Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the Department of Education to provide free breakfast and lunch to students enrolled in a public school who meet certain requirements. Appropriates funds.
Authorizes the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to request the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to furnish a list of five qualified and experienced interest arbitrators in the event the parties fail to select the neutral third member of the arbitration panel. Clarifies that the list of five interest arbitrators may contain arbitrators from both the American Arbitration Association and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. (SD1)
Maddy summarySB 1566 establishes Hawaii's Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program, administered by the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board. The program creates a structured pathway for new educators to earn a teaching license while working as paid apprentices under licensed mentors in Hawaii schools. It directly affects aspiring teachers seeking licensure through on-the-job training rather than traditional education programs. The bill includes funding appropriations to support this initiative, providing a concrete alternative to standard teacher preparation.
Requires the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to establish an international teacher license for certain visa holders and the requirements to obtain the international teacher license. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish an independent program relating to the prevention, control, and extinguishment of wildland fires within forest reserves. Authorizes the Administrator of Forestry and Wildlife to establish and maintain facilities for the performance of fire protection, fire prevention, pest control, and forest and range protection and enhancement activities. Allows the State Fire Council to amend the State Fire Code to require certain owners and occupants of properties and holders of easements located in hazardous fire areas to maintain effective firebreaks and to practice other fire prevention activities. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish and implement the Community Fuels Reduction Project. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. (CD1)
Expands the powers of the Hawaii Property Insurance Association and reactivates the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund to help stabilize the property insurance market in the State. Establishes the Condominium Loan Program and the Condominium Loan Revolving Fund, to be administered by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority on behalf of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, for the purpose of providing financing for essential repairs and deferred maintenance to condominium associations. Abolishes the Condominium Loan Revolving Fund on 6/30/2047. Establishes the Condominium Loan Loss Reserves Program to incentivize lenders to provide loans at competitive rates and terms to allow condominium associations to make necessary maintenance and repairs. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to conduct a study to develop long-term solutions to help stabilize the property insurance market in the State. Requires reports to the Legislature. Authorizes the issuance of reimbursable general obligation bonds to facilitate the initial issuance of policies to condominium associations. Appropriates funds. (CD1)
Beginning 1/1/2027, requires the counties to adopt ordinances for the regulation of retention and detention ponds. Requires the counties to conduct a survey of existing retention and detention ponds and submit a report to the Legislature. (CD1)
Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to establish positions within the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine's Department of Geriatric Medicine to coordinate and incorporate training on Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia for health care providers into existing University of Hawaii programs; and review, update, and develop a dementia curriculum to be incorporated into existing University of Hawaii programs with the goal of establishing a local, informed dementia workforce. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. (CD1)
Prohibits the State or any of its departments, agencies, or political subdivisions from requiring a bachelor's degree as a condition of eligibility for hire to a position in state or county employment. Establishes exemptions. (CD1)
Allows the Governor to negotiate land exchanges, subject to approval by the Board of Land and Natural Resources, to acquire lands that are suitable for long-term diversified agricultural production in exchange for land for private affordable, workforce, or other housing development. Requires a report to the Legislature. (CD1)
