Requires graduates of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine who have paid in-state tuition to serve as a physician in the State for at least 2 years following their medical residency or fellowship. Begins with the class of 2029.
Maddy summaryHB 694 establishes a refundable child tax credit for families with children in the state. This means eligible families could receive money back from the state even if they owed no income tax, directly supporting households with children. The credit applies to tax returns filed for years starting after December 31, 2025. It creates a specific financial benefit tied to the number of qualifying children in a household.
Maddy summaryHB 767 extends the deadline for voters to correct minor errors on their ballots after an election. It changes the timeframe from 5 business days to 13 calendar days, giving voters more time to fix issues like missing signatures or incorrect addresses. This directly affects voters who submit ballots with minor mistakes, ensuring they have a longer window to correct them before the ballots are rejected. The bill focuses on adjusting the administrative process for ballot curing without altering voting eligibility or election procedures.
Maddy summaryHB 148 protects individuals who make claims about sexual misconduct from defamation lawsuits, directly affecting people reporting such incidents. The bill establishes that these claims cannot be challenged as defamation unless the person making them acted with "malice" - meaning they knew the claim was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. This provision aims to reduce legal barriers for reporting sexual misconduct by shielding truthful or good-faith allegations. The law would apply to civil lawsuits seeking damages for defamation related to sexual misconduct claims.
Establishes a pilot program in the Department of Health to provide intensive mobile treatment-type services, e.g., "street psychiatry", to chronically houseless adult individuals suffering from serious brain disorders like schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.
Prohibits residing in, on, or within fifty feet of a freshwater waterway. Authorizes state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Conservation and Resources Enforcement Program and county police, to enforce the prohibition.
Requires Liquor Commissions or Boards to deny any renewal for a liquor license if the applicant for renewal has violated any provision of the Intoxicating Liquor Law under chapter 281, Hawaii Revised Statutes, on three separate occasions during the twelve-month period preceding the renewal application date.
Authorizes a registered pharmacist under contract with a covered entity for purposes of the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program to supervise via telehealth the filling or receipt of a prescription in certain circumstances.
Establishes a state-owned bank implementation board within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to determine the need for, potential costs and benefits of, and prerequisites to establishing a state-owned bank. Requires a report to the legislature.
Maddy summaryHB 675 requires judges to assess and document a defendant's ability to afford bail before setting a monetary amount. This directly affects individuals facing pretrial detention who cannot pay bail, ensuring judicial consideration of financial circumstances. The key provision mandates judges to make specific findings about affordability rather than automatically imposing cash bail, aiming to prevent unnecessary detention for those unable to pay. The bill is currently pending introduction in the legislature.
