Sen. Joy San Buenaventura

Establishes the strengthen Hawaii homes program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to administer grants to retrofit residential properties located in historically vulnerable areas to enhance resilience against disaster impacts and reduce potential insurance liabilities. Establishes the strengthen Hawaii homes program special fund. Appropriates moneys from the special fund.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in partnership with the Department of Health, to establish and implement a five-year Fitness to Proceed Pilot Program in one county of the State. Requires an interim report and final report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires retirants rehired as teachers or administrators in teacher shortage areas or in difficult-to-fill positions to be paid at least the minimum salary for their experience and qualifications. Prohibits rehired retirants from receiving additional employment benefits. Directs the Department of Education to adopt rules to identify teacher shortage areas and difficult-to-fill positions.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires the Department of Education to require the teaching of financial literacy to be included in the existing personal transition plan requirement for each student.

Requires all health care providers who accept Medicare to provide a cognitive assessment as part of the Medicare Part B annual wellness visit for Medicare beneficiaries sixty-five years of age or older, with certain exceptions. Requires health care providers to submit certain information to the Executive Office on Aging and the Executive Office on Aging to report de-identified aggregated data to the Legislature on an annual basis. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2026.

Prohibits drug manufacturers and wholesale distributors from restricting or denying access for pharmacies contracted with 340B covered entities to purchase 340B drugs at a discounted price under the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. Imposes civil penalties for engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce.

Establishes a pilot program in the Department of Health to provide intensive mobile treatment-type services, e.g., "street psychiatry", to chronically houseless adult individuals suffering from serious brain disorders like schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Authorizes state facilities to wheel electricity produced by their own facility from renewable energy sources to other state facilities pursuant to administrative rules or orders established by the Public Utilities Commission. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to submit a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Maddy summarySB 44 allows counties to ban housing discrimination against renters based on their source of income, such as government benefits (e.g., Social Security, welfare). It directly affects renters who rely on non-traditional income sources, preventing landlords from refusing to rent to them solely because of how they earn money. The key mechanism gives counties the authority to enact local policies prohibiting this specific form of discrimination. This bill would change local housing rules to ensure fair access for renters using public assistance or other non-wage income.

Changes from 1 ounce to 30 grams the minimum amount of marijuana that constitutes the offense of promoting a detrimental drug in the second degree. Increases from 3 grams or less to 15 grams or less the amount of marijuana that constitutes the offense of promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree.