Permanently establishes the Women's Court Program in the First Circuit. Establishes a temporary two-year Women's Court Pilot Program within the Kona division of the Third Circuit. Requires reports. Establishes a temporary position. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2027. (CD1)
Permanently establishes and appropriates funds to the Department of Law Enforcement, Office of the Public Defender, and City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the Community Outreach Court as a division of the District Court of the First Circuit. (CD1)
Establishes a working group within the Hawaii State Energy Office to examine how to maximize the recycling and reuse of electric vehicle batteries and recommend electric vehicle battery management practices. Requires a report to the Legislature. (CD1)
Expands the Preschool Open Doors Program's eligibility criteria. Repeals the requirement that Preschool Open Doors Program providers be accredited. Effective 1/1/2026. (CD1)
Clarifies that the School Facilities Authority is responsible for projects for facilities for prekindergarten, preschool, child care, and early learning programs; workforce housing; and any public school development, planning, and construction assigned by the Legislature, Governor, or Board of Education. Allows the School Facilities Authority to use the Department of Education for certain recruitment and hiring responsibilities. Allows the School Facilities Authority to partner with public and private development agencies to develop prekindergarten, preschool, child care, and early learning program facilities. Appropriates funds. (CD1)
Transfers the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to the Department of Accounting and General Services. Renames the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office to Broadband Office. Repeals broadband duties assigned to the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Repeals the Broadband Assistance Advisory Council. Transfers the duty of collecting and posting certain broadband infrastructure notices to the Broadband Office. Establishes the Broadband Revolving Fund. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. (CD1)
Appropriates funds to establish a position within the Department of Health to assist with the upgrade and conversion of cesspools and perform any other related responsibilities as designated by the Wastewater Branch of the Department of Health. (CD1)
Maddy summaryHB 505 establishes a dedicated WAI Policy Coordinator to manage Red Hill-related initiatives and creates a Red Hill Remediation Special Fund to finance cleanup efforts. The bill directly affects Red Hill remediation projects by providing a centralized role for coordination and a dedicated funding source. Key provisions include appointing the coordinator to oversee initiatives and directing the special fund to support remediation activities without specifying project details. The bill is currently under review by the committee with a recommendation to pass.
Establishes and appropriates funds for fiscal year 2025-2026 for a three-year new wastewater system and individual wastewater system technology testing pilot program within the University of Hawaii Water Resources Research Center. Requires interim and final reports to the Legislature. (CD1)
Requires the Chief Election Officer to provide a system for the electronic filing of nomination papers. Requires that the system for the electronic filing of nomination papers be provided at no additional cost to the filer. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2028. (CD1)
