Rep. Lisa Marten

Specifies that a certificate of inspection shall be issued if a vehicle is not equipped with a noisy muffler or exhaust system. Requires rules regarding safety check inspections to ensure that a motorcycle, moped, or motor vehicle is not equipped with a noisy muffler or exhaust system. Suspends, revokes, or refuses renewal of a permit for an official inspection station upon a third or subsequent wilful violation of any rule regarding inspecting a noisy muffler or exhaust system. Makes violating the noisy muffler laws a petty misdemeanor. Includes repairing or installing a noisy muffler or exhaust system as a prohibited practice for motor vehicle repair regulations.

Disallows dividends paid deduction for real estate investment trusts. Specifies that amounts collected from the disallowance be evenly divided and deposited into the dwelling unit revolving fund and rental housing revolving fund. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2023. Sunsets 12/31/2026.

Establishes a lapse date for any unencumbered moneys appropriated pursuant to Act 227, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021. Effective 6/29/2022. (CD1)

Prohibits an employer from entering into or requiring an employee to enter into a nondisclosure agreement pertaining to sexual harassment or sexual assault occurring in the workplace, at work-related events, between employees, or between the employer and an employee. (SD1)

Appropriates moneys to the department of agriculture to provide education and support to local businesses regarding the United States Food and Drug Administration's industry guidance on colored sea salt. (CD1)

Permits, but does not require or prohibit, medicaid, health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to cover telephonic behavioral health services under certain circumstances. Clarifies that telephonic services do not constitute telehealth. (CD1)

Exempts the gross proceeds or income received from the sale of any product resulting from the cultivation and production of unprocessed taro from the general excise tax. Repeals 6/30/2027. (CD1)

Expands the investigative authority of DHS to include families with foster children with a pending adoption decree or for whom an adoption decree has been issued but adoption has not yet taken place, children who are placed into legal guardianship and who receive permanency assistance payments, and adopted children who receive adoption assistance payments, and against whom a complaint has been filed with DHS at any time. Requires DHS to analyze and report on the impact of expanding home visits to families receiving adoption assistance or legal guardianship assistance. Establishes the Malama Ohana working group to seek, design, and recommend transformative changes to the State's child welfare system. Appropriates funds to increase the procurement of contracted services to provide additional support, resources, and monitoring of families receiving benefits from the State's adoption assistance and permanency assistance programs. (CD1)

Establishes the housing choice voucher landlord incentive program. Requires HPHA to adopt rules without regard to chapter 91, HRS, to establish specified incentives for landlords who participate in the tenant-based assistance housing choice voucher program under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937. Requires HPHA to adopt or amend rules no later than 7/1/2023 to establish a maximum of fifteen days after receipt of an owner's or landlord's inspection request as a reasonable time within which to inspect a dwelling unit for lease under the section 8 housing choice voucher program. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Establishes a statewide working group on affordable housing to foster increased inter-agency coordination on housing and zoning issues, raise public awareness of ongoing state and county efforts to reduce barriers to affordable housing development, and propose legislation. Requires an annual report to the legislature. Appropriates funds to support the statewide working group, including one full-time equivalent position. (CD1)