Sen. Henry Aquino

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 53) requests Hawaii's State Health Planning and Development Agency to form a Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Working Group. The group, including pharmacy associations, insurers, and state agencies, will evaluate PBM practices to improve transparency, lower drug costs for patients, and increase healthcare access. It will specifically examine issues like fair pharmacy reimbursements, PBM reporting requirements, and practices that restrict patient access. The Working Group must submit recommendations to the Legislature by early 2026. This resolution does not change laws but seeks to identify policy reforms for future legislation.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 56) requests the Office of Wellness and Resilience to prepare a report addressing developmental needs of children born during the 2019-2025 pandemic. The report must analyze trauma-informed care, existing support services (including for wildfire-affected areas), and resources for educators, with a focus on vulnerable groups like Native Hawaiian and rural communities. It requires the office to submit the report by December 31, 2026, including recommendations for future action. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new law but directs an assessment of existing challenges.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 91 requests the Hawaii State Energy Office to study whether the state should establish a green bonds program. Green bonds are financial tools that raise capital specifically for environmentally focused projects like renewable energy, conservation, and clean infrastructure. The study must examine best practices for managing such a program, identify clean energy initiatives that could benefit from funding, and explore potential partnerships between state agencies and private companies. The Energy Office must submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by January 2026, providing a basis for future decisions about implementing a green bonds program. This resolution does not create a program but seeks an evaluation to inform potential policy action.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution urges the Stadium Authority to finalize a contract for constructing a new Aloha Stadium in Halawa and to advance development of the adjacent New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District. It notes the project has completed environmental reviews, selected a developer (Aloha Halawa District Partners), and aims to create jobs while integrating housing, retail, and event spaces. The resolution emphasizes the stadium’s role in supporting University of Hawaii athletics, attracting tourism, and aligning with community development goals.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 37) requests the Department of Human Resources Development to conduct a comprehensive review of the Boiler and Elevator Inspection Branch within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. The review aims to address staffing shortages that have created a 7,438-elevator backlog (74% of required 2024 inspections), with the branch operating at only 19 authorized positions after a 2021 cut. The resolution specifically directs the review to assess current staffing levels, salary competitiveness (noting inspectors earn $20,000-$40,000 less annually than private sector roles), and compare practices with similar branches in California, Washington, Oregon, and Nevada. The Department must submit findings and recommendations, including potential legislative proposals, by December 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 73) requests the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) to assume responsibility for the routine maintenance and repairs of the Kohala Ditch, a 26-mile irrigation system critical to North Kohala farmers. The ditch, damaged by a 2021 rockslide, supplies over 5 million gallons of water daily to local farms; without it, farmers face 10x higher water costs, forcing many to reduce or stop operations. The resolution urges the ADC to develop a community-informed maintenance plan and submit annual reports on repairs and infrastructure conditions. As a procedural resolution (not a law), it does not mandate action but formally asks the ADC to take on this role to support agricultural stability.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 60 clarifies that housing projects approved by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) before July 1, 2031, will retain eligibility for housing credits under Act 31 (2024) even after Act 31 is repealed. It requests HHFDC and all counties to include three specific details in project approvals: a developer's credit rights statement, the number of qualifying units, and available credits. This resolution directly affects housing developers and local governments administering housing credit programs.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 45) urges the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) to create a plan for producing enough housing to meet statewide demand. It highlights Hawaii's severe housing shortage, noting the state builds far fewer units annually (2,902) than needed, with critical gaps in housing for middle- and upper-income households (120%+ of area median income). The resolution requests HHFDC submit its plan to the Legislature by January 2026, emphasizing the need to address housing as a key factor in retaining residents and workers. As a procedural resolution, it does not enact new law but directs agency action.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to study creating a Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award Program, modeled after France's Meilleur Ouvrier de France award. The study would examine how to recognize craftspersons in key trades (like carpentry, culinary arts, and floristry), including cost-effective implementation and industry input, and report findings to the Legislature by early 2026. It does not create the award program but seeks a feasibility assessment.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 18) requests the Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to collaborate with the Department of Transportation to use existing inmate work furlough programs for state roadway and highway maintenance. It directly affects inmates participating in furlough programs (who gain work experience for reentry), the Corrections Department (which must coordinate the effort), and Transportation (which would gain additional maintenance staff). The resolution proposes using eligible inmates - already in furlough programs for reentry preparation - to perform routine road maintenance tasks like pothole repair and vegetation control. This is a procedural request, not a new law, aiming to support inmate rehabilitation while addressing workforce needs for highway upkeep.