Rep. Lisa Marten

Maddy summaryThis bill urges Hawaii's Department of Education to create a plan for transitioning its public school buses to electric vehicles. The resolution cites existing state laws requiring greenhouse gas reduction and energy independence, while highlighting benefits observed in other districts like Oakland, including lower operating costs, improved air quality, and enhanced disaster response capabilities. The Department of Education is asked to collaborate with stakeholders, study the Oakland model, and submit a report with recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027. As a concurrent resolution, this document serves as a formal recommendation rather than a law that directly mandates funding or immediate changes.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution asks Hawaii's Board of Education and Department of Education to create a working group that will design a Climate Literacy Seal of Excellence for public school students. The proposed working group would include educators, university experts, industry representatives, and student members to develop a framework for recognizing students who complete advanced coursework and hands-on projects focused on climate science and sustainability. The group is tasked with outlining course requirements, certification criteria, and a timeline for implementation, with final recommendations due to the Legislature by early 2027. This resolution is a procedural step that initiates planning rather than immediately changing policy or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Auditor to evaluate the social and financial impacts of a proposed mandate requiring health insurers to cover generic opioid antagonists and related devices. The resolution directs the Auditor to prepare a report analyzing costs, benefits, and potential effects on individuals with opioid use disorders, as required by state law before such coverage mandates are enacted. The report must be completed and submitted to the Legislature by late February 2027. This procedural measure does not change insurance coverage itself but ensures a formal assessment is conducted before any related legislation takes effect.

Maddy summaryThis House Resolution encourages Hawaii's counties to create or expand their own historic preservation offices and staff to better protect local cultural and historic sites. The measure does not mandate any specific actions but urges county governments to establish their own review processes and inventories that work alongside the state's historic preservation program. By developing local policies and procedures, counties would gain more capacity to identify and safeguard historic resources during land use planning and development approvals. The resolution aims to strengthen overall protection of Hawaii's unique cultural heritage through improved coordination between state and local levels.

Maddy summaryThis House Concurrent Resolution expresses support for the University of Hawaii at Manoa Faculty Senate's request for university leaders to commit to defending students, faculty, and staff who exercise their rights to academic freedom and free speech. The measure responds to concerns that proposed revisions to campus expressive activity policies could restrict speech and create an antagonistic relationship between the administration and the university community. The resolution formally endorses the Faculty Senate's opposition to these policy changes and directs copies to key university officials, including the Board of Regents and the university president.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Hawaii Health Plan Working Group to design and recommend a basic, affordable health plan for all state residents. The working group will include representatives from the Legislature, Governor's office, Insurance Commissioner, state health agency, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Kaiser Permanente. The group is tasked with developing a plan that addresses potential increases in uninsured residents due to federal changes to health insurance subsidies and Medicaid requirements, with recommendations to be submitted to the Legislature by early 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii Department of Health to study the costs and benefits of requiring water suppliers to adjust fluoride levels to meet national standards for community water fluoridation. The measure directly affects public water systems in the state and aims to address high rates of tooth decay by evaluating whether mandated fluoride adjustments would improve oral health outcomes. The study would analyze financial impacts, health benefits, and operational considerations for water providers, with results to be reported to the Legislature by early 2027. This is a procedural resolution that initiates research rather than implementing immediate policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a non-binding resolution that urges Hawaii's counties to create or expand their own historic preservation offices and programs to support state-level efforts. It encourages counties to develop local policies, inventories, and review processes to identify and protect historic and cultural resources within their jurisdictions. The resolution specifically targets county governments, suggesting they establish dedicated staff, commissions, or advisory boards to coordinate preservation activities during land use planning and permitting. This measure aims to improve coordination between county and state agencies while ensuring continued protection of cultural resources even if state resources are reduced.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii Department of Health to study the costs and benefits of requiring water suppliers to adjust fluoride levels in public water systems to match the optimal level recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The resolution aims to gather data on how such a change would impact oral health, particularly for the approximately 89% of residents currently without access to fluoridated water. The Department of Health must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 session, which could lead to future legislative action. This measure does not mandate any immediate changes to water systems but instead initiates a review process to inform potential policy decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii Board of Education and Department of Education to create a working group that will design a Climate Literacy Seal of Excellence program for public schools. The proposed working group would include educators, university faculty, industry representatives, and student members to develop a framework for recognizing students who complete advanced climate science coursework and experiential projects. The group is tasked with outlining course requirements, certification criteria, teacher training needs, and an implementation timeline, with final recommendations due to the Legislature by early 2027.