Sen. Karl Rhoads

Amends the definition of "child abuse or neglect" by clarifying that the failure to provide certain needs to a child constitutes child abuse or neglect only if the person or entity responsible for the care of the child is financially able to provide and fails to do so or is offered financial or other reasonable means to provide and fails to accept these offers.

Establishes the School Meals Option Pilot Program within the Department of Education to provide healthy meal options to students. Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires at least one high school in each school complex area to offer a meal in accordance with the School Meals Option Pilot Program every other week. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires at least one high school in each school complex area to offer a meal in accordance with the School Meals Option Pilot Program every week. Requires each individual high school to develop guidelines to implement the School Meals Option Pilot Program, subject to Department of Education approval. Requires reports to the Legislature. Repeals 6/30/2029.

Amends covered offender registration laws to include offenders who, while acting in a professional capacity, commit the offense of sexual assault in the fourth degree against a minor who is at least sixteen years old. Provides that the exception to public access requirements does not apply when the covered offense was committed against a minor.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for purchasing body cameras for adult correctional officers to wear while on duty at state correctional facilities.

Prohibits excited delirium from being recognized as a valid medical diagnosis or cause of death in the State. Prohibits a local health officer or local agent of the Department of Health from stating on a certificate of death or in any report that the cause of death was excited delirium. Prohibits law enforcement officers from using the term excited delirium to describe an individual in an incident report. Establishes a new rule of evidence that deems evidence that a person experienced or suffered an excited delirium inadmissible in a civil action.

Directs the Department of Human Services to adopt rules to expand Medicaid eligibility to all children in the State from birth to age 5 years without regard to household income. Appropriates moneys.

Prohibits certain covered educational entities and Hawaii Health Systems Corporation facilities from collecting information regarding citizenship or immigration status or allowing officers of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enter certain facilities, except under specific circumstances.

Maddy summarySB 638 requires most employers to provide employees with paid breaks during work shifts, directly affecting all covered workers in the state. The bill mandates that employers give employees a paid break of at least 15 minutes for every 4 hours worked, replacing current unpaid break practices for eligible employees. This policy change updates employment standards to ensure workers receive compensation during designated rest periods, applying to all covered workplaces without specifying industry exemptions. The bill is currently under review by the relevant legislative committee.

Allows certain undocumented students to be considered residents of the State for the purposes of tuition, financial assistance, and University of Hawaii program participation under certain conditions.

Establishes the Agricultural Development and Food Security Special Fund. Requires a portion of the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax to be deposited into the special fund. Appropriates funds for the Department of Agriculture in an amount equal to three per cent of the State Budget.