Sen. Glenn Wakai

Authorizes the Department of Education to award a high school diploma to qualified persons who did not receive a high school diploma as a result of compulsory or voluntary induction into the armed services of the United States or whose high school education was interrupted due to wartime practices during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Repeals language in the State's Code of Ethics that exempts the legislative and judicial branches from prohibitions against nepotism in public employment. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes a Food and Product Innovation Network within the Agribusiness Development Corporation. Appropriates funds for the development of Food and Product Innovation Network facilities. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Establishes a two-year coconut rhinoceros beetle eradication pilot program in certain areas under the Department of Land and Natural Resources that incentivizes community members to collect and submit the coconut rhinoceros beetle and its larvae for compensation. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summarySB 371 would create two new criminal offenses for damaging critical infrastructure facilities, such as power plants or water treatment centers. It directly affects individuals who cause property damage to these facilities by defining "first degree" (more severe) and "second degree" (less severe) offenses. The bill establishes specific legal penalties for these acts, though the exact punishments aren't detailed in the abstract. The bill is currently pending introduction (as of January 14, 2025) and has no effective date listed beyond the unusual "7/1/3000" noted in the abstract.

Maddy summaryHawaii's Senate Resolution 158 requests Congress to call an Article V constitutional convention to propose specific amendments. The resolution asks for amendments focused on imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting federal power and jurisdiction, and establishing term limits for federal officials. It includes conditions that the convention must not consider changes to the Bill of Rights, states must vote one-per-state, and Congress can only perform a ministerial duty to set a time and place for the convention. This is a procedural resolution seeking Congress's action, not a law, and Hawaii states it will continue this application until two-thirds of states join the request.

Maddy summaryHawaii's SCR 140 is a state resolution urging Congress to call an Article V constitutional convention to propose specific amendments. It requests amendments focused on imposing fiscal limits on the federal government, reducing federal power and jurisdiction, and limiting terms for federal officials and Congress members. The resolution specifies strict conditions: the convention must exclude any changes to the Bill of Rights, states must vote one per state, Congress can only call the convention if 34 states apply, and Hawaii reserves the right to recall its delegates. This is a procedural request from Hawaii's legislature, not a direct policy change, seeking to initiate a process that requires broad state support to proceed.

Allows animal control officers, law enforcement officers, and firefighters to enter an unattended vehicle to protect the health, safety, or well-being of a pet animal that is endangered by being left or confined in an unattended vehicle. Allows private citizens to retrieve a pet animal that has been left in an unattended vehicle, under certain circumstances. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summarySB 1043 reduces the sales tax rate on nonprescription drugs (over-the-counter medications) by half. This policy directly affects pharmacies selling these products and consumers who purchase them. The tax reduction will take effect on July 1, 3000. The bill passed committee recommendation with amendments on February 10, 2025.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to consider whether approving a proposed merger or acquisition would or would not further the State's renewable energy goals. Prohibits the acquiring entity of an electric utility company from terminating or attempting to renegotiate any existing and valid power purchase agreements and requires the acquiring entity to assume and be bound by existing collective bargaining agreements and retain all covered employees. Establishes a process to ensure that when an electric utility is subject to an application for a proposed acquisition, merger, or consolidation by a potential acquiring entity that is an investor-owned utility and seeks approval of the application from the Public Utilities Commission, the electric utility shall demonstrate that it solicited bids from potential acquiring entities that operate under a non-investor-owned utility ownership model. Requires the electric utility to submit acceptable bids from a potential acquiring entity operating under a non-investor-owned utility ownership model concurrently with an application by a potential acquiring entity that is an investor-owned utility and the Public Utilities Commission to review those applications concurrently. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)