Sen. Glenn Wakai

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution encourages the Capitol Modern Museum and the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to expand public platforms for artists, songwriters, and producers to showcase their work. The bill urges these organizations to prioritize education and career development for students from kindergarten through college, offering access to scholarships, grants, and apprenticeships. It also calls for increased collaboration with local theaters, youth symphonies, and schools to make art programming more accessible while highlighting Hawaiian culture. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but serves as an official recommendation to state agencies.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks the Department of Human Services to provide a report on the cultural and therapeutic services offered by community organizations at the Kawailoa Youth and Family Wellness Center. The request focuses on youth facing homelessness, poverty, or incarceration, aiming to gather data on how these programs help reduce negative outcomes like jail time and housing instability. The report must also outline plans for expanding collaboration between the state and private sectors to improve youth wellness and include any legislative recommendations. The Department is required to submit these findings and suggestions to the Legislature by twenty days before the start of the 2025 session.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution urges the Hawaii construction industry to increase the recycling of construction and demolition debris and to use recycled materials as much as possible. The bill highlights that landfills across the state are nearing capacity and that reducing waste could divert nearly two thousand tons of debris from landfills daily. It specifically targets construction companies and industry associations by requesting they adopt these sustainable practices to alleviate pressure on overflowing waste sites and protect nearby communities.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks the Governor to direct state health agencies to work together with local hospitals and pharmacies to keep affordable medications available for Hawaii's underserved communities. The bill also urges federal officials and Hawaii's congressional representatives to watch for and stop actions by drug companies that limit how these hospitals can distribute discounted drugs. By encouraging collaboration and oversight, the resolution aims to preserve the 340B Drug Pricing Program's ability to provide low-cost medicines to patients who need them most.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks the Office of the Administrative Director of the Courts to gather and share data on how often fees, court costs, fines, and restitution are charged to minors in Hawaii. The requested information includes total amounts assessed and collected over the past five years, as well as a detailed list of specific charges available in different court districts. This data collection aims to provide the Legislature with a clear picture of financial penalties imposed on youth cases before the 2025 session. The bill does not change any laws or stop the charging of fees; instead, it focuses on collecting information to inform future policy decisions.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution urges the Director of Finance to update administrative rules to clarify that banks and financial institutions providing loans for housing development have a "beneficial effect to the state." The bill aims to address Hawaii's housing shortage by encouraging the state treasury to prioritize investing in financial institutions that offer favorable loan terms to housing developers. By explicitly including housing financing in the definition of beneficial effects, the resolution seeks to incentivize banks to lower development costs and expand affordable housing options for residents. The measure is a recommendation rather than a law, meaning it relies on the Director of Finance to adopt the suggested changes to existing investment guidelines.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to create a ten-year plan to build 100,000 homes to address the state's housing shortage. The requested plan must outline strategies to overcome specific barriers such as inadequate infrastructure, restrictive zoning rules, complicated regulations, community opposition, and high construction costs. The resolution directs the agency to submit this plan to its board chairperson and executive director, serving as a formal request rather than a law that mandates immediate action.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to create new administrative rules that allow it to offer credit enhancement for construction loans. The bill aims to lower financing costs for housing developers by reducing the risk associated with these loans, which could help offset high development expenses caused by rising interest rates. As a Senate resolution, this document serves as a formal request rather than a law that directly changes statutes or mandates specific actions.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Education to study how teacher salary increases affect pay compression, where experienced educators earn the same as less experienced ones. The study will examine current pay structures and analyze how step movements influence this issue to provide recommendations for improving teacher retention and satisfaction. The department is also asked to work with education leaders and submit a report with findings and potential policy changes to the Legislature by early 2025.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks the Department of Transportation to study whether other airlines could begin serving Molokai Airport. The bill is driven by concerns that the single current carrier offers expensive tickets and unreliable flights, which creates travel difficulties for residents needing to reach work, medical care, and family. If the study determines that adding more airlines is possible, the department must submit a report with its findings and any suggested laws to the Legislature by late 2024.