Appropriates funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for continued exploration and identification of geothermal resources and commercial viability for utility-scale geothermal production in counties with a population of less than 300,000, with certain limitations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
Maddy summarySCR 57 is a Hawaii Senate resolution urging Congress to create a national reinsurance program to address insurance shortages in disaster-prone areas. It directly affects homeowners, businesses, and agricultural producers struggling with unaffordable or unavailable coverage due to climate-driven disasters like hurricanes and wildfires. The resolution proposes a federal reinsurance backstop that would cover extreme catastrophic losses only (after private insurers pay initial claims), operate on a state opt-in basis, and include safeguards to protect taxpayers. It also requests Congress provide incentives like premium discounts for disaster-resistant building to reduce long-term costs. This is a non-binding request to Congress, not a law.
Establishes the Future Career and Technical Education Teacher Scholarship Program to be administered by the Department of Education to facilitate the recruitment and retention of career and technical education teachers in Hawaii public schools. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 128) requests the Hawaii Attorney General to compile and provide a list of all state lands currently leased to the U.S. government or federal agencies. It also asks the Attorney General to assess whether current leases - particularly those at nominal rates like $1 per acre - violate state constitutional or legal requirements for land stewardship. The resolution does not change lease terms but seeks transparency and a legal review of federal land leasing practices. It is a procedural request focused on gathering information, not implementing new policy.
Maddy summarySCR 143 is a non-binding resolution urging Hawaii's state boards and commissions to conduct annual performance reviews of their Executive Directors or equivalent staff members (who are exempt from standard civil service hiring rules). It directs these entities to evaluate whether such leaders are meeting state goals and statutory requirements. The resolution does not create new laws but formally recommends this practice to improve accountability. It applies to all boards/commissions with exempt executive positions, as specified in Hawaii's governance structure.
Maddy summarySCR 135 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution urging all Hawaii state departments to establish secure data-sharing agreements with the Office of Wellness and Resilience. It directs departments to collaborate on sharing deidentified, aggregated data to help the Office integrate information across agencies. This aims to overcome current data silos, enabling a more comprehensive analysis of community needs through the existing Quality of Life and Well-Being Dashboard. The resolution emphasizes protecting resident privacy while supporting evidence-based program development.
Maddy summarySB 328 creates a state income tax credit for farmers who convert dairy farms to hog farms, covering capital infrastructure costs like building modifications. It directly affects dairy farmers planning such conversions by reducing their tax burden for eligible expenses. The credit becomes effective July 1, 3000, as specified in the bill's abstract. This policy change provides a financial incentive for agricultural land-use shifts without altering existing tax rates or creating new regulatory requirements.
Makes it an unlawful discriminatory practice for places of public accommodation to deny a person with a disability full and equal enjoyment of, or information related to, their goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations using information and communication technology intended for use by the general public as applicants, participants, customers, clients, or visitors. Establishes exceptions. Clarifies that a facility is considered a place of public accommodation regardless of whether its presence in the State is physical or digital. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
Maddy summarySCR 134 is a non-binding resolution urging Hawaii's Department of Education (DOE) to prepare a detailed report on school meal costs. The bill requires the DOE to break down expenses (like ingredients, operations, and distribution) and provide meal statistics (full-price, reduced-price, free meals) for the 2024-2025 and future school years. This aims to increase transparency about meal production costs, which the DOE claims are $9.00 per meal, and prevent unnecessary price hikes like the proposed increase from $2.50 to $4.75 per meal. The report must be submitted to the Legislature by 2026.
Requires that lands within the agricultural district with class B or C soils that have solar or wind energy facilities must also obtain certification from the Department of Agriculture that the lands are also used for a farming operation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
