Rep. David Tarnas

Maddy summaryHB 1309 authorizes state agencies to transfer specific lands under their jurisdiction to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. This bill directly affects the state agencies holding the lands and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, which manages land for Native Hawaiian residents. The key mechanism is the legal authorization for the transfer, without specifying which lands or additional conditions. The bill focuses solely on enabling this property transfer process.

Requires electronic smoking device and e-liquid manufacturers to submit certifications with the Department of Taxation annually, stating that the manufacturer's products comply with federal regulations. Requires the Department of Taxation to maintain a directory of manufacturers of electronic smoking devices and e-liquids whose certifications the Department approved. Imposes penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 1452 expands who can legally provide an affidavit to create a new birth certificate. It allows more types of healthcare providers (beyond current limits) to submit these affidavits for certain birth registrants. This change directly affects individuals needing to establish or correct birth certificate records, particularly in situations where standard medical providers are unavailable. The bill modifies the process by broadening the list of qualified healthcare professionals authorized to verify birth information for certificate issuance.

Requires the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division of the Department of Health to develop and implement a comprehensive messaging and informational campaign to prevent cannabis use among the State's youth. Requires the Division to establish and enter into contracts with community-based organizations to award grants to prevent substance misuse among youth through evidenced-based prevention programs. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Authorizes the cultivation of vegetable gardens on properties within planned community associations and condominiums. Prohibits planned community associations and condominiums from prohibiting or restricting the cultivation of vegetable gardens via their association documents.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires that each Department of Education public school student earn 2 credits in Hawaiian language as a graduation requirement. Establishes a 2-year pilot program for Hawaiian language instruction at a central Oahu elementary school and Nanakuli High and Intermediate School. Appropriates funds.

Decriminalizes the possession of drug paraphernalia relating to marijuana; possession of a certain amount of marijuana concentrate; and the possession of a certain amount of marijuana and smoking of marijuana in a public place. Lowers the criminal penalty for the possession of a certain amount of marijuana concentrate from a misdemeanor to a petty misdemeanor.

Appropriates funds for eight full-time agricultural technician, and four full-time coordinator positions at University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

Authorizes physicians to practice at organized ambulatory health care facilities even if the physician does not have hospital privileges at a licensed hospital in the same geographic location as the ambulatory facility. Provides that a written transfer agreement is not required to transfer a patient from an organized ambulatory health care facility to a licensed hospital.

Adds psychology, physician assistant, marriage and family therapist, mental health counselor, clinical social worker, rehabilitation counselor, and school counselor students to the definition of "eligible student" under the qualifications for the healthcare preceptor tax credit. Amends the definition of "preceptor" by adding psychologists, physician assistants, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, clinical social workers, rehabilitation counselors, and school counselors to the list of preceptors eligible to receive the tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025.