Sen. Mike Gabbard

Requires licensed used motor vehicle part dealers to obtain a written statement by a seller of a catalytic converter that the seller has the lawful right to sell and dispose of the catalytic converter. Requires certain sellers of a catalytic converter to present a receipt or notarized declaration regarding the catalytic converter in certain circumstances. Prohibits a licensed used motor vehicle part dealer from purchasing a catalytic converter with no receipt or notarized declaration and to report the attempted sale to the police. Establishes the offense of theft of catalytic converter as a class C felony. (SD1)

Creates a statutory right of victims and witnesses of sexual offenses under part V of chapter 707, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to a speedy trial in criminal cases involving adult defendants. Requires the court and the prosecution to take appropriate action to ensure a prompt trial in order to minimize the length of time a child abuse victim or minor witness must endure the stress of the proceedings. Effective 5/1/2029. (SD1)

Adds the definition of "housing" to include all potential properties that could be developed by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

Establishes a fungicide subsidy program until June 30, 2026, to subsidize coffee growers for the purchase of fungicides to combat coffee leaf rust. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Requires that the Executive Director of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee shall be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, with a term limit of four years. Effective 1/1/25. (SD1)

Appropriates general revenues to expand state-run quarantine facilities under the jurisdiction of the department of agriculture's plant quarantine branch. (SD1)

Requires the department of education to offer training for teachers, educational officers, and school-based behavioral health specialists on sex trafficking prevention and response.

Facilitates the timely interconnection and transmission lines for renewable energy projects. (SD1)

Requires counties to establish expedited procedures to approve demolition permits for vacant and abandoned residential homes. Allows the department of taxation to seek sale of the property through nonjudicial foreclosure of vacant and abandoned residential properties with outstanding recorded state tax liens at any time after establishing vacancy and abandonment.

Restricts asset forfeiture to cases involving the commission of a covered criminal misdemeanor or felony offense. Requires seized property to be forfeited only when the property owner has been convicted of an underlying covered criminal misdemeanor or felony offense. Changes the standard of proof that the State must meet in order for property to be forfeited from "preponderance of the evidence" to "beyond a reasonable doubt". Requires the State to prove that owners consented to or possessed knowledge of the crime that led to the seizure of their property. Requires that the agency seizing the property pay for safe and secure storage of the seized property until the completion of the forfeiture proceeding or final disposition of the property. Directs any proceeds from a civil forfeiture to the general revenue fund for public education purposes. Repeals administrative forfeiture proceedings.