Rep. Lisa Marten

Affirms student-athletes' rights to engage in name, image, and likeness activities for compensation. Requires the University of Hawaii to adopt policies governing institutional name, image, and likeness agreements and other aspects of name, image, and likeness activity consistent with federal law, rules by an intercollegiate athletics governing body such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and Title IX. Establishes certain transparency and accountability requirements in the administration of institutional name, image, and likeness activities. Provides protections and educational support for student-athletes who enter into name, image, and likeness agreements. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2030. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Maddy summaryHB 2399 appropriates state funds to the State Public Charter School Commission specifically for prekindergarten-only public charter schools. This bill directly affects prekindergarten-only public charter schools by providing them with dedicated state funding through the Commission. The key mechanism is a budget allocation for operational support, without changing eligibility rules or student enrollment requirements. The bill is currently in early stages, having been introduced on January 27, 2026.

Requires hospitals and hospital systems to submit annual certified reports regarding costs associated with Medicare and uninsured patients to the Department of Health, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, and State Health Planning and Development Agency. Requires the Department of Health, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, and State Health Planning and Development Agency to review the reports, establish standards and procedures, and adopt rules. Requires the Department of Health to consider the reports when determining the department's budget request and designate financial assistance requests in an equitable way. Requires the Office of the Auditor to conduct periodic audits of the financial assistance distributed to hospitals and hospital systems. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Appropriates funds for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to increase access to bilingual resources and services for residents with limited English proficiency. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Authorizes the Department of Education to establish a climate literacy certificate program to provide students with an advanced understanding of climate change through academic coursework and hands-on learning. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Appropriates funds to: (1) the counties for more voter service centers for in-person voting; (2) the Office of Elections to print and mail the digital voter information guide to all registered voters; and (3) the Office of Elections to support a public outreach and engagement campaign to encourage greater voter participation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summaryHB 1452 expands who can legally submit an affidavit to create a new birth certificate for certain individuals. It allows more types of health care providers (beyond just physicians) to certify birth details for registrants needing updated certificates. This change directly affects people who require corrected or new birth records, such as those with incomplete documentation. The bill modifies the process by broadening the list of authorized medical professionals who can provide the required legal statement.

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience and the Department of Health to continue their implementation of the Hawaii Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Transfers the appointment authority for Island Burial Council members from the Governor and Senate to the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Prohibits health care facilities, health care providers, and emergency medical services from furnishing medical debt to a consumer credit reporting agency. Prohibits consumer credit reporting agencies from reporting or maintaining medical debt information in the file on a consumer. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)