Sen. Joy San Buenaventura

Maddy summarySCR 117 is a concurrent resolution urging the Hawaii Department of Education to collaborate with the Department of Transportation, Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee, and the County of Hawaii to conduct a safety inventory of school bus stops on Hawaii Island. It directs this collaboration to assess specific safety factors - including sidewalks, lighting, traffic patterns, and hazards - at stops used by students traveling to school, and to develop improvement strategies. The resolution requires a report with prioritized safety recommendations to be submitted to the Legislature by January 2026. This affects Hawaii Island students, particularly those in rural or underserved areas relying on school transportation.

Maddy summarySB 299 proposes to appropriate funds for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program. This bill is designed to provide financial assistance to healthcare professionals by helping them repay their education loans. The funding aims to support the healthcare workforce by making loan repayment programs available to eligible professionals.

Maddy summaryThis is a concurrent resolution (not a bill), passed by Hawaii's Senate and House, expressing support for Taiwan's international engagement. It endorses Taiwan's participation as an observer in four international organizations: the World Health Organization (WHO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The resolution also supports U.S.-Taiwan trade negotiations under the 21st Century Trade Initiative and commemorates Hawaii's 32-year sister-state relationship with Taiwan, including mutual cooperation in tourism, education, and disaster response (like Taiwan's $500,000 aid after the 2023 Maui wildfires). The resolution urges U.S. officials to advance these positions and is addressed to the President, Congress, and U.S. Secretary of State.

Maddy summarySB 298 proposes to appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services. These funds are specifically designated to increase financial support for Medicaid in-home services, directly affecting individuals who receive these services. The bill aims to enhance the resources available for in-home care through Medicaid. It is currently set to become effective on July 1, 3000.

Maddy summarySCR 70 requests Hawaii's Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to establish a Pharmacy Reimbursement Working Group. The group will include pharmacy representatives, insurers, and health officials to study why pharmacists providing clinical services (like medication management and immunizations) often lack insurance reimbursement. It will draft proposed legislation for the 2026 session to require health insurers to cover these services. The resolution aims to address reimbursement gaps that limit pharmacists' ability to expand care in underserved communities. This is a preparatory step; the bill itself does not change current law.

Allows an activity or operation that is permitted or authorized under the ocean recreation and coastal areas program chapter and renewed within twelve months preceding the initiation of proceedings to determine whether the activity or operation is subject to environmental review, to continue operation for one year while the appropriate agency makes the determination and conducts any necessary environmental review. Allows a person with oversight of the activity or operation to renew the appropriate permits while under the environmental review process. Sunsets 6/30/2027. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Maddy summarySCR 16 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Health to form a task force focused on developing minimum professional standards for community health worker (CHW) training programs. The task force must include representatives from each county's CHWs, health institutions (like the Hawaii Public Health Institute), housing authorities, healthcare associations, and community organizations. The resolution requires the task force to submit a report with recommendations to the Legislature by January 2026, no later than 20 days before the 2026 legislative session begins. This bill directly affects CHW training programs across Hawaii by initiating a process to establish standardized training requirements.

Maddy summarySCR 69 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the State Health Planning and Development Agency to convene a Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Working Group. The group will evaluate policies to lower drug costs for patients and improve healthcare access, focusing on four key areas: which state agency should oversee PBMs, required reporting, fair pharmacy audit procedures, and protections against under-reimbursed medications. The working group will include representatives from insurance, pharmacy associations, state agencies, and pharmacy benefit managers. It must submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2026, but the resolution itself does not enact new laws.

Maddy summarySCR 138 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the State Auditor to conduct a management and performance audit of the University of Hawaii's Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy. The audit will specifically examine Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education (workforce pipelines from pre-K to post-secondary), alignment of academic programs with state job demands, and transfer agreements between four-year universities and community colleges. It requires the Auditor to assess resource allocation, provide improvement recommendations, and submit findings to the Legislature by early 2026. This resolution does not change policies but seeks to evaluate existing academic strategy operations for transparency and efficiency.

Maddy summarySCR 22 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HEMA) to work with county emergency agencies to create outreach programs specifically for kupuna (Hawaiian elders aged 65+). It directly affects Hawaii's elderly population, which makes up over 19% of the state's residents and faces higher vulnerability during disasters due to health limitations and limited access to technology. The resolution asks HEMA to collaborate with city and county emergency management agencies to develop initiatives that inform kupuna about emergency preparedness. This is a procedural request, not a law, focused on improving communication and safety resources for an at-risk group.