Establishes cat owner liability for harm to property or native birds. Prohibits the care of predators on state lands under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Establishes administrative fines.
Requires the Department of Education's existing Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) working group to create a state plan to make completion of the FAFSA or an opt-out waiver a statewide graduation requirement by the 2027-2028 school year. Requires a report to the 2026 legislature.
Maddy summaryHB 942 allocates state funds to the Department of Health to pay community-based health organizations for contracted health care services. It directly affects local clinics, nonprofits, and social service providers that deliver health care in communities. The key mechanism is directing state funding through the Department of Health to these organizations, rather than changing eligibility or service requirements. This is a funding bill focused on resource allocation, not altering health care policy or patient access rules.
Establishes the Spay and Neuter Special Fund to reduce pet overpopulation and the reproduction of free-roaming cats. Establishes various revenue and fundraising sources for the special fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
Maddy summaryHB 645 allocates state funds to the Department of Human Services specifically for emergency shelter and support services for unaccompanied homeless youth. The bill directly affects young people under 18 who are living without family or guardians and facing immediate housing instability. Key provisions include directing the Department of Human Services to use these funds to provide immediate shelter, counseling, and other essential services to this vulnerable group. The bill is currently pending in the 2025 session, having been introduced and referred to committees but not yet passed.
Establishes an exemption from mediation in paternity proceedings where there are allegations of domestic abuse. Clarifies the exemption from mediation in divorce proceedings as it relates to domestic abuse. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
Appropriates funds for the Department of Human Services to contract with a non-profit specializing in domestic violence to provide training and staff to be housed on-site in Child Welfare Services Branch offices to support all aspects of screening for and addressing domestic violence within a case. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Amends the conservation district use permit application, approval, and oversight responsibilities of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, and lessees. Provides that certain conservation district use permits that are in effect as of 7/1/2028, to which the University of Hawaii is a permittee or other named party, shall not be transferred to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority.
Maddy summaryHB 233 would create a state-run breast milk bank operated by the Department of Health to provide donor milk for infants in medical need, primarily benefiting premature or ill newborns requiring specialized nutrition. The bill establishes a dedicated "breast milk bank special fund" to finance the program, with state funds allocated for operations and milk collection. It directly affects hospitals, healthcare providers, and families accessing donor milk for vulnerable infants. The bill does not change existing regulations but creates a new state-funded service to improve access to human milk for medical purposes.
Maddy summaryHB 308 increases the amount of public matching funds provided to candidates in the state's partial public financing program. It specifically raises the matching rate for contributions exceeding a set threshold ("excess qualifying contributions") made by individual donors. This change directly affects qualifying candidates running for office who receive small-dollar donations from voters. The bill modifies the existing program's funding mechanism without altering eligibility rules or adding new requirements.
