Sen. Glenn Wakai

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests the Department of Accounting and General Services to form a working group to study delays in state building permit approvals from county departments. The bill directly affects state agencies and county permitting offices by establishing a collaborative group to investigate why state projects face long approval times. The working group will include representatives from various state departments and county officials to explore ways to streamline permitting processes specifically for state projects. Members must submit their findings and recommendations to the Legislature by 2028, potentially including proposed legislation to address the identified issues.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks state agencies to use bi-level lighting systems in all new state buildings starting January 1, 2027. Bi-level lighting adjusts brightness based on motion detection to reduce energy waste from lights staying on at full intensity. The resolution directs copies to various state officials and agencies responsible for construction and facility management. This measure aims to promote energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact through a specific building design requirement.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Housing and Land Management to create a countywide housing pattern book containing pre-approved residential designs. The book would include various housing types like accessory dwelling units and mid-rise buildings, incorporating culturally appropriate and climate-responsive features such as natural ventilation and lanais. By using these pre-reviewed designs, developers could access streamlined permitting processes, reducing delays and costs while maintaining safety and quality standards. The resolution also asks for a design competition to gather innovative plans and collaboration with architects, builders, and community stakeholders to develop the book. Once completed, the pattern book and its approved designs would be made publicly available for use in housing projects.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the creation of a task force to develop a statewide plan for studying how many people can use Hawaii's marine life conservation districts without harming the ecosystems. The task force will be made up of representatives from state agencies, county governments, universities, community groups, and commercial ocean recreation operators. Its main job is to design a framework for carrying capacity studies, prioritize which districts to study first, set standards for how studies are conducted, and identify the funding and staffing needed to implement the program. The task force must submit its findings and recommendations to the legislature by the end of 2026, which may include proposed legislation to officially establish the statewide program.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, working with the Attorney General's office, to create a working group that reviews how other states protect victims of image-based sexual abuse. The group will examine existing laws and policies to identify ways to improve protections for survivors, who face issues like nonconsensual sharing of explicit images and videos. The working group will include service providers and survivors of gender-based violence to ensure their perspectives are considered. The group must submit a report with findings and recommendations, including any proposed new laws, to the Legislature before the 2027 session begins.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution encourages the State of Hawaii to consider mandating automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in all state-owned buildings and to pursue existing AED programs. AEDs are portable devices that can restore normal heart rhythm during cardiac arrest, with survival rates dropping significantly for each minute without treatment. The resolution also highlights the need for AED training programs, noting that while some organizations offer such education, the state currently lacks legislatively mandated training initiatives. The bill directs the Director of Health and the Comptroller to receive copies of this resolution for further review and action.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution encourages the State of Hawaii to consider mandating automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in all state-owned buildings and to pursue existing AED programs. The bill aims to improve public access to life-saving devices that can treat cardiac arrest by analyzing heart rhythms and delivering electrical shocks to restore normal heart function. It also highlights the importance of AED training programs, noting that while organizations like the University of Hawaii offer such training, the state currently lacks legislatively mandated educational initiatives. The resolution directs the Director of Health to receive copies of the document and serves as a non-binding recommendation rather than a law requiring immediate action.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution from Hawaii endorses Taiwan's participation in international organizations, supports a proposed tax agreement between the United States and Taiwan, and commemorates their sister-state relationship. The bill encourages Taiwan's observer status in bodies like the International Civil Aviation Organization and International Criminal Police Organization, while urging the U.S. Trade Representative to negotiate a double taxation avoidance agreement. It also highlights existing cooperation in trade, education, climate research, and disaster management between Hawaii and Taiwan. The resolution is a symbolic gesture that expresses support for these relationships without creating new legal obligations or changing existing laws.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests the City and County of Honolulu to consider creating a facility for safely discarding lithium-ion batteries, which are currently often disposed of improperly in landfills. The bill aims to reduce fire and explosion hazards and protect environmental resources by establishing a dedicated disposal system, potentially integrated with the existing H-POWER waste energy recovery program. It directs copies of the resolution to state and local officials responsible for energy and waste management to facilitate the county's consideration of this infrastructure development.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution from Hawaii endorses Taiwan's participation in international organizations, supports a proposed tax agreement between the United States and Taiwan, and commemorates their sister-state relationship. The bill expresses support for Taiwan's observer status in the International Civil Aviation Organization, International Criminal Police Organization, and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, while encouraging negotiations for a double taxation avoidance agreement. It also recognizes the existing sister-state partnership established in 1993 and highlights ongoing cooperation in trade, education, tourism, and disaster management between Hawaii and Taiwan. The resolution is non-binding and serves to align Hawaii's position with federal policy while celebrating bilateral ties.