Sen. Rachele Lamosao

Requires a statewide permitting data standard developed collaboratively by the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, county permitting agencies, and the Chief Data Officer. Requires each county to publish monthly updates of building and civil engineering permit data in accordance with that standard. Requires a report to the Legislature. (CD1)

Prohibits vehicles from driving on the shoulder of a roadway, except in certain circumstances. Specifies that a vehicle with an expired registration of one or more years may be subject to impoundment. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Increases the fine amount for owners of out-of-state motor vehicles who fail to register the vehicle in the State. Establishes minimum and maximum statutory penalties for violations relating to the use of high occupancy vehicle lanes. (CD1)

Maddy summaryThis bill encourages the United States Navy to take responsibility for removing octocoral and other invasive species from Pearl Harbor waters, including West Loch, Middle Loch, and East Loch. It urges the Navy to allocate resources to eradicate these invasive organisms, which grow rapidly and harm local marine ecosystems by reducing fish diversity, and to maintain and secure the harbor shoreline. The resolution is a formal request rather than a mandatory law, asking the Navy to address these environmental concerns as the principal caretaker of Pearl Harbor.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution encourages the United States Navy to take responsibility for removing invasive octocoral and other non-native species from the waters of Pearl Harbor, including West Loch, Middle Loch, and East Loch. The bill highlights that octocoral spreads rapidly and harms local marine ecosystems by reducing fish diversity, noting that the Navy has already detected these species in the area. It urges the Navy to allocate resources for both eradicating invasive species and maintaining the shoreline, with a certified copy of the resolution to be sent to the Secretary of the Navy. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses the state's preference rather than imposing mandatory requirements.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish automatic adjustment mechanisms to address economic factors sua sponte or on application by a water carrier. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish a water carrier inflationary cost index automatic adjustment mechanism. Beginning 7/1/2026, through 6/30/2029, requires the Public Utilities Commission to apply automatic adjustment mechanisms. Beginning 7/1/2029, through 6/30/2033, authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to apply automatic adjustment mechanisms. Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to waive or exempt any water carrier from any requirement under the Hawaii Water Carrier Act. Sunsets 7/1/2033. (CD1)

Establishes the Hawaii Leadership Awards Program to honor individuals who have made considerable and outstanding contributions to the State and serve as inspirations to others. (HD1)

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges Hawaii's Department of Education to officially recognize competitive cheerleading as a Title IX sport, which would grant high school cheer athletes equal athletic opportunities and access to resources like certified coaching and safety oversight. The bill directs the Department of Education to develop guidelines and safety standards in collaboration with the Hawaii High School Athletic Association to meet federal Title IX criteria for classifying cheerleading as an interscholastic sport. This resolution applies specifically to high school competitive cheerleading programs in Hawaii and aims to align the state's policies with federal requirements for gender equity in athletics.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate concurrent resolution that urges Hawaii's Department of Education to officially recognize competitive cheerleading as a Title IX sport. It directly affects high school students, coaches, and athletic programs by requesting the state education department to develop guidelines and safety standards that align with federal Title IX requirements for gender equity in athletics. The resolution asks the Department of Education to work with the Hawaii High School Athletic Association to establish criteria for classifying cheerleading as a varsity sport, ensuring athletes receive equitable access to resources like certified coaching, training support, and facilities. As a non-binding resolution, it does not mandate immediate changes but serves as a formal recommendation to state officials to evaluate and potentially adopt cheerleading as a recognized interscholastic sport.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Transportation, working with the Department of Education, to evaluate and recommend improvements to the licensing, training, and recruitment process for school bus drivers. The bill aims to address driver shortages that cause route cancellations and transportation disruptions, particularly affecting students in rural and neighbor island communities. The evaluation will examine barriers such as testing availability, interagency coordination, and workforce pipeline issues, with a deadline to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Department of Transportation to work with the Department of Education to study how to improve the process for hiring and training school bus drivers in Hawaii. The bill addresses ongoing shortages of qualified drivers that have led to canceled routes and disrupted transportation for students, particularly in rural and neighbor island communities. The requested evaluation will examine barriers to commercial driver's licensing, coordination between agencies and private contractors, and strategies to expand testing and training access. The departments must consult with various stakeholders and submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 regular session.