Sen. Carol Fukunaga

Authorizes a tax credit for businesses that pay the public transportation costs of employees. Applies to counties having populations of 700,000 or more. Applies for taxable years beginning after 12/31/2024 but not beginning after 12/31/2029. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Maddy summarySB 451 would require the Department of Human Services to create a Medicaid buy-in program specifically for workers with disabilities. This program would allow eligible individuals to purchase Medicaid coverage through the state, rather than relying solely on federal disability benefits. The bill directly affects working people with disabilities who may not qualify for standard Medicaid but need health coverage. It would take effect on December 31, 2050, though the bill is currently pending committee review.

Establishes an Early Learning Apprenticeship Grant Program to be administered by the University of Hawaii to provide financial support for early learning program service providers in the State to participate in state- or federally-approved early learning apprenticeship programs. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Increases the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit for qualified productions that utilize qualified production facilities located within the State. Changes the cap amount and aggregate cap amount of the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit to unspecified amounts. Exempts from the general excise tax reimbursement to a motion picture project employer for employee wages, salaries, payroll taxes, insurance premiums, and employment benefits. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to develop and publish a Hawaii climate adaptation and resilience implementation plan. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Establishes the Child Welfare Task Force to develop strategies and policy changes to transform and improve the State's child welfare system. Requires support from the Department of Human Services. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Requires the Department of Health (DOH) to track and publicly report certain data relating to crisis reports, emergency mental health transports, and court-ordered treatments. Requires the DOH to respond to reports about persons having severe mental illness who are in need of assistance, assess whether those persons fulfill criteria for assisted community treatment, and coordinate the process for an assisted community treatment order if indicated. Establishes that a court's denial of a petition for involuntary commitment shall serve as notification to the DOH that the subject of the petition should be evaluated for assisted community treatment. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture to support the Hawaii Ant Lab in mitigating the effects of little fire ants in the State. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Exempts from the general excise tax, gross receipts received by a hospital, infirmary, medical clinic, health care facility, pharmacy, or a practitioner licensed to administer drugs to an individual, from the sale of hearing aids. Effective 12/31/2050. Sunsets 1/1/2027. (SD1)

Clarifies certain benchmark goals and timeline for the Department of Education to provide locally-sourced agricultural and food products. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)