Sen. Michelle Kidani

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution urges Hawaii state agencies, including the Department of Health and Department of Human Services, to work together to maintain affordable drug access for underserved communities through the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. The bill calls on pharmaceutical companies to avoid implementing restrictions that limit hospitals and health centers from distributing discounted medications to their patients. Additionally, it asks Hawaii's congressional delegation and federal agencies to monitor the pharmaceutical industry and take steps to protect the program's integrity. This measure is a formal request rather than a law that creates new mandates or penalties.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Hawaii Medical Association and the Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association to meet and create new guidelines for prescribing mental health medications. The proposal suggests that doctors should test a patient's thyroid function through a simple blood test before starting treatment with psychotropic drugs, as symptoms of thyroid issues can sometimes be mistaken for mental illness. This request aims to prevent unnecessary or potentially harmful medication by ensuring thyroid conditions are ruled out first. The resolution does not change current laws but instead urges medical organizations to develop these safety protocols.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the University of Hawaii at Manoa to create a comprehensive plan for addressing housing needs for students and faculty on campus. The bill asks the university to develop a strategy that includes redeveloping the closed Hale Noelani facility to provide at least 1,500 beds and establishing a new business model that could utilize public-private partnerships to ensure financial sustainability. Additionally, the resolution directs the university to propose a method for offering housing allowances to low-income residents and requires a report detailing these plans to be submitted to the Legislature by early 2025.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Health to update its administrative rules to allow licensed dietitians to independently prescribe modified and therapeutic diets. The proposal aims to address the state's shortage of physicians by enabling dietitians to write diet orders directly, a practice already permitted in hospital settings by federal guidelines. Under the suggested changes, dietitians would be authorized to plan and adjust nutrition plans for patients, reducing the need for doctors to manage these specific orders. The bill seeks to streamline patient care by letting qualified nutrition professionals handle dietary needs while ensuring all plans are documented in medical records.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges Hawaii's congressional delegation to introduce federal legislation that would expand the National Flood Insurance Program to cover damage caused by lava flows. The bill directly affects residents in lava zones on Hawaii Island who currently face limited insurance options and high premiums following the withdrawal of major private insurers from the market. By proposing this expansion, the resolution aims to provide a federal safety net for property owners in these specific areas, similar to how the program currently assists those in flood-prone regions. The measure does not create new insurance coverage itself but instead asks federal lawmakers to consider adding lava risk to the existing federal insurance framework.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution encourages the United States Navy to remove invasive octocoral and other non-native species from the waters of Pearl Harbor. The bill highlights that these soft corals spread rapidly, damaging local reef ecosystems and reducing fish diversity in areas like West, Middle, and East Lochs. It urges the Navy, which manages the harbor, to allocate resources for an eradication program and directs a copy of the resolution to the Secretary of the Navy.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Transportation to collaborate with the City and County of Honolulu on creating alternative emergency access routes for Pacific Palisades. The bill highlights that the area currently relies on a single, narrow road with a steep hairpin turn, which poses significant risks during natural disasters like wildfires or flash floods. It requests that the transportation department develop a plan with a completion timeline and submit it to the legislature before the start of the 2025 session. This measure aims to improve public safety by ensuring multiple evacuation options are available for the community.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks the Hawaii State Energy Office to create a working group focused on studying renewable liquid fuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel. The group will include representatives from state agencies, the legislature, universities, and industry stakeholders to explore local production methods and potential tax incentives. Over the next two years, the committee will evaluate technologies and policies to promote the use of these fuels while submitting progress updates and final recommendations to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges the State of Hawaii, the City and County of Honolulu, and the United States military to coordinate efforts to address illegal dumping in Waipahu and surrounding communities like Ewa, Pearl City, and Aiea. The bill highlights concerns about environmental hazards, public health risks, and the negative impact on schools and local pride caused by dumped waste, such as shopping carts blocking drainage ditches. It does not create new laws or funding but serves to formally request cooperation among these agencies to clean up polluted areas and improve waste management practices. Copies of the resolution are to be sent to relevant government officials and military commanders to ensure the issue receives attention.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution encourages state and county transportation agencies to expand their existing red-light safety program beyond urban Honolulu to include Windward, Leeward, and Central Oahu. The bill suggests specific intersections for this expansion and recommends that officials consider implementing automated enforcement cameras at these new sites. Currently, the program uses cameras to issue citations at five locations in Honolulu, a method the resolution notes has been shown to reduce crashes and injuries. While the measure does not mandate the change, it formally directs the relevant departments to evaluate adding these new locations to the initiative.