Sen. Rachele Lamosao

Establishes the position of Ka Papahana Kaiapuni Program Complex Area Superintendent. Requires that at least one at-large member of the Board of Education be a proficient Hawaiian speaking educator, practitioner, or scholar of Hawaiian studies or the Hawaiian language, to be selected from a list of three nominees submitted by the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Clarifies the purpose and objective of the Hawaiian Language Medium Education Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Maddy summaryHB 1353 appropriates state funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) to purchase a specific parcel of land identified by tax map key 9-1-013-025. This bill directly affects the DHHL program and its beneficiaries, who are Native Hawaiians eligible for home ownership or leasehold rights on Hawaiian Home Lands. The key provision is the allocation of funds for this land acquisition, which would expand DHHL's land holdings. The bill is currently carried over to the 2026 Regular Session after being introduced and passed first reading in January 2025.

Establishes the Food and Beverage Supply Chain Resiliency Income Tax Credit to be administered by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Department of Taxation. Requires DBEDT to establish expedited permitting processes for food and beverage supply chain activities. Applicable to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

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)

Authorizes the Director of Finance to issue general obligation bonds and appropriates funds to finance capital improvement projects for irrigation systems in the State. Converts the means of financing from the Irrigation System Revolving Fund to the general fund for certain positions in the Department of Agriculture. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires the Office of the Ombudsman to publish an annual report on its website that identifies the number and nature of complaints that it receives regarding the Child Welfare Services Branch of the Department of Human Services. Requires the Child Welfare Services Branch to provide notification to certain parties that complaints can also be filed with the Office of the Ombudsman. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Maddy summaryHB 554 designates the second new moon after the winter solstice each year as the state's official Lunar New Year observance, effective July 1, 3000. This is a symbolic designation with no near-term impact, as the effective date is over 995 years in the future. The bill does not change current holiday schedules or create new paid leave. It is a procedural measure to formally recognize Lunar New Year as a state holiday on a distant date. The committee recommended passage with amendments, but the bill will not affect any current or foreseeable legislative or policy implementation.

Maddy summaryHB 1463 requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study whether establishing a state lottery is feasible. The bill does not create a lottery or affect specific groups; it only mandates a study on the possibility. Key provisions include directing the department to analyze potential revenue, operational requirements, and public impact. The study would inform future decisions but does not authorize a lottery itself. The bill is currently pending in the 2026 session after being introduced in 2025.

Requires the Department of Health to post on its website an easily understandable, searchable, and sortable list of all state-licensed care facilities including information on their licenses and inspections. Requires that the list be updated within five days of any change in its information.

Maddy summaryHB 665 establishes a data sharing and governance working group within the state's Office of Enterprise Technology Services to develop policies and best practices for sharing government data across agencies. The bill appropriates funds to support this group's work, which will help state agencies improve how they handle and share data. This bill directly affects state agencies that manage public data, as it creates a formal process for coordinating data sharing efforts. The key mechanism is the creation of this dedicated working group with dedicated funding, rather than changing existing data laws.