Establishes the Pro-Housing Score Program to evaluate each county's performance in expanding housing opportunities and reducing regulatory barriers. Requires the counties to publish their respective pro-housing scores online and HHFDC to publish certain related information and data on a public dashboard. Establishes criteria for deeming a county noncompliant. Establishes builder's remedies for certain housing projects in transit-oriented development areas. Specifies that if a county is deemed noncompliant, the planning director or an equivalent county officer responsible for land use approvals are responsible for approving or denying certain affordable housing development applications. Establishes procedures for certain transit-oriented development housing project appeals. Appropriates funds.
Rep. David Tarnas
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 1954 updates the state's identity theft law to explicitly include fraudulent impersonation using artificial intelligence or materially deceptive media (like deepfakes) as a form of identity theft. This directly affects victims of AI-generated scams or fake media used to steal identities or commit fraud. The key provision adds these specific methods to the legal definition of identity theft offenses, making them punishable under existing laws. The bill is currently in committee review after its introduction on January 23, 2026.
Requires the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to notify an injured employee or their dependents of benefits to which they may be entitled. Specifies notification requirements. Authorizes the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to provide information regarding nonstatutory programs and benefits offered to injured employees and their families by nonprofit organizations.
Requires insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for the cost of prosthetic devices, including activity-specific prostheses, and orthotic devices for policies, contracts, plans, and agreements issued or renewed on or after 1/1/2027. Establishes an unspecified minimum yearly benefit for prosthetic devices and orthotic devices.
Beginning 1/1/2027, requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations that issue policies, contracts, plans, or agreements that provide prescription drug coverage to provide coverage for at least one generic opioid antagonist and device.
Maddy summaryHB 1534 allows actively practicing advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to claim exemption from jury duty service. The bill directly affects APRNs who are currently working in their field, removing a requirement to serve on juries. Key provision: APRNs can formally request exemption by providing proof of active practice, streamlining their ability to avoid jury service without needing individual court approval. This changes the standard requirement for all eligible citizens to serve, specifically targeting APRNs due to their critical healthcare roles.
Authorizes the Department of the Attorney General to initiate an investigation into a nonprofit corporation for compliance with the Hawaii Nonprofit Corporations Act and its tax exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code.
Authorizes state departments, divisions, and agencies to elect to assume hiring and recruitment functions from the Department of Human Resources Development for vacant civil service positions within that department, division, or agency under certain conditions. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to adopt rules. Repeals existing law authorizing state departments, divisions, and agencies to conduct minimum qualification review of applicants for their vacant civil service positions.
Proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize individuals aged twenty-one and older to use and possess a personal-use amount of cannabis. Requires the Legislature to enact laws governing the use, manufacture, distribution, sale, possession, regulation, and taxation of cannabis within the State.
Establishes the Office of Legislative Ethics and Accountability as an independent, nonpartisan entity to receive and investigate complaints alleging ethical violations or misconduct by current members or current employees of the state legislature. Appropriates moneys.