanced to become law. This is a procedural measure focused on creating a commemorative plate option, not a substantive policy change.

Creates the Aloha Aina Land Trust to rehabilitate and manage lands transferred by the United States military to the State after the leases for those lands expires. Appropriates funds.