Sen. Lorraine Inouye

Requires the Department of Agriculture to accept the transfer of and manage certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands. Allows the Department of Agriculture to request information related to easements prior to any transfer of certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands. Requires approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Board of Agriculture before removing pasture lands for reforestation, or other public purposes.

Amends provisions relating to the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit. Increases the percentage of the qualified production costs that can be claimed by a qualified production company in different counties. Clarifies the distribution requirements of the tax credit. Increases the cap amount and aggregate cap amount of the tax credit.

Appropriates funds to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to hire necessary staff, purchase equipment, and retain professional services on behalf of the Public Land Trust Working Group.

Establishes the strengthen Hawaii homes program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to administer grants to retrofit residential properties located in historically vulnerable areas to enhance resilience against disaster impacts and reduce potential insurance liabilities. Establishes the strengthen Hawaii homes program special fund. Appropriates moneys from the special fund.

Requires the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to develop adaptation pathways plans to modify and relocate development and associated infrastructure away from critically vulnerable areas to locations outside of sea level rise and coastal flooding exposure area. Appropriates funds.

Appropriates funds for salaries and fringe benefits of positions for the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy's Space Science and Engineering Initiative Workforce Development Program, Maunakea Scholars Program, and Internship Program. Appropriates funds for office equipment and supplies, operational costs, and stipends for the Maunakea Scholars Program and Internship Program.

Maddy summarySB 120 would update the responsibilities of the State Building Code Council, the body that oversees building safety standards. If passed, it would change how the council operates but does not directly affect homeowners, builders, or new construction requirements. The bill focuses solely on procedural changes to the council's duties, with no new public regulations or funding specified. The measure is currently pending in committee after a public hearing was scheduled for January 24, 2025.

Prohibits the sale and use of disposable air filters beginning January 1, 2030. Requires the State to establish reusable air filters as the new standard.

Maddy summarySB 791 prohibits the use of specific food dye additives in meals served to students through the state Department of Education and charter schools. It directly affects public and charter schools by banning certain artificial dyes from their meal programs. The key provision requires schools to remove these additives from all food items provided as part of school meals. This bill focuses solely on school nutrition standards, without impacting other food sales or requiring new labeling.

Temporarily allows each county, by resolution of its county council, to petition for the redistricting of land from an agricultural district to a rural district through the Land Use Commission's declaratory ruling process. Effective 7/1/2026. Sunsets 6/30/2029.