Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa

Maddy summaryHB 652 regulates individuals who charge fees for advising veterans on benefits applications. It requires these advisors to be licensed or registered with the state, aiming to prevent exploitation of veterans seeking assistance. The bill directly affects paid veterans benefit consultants, not veterans themselves. Key provisions include setting licensing standards and mandating disclosure of fees to ensure transparency. This is a regulatory measure focused on protecting veterans from unscrupulous advisors, not altering veterans' benefit eligibility or amounts.

Maddy summaryHB 471 requires the state Board of Education to create a Korean language program in public schools and appropriates funding for it. This bill directly affects school districts that would implement the program and students seeking Korean language education. The key provision mandates the Board to establish the program using designated state funds. Currently, the bill has been referred to education and finance committees but was recommended for deferral by the committee on January 30, 2025.

Requires any person providing doula services for compensation or representing or advertising themselves as a certified doula to register with the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Establishes certain rights for certified doulas, including being present during delivery and in any recovery rooms, if requested by the client. Requires the Director to maintain a link to the registry on the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' website. Effective 1/1/2026.

Prohibits certain covered educational entities and Hawaii Health Systems Corporation facilities from collecting information regarding citizenship or immigration status or allowing officers of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enter certain facilities, except under specific circumstances.

Creates the Aloha Aina Land Trust to rehabilitate and manage lands transferred by the United States military to the State after the leases for those lands expires. Appropriates funds.

Maddy summaryHB 1381 creates a working group within the judiciary to improve legal services for youth in the child welfare system. The group will develop strategies to address gaps in legal representation for young people navigating foster care or other child welfare cases. The bill provides funding to support the working group's operations and meetings. This directly affects youth in the state's child welfare system by aiming to ensure they have better access to legal assistance during critical proceedings.

Requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a climate education, environmental sustainability, and indigenous knowledge into the K-12 curriculum and climate education and environmental sustainability teacher training and professional development programs. Requires the University of Hawaii to develop and implement a series of courses on climate education and environmental sustainability, to be completed by every student prior to the student's graduation, and establish sustainability practices across all university campuses to promote sustainability. Requires the Department of Education and University of Hawaii to conduct annual sustainability audits across their respective campuses to assess the progress of each campus in integrating sustainability into their curriculum and operations.

Establishes base selection criteria for exceptional trees. Establishes the significant tree designation, selection criteria, and related processes. Establishes the State Arborist Advisory Committee within the Department of Land and Natural Resources for administrative purposes. Requires County Arborist Advisory Committees to have at least six members, adopt new exceptional tree selection criteria, and designate significant trees. Directs the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the University of Hawaii to cooperate with State and County Arborist Advisory Committees to carry out the Exceptional Trees Program.

Requires the Executive Office on Early Learning to establish parent-staff early learning collectives to combine professional early-learning services with structured parental involvement. Establishes an Early Learning Cooperative Advisory Council. Appropriates funds.

Appropriates funds for the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology within the University of Hawaii to establish and operate a Center for Climate Resilient Development.