Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz

Maddy summarySCR 138 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the State Auditor to conduct a management and performance audit of the University of Hawaii's Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy. The audit will specifically examine Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education (workforce pipelines from pre-K to post-secondary), alignment of academic programs with state job demands, and transfer agreements between four-year universities and community colleges. It requires the Auditor to assess resource allocation, provide improvement recommendations, and submit findings to the Legislature by early 2026. This resolution does not change policies but seeks to evaluate existing academic strategy operations for transparency and efficiency.

Maddy summarySCR 142 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the Office of the Auditor to audit the University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics Department's financial management. It specifically directs the audit to assess whether the department's spending aligns with its policies and to evaluate its Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) program. The resolution cites a $2.1 million deficit in the department's 2024 finances and notes the lack of a master plan or sustainable funding strategy. This audit request directly affects the UH Manoa Athletics Department and its oversight.

Provides a tax credit to taxpayers and makes deposits to the emergency and budget reserve fund and other post-employment benefits trust fund pursuant to article VII, section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes the Future Career and Technical Education Teacher Scholarship Program to be administered by the Department of Education to facilitate the recruitment and retention of career and technical education teachers in Hawaii public schools. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes and implements evidence-based performance metrics for the P-20 Partnerships for Education to allow better evidence-based assessments of the P-20 Partnerships for Education advisory council's workforce and pathway development programs. Requires reports to the Legislature. Authorizes the expenditure of Perkins V federal funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Maddy summarySCR 192 is a concurrent resolution requesting the University of Hawaii System to form a working group to study the feasibility of creating a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program in Hawaii. The working group must include university leaders, Windward Community College's veterinary program, agriculture officials, private veterinarians, and legislative members. It will examine key factors like facility needs, accreditation requirements, partnerships with mainland schools, workforce pipelines, and funding sources. The group must submit a report with recommendations to the legislature by late 2025. This resolution does not create a program but seeks to explore solutions to Hawaii's veterinarian shortage, particularly for rural and agricultural areas.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 128) requests the Hawaii Attorney General to compile and provide a list of all state lands currently leased to the U.S. government or federal agencies. It also asks the Attorney General to assess whether current leases - particularly those at nominal rates like $1 per acre - violate state constitutional or legal requirements for land stewardship. The resolution does not change lease terms but seeks transparency and a legal review of federal land leasing practices. It is a procedural request focused on gathering information, not implementing new policy.

Maddy summarySCR 143 is a non-binding resolution urging Hawaii's state boards and commissions to conduct annual performance reviews of their Executive Directors or equivalent staff members (who are exempt from standard civil service hiring rules). It directs these entities to evaluate whether such leaders are meeting state goals and statutory requirements. The resolution does not create new laws but formally recommends this practice to improve accountability. It applies to all boards/commissions with exempt executive positions, as specified in Hawaii's governance structure.

Maddy summarySCR 135 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution urging all Hawaii state departments to establish secure data-sharing agreements with the Office of Wellness and Resilience. It directs departments to collaborate on sharing deidentified, aggregated data to help the Office integrate information across agencies. This aims to overcome current data silos, enabling a more comprehensive analysis of community needs through the existing Quality of Life and Well-Being Dashboard. The resolution emphasizes protecting resident privacy while supporting evidence-based program development.

Maddy summarySB 328 creates a state income tax credit for farmers who convert dairy farms to hog farms, covering capital infrastructure costs like building modifications. It directly affects dairy farmers planning such conversions by reducing their tax burden for eligible expenses. The credit becomes effective July 1, 3000, as specified in the bill's abstract. This policy change provides a financial incentive for agricultural land-use shifts without altering existing tax rates or creating new regulatory requirements.