Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa

Maddy summaryHB 1988 prohibits the commercial harvesting of aquatic life (such as fish and marine organisms) for use in the aquarium trade, regardless of the collection method. This bill directly affects businesses and suppliers in the commercial aquarium industry that rely on harvesting live aquatic species. The key provision bans all forms of harvesting for this specific purpose, with no exceptions outlined in the abstract. It represents a direct environmental protection measure targeting a specific commercial practice. The bill is currently in early committee review stages.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish and enforce vegetation management requirements to prevent wildfires caused by electric utilities.

Requires health insurance carriers to honor a patient's written assignment of benefits to a substance use disorder treatment provider. Prohibits health insurance contracts from including anti-assignment clauses that restrict or invalidate a patient's right to assign benefits. Authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules and take enforcement action to ensure compliance. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to publish an annual summary. Allows providers to bring civil actions to compel payment and obtain injunctive relief, damages, interest, and attorneys' fees for violations. Deems violations to be unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices. Requires insurers to furnish an explanation of benefits to the assigned provider upon request.

Establishes restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence, algorithms, or other software tools for purposes of decision-making in health insurance utilization reviews. Requires a licensed health care provider to review all adverse actions by the health carrier.

Maddy summaryHB 1826 appropriates funds to each county government to cover the costs of collecting feral chickens that have already been captured. The bill directly affects county animal control or agricultural departments by providing financial resources for handling already-secured feral chicken populations. It does not establish new capture methods or regulations, only funding for processing existing captures. As a funding measure, it has no substantive policy changes beyond allocating resources for current operations. (Bill: HB 1826, Title: RELATING TO FERAL CHICKENS)

Exempts predator control and trapping for the purpose of protecting property or native biodiversity from the offense of cruelty to animals in the first degree.

Establishes the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to regulate all aspects of the cannabis plant. Contingent upon specific changes at the federal level or a state constitutional amendment, legalizes the personal adult use of cannabis and decriminalizes certain marijuana-related offenses. Beginning 1/1/2027, establishes taxes on cannabis sales. Adds new traffic offenses relating to the consumption or possession of marijuana or marijuana concentrate. Transfers the personnel and assets of the Department of Health and assets of the Department of Agriculture relating to cannabis and hemp to the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office. Establishes various positions within state entities. Appropriates funds.

Extends child care subsidies to disabled parents or guardians, regardless of their employment status. Requires the Department of Human Services to evaluate caregiver capacity and dependent-care responsibilities when determining eligibility for medicaid home- and community-based services. Requires the Department of Human Services to update its evaluation form and functional assessment protocols related to level of care and at-risk needs determinations. Appropriates funds.

Maddy summaryHB 1816 increases the maximum grant amount available through the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project and appropriates funds to support this program. The bill directly affects property owners who need to convert or replace outdated cesspools to meet environmental standards. Its key mechanism is raising the financial support limit for eligible conversions, funded by the state appropriation. This change aims to make compliance more affordable for affected property owners without altering the program's eligibility rules.

Beginning 1/1/2027, repeals the fourteen years and under age limit for health insurance coverage requirements for the diagnosis and treatment of autism. Repeals the maximum coverage benefit limit of $25,000 for applied behavioral analysis services.