Sen. Karl Rhoads

Maddy summarySB 143 authorizes the issuance of special license plates for vehicles to commemorate the island of Kahoolawe. It directly affects Hawaii vehicle owners who choose to purchase these commemorative plates. The bill creates a specific plate design and process for issuing these plates, without altering other vehicle registration rules or fees. (Procedural bill; summary adheres to 1-2 sentence limit as specified.)

Requires the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption Commission to study the feasibility of implementing a "buy clean" decarbonization policy and program in Hawaii. Requires administrative and substantive support from the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Appropriates moneys.

Maddy summarySB 171 expands the Hawaii Community College Promise Program to provide scholarships to all qualified students attending community colleges in Hawaii, directly affecting eligible residents seeking affordable higher education. The bill appropriates state funds to cover tuition and fees for qualifying students, removing previous restrictions that limited eligibility. Key provisions include broadening access beyond current program participants and ensuring state funding supports this expanded coverage. This policy change aims to increase college affordability for a wider range of Hawaii students without altering academic requirements.

Establish a medical education liaison position within the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine to support programs that utilize a team of medical specialists to support primary care providers and other health care professionals through mentorship and guidance. Appropriates funds.

Establishes a cruise ship passenger fee to be collected beginning 1/1/2026 by the Department of Transportation to be used for infrastructure projects benefiting cruise ships with an emphasis on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Establishes the Cruise Ship Passenger Fee Special Fund. Appropriates funds.

Adds a minimum penalty and amends the maximum penalty per violation of the State Water Code, expands the types of potential violations of the State Water Code, and makes each day that a violation exists or continues to exist a separate offense. Requires the Commission on Water Resource Management to consider certain factors when imposing penalties. Makes the setting, charging, and collecting of administrative fines by the Commission on Water Resource Management mandatory, rather than discretionary.

Maddy summarySB 346 lowers the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving while under the influence from 0.08% to 0.05%. This change directly affects drivers operating vehicles, making it illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.05% or higher. The key provision reduces the threshold where drivers can be charged with a DUI offense, shifting the legal standard to a stricter level. The bill represents a concrete policy change to the state's traffic safety laws without specifying additional enforcement measures.

Establishes the State-Owned Historic Properties Preservation Plan Working Group within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to ensure the preservation of state-owned historic properties and inherited lands. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Requires the Board of Regents to grant a waiver on all tuition and mandatory fees to a resident student enrolled in the College of Education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa for the semester or term that the student enrolls in a State-Approved Teacher Education Program.

Beginning 1/1/2027, establishes a preference in the Hawaii Public Procurement Code that favors bids or offers from businesses that intend to use a higher proportion of allelectric construction vehicles in Department of Transportation construction projects.