Sen. Glenn Wakai

Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to implement SolarAPP+ or a functionally equivalent online automated permitting platform that verifies code compliance and issues permits to licensed contractors for solar distributed energy resource systems in real time by 1/1/2024. Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits in territories served by an investor-owned electric utility to adopt self-certification for residential and commercial on-site solar distributed energy resource systems that are not SolarAPP+ compatible. Makes the professional engineers, architects, surveyors, and landscape architects licensure law inapplicable to work with respect to residential distributed energy resource systems. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD2)

Establishes and appropriates funds for a grant program in the Department of Agriculture to provide grants to taro farmers in meeting the costs of cultivating taro for consumption. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)

Effective 7/1/2025, establishes the visitor impact fee program within the department of land and natural resources, through which the department will collect a fee from visitors for a license to visit a state park, forest, hiking trail, or other state natural area. Establishes the visitor impact fee special fund effective 7/1/2023. Requires report to the legislature on strategic plan and timetable for objectives and implementation of the visitor impact fee program. Appropriates funds for the visitor impact fee strategic plan and positions for the visitor impact fee program. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD3)

Requires the Department of Agriculture, in coordination with the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, to update the State Agriculture Functional Plan to include other agricultural economic updates that expand the State's priority on food by increasing local food self-sufficiency and exports. Requires the Governor to submit the updated plan to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2025. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)

Establishes the combat sports commission of Hawaiʻi. Provides for regulation of combat sports. Prohibits no rules combat or similar contests. Appropriates funds. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)

Includes in the State's policies for the physical environment under the Hawaiʻi State Planning Act, the promotion of statewide beach assessments and beach and shoreline adaptation, restoration, and conservation and the pursuit of compatible relationships among activities, facilities, Native Hawaiian traditional practices mauka to makai, and natural resources. Appropriates funds to the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development for the development of a statewide beach assessment study and shoreline adaptation, restoration, and conservation plan. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to conduct a study of the carrying capacity of Makena State Park in Maui County. Appropriates funds. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)

Requires the Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council to classify the fungal pathogen that causes coffee leaf rust as an invasive species in its administrative rules and to direct available funding for mitigation efforts, research, and prevention or control actions for coffee leaf rust. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)

Establishes positions within the Office of the Governor to be responsible for the deployment of the capital improvement funds appropriated by this Act. Appropriates funds for the ohana zones pilot program for expenses relating to operations, upkeep of facilities, provision of services, administrative costs, and the construction of facilities. Makes the ohana zones pilot program a government assistance program for purposes of a general excise tax exemption. Specifies that certain exemptions shall apply to the ohana zone construction. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD2)

Reestablishes the Hawaiʻi medical education special fund. Appropriates funds into and out of the Hawaiʻi medical education special fund to the John A. Burns School of Medicine for graduate medical education and training programs, to create more residencies and training opportunities on the neighbor islands for medical students, and for medical student and residency training opportunities in partnership with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Effective 6/30/3000. (HD1)