Sen. Joy San Buenaventura

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges Hawaii state agencies to create a statewide peer counselor program for high school students to address youth loneliness and social disconnection. The program would involve trained student peer counselors who receive standardized instruction in active listening, ethical boundaries, and culturally responsive practices to help identify and support students experiencing isolation. Key provisions include collaboration between the Department of Education, Department of Health, and Office of Wellness and Resilience, with the Hawaii State Youth Commission providing input on program design and evaluation. The resolution emphasizes face-to-face peer relationships and clear referral pathways to licensed mental health professionals while maintaining centralized oversight across the state's public education system.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of the Attorney General to form a working group focused on technology-facilitated abuse affecting youth and vulnerable populations in the state. The group will include representatives from state agencies, domestic violence organizations, and youth commissions to examine issues like digital stalking, spyware use, and nonconsensual image distribution. The working group will assess current laws, evaluate platform safety practices, and develop recommendations for regulatory safeguards and policy changes to protect residents from online abuse. The group is required to submit a report with findings and proposed legislative actions to the Legislature before the 2027 session begins.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges the Public Utilities Commission to hold at least two public community meetings before approving major energy projects that would be located in affected communities. The bill defines major energy projects as those with a capital cost of $10 million or more, including solar farms, wind facilities, battery storage, and grid modernization. While the resolution does not create new legal requirements, it formally requests the commission to engage with local residents and stakeholders to gather input on these infrastructure developments. The measure aims to ensure communities have a voice in energy decisions that impact their neighborhoods and to address concerns about equitable distribution of energy project benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a formal request from the Hawaii Senate asking the U.S. President and Congress to release all federal records related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigations, with redactions only to protect victims' privacy and safety. It directly affects federal agencies holding Epstein-related documents and calls for greater transparency in how these records are handled. The resolution criticizes current Department of Justice actions for allegedly over-redacting names of individuals involved while under-redacting victim information, and urges Congress to investigate all implicated parties. It does not create new laws but serves as an official appeal for federal officials to take specific actions regarding document disclosure and accountability.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and the Department of Law Enforcement to strengthen penalties and enforcement actions against dog attacks on livestock. It directly affects farmers and ranchers who raise animals in Hawaii, aiming to address financial losses from uncontrolled dogs harming their herds. The resolution does not change laws directly but formally requests state agencies to review and enhance their existing measures for protecting livestock from dog attacks. It highlights the economic importance of livestock production and the severe impacts of dog attacks on producers. The document is a formal request rather than a law, so it has no immediate legal effect pending agency response.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance to study the feasibility and benefits of establishing a state-owned sovereign wealth fund. The proposed fund would invest state assets, such as tourism revenues and budget surpluses, to generate long-term financial returns for the state's residents. The study would examine how the fund could support economic stability, fund infrastructure, and potentially distribute investment earnings to qualified residents as cash dividends. The Department is required to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the end of 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to study whether Hawaii should replace its appointed Chief Election Officer with a Secretary of State elected by voters to oversee elections. The study will examine current laws governing election administration and outline the legal steps needed to make such a change. It compares Hawaii's current system with other states, noting that 33 states elect their chief election officials while 47 have a Secretary of State position. The Legislative Reference Bureau must submit its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to lawmakers before the 2027 regular session begins.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution urges the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to hold at least two public community meetings before approving major energy projects that would be built in affected communities. The bill defines major energy projects as those costing $10 million or more, including solar farms, wind facilities, battery storage, and other infrastructure. While the resolution does not change law, it formally requests the commission to gather community input to address concerns about energy equity and ensure local residents have a voice in decisions that impact their neighborhoods. The measure aims to promote transparency and reduce conflicts that could delay construction of clean energy projects.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges the Board of Land and Natural Resources to extend existing leases and subleases on Mauna Kea lands for an additional ten years. The bill directly affects the Board of Land and Natural Resources, the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, the University of Hawaii, and entities operating telescope observatories on the mountain. The resolution specifically requests the extension of the master lease agreement and all subleases currently in effect, which are set to expire on December 31, 2033. This action would allow continued astronomical research operations on the site under the existing legal framework established by Act 255 of 2022.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Governor of Hawaii to establish a backup plan for filling the Chief Election Officer position if it becomes vacant. The bill directs the Governor to appoint an acting officer from within the Office of Elections, following a specific order of succession based on current staff roles like election support services or counting center operations. This measure aims to ensure there is always someone authorized to manage and certify election results, preventing disruptions during critical election periods. The resolution applies specifically to state election administration and does not change existing laws but rather requests an executive action to clarify succession procedures.