Sen. Rachele Lamosao

Maddy summaryHB 558 proposes creating a Nuclear Energy Task Force within Hawaii's State Energy Office. The bill requires this task force to produce reports for the state Legislature, focusing on nuclear energy considerations. This is a procedural bill that establishes a study group (not a policy change) and directly affects Hawaii's energy office and legislative oversight process. It is currently pending in the 2026 session.

Requires the Department of Education to authorize and facilitate complex areas or individual public schools to form their own farm to school meal programs through partnerships to meet the local farm to school meal goal of thirty per cent of food served in the school to consist of locally sourced products by 2030. Allows the Department of Education to establish a plant-based meal program no later than the 2026-2027 school year. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Provides that leaders of nonprofit organizations shall be exempt from county liquor commission criminal history check requirements for license applicants.

Amends the definition of "eligible business activity" for enterprise zone program purposes to include retail sales of tangible personal property manufactured and sold in the enterprise zone that is to be used or consumed by the purchaser and not for resale, the processing of value-added agricultural products grown within an enterprise zone, and the provision of professional services by health care professionals in health care related sectors.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires that each Department of Education public school student earn 2 credits in Hawaiian language as a graduation requirement. Establishes a 2-year pilot program for Hawaiian language instruction at a central Oahu elementary school and Nanakuli High and Intermediate School. Appropriates funds.

Establishes a tax credit for landlords who charge below-market rent and assesses an additional privilege tax on landowners who charge above-market rent, under certain conditions. Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to determine median market rent for rental units by geographic area for the purposes of the below-market rent tax credit and above-market rent tax.

Establishes certain minimum registered nurse-to-patient staffing requirements for hospitals. No later than 9/1/2025, requires hospitals to create hospital registered nurse staffing committees. Beginning 7/1/2026, requires hospitals to implement registered nurse staffing plans. Appropriates funds.

Maddy summaryHB 55 would change the legal classification of certain fireworks violations, converting them from misdemeanors (less serious offenses) to class C felonies (more serious criminal charges). This bill directly affects individuals who possess or use specific types of fireworks in ways prohibited by current law. The key provision is the upgrade in penalties for these specific violations, meaning offenders could face significantly harsher criminal consequences. The bill is currently pending in the legislature, having been carried over to the next session.

Maddy summaryHB 123 exempts routine fisheries operations and management activities from state environmental review requirements. This directly affects fishing businesses, state fisheries agencies, and any entities managing day-to-day fishing activities within the state. The bill removes the need for environmental assessments for standard operations, such as fishing gear deployment or stock management. It does not apply to major construction projects or large-scale developments that typically trigger separate environmental reviews.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture for agricultural biosecurity and the prevention, detection, and control of invasive species in Maui County. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)