Sen. Rachele Lamosao

Maddy summarySB 2935 exempts sales of feminine hygiene products from the general excise tax, meaning manufacturers and retailers selling these items will not pay this tax on the income from those sales. The exemption directly affects businesses that sell products like tampons, pads, and menstrual cups. The bill takes effect on January 30, 2050, and would remove a tax burden currently applied to these essential health products. This change is a specific policy adjustment to the tax code, not a broader health or funding measure.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources and community-based organizations to enter into community co-management agreements concerning state lands by direct negotiation without recourse to public auction. Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to dispose of state land through community co-management agreements. Establishes qualifications for community-based organizations that may enter into community co-management agreements. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Extends for five years certain provisions from Act 19, SLH 2020, and Act 238, SLH 2021, relating to abuse of family or household members, including establishing a petty misdemeanor offense of abuse of family or household members, clarifying penalties for violations, and allowing a deferred acceptance of guilty plea for misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor abuse of family or household members offenses. Effective 6/29/2026.

Establishes a limited right of first refusal for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands with respect to county real property tax sales. Requires advance notice from the counties to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands of qualifying properties. (SD1)

Requires all health carriers to allocate, initially, not less than 6% of the carrier's total medical expenditures to primary care providers, with the percentage increasingly incrementally to 12%. Requires health carriers to pay primary care providers directly, rather than through administrative mechanisms. Places restrictions on downcoding and claim modifications. Requires health carriers to ensure access to primary care in rural areas, including access to Primary Care Access Visits and Community Access Primary Care Sites. Requires Insurance Commissioner to administer requirements established in bill. Requires the Department of Human Services Med-QUEST Division to apply the Act, to the extent permitted by federal law and subject to any federal approvals, to Medicaid managed care organizations. Requires reports. Requires the Auditor to evaluate the impact of the Act on various metrics 3 years after the measure's effective date. Establishes the primary care stabilization special fund.

Establishes a five-year pilot program allowing retirants to be rehired for exempt service for one-year terms under certain circumstances. Provides that retirants employed under the program are excluded from the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund and will not experience an interruption of pension benefits. Requires an employer of a retirant under the program to contribute to the Employees' Retirement System. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to submit a report to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2031. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Establishes the preventive maintenance special fund under the Department of Education to be used exclusively for preventive maintenance of public school facilities. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys.

Maddy summarySB 2880 clarifies that public charter school teachers qualify for the Teacher National Board Certification Incentive Program, which provides financial rewards to educators who earn national board certification. This change directly affects public charter school teachers in the state, removing a previous eligibility barrier for this specific incentive. The bill’s key mechanism is a straightforward clarification in program rules, ensuring charter school teachers can access the same incentives as teachers in traditional public schools. The bill is currently under review by the Education (EDU) committee, with a public hearing scheduled for February 11, 2026.

Establishes the Hanai Memory Network Program within the Executive Office on Aging to create a network of dementia care specialists and support systems to assist individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

Authorizes the Attorney General to represent sports officials in civil proceedings if the sports official has been assaulted or threatened in the course of legally discharging their sports official duties. Makes intentional bodily injury of a sports official engaged in the lawful discharge of the sports official's duties a class B felony. Clarifies that a sports official includes a school or league administrator. Clarifies that a sports official's duties cover sports events at public schools and private schools.