Sen. Rachele Lamosao

Maddy summaryHB 913 allocates state funds to create new staff positions within the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources. This bill directly affects the division by enabling it to hire additional personnel for managing aquatic resources. It is a procedural funding measure with no policy changes, solely providing resources for staffing. The bill was introduced on January 21, 2025, and passed its first reading on January 23, 2025.

Adds the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, or the Chairperson's designee, to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

Adds the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission or the Chairperson's designee to the Commission on Water Resource Management. Clarifies that only the five, non-ex-officio members appointed by the Governor are required to have substantial experience in water resource management.

Clarifies that a person who uses deadly force in self-defense does not have a duty to retreat if they are in their dwelling or on their property unless they are the initial aggressor. Repeals statutory language that permits a person to use deadly force at their place of work.

Exempts from the general excise tax amounts received by a nurse entrepreneur for health care-related goods and services purchased under Medicaid, Medicare, or TRICARE.

Exempts the tax collected on the sale of groceries that are eligible under the supplemental nutrition assistance program or special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, regardless of the means of purchase and the program eligibility of the purchaser.

Maddy summaryHB 178 appropriates state funds to establish a new position for a state tea agent at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR). This bill directly affects UH Manoa's CTAHR program by funding a dedicated specialist focused on tea agriculture. The key mechanism is a budget allocation to create this role, supporting research and outreach related to tea cultivation in Hawaii. The bill is procedural, focusing on funding a specific staff position rather than changing laws.

Maddy summaryHB 311 would exempt certain medical services, including dental care, from the state's general excise tax. This directly affects healthcare providers who currently apply this tax to those services. The bill's key provision establishes a new tax exemption for covered medical services, removing the tax obligation for providers offering these specific care types.

Requires county permitting agencies to establish and fill positions exclusively to process permit applications submitted for state projects. Appropriates funds.

Requires a trigger lock for all firearms purchases from a licensed dealer. Requires licensed firearms dealers to provide purchasers with notice regarding the law on firearms storage. Amends the requirements for the secure storage of firearms and establishes fines for violations. Amends the offense of criminally negligent storage of a firearm.