Sen. Joy San Buenaventura

Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, in consultation with the Insurance Commissioner, to establish and implement a five-year voluntary Nontraditional Workforce Portable Health Care Benefit Plan Pilot Program that offers high deductible health plans or catastrophic health plans to nontraditional workers who are ineligible for health benefits provided by the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund or prepaid health care plans under the Prepaid Health Care Act. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Prohibits any law, ordinance, or rule from imposing an inclusionary zoning requirement on housing offered exclusively for sale or rent in perpetuity to buyers or renters who are residents of the State, are owner-occupants or renters, and do not own any other real property. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summaryThis bill would increase the maximum number of bedrooms that a single individual wastewater system can serve from five to six. The change directly affects homeowners and property owners who rely on private septic or individual wastewater systems for their properties. The provision would take effect on July 1, 3000, allowing larger homes to use existing individual systems without needing to connect to municipal sewer infrastructure. This adjustment modifies current regulations to accommodate larger residential properties while maintaining the individual system framework.

Requires the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to make certain contact information for newly registered entities available online. Requires the Director to transmit the contact information to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's Business Development and Support Division. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, in collaboration with a county selected by the Department, to develop an artificial intelligence-assisted pre-compliance intake pilot platform, subject to a matching funds requirement for the county. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop a policy or metric to measure the success of the pilot platform. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution encourages the Hawaii Department of Education to expand Hawaiian language immersion programs in partnership with the Office of Hawaiian Education. It addresses growing demand for these programs by urging the creation of teacher training pathways and the implementation of K-12 instruction across various school districts based on data-driven needs analysis. The resolution is non-binding and serves as a formal recommendation rather than a law, directing state education officials to consider expansion efforts within available funding constraints.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks state agencies to strengthen penalties and enforcement for dog attacks on livestock. It directly affects livestock producers in Hawaii who face financial losses when their animals are harmed by uncontrolled dogs. The bill does not create new laws but formally requests the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and the Department of Law Enforcement to review and increase penalties and enforcement measures for these incidents. The resolution is intended to address the economic and emotional impacts livestock producers experience from dog attacks.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution urges Hawaii's counties to adopt the Safe System Approach in road and transportation design, particularly when reducing or eliminating off-street parking requirements. The bill aims to improve pedestrian safety by encouraging the use of proven safety measures like enhanced crosswalk visibility, pedestrian refuge islands, and bicycle lanes. It addresses concerns that removing off-street parking requirements has led to increased on-street parking, which obstructs sidewalks and forces pedestrians to walk on roadways. The resolution also emphasizes balancing infrastructure investments with the transportation needs of all residents, including blue-collar workers and elderly or disabled individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate concurrent resolution that urges the Board of Land and Natural Resources to extend Mauna Kea land leases and subleases for an additional ten years. It directly affects the Board of Land and Natural Resources, the University of Hawaii, the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, and the entities operating telescope observatories on the mountain. The resolution recommends extending the master lease between the Board and the University of Hawaii, as well as all subleases used for astronomical research, which are currently set to expire in 2033. This measure does not change existing laws but requests the Board to consider extending the current agreements without legal barriers.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Governor's Senior Advisor for Mental Health and the Justice System to create a plan for increasing access to the Hawaii State Hospital for mentally ill criminal defendants and individuals recently released from the facility who are at risk of reoffending. The bill is non-binding and does not authorize funding or change laws; instead, it directs the Senior Advisor to coordinate with relevant state agencies to develop placement options for these individuals. The resolution requires a report with findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to be submitted to the Legislature by early 2027. This measure addresses concerns about the hospital reaching capacity and the lack of suitable placements for people under civil commitment or those transitioning out of the mental health system.