In addition to the current requirement that towing companies allow individuals to pay by cash, credit card, or debit card, requires towing companies to have an on-site automatic teller machine. Specifies that a towing company cannot charge for tows if noncompliant.
Establishes within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation a current and returning resident down payment program to provide matching funds for the down payment on a primary residence. Appropriates moneys and establishes positions.
Establishes the rounding up for teachers' salaries special fund, to be administered by the Department of Education. Requires electric utilities and county boards of water supply to provide an option for customers to voluntarily round up their bill to the nearest dollar or provide a specific contribution amount. Deposits the proceeds into the rounding up for teachers' salaries special fund. Appropriates moneys.
Prohibits lodging establishments in the State from providing personal care products packaged in small plastic containers in any sleeping room accommodations, space within sleeping room accommodations, and bathrooms used by the public or guests. Establishes civil penalties.
Requires the State Council on Mental Health to include an unspecified number of members with demonstrated knowledge of or work experience involving native Hawaiian health practices. Requires council members to receive annual training on topics related to native Hawaiian healing and health.
Maddy summarySB 645 requires state agencies to remove public service positions from the budget if they remain unfilled for more than two years. This directly affects state government budget planning by targeting vacant roles that have gone unfilled long-term. The key mechanism is a mandatory two-year vacancy threshold, after which the position is no longer funded. As a newly introduced bill (passed first reading January 17, 2025), it has not yet advanced beyond committee referral.
Increases the general excise tax by 1%. Establishes the teacher salary special fund within the Department of Education. Requires that increased general excise tax revenues be deposited into the teacher salary special fund and the school facilities special fund.
Establishes a 1-year Physician Licensing Subsidy Pilot Program within the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to provide subsidized licensing fees for eligible medical school graduates and out-of-state physicians applying for initial licensure in the State. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to collaborate with the Department of Health, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, and other stakeholders to promote the pilot program; adopt rules; and submit a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2026.
Appropriates funds to increase the funding for Medicaid in-home services, conditioned on the Department of Human Services obtaining the maximum federal matching funds.
Amends various definitions of "moped" throughout the Hawaii Revised Statutes to exclude low-speed electric bicycles. Deletes an unused term from Chapter 286, Hawaii Revised Statutes. Establishes regulations for low-speed electric bicycles and clarifies the applicability of certain conflicting regulations that are applicable to all bicycles.
