Sen. Joy San Buenaventura

Requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to develop a comprehensive plan by 6/30/2027 for the establishment of a Kakou Pilot Program to support families and children in need. Requires the Office to submit preliminary and final reports to the Legislature on the plan and identify an administering agency or agencies for the pilot program. Beginning 7/1/2028, authorizes the Department of Human Services to expend Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program funds for the purposes of the Kakou Pilot Program. (CD1)

Authorizes the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to adopt, amend, and repeal rules to develop an evaluation and authorization process to import and transport aquatic livestock in the State. Requires the Aquaculture Program to develop a biological aquatic risk-based framework and biocontainment standards for the aquatic livestock evaluation and authorization process. (CD1)

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to engage in certain capital improvement projects at state small boat harbors and state parks without prior approval from the Legislature and Governor for existing facilities. Requires semiannual reports to the Legislature. Sunsets five years after the effective date. (CD1)

Updates and establishes additional statewide goals for solid waste stream and organic waste stream diversion. Requires the recycling, bioconversion, and organic waste diversion component to identify and assess methods to achieve certain organic waste stream reduction goals. (CD1)

Maddy summarySB 3238 establishes a language access education and workforce development program at the University of Hawaii to train professionals in providing language services. It appropriates state funds to support this program, which directly affects communities with limited English proficiency and government agencies needing interpreters or translators. The key mechanism is creating a dedicated training initiative at UH to build a skilled workforce for language access services. This bill focuses on concrete policy changes by funding workforce development rather than altering existing services or regulations.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to convene a Bona Fide Farmer Working Group to develop multi-tiered, matrix-based definitions for the terms "bona fide farmer" and "bona fide agricultural activity". Requires a report to the Legislature. (CD1)

Amends the factors a family court is required to consider in deciding whether the family court may waive jurisdiction over a minor or adult held for criminal proceedings for acts committed during the person's minority. Preserves the family court's jurisdiction over a minor transferred for criminal proceedings for subsequent acts that would otherwise be within the family court's jurisdiction. Requires the family court to retain jurisdiction over a minor if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the minor was trafficked, sexually abused, or raped by the alleged victim in the case before or during the commission of the alleged offense. (CD1)

Maddy summarySB 2892 allocates funds to county governments to help them collect feral chickens that have already been captured. The bill specifically provides money for counties to manage these already-caught birds, not for capturing new ones. It becomes effective on July 1, 2050. This is a procedural funding measure targeting existing feral chicken management efforts by local governments.

Prohibits any law enforcement agency or law enforcement official from entering into an agreement under federal law that permits state or county agencies to engage in immigration enforcement. Prohibits law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officials from engaging in certain immigration-related actions, except under limited circumstances. (CD1)

Revises tax map key numbers and the conveyance process by which identified properties are conveyed to the Department of Education pursuant to Act 307, SLH 2022. Directs the conveyance to the County of Kauai of certain lands held by the Department of Education. Directs the conveyance of land on which Kaimuki Middle School is located from the City and County of Honolulu to the Department of Education. Clarifies that land dispositions of school buildings, facilities, and grounds made by the DOE shall not require approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources when these dispositions are for periods exceeding one year. (CD1)