Sen. Glenn Wakai

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Department of Accounting and General Services in Hawaii to study the costs and benefits of creating an Office of the State Architect to oversee state construction projects. The proposed office would be led by a licensed State Architect responsible for reviewing all design plans, ensuring compliance with building codes, and assigning inspectors to construction sites. The study must analyze staffing needs, potential fees for design review services, and whether to require design approvals for traditional projects while exempting design-build and public-private partnership projects. If the study finds the office beneficial, the resolution asks the department to submit findings and any proposed legislation to the Legislature before the 2027 session begins.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks the Department of Accounting and General Services to study the costs and benefits of creating an Office of the State Architect within the state government. The proposed office would be led by a licensed architect responsible for reviewing all state construction projects to ensure they meet building codes and safety standards. The study will analyze specific requirements such as reviewing design plans, issuing approvals for traditional construction projects, assigning inspectors to observe construction work, and determining staffing needs. The department must submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the end of 2026, which could inform future legislation on establishing this new office.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the State Auditor to evaluate the social and financial impacts of a separate law that requires health insurance plans to cover biomarker testing for diagnosing and treating diseases. The assessment will examine how mandating coverage for this type of personalized medical testing affects patients, healthcare providers, and insurance costs. The Auditor must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 session. This procedural measure ensures the mandated coverage requirement is reviewed before it takes effect, following state law requirements for such health insurance mandates.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution directs Hawaii's Auditor to evaluate the social and financial impacts of a proposed law that would expand health insurance coverage for autism diagnosis, treatment, and applied behavioral analysis services. The bill specifically addresses a current system that restricts coverage to individuals under 14 years old and caps annual benefits at $25,000, which the resolution seeks to remove. By requesting this assessment, the legislature aims to gather data on how eliminating these age and cost limitations would affect healthcare access and public finances before finalizing any changes. The Auditor must submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature within 20 days before the 2027 session begins. This procedural step ensures informed decision-making regarding the expansion of mandated health insurance benefits for autism-related services.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the State Auditor of Hawaii to assess the social and financial impacts of mandating health insurance coverage for brief cognitive assessments for individuals aged 50 and older. The resolution is tied to House Bill 1702, which proposes requiring insurers to cover these assessments to help detect early signs of cognitive decline and dementia. The Auditor must prepare a report analyzing potential costs, benefits, and effects on different populations, particularly groups at higher risk such as Native Hawaiians and individuals with Down syndrome. The report must be submitted to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the start of the 2027 legislative session.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests the Auditor to evaluate the social and financial impacts of a proposed bill that would expand health insurance coverage for autism diagnosis and treatment. The measure would remove the current age limit of fourteen years and eliminate the $25,000 annual cap on applied behavioral analysis services, directly affecting individuals with autism and their families. The Auditor is asked to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature within twenty days before the 2027 session begins. This procedural step ensures an assessment is completed before any changes to insurance mandates are finalized.

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.

Amends the renewable energy technologies income tax credit by: for taxable years beginning after 12/31/26, prohibiting taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $250,000 or greater if filing as an individual or $350,000 or greater if filing jointly from claiming the credit for certain solar energy systems installed and placed in service on a single-family residential property; limiting credit claims for certain solar energy systems for single-family residential property to two systems per single-family residential property and requiring systems to have a total output capacity of at least five kilowatts; and increasing the adjusted gross income threshold below which an individual taxpayer may elect to have any excess credits refunded. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

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)