Sen. Karl Rhoads

Establishes the Spay and Neuter Special Fund to reduce pet overpopulation, including the free-roaming cat population, and authorizes an income tax designation to provide revenues into the special fund. Requires cats over five months of age to be surgically sterilized unless covered by an intact cat declaration, and conditions the importation of intact cats on state and county declaration requirements, with certain exceptions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to develop an online reporting tool for restricted use pesticides. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Provides that any person who uses their property, including firearms, hunting animals, or vehicles, to hunt on private land without the permission of the owner or occupier of the land shall be subject to a fine for a first offense and have their property be subject forfeiture to the State for a second or subsequent offense. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summarySCR 4 is a procedural resolution requesting Hawaii's Auditor to assess the social and financial impacts of Senate Bill 46 (2025), which proposes requiring health insurance to cover annual mental health wellness examinations. The resolution directs the Auditor to analyze both the societal effects (e.g., access to care for mental health conditions) and financial implications (e.g., costs to insurers/policyholders) of this mandated coverage. It requires the Auditor to submit a report to the Legislature by January 2027, as mandated by Hawaii Revised Statutes §23-51 before such coverage can be enacted. This resolution does not change insurance requirements but seeks data to inform future legislative decisions on SB 46.

Prohibits the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, and Department of the Attorney General from appointing or employing certain former United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol agents and employees as law enforcement officers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Specifies that operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant while a highly intoxicated driver is a misdemeanor for a first offense, or any offense not preceded within a ten-year period. Specifies and imposes additional sentencing and probation requirements for a person convicted of a misdemeanor operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant offense. Upgrades the offense of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant while a highly intoxicated driver to a class C felony under certain conditions. Specifies and imposes additional sentencing and probation requirements for a class C felony offense of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant while a highly intoxicated driver. Prohibits a deferred acceptance of guilty plea for persons convicted of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Part I: Requires drivers of vehicles approaching stationary motor vehicles stopped in any location on the roadway, shoulder, or roadside to slow down and make a lane change if necessary. Part II: Prohibits the operation of a pickup truck with a passenger seated in the bed or load-carrying area on roadways with posted speed limits of forty-six miles per hour or higher and roadways with three or more lanes traveling in the same direction. Provides certain exemptions from passenger restrictions. Increases the minimum age to ride in the bed or load-carrying area of a pickup truck while in operation from twelve years of age to eighteen years of age. 0Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summarySB 2463 lowers the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) threshold for driving under the influence of intoxicants. It directly affects drivers operating vehicles who are impaired by alcohol or other intoxicants, making it easier for authorities to charge drivers with DUI at lower BAC levels. The key provision reduces the current legal limit for intoxication while driving, shifting the point at which impairment becomes a legal violation. This change would impact all drivers subject to DUI laws, potentially expanding the scope of enforceable offenses. The bill passed committee with amendments in early 2026.

Clarifies a driver's obligations at crosswalks. Requires drivers to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians in crosswalks. Strengthens penalties for traffic violations, particularly in school zones. Expands the offense of negligent injury in the second degree to include bodily injury to a vulnerable user by the operation of a vehicle in a negligent manner. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires testing of driver license applicants on the dangers that larger motor vehicles present to pedestrians and bicyclists. Requires persons who commit the offense of excessive speeding to pass the driver license examination only if and when those drivers apply for a new driver's license. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)