Sen. Joy San Buenaventura

Maddy summarySB 2403 expands the renewable fuels production tax credit by broadening its eligibility rules or increasing the credit amount for producers. This bill directly affects companies that manufacture renewable fuels like ethanol or biodiesel, providing them with potentially larger tax benefits. The key change is modifying the existing tax credit program to support more producers or higher production volumes, without altering the core structure of the credit itself. The bill is currently in early stages of the legislative process.

Prohibits public establishments from denying shelter to any person when an emergency alert advises the public to immediately seek shelter during the establishments' normal business hours, under certain conditions. Clarifies that remuneration or expectation of remuneration paid to owners of private property for goods or services other than emergency access to land, shelter, or subsistence, including services or incidental commodities to the emergency access, does not void the exemption from civil liability afforded to these owners except where owners increase the sale price of the service or incidental commodities.

Amends the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency's functions to include ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and related federal and state disability access laws by integrating the needs of individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs into emergency planning, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities. Appropriates funds to establish a Disability Integration Specialist and for programming support for disability community projects.

Requires licensure for individuals managing common interest community associations for compensation. Clarifies that common interest community association manager licensure is distinct from real estate licensure. Establishes the qualifications, continuing education, and standards of conduct required for common interest community association manager licensure. Authorizes the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to administer licensure of common interest community association managers. Clarifies exemptions for licensure requirements. Appropriates funds.

Maddy summarySB 2490 prohibits the manufacture and sale of surfboard wax containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are environmentally persistent chemicals. It directly affects surfboard wax manufacturers and retailers within the state. The bill's key provision bans these specific chemicals in surfboard wax products, aiming to reduce environmental contamination. This policy change targets a common source of PFAS pollution in coastal areas without restricting other uses of the chemicals.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, health maintenance organizations, and health plans under the State's Medicaid managed care program to provide coverage for brief cognitive assessments for individuals fifty years of age and older.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to revitalize and enhance the Agricultural Statistics Program to collect data on local agricultural interests. Appropriates funds.

Requires any disposition of more than one thousand acres of public lands to governments by the Board of Land and Natural Resources to be subject to approval by a majority vote of both houses of the Legislature. Requires the government seeking the disposition of the public land to submit for introduction to the Legislature a resolution containing certain information. Requires a copy of the draft resolution to be sent to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Maddy summarySB 2456 increases the state tax on liquor sales and establishes a mechanism to automatically adjust this tax rate annually based on inflation. The bill directly affects liquor retailers, distributors, and consumers, as the tax increase would raise costs for these businesses and potentially lead to higher prices for consumers. Key provisions include setting a new base tax rate and linking future adjustments to the official inflation index to maintain revenue levels over time. This bill is currently in the early stages of the legislative process (introduced and passed first reading on January 22, 2026).

Maddy summarySB 2496 appropriates state funds to the Executive Office on Early Learning to administer support for family-child interaction learning programs. It directly affects early childhood education providers and families participating in these programs by providing dedicated funding. The key mechanism is the allocation of specific budget resources to the Executive Office, which will distribute funds to eligible local programs focused on parent-child engagement. This bill does not change program requirements but ensures financial support for existing early learning initiatives.