Sen. Joy San Buenaventura

Subjects all nominated, appointed, or elected officers and employees of the State, including members of boards, commissions, and committees; individuals under contract to the State or constitutional convention; and legislators, delegates to a constitutional convention, and justices and judges, and their respective employees, to nepotism prohibitions in the State's Code of Ethics. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires testing of driver license applicants on the dangers that larger motor vehicles present to pedestrians and bicyclists. Requires persons who commit the offense of excessive speeding to pass the driver license examination only if and when those drivers apply for a new driver's license. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to open a docketed proceeding no later than 9/1/2026, to conduct a comprehensive, objective, and independent analysis of the State's energy pathways. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Establishes certain requirements for pharmacy benefit managers, other than health maintenance organizations that own and operate their own pharmacies, that reimburse contracting pharmacies for drugs on a maximum allowable cost basis. Allows contracting pharmacies to reverse and rebill claims if a maximum allowable cost is denied on appeal. Authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to assess fines for violations. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Maddy summarySB 2973 prohibits the use of jug line fishing and other jug rig variants in all state waters. This directly affects recreational and commercial fishermen who currently use these specific fishing methods. The bill's key provision is a clear ban on these techniques, replacing any existing allowances. It does not include exceptions or enforcement details in the provided abstract. The bill is currently in committee referral after its first reading.

Maddy summarySB 2593 exempts certain positions on the Law Enforcement Standards Board from state civil service rules and collective bargaining agreements. This change directly affects employees in those specific roles by removing standard hiring, promotion, and union negotiation requirements. The bill alters how these positions are governed under state employment regulations. It does not affect other Board functions or staff outside the exempted roles.

Requires each county to apply any applicable real property tax exemptions, reduced assessments, or tax classifications for any affordable housing subject to income, resale, or occupancy restrictions as of the date a qualifying owner takes title to the affordable housing for the upcoming tax period, consistent with county procedures. Effective 4/19/2042. (SD1)

Requires the Civil Rights Commission to establish a twenty-four-hour intake helpline to assist individuals who experience or witness civil rights violations in the State. Requires the Civil Rights Commission to compile an annual report and hold an annual public hearing on data obtained through the helpline. Requires the Civil Rights Commission to compile and submit to the Legislature, and post on its website, a monthly preliminary report on data obtained through the helpline. Appropriates funds to establish an unspecified number of Civil Rights Investigator, Data Analyst, and Program Manager positions within the Civil Rights Commission. Appropriates funds for the Civil Rights Commission to contract with Aloha United Way to implement the twenty-four-hour intake helpline and for website and data development costs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Proposes to amend article XVII, section 3, of the Hawaii State Constitution regarding the standard for ratification of a constitutional amendment proposed by the Legislature, to provide that proposed amendments shall be effective only if approved at a general election by a majority of all the votes tallied upon the question. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

Amends the Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA) to require contractors who perform agency functions to retain records following the retention schedule of the agency and to provide the agency access to the records upon request. Establishes that all records retained by an agency function contractor shall be deemed government records for the purposes of the UIPA. Exempts contracts entered into by the Employees' Retirement System. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)