Rep. Jeanné Kapela

Establishes an installation goal for customer-sited distributed energy resources in the State. Ensures that fair compensation is provided to distributed energy resources exports as part of grid service programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Defines community outreach board to mean a board established to serve in a community advisory capacity under a county department. Includes community outreach boards in existing provisions of the Sunshine Law relating to neighborhood boards. Authorizes neighborhood board and community outreach board members to attend meetings or presentations related to official board business statewide. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes the Hawaii Agricultural Crimes Council. Expands the duties of the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with and support the Council. Establishes the Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Maddy summaryHB 941 would allow pedestrians to cross roadways against the flow of traffic (e.g., walking against moving vehicles) in specific situations where it is otherwise prohibited by state traffic rules. This directly affects pedestrians who may need to cross in non-standard ways, such as at unmarked crosswalks or in areas with poor visibility, and indirectly affects drivers who must adjust to this change in pedestrian movement. The bill’s key provision creates an exception to the standard traffic code for pedestrian crossings under defined conditions, though the exact circumstances are not detailed in the provided abstract. It does not change existing traffic laws for vehicles but modifies pedestrian movement rules in limited scenarios. The bill is currently pending review by the Transportation Committee.

Establishes a Performing Arts Special Fund to be used for the coordination, planning, promotion, marketing, and execution of performing arts events and to be funded by a percentage of all ticket sales from concerts held at state venues. Establishes exemptions. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Adds the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, or the Chairperson's designee, to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to evaluate its facilities for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and compile a list of non-compliant facilities. Requires report to the Legislature.

Prohibits the construction, modification, or expansion of any waste or disposal facility on land that is near or above a significant aquifer as determined by the Department of Health. Reduces the required buffer zone around waste or disposal facilities.

Maddy summaryBased solely on the provided context, this bill lacks sufficient detail for a substantive summary. The official abstract only states "Short form bill relating to culture" without specifying provisions, affected parties, or mechanisms. No concrete policy changes, key provisions, or specific impacts are described in the available information. The bill's status shows it was introduced but remains pending referral (carried over to 2026), with no further details on content. Therefore, a factual summary of the bill's purpose or effects cannot be provided from the given context.

Requires the Executive Office on Early Learning to establish an Imagination Library of Hawaii Program to provide one free book each month to children from birth through five years of age who reside in the State. Appropriates funds.