Sen. Joy San Buenaventura

Maddy summarySB 1174 appropriates funds for a temporary full-time archaeologist position within the Department of Land and Natural Resources. It directly affects the department by enabling them to hire one dedicated staff member focused on historic preservation work. The bill provides specific funding for this single position and does not establish new policies or regulations. As a funding measure, it is procedural and does not alter existing historic preservation laws or impact other entities.

Maddy summarySB 1223 requires the Department of Education to create a pilot program teaching water safety skills to public school students, funded through state appropriations. The program must be based on established safety standards and will operate in select schools during its pilot phase. This bill directly affects K-12 students in participating school districts by integrating water safety education into their curriculum. The key provision is the dedicated state funding to develop and implement this standards-based pilot program.

Requires the Department of Transportation or appropriate county department when disposing of a deceased cat or dog from a public roadway to scan the animal for a microchip, record certain information, and report that information to the appropriate county animal services or animal service contractors. Appropriates funds.

Prohibits the sale of geolocation information and internet browser information without consent. Prohibits the sale of data collected through eavesdropping or through an application operating in the background of a device that uses the device's microphone.

Establishes within the Department of Agriculture the Hawaii Agricultural Transportation Assistance Program, to consist of a reimbursement program and grant program, to assist certain farmers and livestock producers with transportation costs for agricultural products, inputs, supplies, and production and distribution of agricultural commodities. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Establishes a Teacher Workforce Housing Stipend Program to support teacher retention at public and charter schools classified as rural and underserved. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Establishes a Journalistic Ethics Commission within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Establishes a Journalistic Code of Ethics. Requires news media outlets to provide training in the ethics of journalism to journalists and editors in their employ. Establishes a Journalistic Ethics Review Board to be administratively attached to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Requires the Journalistic Ethics Review Board to handle complaints and appeals regarding violations of the Journalistic Code of Ethics. Requires the Journalistic Ethics Commission to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Establishes penalties for violations. Requires the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii to conduct an analysis of the journalism program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Social Sciences. Requires the Board of Regents to report to the Legislature.

Requires retirants rehired as teachers or administrators in teacher shortage areas or in difficult-to-fill positions to be paid at least the minimum salary for their experience and qualifications. Prohibits rehired retirants from receiving additional employment benefits. Directs the Department of Education to adopt rules to identify teacher shortage areas and difficult-to-fill positions.

Establishes an Advisory Committee convened by the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Health to inventory lands owned by the United States government which may be reasonably transferred back to the State and to make recommendations on relevant land conditions and appropriateness of potential transfer. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Maddy summarySB 1190 provides funding to the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to support its work controlling and eradicating invasive species across the state. This bill directly affects the Council and its ability to implement programs targeting harmful non-native plants and animals threatening Hawaii's ecosystems. The key provision is the allocation of state funds to advance these conservation efforts, without changing existing laws or creating new regulations.