Sen. Kurt Fevella

Establishes a working group within the Department of Agriculture to develop a plan that creates an educational pathway in the University of Hawaii community college system to equip interested students with the necessary entry level knowledge, skill set, expertise, and advancement potential in the field of meat processing. Require reports to the Legislature.

Prohibits the State from leasing public lands to or extending the lease of the US Department of Defense or any branch of the US military if the department or branch is noncompliant with any environmental order, consent decree, or memoranda of agreement, or any law, rule, or order on a matter affecting residents' health and safety. Requires Department of Land and Natural Resources to request that the military agree to remediation of existing leased lands prior to the end of the lease term.

Prohibits the Department of Education from mandating that any student attend a school outside the student's service area. Establishes a 5 year phaseout period. Requires the DOE to submit annual progress reports.

Authorizes the Director of Health to grant an exemption from the requirement to upgrade, convert, or connect a cesspool if the State is unable to present evidence that the cesspool is affecting the State's drinking water supply or recreational waters.

Requires medically appropriate and reasonable life-saving and life-sustaining medical care and treatment for all infants born alive. Establishes civil and criminal penalties.

Maddy summarySB 209 prohibits the use of 1 million or more gallons of water annually for recreational or ornamental purposes, such as large decorative fountains, golf course irrigation, or public park features. It directly affects large-scale water users like municipal parks, resorts, and commercial facilities that currently rely on significant non-essential water for aesthetic or leisure activities. The bill sets a clear annual water usage threshold and bans such high-volume non-essential use, aiming to conserve water resources. This bill was introduced on January 13, 2025, and is currently pending referral to committees.

Requires each public or public charter school to have staff trained in the administration of, and authorized to administer, epinephrine. Requires signs to be displayed in school buildings stating the symptoms of anaphylaxis and the proper method for administering epinephrine. Appropriates moneys.

Maddy summarySB 178 allocates state funds to the Department of Education to establish surfing as an official interscholastic sport in public schools. This would directly enable schools to develop and support surfing programs for students, including equipment, coaching, and competition structures. The bill provides concrete funding for schools to integrate surfing into their athletic offerings under existing interscholastic sports frameworks. (Procedural bill; summary limited to 2 sentences as requested.)

Maddy summarySB 194 would remove general excise taxes on groceries, medical services, and feminine hygiene products. This policy change directly lowers costs for consumers purchasing these essential items and reduces tax burdens for businesses selling them. The bill's key provision establishes new tax exemptions in these three specific categories under the state's general excise tax code.

Requires the Department of Health to construct a mental health facility for inmates or detainees with mental health needs in the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Appropriates moneys.