Rep. Lisa Marten

Maddy summaryHCR 65 is a House Concurrent Resolution requesting the Hawaii Land Use Commission to coordinate with county planning commissions and county councils to review general plan amendments, district boundary changes, and zoning amendments at the same time (concurrently) instead of sequentially. This would directly affect the Land Use Commission, county planning bodies, and county councils across Hawaii, particularly for projects involving land reclassification. The key mechanism is requiring these entities to schedule reviews closer together, share public hearings, and develop protocols to reduce redundant processes. The goal is to speed up the land use amendment process, which currently takes months or years due to separate reviews, helping landowners, businesses, and government agencies address housing, development, and environmental needs more efficiently. This resolution does not change laws but asks state and county agencies to improve coordination.

Maddy summaryHCR 19 is a resolution urging Hawaii's Governor to create a task force focused on improving public-military relations, directly affecting Hawaii residents and the over 42,000 military personnel stationed in the state. The task force would include the Governor, state legislative leaders, Honolulu's mayor, and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command commander, and must examine ways to share military resources like water, recreational facilities, housing, and employment opportunities with the public. It specifically directs the task force to consider how military assets could benefit communities, such as using military land for farming or water treatment technologies. The resolution requires the task force to submit its final report and recommendations to the Legislature by late 2025.

Maddy summaryHCR 39 is a concurrent resolution requesting state agencies to gather data and analyze costs to advance children's health coverage. It directs the Health Data Advisory Council to confirm the number of uninsured children statewide and by county for 2025, and asks the Med-Quest Division (Hawaii's children's health coverage program) to estimate costs for extending continuous coverage from age 6 to 18 and covering children currently ineligible under federal rules. The resolution also requires Med-Quest and the State Health Planning Agency to collaborate on policy recommendations and submit a report to the Legislature by early 2026. This action does not create new law but seeks data to inform future policy decisions on achieving universal health coverage for children.

Maddy summaryHCR 124 is a non-binding legislative resolution encouraging the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa to expand its I Hoa na Moolelo Project. This project provides a quarterly children’s magazine in Hawaiian for students in grades 2-6 at Kaiapuni schools on Oʻahu. The resolution specifically asks the Center to create more learning resources and opportunities for Hawaiian language use at home and in communities. It directly supports Kaiapuni students, families, and educators by promoting Hawaiian language immersion beyond school hours. The resolution does not create new law but formally recognizes the Center’s existing work in language revitalization.

Maddy summaryHCR 145 is a resolution urging Hawaii's Department of Education and Department of Health to collaborate on creating a strategic plan for the state's potential participation in the CDC's national autism prevalence surveillance program. It directs these agencies to identify necessary resources, train staff, and establish data-sharing agreements to prepare for seeking federal funding under the Autism CARES Act. The resolution specifically aims to help Hawaii gather accurate autism data for its communities - particularly Native Hawaiian and Asian populations where prevalence is higher - supporting better service planning. Agencies must submit a progress report to the legislature by January 2026. This is a preparatory step, not a funding measure, focused on building infrastructure for future CDC collaboration.

Maddy summaryHCR 186 is a concurrent resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Education, with the Department of Health and State Public Charter School Commission, to study how public and charter schools manage heat exposure during outdoor student activities. It directs the study to assess current practices, evaluate using wet-bulb globe temperature measurements (a standard for measuring heat stress), and develop guidelines if current methods are insufficient. The guidelines would cover hydration protocols, staff training for heat illness symptoms, accommodations for students with medical conditions, and acclimatization plans for outdoor activities like sports, recess, and marching band. The study must be completed and submitted to the Legislature by January 2026, with any proposed plan due by January 2027.

Maddy summaryHCR 185 is a resolution requesting the state Auditor to conduct a social and financial assessment of a proposed mandate requiring health insurers to cover Native Hawaiian healing practices (like lomilomi massage and ho'oponopono) offered at federally qualified health centers. This follows Hawaii law (HRS §23-51) that requires such an assessment before mandating insurance coverage for specific health services. The resolution specifically references House Bill 641, which proposes expanding existing insurance mandates to include these cultural practices. The Auditor’s report must evaluate the impacts and be submitted to the Legislature before the 2026 session.

Maddy summaryHCR 188 is a concurrent resolution declaring climate change a public health emergency in Hawaii. It requires all state agencies - including Health, Transportation, Agriculture, and Land - to coordinate cross-departmental efforts to address climate-related health risks like extreme heat, disease spread, food insecurity, and mental health impacts. The resolution directs agencies to examine how their work affects public health and develop joint solutions, building on Hawaii’s 2021 climate emergency declaration. It does not create new laws or funding but mandates agency collaboration and reporting to the Governor and relevant department heads.

Maddy summaryHCR 35 requests Hawaii's Auditor to reassess the social and financial effects of mandating health insurance coverage for biomarker testing, following reports that insurers still deny or delay coverage despite existing requirements. It directly affects patients needing biomarker tests (used for diagnosing conditions like cancer or Alzheimer's) and insurers who determine coverage. The resolution stems from concerns that insurers' medical director approvals create access barriers, forcing patients to pay out-of-pocket or appeal denials even when doctors deem tests medically necessary. The Auditor will evaluate whether mandatory coverage - already required by prior law (HB2223) - effectively improves access without financial or social impacts. This procedural resolution seeks updated analysis to address persistent coverage gaps.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 179) requests the Hawaii Department of Education, working with the Department of Health and State Public Charter School Commission, to study how schools manage heat exposure during outdoor activities to protect student health. The study must examine current practices, assess using wet-bulb globe temperature as a heat stress measurement standard, and determine if existing protocols are sufficient. If gaps are found, the study would develop guidelines for all public and charter schools covering activities like sports, recess, and band practice, including hydration protocols, staff training for heat illness, and special considerations for students with medical conditions. The resolution requires the study and any proposed guidelines to be submitted to the Legislature by early 2026. This is a procedural request for research, not an immediate policy change.