Rep. Nicole Lowen

Maddy summaryHB 940 allocates state funds to support the rat lungworm disease research lab at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. This bill directly affects the university's lab and indirectly benefits Hawaii residents by advancing research on rat lungworm, a disease transmitted through contaminated food or water. The key provision is the appropriation of dedicated funding for the lab's operations, with the bill effective July 1, 3000 (note: likely a typo for 2030). The legislation focuses on providing concrete financial support for this specific research initiative, without altering broader public policy.

Maddy summaryHB 347 prohibits the Department of Land and Natural Resources from setting or enforcing limits on how many goats hunters can take in public hunting areas. This directly affects hunters and the department, as it prevents the agency from implementing specific bag limits for goat hunting. The bill’s key provision is a straightforward ban on the department establishing these restrictions, meaning current hunting rules would remain unchanged regarding goat harvests. It does not alter other hunting regulations or create new requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 717 requires kratom product sellers to register with the Department of Health starting January 1, 2026, and mandates specific labeling for these products. It directly affects businesses selling kratom and consumers purchasing it, aiming to increase transparency and safety. The bill establishes a registration process and labeling standards but does not specify penalties for non-compliance. This proposed legislation is currently pending introduction for the 2026 Regular Session.

Establishes an installation goal for customer-sited distributed energy resources in the State. Ensures that fair compensation is provided to distributed energy resources exports as part of grid service programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes the Hawaii Agricultural Crimes Council. Expands the duties of the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with and support the Council. Establishes the Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Maddy summaryHB 941 would allow pedestrians to cross roadways against the flow of traffic (e.g., walking against moving vehicles) in specific situations where it is otherwise prohibited by state traffic rules. This directly affects pedestrians who may need to cross in non-standard ways, such as at unmarked crosswalks or in areas with poor visibility, and indirectly affects drivers who must adjust to this change in pedestrian movement. The bill’s key provision creates an exception to the standard traffic code for pedestrian crossings under defined conditions, though the exact circumstances are not detailed in the provided abstract. It does not change existing traffic laws for vehicles but modifies pedestrian movement rules in limited scenarios. The bill is currently pending review by the Transportation Committee.

Allows tenants who prevail in a lawsuit for a violation of the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code to be awarded damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and costs of the suit.

Appropriates funds to the Judiciary to support services contracted with community-based organizations that deliver essential services, streamline judicial processes, and support the judiciary's capacity to effectively meet the needs of vulnerable households. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Grants the Public Utilities Commission the ability to authorize preferential rates for the purchase of renewable energy from facilities that meet certain prevailing wage requirements. Requires public utilities to forward certain requests for preferential rates to the PUC for approval. Appropriates funds. Effective 07/01/3000. (HD1)

Establishes an Extended Producer Responsibility Program. Requires certain producers of fast-moving consumer goods to register with the Department of Health and pay an annual fee based on the amount of packaging volume the covered producer places on the market each calendar year. Provides for the deposit of fees into an Extended Producer Responsibility Special Fund. Provides for the expenditure of moneys from the Extended Producer Responsibility Special Fund for the creation of a countywide needs assessment of resources needed to reduce the volume of packaging waste sent to landfills or power plants that burn municipal solid waste as a fuel by fifty per cent and eighty per cent by a date to be determined by rule. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 7/1/2032.