Establishes the Illegal Fireworks Enforcement Division within the Department of Law Enforcement. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
Maddy summarySCR 209 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HEMA) to address tree-related obstructions on evacuation routes. It directs HEMA to identify large trees that could block evacuation paths, trim or remove them, conduct public risk assessments for high-risk trees, implement urban forestry best practices, and strengthen community disaster preparedness education. This resolution does not create new law but formally requests specific actions from HEMA to improve evacuation route safety and community resilience. It directly affects HEMA's operational procedures and communities relying on designated evacuation routes.
Maddy summarySCR 84 is a non-binding resolution urging Maui County, in collaboration with the Maui Emergency Management Agency, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, and the Department of Defense, to conduct real-time wildfire and disaster drills involving the Maui community. It specifically calls for these drills to include community members in planning, execution, and post-drill evaluations to improve emergency response preparedness. The resolution emphasizes community participation as a key mechanism to enhance public awareness, evacuation familiarity, and feedback for refining emergency protocols, based on examples from other communities.
Maddy summaryThis resolution requests the State Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the University of Hawaii Foundation. The foundation manages over 7,000 donor accounts and handles more than $660 million in funds raised for the University of Hawaii System. The audit aims to evaluate how effectively the foundation uses these funds to support students and faculty, ensuring transparency and accountability in its management.
Maddy summarySCR 61 is a Senate resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to evaluate the cost-benefit and return on investment of sponsoring a Michelin Guide for the state's restaurants. It asks the department to assess whether such a sponsorship would improve Hawaii's culinary tourism, attract skilled restaurant workers, and elevate local dining standards. The resolution does not require the state to actually sponsor the guide, only to study the feasibility and potential benefits. This request follows Hawaii's growing reputation as a food destination but notes Michelin inspectors currently do not visit the state.
Maddy summarySCR 75 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting Maui County to hire one full-time archaeologist to guide historic preservation efforts during Lahaina's rebuilding after the 2023 wildfires. The resolution specifically addresses the absence of archaeological oversight in current rebuilding plans and asks the County to employ this role to preserve cultural landmarks and comply with preservation mandates. The archaeologist would collaborate with rebuilding entities to protect Lahaina’s irreplaceable heritage sites, including centuries-old structures destroyed in the fires. This resolution is a non-binding request, not a law, directed solely at Maui County’s planning process.
Maddy summarySCR 124 establishes the "Task Force for SPEED" (Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development) to address delays in state and local permitting for housing, industrial, and commercial projects. The task force will include representatives from 13 state agencies (like Business Development, Water Resources, and Housing) and local county planning departments, with a deadline to submit recommendations to the Legislature by October 2025. Its primary goal is to identify specific actions to expedite, coordinate, and streamline permitting processes across state and local governments. The task force must report findings and potential legislative proposals before the 2026 legislative session, with the group dissolving by June 2027. This is a procedural resolution creating a study group, not a law with immediate policy changes.
Maddy summarySCR 26 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to include circuit and district court facilities within the new Oahu Community Correctional Center in Halawa, and to establish a release procedure that transports people leaving custody to locations other than residential areas or public spaces. This aims to reduce transportation costs, greenhouse gas emissions, and traffic congestion by eliminating frequent court trips from Halawa to Honolulu, while addressing community safety concerns about releases into neighborhoods. The resolution does not create new law but asks the Department to consider these specific planning requirements during the facility's design phase. It directly affects the planning of the new Halawa facility, the Judiciary's court operations, and surrounding Halawa communities.
Maddy summarySenate Resolution 98 urges Hawaii's Department of Education to collaborate with the Department of Transportation, Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee, and the County of Hawaii to assess safety at school bus stops on Hawaii Island. The resolution requests a detailed inventory focusing on specific infrastructure factors like sidewalks, lighting, traffic patterns, and hazards, to identify improvements needed for children traveling to school. It requires a report with prioritized safety recommendations to be submitted to the Legislature before the 2026 session. This non-binding resolution directly affects students relying on school transportation in Hawaii Island communities, particularly in rural or underserved areas.
Maddy summarySenate Resolution 35 requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to partner with the Hawaii State Public Library System to identify rural and underserved communities (particularly on neighbor islands and rural Oahu) lacking telecommunication access for participating in state legislative meetings. It directs them to develop an outreach program using public library resources - such as free internet, videoconferencing, and devices like Chromebooks - to help residents engage remotely, reducing travel costs and barriers. The resolution requires a report to the Legislature by 2026 detailing findings and recommendations for improving public access. This procedural resolution focuses on infrastructure collaboration, not policy changes, to enhance civic participation.
