Sen. Joy San Buenaventura

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to create a coordinated support system for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries facing homelessness or extremely low income. The bill directs these agencies to assess the number of affected individuals, identify service gaps, and explore options like transitional housing models on trust lands. It also mandates the development of a report within a year outlining funding sources, partnership opportunities, and program safeguards while ensuring compliance with the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. This measure focuses on improving collaboration between agencies to provide more comprehensive assistance to this specific population without changing existing laws.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Education to reissue Requests for Proposals for contractors and prequalified small contractors to continue the Future Schools Now program, which uses job order contracting to repair school facilities more quickly and efficiently than traditional methods. The bill directly affects the state's public school system by ensuring uninterrupted access to construction services for addressing a backlog of over $1 billion in deferred maintenance needs across aging school facilities. Key provisions ask the department to initiate new procurement contracts in 2026 before existing agreements expire, maintain the use of job order contracting for accelerated repairs, and submit a report to the Legislature by early 2027 detailing the program's performance metrics.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Education to implement a pilot program offering micro-credentials to licensed teachers in public and charter schools. The program, developed with the National Education Association and the Hawaii State Teachers Association, provides competency-based professional development where members attend at no cost and non-members pay a $75 fee. Key provisions require the Department to post the program on its professional development website, allow teachers to earn professional development credits upon completion, and have the Hawaii State Teachers Association assist with outreach and verification. The resolution also mandates that the Department submit a report to the Legislature by early 2027 detailing participation rates, educator feedback, and recommendations for future expansion.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the State Auditor to conduct a comprehensive performance and financial audit of the Department of Education's capital improvement project backlog. The audit will examine the status of all pending school construction and renovation projects, including their funding levels, timelines, cost estimates, and any delays or administrative issues. The Auditor is instructed to provide a detailed report with recommendations to the Legislature by late 2026, which will help policymakers understand the scale of deferred maintenance and plan future investments. This measure directly affects the Department of Education, the Office of the Auditor, and state taxpayers by seeking greater transparency over public infrastructure spending.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution urges Hawaii state agencies to form a working group to explore ways to protect residents from climate change impacts on insurance availability and costs. The bill directs the Insurance Division and Attorney General to assess insurance exposure to extreme weather, identify recovery mechanisms, and analyze legal options to seek financial recovery from responsible parties like fossil fuel companies. The proposed working group would include state officials, legislators, and representatives from insurance and relief funds to develop practical solutions for maintaining affordable property coverage.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution creates a joint legislative working group to study and design a statewide mattress stewardship program in Hawaii. The group will include state officials, county representatives, and industry stakeholders to evaluate how to manage discarded mattresses and reduce landfill waste. Members will examine collection systems, recycling options, funding methods, and rules for manufacturers and retailers to handle end-of-life mattresses. The working group must submit its findings and any proposed legislation to the Legislature by late 2026 for potential implementation in 2027.

Maddy summarySCR 19 is a concurrent resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to collaborate with the Department of Education and State Public Charter School Commission to create a student-led coral stewardship program. The program would focus on educating students and the public about reef-safe sunscreen practices (avoiding chemicals like oxybenzone that harm coral) through voluntary, non-enforcement activities like student outreach and educational materials. It specifically aims to engage students from public charter schools with existing marine stewardship programs, such as West Hawai‘i Explorations Academy. DLNR must report to the legislature by early 2027 on collaborative efforts and any recommendations for advancing reef protection.

Establishes the right of a person to record law enforcement activities. Establishes a private right of action for any violation of the right to record law enforcement activities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes the procedure that a circuit court shall follow upon the reversal or vacation of a person's judgment of conviction on grounds consistent with innocence, and where the charges were dismissed. Requires the State to pay, through a warrant for payment issued by the Comptroller, advance compensation to any petitioner who was convicted in a court of the State, imprisoned for at least one year, and whose judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated, or was pardoned, on grounds consistent with innocence. Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to immediately notify the Department of Human Services so the Department of Human Services may assign a case manager to a petitioner upon the petitioner's release. Requires the State to provide medical coverage to a person for a certain duration upon the reversal or vacation of the person's judgment of conviction on grounds consistent with innocence and where the charges were dismissed. Provides that the Judiciary and Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall retain jurisdiction over the person for the purposes of effectuating this process. Authorizes the State to seek reimbursement from the applicable county for any losses incurred by the State pursuant to this process. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to submit an annual report to the Legislature. Clarifies eligibility to seek compensation for persons whose judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated, or who were pardoned, on grounds consistent with innocence, and where the charges were dismissed. Shifts the burden of proof to the State to prove by a preponderance of evidence that the reversal or vacation of the judgment of conviction for a petitioner, or the pardoning of the petitioner, was inconsistent with innocence. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Maddy summarySB 3055 makes it illegal to falsely pose as a union representative to employees. The bill directly affects individuals who impersonate union officials, such as those falsely claiming authority to negotiate or represent workers. It creates a legal path for affected employees or organizations to sue impersonators and imposes penalties, including fines. This policy change clarifies that deceptive impersonation is a civil violation, not just a workplace issue.