Rep. Lisa Marten

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 139) urges Hawaii's Department of Education, Department of Health, and relevant stakeholders to collaborate on a strategic plan to prepare for potential participation in the CDC's national autism prevalence surveillance program. It directly affects state agencies and community stakeholders by requesting they develop infrastructure for data collection, identify necessary resources, and engage providers to support CDC's autism monitoring efforts. The resolution focuses on gathering accurate autism prevalence data for Hawaii - particularly for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities where rates are higher - rather than creating new services or funding. It is non-binding and aims to position Hawaii to seek CDC funding under the Autism CARES Act, with a requirement for a progress report to the legislature by 2026.

Maddy summaryThis Hawaii House Resolution (HR 182) declares a public health emergency due to climate change impacts and requests all state departments to coordinate cross-sector solutions. It directs agencies like Health, Transportation, and Agriculture to identify and plan for climate-related health risks - including heat, disease, food insecurity, and mental health impacts - directly affecting Hawaii residents. The resolution does not create new laws but mandates statewide collaboration to strengthen public health responses.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution requests Hawaii's Department of Human Services to direct its Youth Services and Juvenile Justice Advisory Council to examine how many culturally rooted "aina-based learning" programs (land/sea-connected cultural education) are available for youth in the juvenile court system. It specifically asks the council to assess current program usage and create a list of approved organizations for courts to assign as community service alternatives. The resolution aims to connect youth, particularly Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Black youth disproportionately affected by fees and fines, with culturally relevant learning opportunities instead of standard community service. This would help address disconnection from cultural roots linked to higher recidivism rates, as noted in the resolution's background.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 34) directs Hawaii state agencies to gather specific data and analyze costs related to children's health insurance coverage. It requests the Health Data Advisory Council to confirm statewide and county-level counts of uninsured children in 2025, and the Med-QUEST Division to estimate costs for extending continuous coverage for children aged 6-18 from 2 years to 12 years, plus costs for children ineligible under current rules. The agencies must collaborate on policy recommendations to achieve universal child health insurance coverage and submit a report to the Legislature by 2026. The resolution does not create new law but mandates data collection and cost analysis to inform future policy decisions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution encourages the Kawaihuelani Center for Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to continue its existing I Hoa na Moolelo Project, which publishes a Hawaiian-language children's magazine for Kaiapuni (Hawaiian immersion) students and families. It directly supports Kaiapuni students and their families by promoting Hawaiian language use at home through accessible resources. As a symbolic resolution, it has no legal effect but formally recognizes the importance of Hawaiian language preservation and urges the Center to expand its current efforts.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution (HR 63) requests the Hawai'i Department of Transportation to accelerate the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) in the state's aviation sector to reduce carbon emissions. It directs the DOT to collaborate with the Hawai'i State Energy Office, airlines, and fuel producers to develop policies, incentives, and infrastructure for SAF production and use. The resolution also requires the DOT to integrate SAF adoption into the state's Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan and submit a progress report to the Legislature by 2026.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural resolution (not a bill), requesting the Hawaii State Energy Office to convene a Geothermal Energy Working Group. The working group - comprising state agency representatives, county officials, industry stakeholders, and community experts - will evaluate regulatory and policy challenges for geothermal energy development in Hawaii and provide recommendations to the Legislature by January 2026. It does not create new laws but aims to identify pathways for accelerating geothermal energy, a stable renewable resource, to support Hawaii's clean energy goals.

Maddy summaryHR 59 is a House Resolution requesting the 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 landowners, developers, and government agencies seeking to change land use for housing, infrastructure, or business purposes. The key mechanism requires state and county bodies to schedule reviews together, share public hearings, and create protocols to reduce redundant processes and lengthy delays. The resolution does not create new laws but asks agencies to streamline existing procedures to expedite land reclassification.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding House Resolution encourages the University of Hawaii to evaluate and expand its student mental health services. It specifically asks the university to hire additional mental health professionals and support staff, extend counseling hours, improve crisis response, and adopt proactive outreach initiatives. The resolution also requests the university provide periodic updates to the legislature on its progress. It does not mandate changes or allocate funding, serving only as a recommendation to address growing student mental health needs.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution requests that health insurers and managed care providers in Hawaii cover prosthetic and orthotic devices for residents with limb loss or mobility impairments. It specifically aims to address barriers faced by over 18,000 Hawaii residents who currently lack access to activity-specific devices (like those for running or swimming) due to restrictive insurance policies. The resolution asks insurers to provide this coverage to reduce preventable health issues like diabetes and obesity, which disproportionately affect people with disabilities. It is a non-binding request, not a law, and directs copies to major insurance providers and the Insurance Commissioner for consideration.