Rep. David Tarnas

Exempts from the general excise tax amounts received by a nurse entrepreneur for health care-related goods and services purchased under Medicaid, Medicare, or TRICARE.

Maddy summaryHB 645 allocates state funds to the Department of Human Services to provide emergency shelter and support services specifically for unaccompanied homeless youth. The bill directs the agency to use these appropriations for immediate housing and assistance needs, such as temporary lodging and case management. It directly affects homeless youth without family support who lack stable housing. The legislation is currently pending committee review after its introduction.

Repeals existing law that preempted local ordinances or regulations that regulate the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic smoking devices and nullified and voided any conflicting local laws and regulations. Allows counties to adopt ordinances that regulate the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic smoking devices that do not conflict with and are more stringent than the state law that govern smoking.

Adds a minimum penalty and amends the maximum penalty per violation of the State Water Code, expands the types of potential violations of the State Water Code, and makes each day that a violation exists or continues to exist a separate offense. Requires the Commission on Water Resource Management to consider certain factors when imposing penalties.

Maddy summaryHB 585 is a procedural bill with no substantive details provided in the available context. The official abstract describes it only as a "Short form bill relating to Hawaiian affairs," with no specific policy changes or mechanisms outlined. Recent actions show it was introduced on January 17, 2025, and passed first reading on January 21, 2025, but no further details about its content or affected parties are available. Without additional information on its provisions or scope, a substantive summary cannot be provided.

Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires the Department of Education to include the teaching of financial literacy in the personal transition plan requirement for each student.

Maddy summaryHB 623 requires the State Board of Education to create a policy banning student use of phones and other electronic devices during school hours. This policy directly affects all public school students and school staff in the state. The key provision mandates the Board to adopt this rule, which would apply to all K-12 schools during instructional time. The bill does not specify exceptions or enforcement methods, only requiring the Board to establish the policy. (3 sentences)

Appropriates funds for the Department of Health to develop and implement a public health and informational campaign; administer grants to prevent substance misuse among youth; and administer grants to treat substance use disorder among youth.

Establishes a process, beginning on January 1, 2026, for automatically preregistering or registering public, charter, and private school-enrolled students who are at least 16 years old to vote.

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.