Sen. Joy San Buenaventura

Clarifies the registration process for beekeepers with the Department of Agriculture. Requires the Department of Agriculture to provide guidance and support to registered beekeepers to help beekeepers adhere to certain industry standards and best management practices. Establishes a limitation on liability for any registered beekeeper who follows industry standards and best practices. Appropriates funds. Takes effect 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Maddy summarySCR 9 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the Chief Justice of Hawaii's Supreme Court to establish a working group to study reforms or elimination of the Land Court. The working group would include representatives from the Judiciary, Hawaii Legislature, Board of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii State Bar Association, and title companies. It aims to address concerns about the Land Court's delays, its handling of lost title certificates, and backlogs in property title processing. The group must submit recommendations, including potential legislation, to the Legislature by early 2026. This resolution does not change laws but initiates a review process.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 5 (SR 5) requests the Chief Justice of Hawaii’s Supreme Court to establish a working group to study whether to reform or eliminate the Land Court. The resolution cites the Land Court’s archaic processes, delays in simple property transactions, lack of physical title certificates for owners, and backlogs at the Bureau of Conveyances as key concerns. The working group would include members from the Judiciary, Legislature, Board of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii State Bar Association, and title companies, with a report due by early 2026. This resolution does not enact changes but initiates a review process to address systemic issues in land title handling.

Establishes an Agricultural Workforce Housing Working Group within the Department of Agriculture to address the shortage and challenges of agricultural workforce housing in the State. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

Establishes a criminal penalty and monetary fines for aquarium fishing violations. Clarifies that each fish or aquatic life specimen taken in violation of certain fishing laws regarding aquarium fish and the possession and use of prohibited explosives, electrofishing devices, and poisonous substances constitutes a separate offense.

Establishes the Conventional Farming Grant Program to be administered by the Department of Agriculture to provide grants to small and midsized farmers who practice conventional farming. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Restricts civil asset forfeiture to cases involving the commission of a felony offense where the property owner has been convicted of an underlying felony offense. Directs forfeiture proceeds to the general fund. Amends the allowable expenses for moneys in the Criminal Forfeiture Fund. Requires the Attorney General to adopt rules necessary to carry out the purpose of the Hawaii Omnibus Criminal Forfeiture Act. Amends the deadline for the Attorney General to report to the Legislature on the use of the Hawaii Omnibus Criminal Forfeiture Act. Limits the transfer of certain forfeiture property to federal agencies. Establishes records requirements.

Establishes a Universal Representation in Immigration Proceedings Program within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Office of Community Services to provide access to legal representation, under certain conditions. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Imposes an excise tax on certain hedge funds failing to dispose of excess single-family residences, escalating over a ten-year period. Imposes a tax on any newly acquired single-family residences by a hedge fund. Makes certain exemptions. Requires the Department of Taxation to establish a certification process to ensure buyers of homes sold by hedge funds are not major investors in residential real estate. Establishes the Housing Down Payment Trust Fund to be administered by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to provide grants to establish new or supplement existing programs that provide down payment assistance to families purchasing homes within the State. Allocates collected tax revenue and penalties paid by hedge funds to the Housing Down Payment Trust Fund. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025.

Beginning 10/1/2025, requires mortuaries, cemeteries, and pre-need funeral authorities that contract to provide cremation services to provide written notice if precious metals are recovered after cremation and to obtain written consent before the sale or recycling of any recovered precious metals. Requires mortuaries, cemeteries, and pre-need funeral authorities that have contracted to provide cremation services to give certain notice of updated terms by 1/1/2026.