Requires the Department of Education to establish a statewide Environmental Stewardship Curricula Plan for public schools for certain students. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires public schools to offer an environmental stewardship course for certain students. Requires the Department of Education to establish and administer sustainability programs, including recycling and composting programs, to be implemented at public schools. Beginning 7/1/27, prohibits the use or distribution of single-use plastic utensils, trays, straws, and other disposable plastic food service products in public school cafeterias. Beginning 7/1/28, requires each public school to have at least one operational refillable water bottle filling station accessible to students and staff. Requires reports to the Board of Education and the Legislature. Appropriates funds.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 2162 would allow large landowners to request permission from the Land Use Commission to build elderly housing on specific parts of agricultural land. This bill directly affects large landowners who currently cannot develop housing on agricultural parcels and the Land Use Commission, which would review such requests. The key mechanism is a new petition process enabling these landowners to seek approval for elderly housing projects on agricultural land, changing current land-use restrictions. It is a procedural bill focused on modifying land-use rules, not on funding or direct housing construction.
Prohibits a county from issuing a building permit for a project that violates any private covenant or restrictive covenant that has been registered with the Bureau of Conveyances or Land Court.
Establishes as a deceptive trade practice the advertising, displaying, or offering of a price for goods or services that does not include all mandatory fees or charges, with certain exceptions.
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 7/1/2027. Sunsets 6/30/2030.
Reduces reimbursement of debt service on the Turtle Bay reimbursable general obligation bonds from the land conservation fund to approximately one-half of the total repayment amount and reduces, accordingly, the amount due per fiscal year for the remainder of the bond amortization schedule.
Establishes the eighth day of August of each year as "Hawaii Disaster Drill Day". Requires the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with all state departments and agencies, to conduct drills and perform other activities for that day.
Maddy summarySB 2012 removes a limit on the amount of property transfer tax revenue that must be directed to the land conservation fund. This change directly affects the land conservation fund by allowing it to receive all available conveyance tax revenue without a previously set maximum. The key mechanism is repealing the existing cap, meaning more funds could flow to land conservation projects as property transfers occur. This policy change shifts how tax revenue is allocated, increasing potential funding for land conservation efforts.
Maddy summarySB 2020 allocates state funds to support the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy's Space Science and Engineering Initiative Workforce Development Program. The bill directly affects the University of Hawaii system by providing financial resources for this specific program, which focuses on training and developing a skilled workforce in space science and engineering fields. Its key provision is the appropriation of moneys to the designated program, with no other substantive policy changes or mechanisms outlined in the abstract. The bill is currently pending committee review after its introduction and first reading.
Repeals provisions requiring all deposit beverage distributors to send monthly or semi-annual distribution reports and supporting records to the Department of Health; develop and submit to the program for approval, an internal control process to ensure accurate data reporting and adequate record maintenance; and obtain biennial independent audits.