Sen. Joy San Buenaventura

Establishes a Teacher Workforce Housing Stipend Program to support teacher retention at public and charter schools classified as rural and underserved. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Part I: Renames the Department of Agriculture to the "Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity". Renames the Board of Agriculture to the "Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity" and amends the composition of the Board. Part II: Establishes and appropriates funds for a Deputy Director of Biosecurity. Part III: Changes references to the plant and animal declaration form to the "biosecurity form". Part IV: Authorizes and specifies conditions under which the Department may declare a biosecurity emergency, during which the Department and Governor may take certain actions to prevent the establishment or spread of pests and prohibited or restricted organisms. Authorizes the Chairperson of the Board to quarantine an area under certain conditions. Broadens the objectives and general actions of the Biosecurity Program. Part V: Requires the Department to establish and regularly update an invasive species dashboard. Authorizes pest management plans to address, contain, or eradicate pests. Part VI: Appropriates funds for positions for the Department. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Authorizes the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds to assist Hawaii Island Community Health Center to purchase or lease land on the island of Hawaii and develop primary care health care facilities.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit discrimination against a person because of ethnicity, age, disability, religion, national ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes. (SD1)

Maddy summarySB 46 requires all health insurers in the state, including Medicaid managed care programs, to cover annual mental health wellness examinations. It directly affects health insurance providers by mandating this specific coverage in standard plans. The key provision is the requirement for insurers to include these annual examinations as a covered benefit without additional patient cost. This policy change ensures preventive mental health care becomes a standard part of insurance coverage.

Directs the Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the Agribusiness Development Corporation and the counties, to conduct a statewide agricultural water infrastructure study. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Beginning 1/1/2027, allows an advanced practice registered nurse to claim exemption from service as a juror. Effective 12/31/2050. Sunsets 1/1/2032. (SD1)

Proposes an amendment to article I of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to protect a person's right to obtain contraceptives and engage in contraception. (SD1)

Appropriates funds for the establishment of five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) positions within the Civil Rights Compliance Branch of the Department of Education. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to assess the feasibility of installing distributed energy resource systems at each state department facility. Requires state departments to implement and install the distributed energy resource systems detailed in the reports no later than five years from the issue date of the reports. Gives priority for the required energy efficiency measures to first responder facilities. (SD1)