Sen. Henry Aquino

Maddy summaryHawaii's SCR 114 is a concurrent resolution requesting the Department of Education, with the Department of Health and State Public Charter School Commission, to study how schools manage heat exposure during outdoor activities. The study must examine current practices, assess using wet-bulb globe temperature as a heat stress measurement standard, and evaluate if existing protocols protect students from heat-related illnesses. If the study finds current practices insufficient, it requires developing statewide guidelines covering hydration, staff training for heat illness symptoms, accommodations for students with medical conditions, and acclimatization protocols for outdoor activities like sports and recess. The resolution mandates the study report to be submitted to the Legislature by early 2026, with any proposed guidelines to follow by 2027. This directly affects all public and charter schools in Hawaii, focusing on student health during outdoor school activities.

Authorizes state facilities to wheel electricity produced by their own facility from renewable energy sources to other state facilities pursuant to administrative rules or orders established by the Public Utilities Commission. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to submit a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Clarifies that the bid incentive given to bidders for public works construction projects who are parties to an apprenticeship agreement is based on apprenticeable trades utilized, rather than employed, to construct the public works. Requires the bidder and the bidder's subcontractors to be parties to all apprenticeable trades utilized to construct the project for which a state-approved apprenticeship program exists. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Beginning 7/1/2027, allows chiropractic students enrolled in a qualified chiropractic college to engage in clinical practice as part of their college instruction if directly supervised by a qualified licensed chiropractor. Requires the Hawaii Board of Chiropractic to adopt rules. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Authorizes the Governor to enter into a Cosmetology Licensure Compact on behalf of the State to provide a streamlined process that allows cosmetologists to obtain a multistate license enabling them to practice cosmetology in another state without obtaining a separate license under the laws of that state. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules to implement and administer the Compact. Authorizes the Governor to enter into the Compact. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Maddy summarySCR 25 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the State Health Planning and Development Agency and Department of Health to hold public meetings for all certificate of need applications involving proposed special treatment facilities in neighborhoods with community associations. It does not create new law but asks the agency to require public input during the review process for these specific healthcare facility proposals. The resolution also requests the agency adopt rules requiring applicants to appear before neighborhood boards as part of their application. This applies only to facilities seeking approval under the administrative review process (typically smaller projects), not the standard review process which already includes public meetings.

Prohibits the sale of raw ahi, including ahi poke or processed ahi, in retail establishments without a label that states the country where the ahi was landed. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Allows captive insurance companies that are not risk retention captive insurance companies to apply to the Insurance Commissioner for certificates of exemption from examination after meeting certain requirements. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Maddy summarySR 15 is a Senate Resolution requesting the State Health Planning and Development Agency and Department of Health to hold public meetings for all certificate of need applications involving proposed special treatment facilities (like mental health centers) in neighborhoods with community associations. Currently, smaller applications under administrative review skip public meetings unless requested, but this resolution seeks to require them for all such facilities in areas with community groups. It also asks the agencies to adopt rules requiring applicants to appear before neighborhood boards during the application process. This is a procedural request, not a new law, aimed at increasing community input into healthcare facility approvals.

Maddy summarySCR 27 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the Hawaii Auditor to audit the Department of Education's capital improvement project finances. It specifically asks for an examination of how the Department spends funds on school repairs and renovations since 2021, including project prioritization. The audit aims to assess fiscal accountability for the $2 billion in unspent capital funds as of January 2024. The Auditor must submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature by October 2025. This procedural resolution does not create new law but seeks greater transparency in how school facility funds are managed.