Sen. Glenn Wakai

Maddy summarySCR 74 is a concurrent resolution requesting Hawaii's Departments of Human Services and Health to create an incentive program for Community Care Foster Family Homes (CCFFHs). It aims to encourage existing CCFFHs - licensed homes providing 24-hour care for individuals needing nursing-level support - to accept more residents eligible for the state's Medicaid program for intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD waiver). The resolution does not create new law but asks the departments to design financial or other incentives to increase CCFFH capacity for these specific Medicaid waiver participants. This directly affects CCFFH providers and individuals seeking community-based care instead of institutional settings.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 70) urges the Real Estate Commission to use its existing authority to administer the full real estate salesperson exam in Japanese, but only for licenses limited to selling timeshare products in Hawaii. It directly affects the Commission (as the body that can implement this) and Japanese-speaking applicants seeking to sell timeshares to Japanese visitors. The key mechanism is leveraging the Commission's current power under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 467 to offer the exam in Japanese, similar to how driver's license exams are provided in multiple languages. The resolution aims to increase timeshare sales to Japanese-speaking tourists by making licensing more accessible, thereby supporting Hawaii's tourism industry. This is a non-binding request, not a new law, and does not change licensing requirements for other real estate sales.

Maddy summarySCR 87 is a legislative resolution urging Hawaii's Real Estate Commission to use its existing authority under state law to administer the real estate salesperson exam in Japanese. This would allow Japanese-speaking applicants to obtain licenses specifically for selling timeshare products to Japanese visitors in Hawaii. The resolution aims to increase timeshare sales to Japanese tourists and support Hawaii's tourism industry, referencing existing multilingual exam practices like driver's license tests. It does not create new law but recommends the Commission exercise its current powers to facilitate this change.

Maddy summarySCR 46 is a resolution requesting the state Auditor to conduct management and financial audits of Medicaid health care insurance contractors (managed care organizations) every two years, with the first audit due by January 2026. The audits will evaluate whether contractors use public funds properly, comply with state and federal rules, and provide quality care to Medicaid beneficiaries. Contractors must cooperate by providing records, and the Auditor must submit reports to the Governor, Legislature, and Department of Human Services. This follows years of recommendations to improve oversight, as the Auditor has never conducted such audits despite having legal authority since 1975.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 29) requests the Hawaii State Auditor to conduct a management and financial audit of Medicaid health care insurance contractors - managed care organizations providing Medicaid services - on a biennial basis. It directly affects these contractors, the Auditor, and state agencies overseeing Medicaid, requiring them to cooperate with the audits. The resolution specifies that audits must assess financial integrity, compliance with laws, and contractor operations, with the first audit due within six months of July 1, 2025. The Auditor must submit findings to the Governor, Legislature, and Human Services Director by 2027, and every two years thereafter. This is a procedural request, not a binding law, aiming to address past issues like overpayments and improve Medicaid program oversight.

Maddy summarySCR 101 is a non-binding resolution urging Hawaii's Director of Health and Director of Corrections to encourage state hospitals and prisons to replace ultra-processed foods (like those with artificial additives) with healthier options. It specifically recommends offering minimally-processed foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, and non-dairy beverages. The resolution cites benefits including reduced risk of chronic diseases (diabetes, heart conditions), cost savings for taxpayers, support for local farmers, and alignment with Native Hawaiian dietary practices. It does not mandate changes but formally requests these agencies promote healthier food choices in state facilities.

Maddy summarySCR 52 is a non-binding Senate Concurrent Resolution urging Hawaii's Department of Education (DOE) and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) to jointly develop a high school training program for a Youth Civil Defense Corps. The resolution proposes creating a curriculum to train high school students in emergency response skills, enabling them to participate in the State Emergency Response Team Program during disasters. It does not create new laws or funding but requests DOE and HI-EMA to collaborate on implementing this student-focused emergency preparedness initiative. The resolution directly affects high school students and state emergency management coordination.

Authorizes certain government entities to establish a self-certification process for behind-the-meter, customer-sited solar distributed energy resource systems and exempt the systems from the Federal Emergency Management Agency No-Rise/No-Impact declaration requirements under certain circumstances. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Authorizes state facilities to wheel electricity produced by their own facility from renewable energy sources to other state facilities pursuant to administrative rules or orders established by the Public Utilities Commission. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to submit a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Requires sellers or providers of emotional support animals, as well as those issuing verifications of a disability related need for an emotional support animal, to provide written notice to the buyer or recipient containing certain information. Requires persons or businesses that sell or provide certificates, vests, or identification tags that identify an animal as an emotional support animal to provide written notice to the buyer or recipient containing certain information. Establishes penalties. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)