Sen. Joy San Buenaventura

Maddy summarySB 2494 establishes a 9-year time limit for prosecuting bribery offenses, replacing the current statute of limitations. This bill directly affects individuals accused of bribery and prosecutors handling such cases, as it sets a specific window for bringing charges. The key provision is the fixed 9-year period from the date of the alleged offense, ensuring all bribery cases must be filed within this timeframe. The bill is currently under review by the Public Safety and Municipal Affairs committee, with a scheduled hearing.

Establishes the Banyan Drive Community Development District within the Hawaii Community Development Authority. Establishes the Banyan Drive Community Development District Special Fund. Specifies the powers and duties of HCDA as it relates to the District. Amends the composition of HCDA to include representatives of the District, Chairperson of the Banyan Drive Hawaii Redevelopment Agency, and a lineal descendant of the Waiakea Ahupuaa. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Authorizes the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to be used to provide any and all forms of financing for the development, pre‑development, construction, acquisition, preservation, and substantial rehabilitation of rental housing units. Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to give preference to certain projects with perpetual affordability commitments, that are revenue neutral, and to applicants with a demonstrated history of early repayment to the RHRF. Authorizes HHFDC to use moneys in the RHRF that have been reserved or awarded by HHFDC for specific projects but have not yet been encumbered to fund other rental housing projects subject to certain conditions. Authorizes HHFDC to secure a line of credit or other instrument of indebtedness to provide liquidity for the RHRF under certain conditions. Repeals 6/30/2030. (CD1)

Extends the sunset date of the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund Equity Pilot Program pursuant to Act 92, SLH 2023, from June 30, 2028, to June 30, 2031. Requires any equity purchased by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation under the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund Equity Pilot Program to be in a for-sale housing development project within a transit-oriented development zone. Authorizes HHFDC to spend up to $20,000,000 from the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund for the Equity Pilot Program established pursuant to Act 92, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023. (CD2)

Maddy summarySB 2175 prohibits the sale, offering for sale, or distribution of certain disposable electronic smoking devices beginning January 1, 2027. This law directly affects retailers who sell these devices and consumers who purchase them. The key provision sets a specific date (January 1, 2027) for the ban to take effect. The bill focuses on restricting the availability of these devices through a clear sales prohibition.

Clarifies that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who meet an intermediate care facility or nursing facility level of care shall not be denied residency in a certified community care foster family home solely because of their disability or enrollment in a specific Medicaid waiver program. Requires the Department of Health to provide technical assistance and training to community care foster family homes. (CD1)

Requires the Department of Human Services to adjust the minimum certification periods for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits households, participate in the Elderly Simplified Application Project, and report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2028. (CD1)

Establishes a two-year Family Resilience Pilot Program within the Office of Wellness and Resilience. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds to be expended by the Department of Human Services for the pilot program. Sunsets 6/30/2028. (CD1)

Maddy summarySB 2135 creates a new criminal offense for sharing someone's intimate images without their consent. It directly affects individuals whose private photos or videos are distributed online or otherwise without permission. The key provision defines this act as a punishable offense, establishing legal consequences for perpetrators. The bill is currently pending before the LBT committee, having been referred for review after its initial introduction.

Amends the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit (tax credit) by, beginning for costs incurred after 12/31/2025, providing an additional credit to qualified productions with a workforce of at least eighty percent local hires; requiring each taxpayer claiming the tax credit to submit an independent third-party certification verifying certain information to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; increasing the per-production cap amount to $20,000,000 and excluding qualified productions that incur at least $60,000,000 of qualified production costs from the per-production cap amount; changing the aggregate cap amount to $60,000,000; providing that, beginning for costs incurred after 12/31/2023, if the total amount of tax credits claimed in a year is less than the aggregate cap amount, the cap for the subsequent year shall be increased by the unclaimed amount; defining "streaming platform" and amending the definition of "qualified production" to include certain streaming productions; and extending the sunset date of the tax credit to 1/1/2038. Exempts from the general excise tax certain amounts received by a motion picture project employer from a client company that represent reimbursements for costs paid or incurred by the client company for reasonable employment-related costs of motion picture project workers or loan-out companies. (CD1)