Rep. Lisa Marten

Maddy summaryHB 2373 establishes a two-year pilot program providing free public transit rides ("Keiki Fare-Free") for children (defined as under 18) on Oahu and Kauai. The bill directly affects young riders using public transit on those islands, eliminating fare costs for this group during the pilot period. It includes specific funding appropriations to cover the cost of the free rides, ensuring the program is financially supported. The legislation focuses on making transit more accessible for families and children in these specific locations, with no broader statewide implementation planned.

Establishes the Office of the State Construction Manager within the Department of Accounting and General Services, overseen by the State Construction Manager, to organize, manage, and oversee design review of, and issue design approvals for, state construction projects. Exempts state construction projects from county building permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy requirements under certain circumstances, as determined by the State Construction Manager. Establishes the Design Review Special Fund and appropriates funds into and out of the fund.

Establishes green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines for state facility systems, infrastructure, and transit projects in the Hawaii State Planning Act to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. Adds a definition of "green infrastructure". Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to submit a report to the Legislature making recommendations for implementing green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines.

Requires any hospital licensed by the Department of Health that has an operating room to adopt and implement policies to prevent exposure to surgical smoke. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Preserves, as state law, water quality, permitting, and aquatic resource protections that are at least as protective as federal Clean Water Act regulations and standards in effect as of January 1, 2026, and ensures their continued applicability regardless of subsequent federal amendments, repeals, or reductions.

Phases in requirements that all newly manufactured washing machines sold within the State by January 1, 2042, be equipped with a microfiber filtration system. Requires manufacturers of newly manufactured washing machines to provide certification to the Department of Health that the manufacturer is in compliance with microfiber filtration system requirements. Establishes penalties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Directs the University of Hawaiʻi School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology to conduct a study that identifies, analyzes, and evaluates possible methods to capture, retain, and store rainwater and storm water runoff for counties with a population of more than five hundred thousand. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, in consultation with the Insurance Commissioner, to establish and implement a five-year voluntary Nontraditional Workforce Portable Health Care Benefit Plan Pilot Program that offers high deductible health plans or catastrophic health plans to nontraditional workers who are ineligible for health benefits provided by the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund or prepaid health care plans under the Prepaid Health Care Act. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Includes certain law enforcement administrators and employees of the Department of Law Enforcement as class A members of the pension and retirement systems and provides guidance for the computation of retirement benefits similar to police officers.

Requires any petitioner for a district boundary amendment to obtain certification from the Commission on Water Resources Management that enough water is available for the project needs without causing harm to the relevant aquifers and provide that certification to the Land Use Commission.