Rep. Chris Muraoka

Maddy summaryHB 1306 establishes the Kupuna Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Program through the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. It allows older Hawaii residents (kūpuna) who own homes to convert their home equity into mortgage payments, providing financial stability as they age. The program is administered by the Hawaii Housing Finance Corporation, which will manage eligibility, funding, and participant support. This directly affects homeowners aged 62+ who wish to leverage their home equity without selling their property.

Increases the category of offense for criminal trespass in the first and second degree and criminal property damage in the second, third, and fourth degree.

Maddy summaryHB 291 clarifies situations where the use of deadly force in self-defense is not permitted. It removes the requirement for individuals to retreat or surrender property before using deadly force in response to an immediate threat. The bill directly affects people claiming self-defense in legal cases by simplifying the standard for when lethal force may be justified. This change aims to update the legal framework for self-protection without expanding or restricting existing rights.

Maddy summaryHB 524 caps the state's minimum wage at $15 per hour, preventing future increases above this level. It directly affects low-wage workers and employers subject to minimum wage laws, including those in the hospitality industry relying on tip credits. The bill adjusts the schedule for raising the tip credit (how tips count toward meeting minimum wage requirements), changing when employers can reduce their wage obligation based on tips. This legislation freezes the minimum wage floor at $15 and modifies the timeline for tip credit adjustments, with no further increases planned under this bill.

Requires the department of education to prohibit cell phone use during the instructional day, prohibit student access to social media through the school's internet, and implement a social media education campaign. Creates exemptions for students requiring accommodations, emergency situations, and teacher authorizations.

Appropriate funds to the legislative reference bureau to procure artificial intelligence software and analytic services to streamline state law and regulations. Requires a report to the legislature.

Establishes the Office of Entrepreneurship. Authorizes the use of the Hawaii Film and Creative Industries Development Special Fund to fund a program in partnership with the Office that creates opportunities in film, media, electronic sports, and creative industries for new businesses. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes the position of Ka Papahana Kaiapuni Program Complex Area Superintendent. Requires that at least one at-large member of the Board of Education be a proficient Hawaiian speaking educator, practitioner, or scholar of Hawaiian studies or the Hawaiian language, to be selected from a list of three nominees submitted by the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Clarifies the purpose and objective of the Hawaiian Language Medium Education Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Requires the Department of Education to implement a plan for a Hawaiian language immersion school in Kapolei that shall be ready to educate students in grades kindergarten through 12 by the 2028-2029 school year. Appropriates moneys.

Amends the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended, to authorize the transfer of a living beneficiary's place on the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands' waitlist for any residential, agricultural, or pastoral tract to a qualified application successor who is at least one-fourth Hawaiian, if the beneficiary dies. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)