Sen. Glenn Wakai

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to sponsor a Michelin Guide for restaurants throughout the state. The bill aims to bring the internationally recognized star-rating system to Hawaii, which currently does not have a Michelin Guide despite its growing culinary reputation. By establishing this guide, the resolution hopes to attract more diners, help restaurants improve their standards, and address the shortage of culinary staff by making Hawaii a more appealing destination for food professionals. The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism would be responsible for coordinating with Michelin to implement this initiative.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to expand and strengthen programs focused on financial literacy, credit readiness, and homeownership preparedness for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries. The resolution asks the department to partner with financial educators, credit counselors, and lenders to provide pre-award education, post-award support, culturally responsive materials, and to explore additional funding sources. The department is also required to submit a detailed report to the Legislature by early 2027 outlining program improvements, participant numbers, and measurable outcomes related to lease stability and credit improvement.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate concurrent resolution that urges the Board of Land and Natural Resources to extend Mauna Kea land leases and subleases for an additional ten years. It directly affects the Board of Land and Natural Resources, the University of Hawaii, the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, and the entities operating telescope observatories on the mountain. The resolution recommends extending the master lease between the Board and the University of Hawaii, as well as all subleases used for astronomical research, which are currently set to expire in 2033. This measure does not change existing laws but requests the Board to consider extending the current agreements without legal barriers.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges Hawaii state agencies to create a statewide peer counselor program for high school students to address youth loneliness and social disconnection. The program would involve trained student peer counselors who receive standardized instruction in active listening, ethical boundaries, and culturally responsive practices to help identify and support students experiencing isolation. Key provisions include collaboration between the Department of Education, Department of Health, and Office of Wellness and Resilience, with the Hawaii State Youth Commission providing input on program design and evaluation. The resolution emphasizes face-to-face peer relationships and clear referral pathways to licensed mental health professionals while maintaining centralized oversight across the state's public education system.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General to form a working group focused on technology-facilitated abuse affecting youth and vulnerable populations in the state. The group will include representatives from state agencies, domestic violence organizations, and youth commissions to examine issues like digital stalking, spyware use, and nonconsensual image distribution. The working group will assess current laws, evaluate platform safety practices, and develop recommendations for regulatory safeguards and policy changes to protect residents from online abuse. The group is required to submit a report with findings and proposed legislative actions to the Legislature before the 2027 session begins.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges the Public Utilities Commission to hold at least two public community meetings before approving major energy projects that would be located in affected communities. The bill defines major energy projects as those with a capital cost of $10 million or more, including solar farms, wind facilities, battery storage, and grid modernization. While the resolution does not create new legal requirements, it formally requests the commission to engage with local residents and stakeholders to gather input on these infrastructure developments. The measure aims to ensure communities have a voice in energy decisions that impact their neighborhoods and to address concerns about equitable distribution of energy project benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a state-level resolution urging the U.S. Congress to convene a constitutional convention under Article V of the Constitution, limited to proposing amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit federal power and jurisdiction, and restrict terms of office for federal officials and members of Congress. The resolution outlines specific conditions for such a convention, including that Congress only has the authority to set a meeting time and place, that states retain the power to select and appoint their own delegates, and that the convention cannot consider any amendments to the Bill of Rights. Hawaii is submitting this as a formal application toward the two-thirds threshold required to trigger a constitutional convention, with the state reserving the right to recall delegates if they violate the stated instructions.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and the Department of Law Enforcement to strengthen penalties and enforcement actions against dog attacks on livestock. It directly affects farmers and ranchers who raise animals in Hawaii, aiming to address financial losses from uncontrolled dogs harming their herds. The resolution does not change laws directly but formally requests state agencies to review and enhance their existing measures for protecting livestock from dog attacks. It highlights the economic importance of livestock production and the severe impacts of dog attacks on producers. The document is a formal request rather than a law, so it has no immediate legal effect pending agency response.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance to study the feasibility and benefits of establishing a state-owned sovereign wealth fund. The proposed fund would invest state assets, such as tourism revenues and budget surpluses, to generate long-term financial returns for the state's residents. The study would examine how the fund could support economic stability, fund infrastructure, and potentially distribute investment earnings to qualified residents as cash dividends. The Department is required to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the end of 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to study whether Hawaii should replace its appointed Chief Election Officer with a Secretary of State elected by voters to oversee elections. The study will examine current laws governing election administration and outline the legal steps needed to make such a change. It compares Hawaii's current system with other states, noting that 33 states elect their chief election officials while 47 have a Secretary of State position. The Legislative Reference Bureau must submit its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to lawmakers before the 2027 regular session begins.