Rep. Chris Muraoka

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 10) urges the City and County of Honolulu to create a permanent program compensating communities hosting landfills and establish a community-led advisory group. It specifically addresses health and financial burdens faced by residents near landfills, including increased asthma risks, medical costs, and home repairs due to dust pollution. The resolution cites a 2022 committee recommendation to formalize these benefits, building on past annual funding (2006-2009) for the Leeward Coast community. It does not create new law but formally requests Honolulu to implement these measures to support affected neighborhoods.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to create a coordinated support system for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries facing homelessness or extremely low income. The key provisions require these agencies to assess the number of affected individuals, identify gaps in housing assistance, and evaluate options like transitional housing models on Department lands. Additionally, the agencies must explore funding sources, partner with nonprofit providers, and develop pilot program structures that comply with the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. The resolution mandates that a report on these efforts be submitted to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2027 Regular Session begins.

Maddy summaryThis Hawaii House Resolution urges the U.S. Congress to pass H.R. 2687, the End Kidney Deaths Act, which would create a federal tax credit system to encourage living kidney donations to strangers. The bill aims to address kidney disease disparities affecting rural and low-income communities by increasing the number of available organ donors through financial incentives for non-directed donations. The resolution highlights that kidney transplantation is more effective than dialysis for saving lives and reducing long-term healthcare costs, while noting that existing donor protections remain in place. This measure is presented as a bipartisan effort to expand access to life-saving transplants and reduce the number of patients waiting for kidneys.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution asks Google Maps, Apple Maps, and similar digital mapping platforms to stop labeling hazardous coastal features like Mermaid Caves as safe recreational destinations. The bill directs these companies to remove or modify public identification and navigation guidance for locations with known dangers such as sudden wave surges and lack of safe exits. It requires the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources to provide safety data and documentation to support these requests while explicitly preserving lawful shoreline access, news reporting, and academic research. The resolution aims to reduce risky visitation and ease the burden on emergency responders without restricting traditional practices or historical references.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii Department of Transportation to work with utility companies to create a statewide plan for fixing or removing old and unsafe utility poles and power lines along Farrington Highway and other high-risk road areas. The plan would involve assessing the condition of aging infrastructure, prioritizing repairs based on safety risks like wildfire potential and traffic volume, and establishing clear rules for who is responsible for maintenance and funding. The Department of Transportation must submit a detailed report to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 session outlining the proposed schedule, responsible parties, and any legal barriers to implementation. This resolution does not mandate immediate action but sets up a framework for coordinated planning between state agencies and private utility providers to improve public safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Department of Transportation and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to form a working group to coordinate infrastructure planning for Hawaiian home lands developments. The group will review overlapping projects, identify opportunities to reduce duplicative costs, and develop a standardized process for sharing information between the two departments. Members will include leadership from both agencies, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and external experts in infrastructure and finance. The working group must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027 and will dissolve by June 30, 2027.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution urges the City and County of Honolulu to create a permanent program compensating communities hosting landfills, including those affected by past landfills like Waimanalo Gulch. It specifically recommends establishing a community-led advisory group to identify local concerns and manage compensation funds for health/environmental impacts. The resolution cites studies linking landfill proximity to respiratory issues, home damage, and medical costs, referencing past annual $2 million offsets for Leeward Coast residents. It draws on the 2022 Oahu Landfill Siting Advisory Committee’s recommendation for a formal benefits package. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new law but formally requests Honolulu take these steps.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Transportation and the City and County of Honolulu to explore using artificial intelligence to reduce traffic congestion and improve road safety. The measure is based on concerns about rising traffic fatalities and congestion in Hawaii, noting that other states are already using AI for traffic management. It requests that these agencies submit a report within 20 days assessing the feasibility of integrating AI technologies into existing traffic systems. The resolution does not mandate immediate implementation but asks for a study to evaluate how AI could be applied to current infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution urges Hawaii's Department of Transportation and Honolulu's transportation departments to explore using artificial intelligence to reduce traffic congestion and improve road safety. It highlights concerns about rising traffic fatalities and congestion while noting that other states are already using AI for traffic management. The resolution requests that these agencies submit a report within 20 days assessing existing technologies and the feasibility of integrating AI systems into current infrastructure. This measure does not mandate implementation but asks agencies to evaluate and report on the potential for adopting AI-driven traffic solutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill asks Hawaii's Public Utilities Commission to create a temporary working group to study the state's utility infrastructure, particularly in the City and County of Honolulu. The group will examine how well current utility systems can handle demand, how long existing coastal infrastructure is expected to last, and the costs of expanding services to support community growth. The working group includes representatives from government agencies, utility companies, and labor unions, and will produce an assessment of infrastructure capacity, lifespan risks, funding needs, and any permit-related strain on systems. This study aims to provide data for better community planning and ensure utility services can meet current and future demands.