Sen. Joy San Buenaventura

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 67) urges Maui County, in coordination with the Maui Emergency Management Agency, Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, and the Department of Defense, to conduct real-time wildfire and disaster drills involving the Maui community. It specifically calls for community members to participate in planning, executing, and evaluating these drills to improve emergency response preparedness. The resolution emphasizes that such drills should familiarize residents with evacuation protocols and create opportunities for immediate feedback to refine response strategies. It does not create new law but formally encourages these agencies to adopt community-engaged disaster training practices.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 157 requests the Department of Agriculture to designate Kunia, Leilehua Plateau, and Poamoho as the Central Oahu Agricultural Corridor. It also asks the department to create a prioritized list of agricultural infrastructure projects (like roads and water systems) based on factors including cost, projected production increases, and land use plans. The resolution requires the department to submit a report with this list and recommendations to the Legislature by January 2026. This resolution directly affects farmers and landowners in the designated corridor areas by guiding future infrastructure investments to support Hawaii's goal of increasing local food production.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 76 urges the Governor and state agencies to integrate Indigenous Hawaiian knowledge (including traditional ecological practices and the Hawaiian language) into climate policy decisions. It specifically calls for this integration in three areas: climate adaptation (adjusting to climate impacts), climate mitigation (reducing emissions), and climate resiliency (building community strength). The resolution does not create new laws but encourages the state to develop goals that meaningfully include Indigenous knowledge as part of a "just climate future." It directly addresses state leadership and agencies responsible for climate planning.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 38) supports the Native Hawaiian Intellectual Property Working Group's request for additional resources and a timeline extension for fiscal year 2025-2026. The Working Group, established to protect Native Hawaiian cultural intellectual property through community consultations, needs more time and funding to develop solutions preventing cultural appropriation. The resolution expresses legislative support for their work without creating new legal requirements.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 93 requests the City and County of Honolulu to display purple lights at City Hall on August 7 each year to honor National Purple Heart Day. This symbolic resolution commemorates military service members who were injured or killed in action, recognizing their sacrifices. It does not impose legal requirements on the city but asks for a visible annual tribute. The resolution is non-binding and focuses solely on honoring Purple Heart recipients through a public display.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 96) affirms Hawaii's commitment to prioritizing marine ecosystem restoration as a strategy to meet state climate goals, including achieving 100% renewable energy by 2045 and reducing emissions 50% below 2005 levels by 2030. It specifically calls for strengthening carbon accounting methods to better measure emissions reductions from marine restoration projects and supports aligning such projects with renewable energy and conservation initiatives. The resolution directs state agencies (including the Board of Land and Natural Resources and Energy Office) to advance these efforts but does not create new laws or funding. It addresses statewide climate vulnerabilities, such as coastal flooding risks threatening infrastructure, cultural sites, and $19 billion in economic assets. As a procedural resolution, it serves as a policy statement rather than a binding mandate.

Maddy summarySCR 89 is a resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Agriculture to form a working group that will develop an educational pathway at University of Hawaii community colleges for meat processing careers. It directly affects students seeking entry-level jobs in meat processing and addresses a current workforce shortage that limits local ranchers' ability to process and sell their products. The working group must create a curriculum covering food safety, animal handling, processing techniques, regulatory compliance, hands-on training, and sustainable practices. The goal is to equip students with skills needed to support Hawaii's agricultural industry and reduce reliance on imported meat.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 155 requests 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 examine how the office manages workforce pipelines from pre-school through college, aligns academic programs with Hawaii's job market needs, coordinates transfer agreements between universities and community colleges, and measures program success through performance metrics. This resolution does not create new laws but directs the Auditor to assess existing practices and provide recommendations for improvement. The findings must be reported to the Legislature by late 2025.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 72) requests Hawaii's Department of Agriculture to form a working group that will develop an educational pathway at University of Hawaii Community Colleges for meat processing careers. The resolution directly affects students seeking entry-level jobs in meat processing and local meat processing facilities facing workforce shortages. The working group must create curriculum covering food safety, processing techniques, regulatory compliance, sustainability practices, and hands-on training to equip students with skills needed by the industry. The resolution does not create the program itself but asks for a plan to establish it, aligning with state goals for food security and local job growth.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 68) requests Hawaii's counties to allow using a portion of general excise and fuel tax revenue - collected by counties - to maintain privately-owned public roads. It specifically targets roads open to the public (used by emergency vehicles, school buses, and general traffic) that deteriorate due to public use but lack dedicated maintenance funding. The resolution does not create new taxes or mandate county action; it asks counties to authorize existing tax funds for road upkeep on these private roads. This aims to improve public safety and transportation on roads currently burdened with repair costs for private owners.