Rep. Lisa Kitagawa

Allows a pathway for foreign medical school graduates to be licensed as physicians that was previously only available to graduates who passed the qualifying examination of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates before 1984. Establishes an alternative pathway for the licensure as physicians for foreign medical graduates who passed certain examinations, possess an Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates certificate, and have completed two years of post-graduate medical training. (SD1)

Prohibits drug manufacturers from denying, restricting, or prohibiting the acquisition, shipping, or delivery of a 340B drug to pharmacies contracted with 340B covered entities under the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. Authorizes 340B covered entities and the Attorney General to bring a civil action for enforcement within four years of a violation. Beginning 7/1/2026, requires each 340B covered entity in the State to report certain information annually to the hospital trade association operating in the State and requires the hospital trade association to prepare and publicly post an aggregate report of reports submitted by each 340B covered entity. (CD1)

Creates a framework for the licensure of rural emergency hospitals at the state level by the Department of Health. Clarify Medicaid reimbursement policies for hospitals transitioning from a critical access hospital designation to a rural emergency hospital designation. (CD1)

Maddy summaryHB 110 adjusts existing targets and deadlines for the Department of Education to source locally grown food products for schools. It modifies the current timeline and specific goals the department must meet for purchasing locally produced agricultural items. The bill directly affects schools and the Department of Education by changing how they implement local food procurement requirements. These changes streamline the process without introducing new funding or penalties for compliance. The bill passed committee with amendments and is now moving forward in the legislative process.

Establishes a two-year Librarian Pilot Program to serve one school complex on Oahu and one school complex on an island other than Oahu. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Maddy summaryHB 862 allows school districts to use motorcoaches, small buses, and vans for student transportation services, provided they meet specific safety and operational requirements. This bill directly affects public school districts that rely on transportation services for students. The key provision expands the types of vehicles eligible for school bus use beyond standard school buses, while requiring compliance with established safety standards. The bill passed committee with amendments in February 2025 but has not yet become law.

Appropriates funds to support the efforts of the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources in the removal of the majano anemone from Kaneohe Bay. (CD1)

Maddy summaryHB 622 changes the reporting schedule for the Department of Education. It specifically moves the due date for the department's annual computer science legislative report from June 30 to October 31.

Increases the domiciliary care rates for certain providers and clarifies that the needs allowance and domiciliary care rates are included in the state supplemental payment ceiling amounts. Effective 10/1/2025. (CD1)

Allows a retirant to be employed without reenrollment in the Employees' Retirement System and without loss or interruption of benefits under the System or the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund if the retirant is employed in a position needed for succession planning, as a law enforcement officer stationed at a public school as a resource officer, as an investigator, or in a management position excluded from collective bargaining, subject to certain conditions. Requires the director of human resources of the appropriate state jurisdiction or the human resources management chief executive of each county to include in their annual reports to the Legislature details on the employment of retirants as school resource officers or investigators. (SD2)