Sen. Karl Rhoads

Prohibits homeowners insurance policies from limiting or denying payment of replacement costs, extended replacement costs, or building code upgrade costs for a dwelling solely because the insured elects to rebuild the dwelling at a different location or purchase an already-constructed home at a different location. Allows for the combination of dwelling and other structures coverage limits to fund the rebuilding or replacement of the primary residence under certain conditions. Requires notice to policyholders.

Establishes and appropriates funds for a one-year Digital Youth Mental Health Platform Pilot Project that will enable the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division of the Department of Health to develop and make publicly available a digital platform designed to help young people address and manage mental health challenges. Requires a report to the Legislature. (SD1)

Requires the Office of Consumer Protection to submit an annual report to the Legislature regarding actions taken in response to potential violations of the Residential-Landlord Tenant Code. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCR 1) requests Hawaii's Director of Health to form a working group focused on water fluoridation. The group, including representatives from all major county water departments, will study how adding fluoride to public drinking water could improve oral health across the state. It specifically aims to address Hawaii's low oral health rankings and lack of fluoride in most public water systems (excluding military bases), with a report due by early 2027. The resolution does not require fluoridation but seeks recommendations for potential future action. This is a procedural request, not a law mandating fluoride addition.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 10) urges Hawaii's Governor to protect transgender members of the Hawaii National Guard from a federal policy banning transgender military service. It opposes Executive Order 14163, which bars transgender individuals from serving and pauses gender-affirming care for active-duty members. The resolution specifically requests the Governor take action to allow qualified transgender service members to continue serving in the Hawaii National Guard. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change law but formally requests state-level advocacy against the federal policy.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 8) urges Hawaii's Governor to protect transgender members of the Hawaii National Guard from a federal military policy that bars transgender individuals from serving. It specifically addresses the Trump-era executive order banning transgender service members based on gender identity or medical transition history, which also halted gender-affirming care for active personnel. The resolution requests the Governor take action to permit qualified transgender service members to continue their duties without disruption. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change state law but formally asks the Governor and National Guard leadership to advocate against the federal policy.

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Medicaid buy-in program for workers with disabilities. Requires the Department to adopt rules.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, health maintenance organizations, and health plans under the State's Medicaid managed care program to provide coverage for biomarker testing.

Amends the definition of "historic property" to require that the property meets the criteria for inclusion in the Hawaii Register of Historic Places or has important value to Native Hawaiians or other ethnic groups of the State due to associations with cultural practices once carried out, or still carried out, at the property or associations with traditional beliefs, events, or oral accounts that are important to history, traditional practices, and cultural identity.

Maddy summarySB 2097 creates the Climate-Resilient Food Systems Grant Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, providing state funding to support sustainable food system initiatives. The program directly affects agricultural producers, food distributors, and community organizations working on climate-resilient farming and food access projects. Key provisions include the department administering the grants and allocating appropriated funds for projects that enhance sustainability and resilience in local food systems. This bill establishes a concrete funding mechanism to advance sustainable food infrastructure without specifying particular projects or outcomes.