Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz

Repeals Part II of Act 66, SLH 2023, which requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to work with the University of Hawaiʻi on workforce development activities that support the development of the Hawaiʻi Pacific Hydrogen Hub and related aspects of the State's hydrogen energy industry. Repeals the appropriation to develop the Hawaiʻi Pacific Hydrogen Hub. (CD1)

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges the Federal Emergency Management Agency to use available funds to provide non-congregate housing solutions for residents displaced by the August 2023 Maui wildfires. The bill specifically targets renters and homeowners who need interim housing options beyond temporary rental assistance as federal aid is set to expire in 2025. It requests that FEMA clarify rules for using financial assistance, establish a decision-making process for support actions, and discuss transferring acquired assets to the state for long-term affordable rental housing development.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Maui County to investigate landlords who are terminating leases to make way for households receiving FEMA or state rental assistance. The bill addresses concerns that these government programs, which pay above-market rates, are causing existing tenants to be displaced in the wake of the Maui wildfires. It calls for enforcement of applicable laws to ensure fairness and housing stability for those already living in the affected areas. The resolution does not create new laws but instead requests an official inquiry into reported incidents of lease terminations.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests the Department of Human Resources Development to survey organizations across for-profit, nonprofit, and government sectors that have successfully implemented remote, hybrid, or telework arrangements. The bill aims to gather data on best practices for managing these work styles, such as clear communication guidelines and training materials, to help the state address high housing costs and workforce shortages. By identifying successful models, the resolution seeks to inform strategies that could allow employees to work from more affordable areas while maintaining productivity. The document also notes that supporting remote work requires investments in broadband infrastructure and co-working facilities to ensure equitable access for all workers.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks the Governor and the County of Maui to create a detailed plan for housing people who lost their homes in the August 2023 Maui wildfires. The bill specifically requests a strategy that outlines construction timelines, maps project locations, and breaks down housing needs for different groups like single-family owners and renters. It also calls for the county to speed up its permitting process and for the state to consider temporary waivers of land use rules to help build homes faster. The resolution sets a deadline of May 31, 2024, for submitting this plan and requires quarterly progress reports to the Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Education to study how teacher salary increases affect the problem where experienced educators earn the same as less experienced ones. The bill directs the department to analyze current pay structures and provide recommendations to improve teacher retention by addressing this compression issue. It requires the department to work with various stakeholders and submit a final report with findings and potential policy changes to the Legislature by late 2024.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to work with state universities to create the Hawaii Creative Innovation Group. The group will bring together public and private sector members to explore ways to grow the state's fashion, design, and music industries by connecting education programs with career opportunities. Its main tasks include identifying needed facilities and equipment, developing strategies to create new businesses, and outlining investments for innovation support such as funding and export assistance. The group must submit a report with its findings and any suggested laws to the Legislature by the end of 2024.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution urges the University of Hawaii Leeward Community College to create an online bachelor's degree program in education to help working adults become teachers across all counties. The bill requests that funds be moved within the community college system to support this new program and address teacher shortages in rural areas. It also asks various educational leaders to collaborate on promoting access to quality education and helping current substitute or emergency teachers enter the profession. Because this is a non-binding resolution rather than a law, it does not force any specific actions but serves as a formal recommendation to the university and other stakeholders.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to draft a new law offering tax credits for firm renewable electricity generation. The bill aims to encourage commercial developers to build stable energy projects that can provide grid reliability as the state moves toward its goal of 100% renewable power by 2045. It specifically seeks to expand existing incentives beyond solar energy to include other firm renewable sources like wind or geothermal. The department is instructed to submit these proposed tax credit rules to the legislature within sixty days before the start of the 2025 session.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution urges the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Maui County to investigate landlords who are terminating leases to make way for households receiving FEMA or state rental assistance. The bill addresses a specific situation where property owners are evicting current tenants to secure higher payments from government programs designed to house wildfire survivors. By calling for an official inquiry, the measure seeks to ensure that existing laws are enforced against those allegedly displacing residents for these subsidized housing opportunities.