Sen. Joy San Buenaventura

Maddy summarySCR 94 is a concurrent resolution urging Hawaii's Department of Agriculture and Maui County's Agriculture Department to address axis deer overpopulation. It specifically calls for making USDA-certified meat inspections more accessible and affordable for local hunters who want to process and distribute venison. The resolution also requests the creation of a joint task force to develop a program for processing locally-hunted deer meat and distributing it to the community, with a report due by November 2025. This resolution directly affects Maui residents, local hunters, and the state's agricultural departments, focusing on practical steps to utilize deer as a food source while managing overpopulation.

Maddy summarySCR 134 is a non-binding resolution urging Hawaii's Department of Education (DOE) to prepare a detailed report on school meal costs. The bill requires the DOE to break down expenses (like ingredients, operations, and distribution) and provide meal statistics (full-price, reduced-price, free meals) for the 2024-2025 and future school years. This aims to increase transparency about meal production costs, which the DOE claims are $9.00 per meal, and prevent unnecessary price hikes like the proposed increase from $2.50 to $4.75 per meal. The report must be submitted to the Legislature by 2026.

Beginning 7/1/2027, requires the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to contract its review of proposed state projects and projects affecting historic properties to third-party consultants under certain circumstances. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to publish a draft of its proposed rules and later present its proposed final rules to the Board of Land and Natural Resources. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 7/1/2032. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Requires that lands within the agricultural district with class B or C soils that have solar or wind energy facilities must also obtain certification from the Department of Agriculture that the lands are also used for a farming operation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Maddy summarySCR 90 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) to assume responsibility for the routine maintenance and repair of the Kohala Ditch. This 26-mile irrigation system, built in 1906, supplies over five million gallons of water daily to farmers and ranchers in North Kohala, who have faced significantly higher costs and reduced production after a 2021 rockslide damaged the system. The resolution requires the ADC to develop a maintenance plan with community input and submit annual reports detailing repairs, system conditions, and recommendations to the Legislature. The bill does not allocate new funds but seeks to leverage the ADC’s existing mandate to support agricultural infrastructure and local food production.

Maddy summarySCR 139 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) to designate Kunia, Leilehua Plateau, and Poamoho as the Central Oahu Agricultural Corridor. It also asks the ADC to create a prioritized list of agricultural infrastructure projects based on factors like potential production increases, costs, county plans, and land use. The resolution further requests the Department of Transportation to implement specific traffic safety measures (35 mph speed limit and "No Passing" zones) along designated roads. This resolution directs the ADC to submit a report with its findings and recommendations to the legislature by January 2026. The request aims to support Hawaii’s goal of doubling local food production by 2030.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SCR 63) is a concurrent resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to study creating a "Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award Program" for craftspersons. It asks the department to research adapting France's long-standing "Meilleur Ouvrier de France" award system, including identifying key industries, cost-effective implementation, and public nomination processes. The study must include industry input and result in a report with recommendations for the 2026 legislative session. The bill does not create the award program itself but only requests an analysis of how to establish it. It directly affects the Department of Labor and would potentially impact Hawaii's craft and trade workers if the program is later adopted.

Maddy summarySCR 73 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting Hawaii's Office of Wellness and Resilience to develop a report on developmental needs of children born during the 2019-2025 COVID-19 pandemic. The report must analyze pandemic-related developmental delays (including communication, emotional regulation, and social skills) and compounded trauma from events like the 2023 Maui wildfires, particularly affecting children aged 0-5. It requires specific sections on trauma-informed care strategies, existing support services across state agencies, wildfire recovery efforts, and recommendations for educators facing secondary trauma. The Office must submit the report by December 2026.

Maddy summarySCR 10 is a non-binding resolution urging Hawaii's State Health Planning and Development Agency to create a working group focused on health insurance prior authorization reforms. The working group would include representatives from insurance companies, healthcare providers, patients, and employers to study specific issues like reducing delays (e.g., setting 24-hour response times for urgent care), extending authorization validity for chronic conditions, and improving transparency in approval processes. It directly affects patients facing care delays, healthcare providers burdened by administrative tasks, and insurers requiring prior authorization. The resolution does not change laws but requests the group submit recommendations to the Legislature by late 2025.

Maddy summarySCR 110 is a resolution requesting the Hawaii State Energy Office to study whether the state can establish a green bonds program. The study would evaluate best practices for managing such a program, identify clean energy projects that could benefit from it, and explore partnerships with other agencies and private businesses. The Energy Office must submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by January 2026. This resolution does not create a new program but asks for a feasibility assessment to inform future decisions.