Sen. Mike Gabbard

Establishes base selection criteria for exceptional trees. Establishes the significant tree designation, selection criteria, and related processes. Establishes the State Arborist Advisory Committee within the Department of Land and Natural Resources for administrative purposes. Requires County Arborist Advisory Committees to have at least six members, adopt new exceptional tree selection criteria, and designate significant trees. Directs the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the University of Hawaii to cooperate with State and County Arborist Advisory Committees to carry out the Exceptional Trees Program.

Requires marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, psychologists, and clinical social workers to complete courses related to domestic violence for licensure and renewals.

Establishes the Land Dedication for Agricultural Education program within the Department of Education. Requires the Department of Education to consult with the Department of Taxation to establish tax incentives for land developers who dedicate land for educational purposes. Requires the Department of Education to consult with the Department of the Attorney General to establish penalties. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Amends the definition of "farming operation" by including customary and traditional subsistence farming conducted by native Hawaiian cultural practitioners and excluding concentrated animal feeding operations and business entities with unclear or non-transparent ownership or beneficiary structures. Establishes additional criteria for farming operations to meet in order to be protected against nuisance claims. Clarifies the purpose and intent of the Hawaii Right to Farm Act.

Prohibits the abortion of a fetus that is capable of feeling pain. Prohibits abortions by dismemberment. Provides certain exceptions. Establishes penalties.

Beginning 7/1/2027, requires app store providers to determine the age category for each of their users in the State and verify their age; provide a mechanism for parents to block minors from downloading unsuitable apps; and obtain parental consent before allowing a minor to use their app store or download and purchase apps. Requires certain app store providers to provide parents with a mechanism to set filters and usage limits for minors. Requires certain app store providers to display age ratings and content description for each app available in their app store. Establishes age verification and parental consent requirements for certain app developers. Establishes violations as unfair or deceptive act or practice. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules no later than 7/1/2026.

Maddy summarySB 1178 makes Hawaii's Carbon Smart Land Management Assistance Program permanent under the Department of Land and Natural Resources. The bill directly affects landowners who participate in the program, providing ongoing incentives for land management practices that capture carbon. Key provisions codify existing rules for the program, ensuring consistent support for activities like forest conservation and sustainable agriculture that enhance carbon sequestration. This change eliminates the need for annual legislative renewals, providing long-term stability for the initiative.

Increases the percentages of local agricultural products that certain departments are required to purchase by certain deadlines. Expands annual reporting requirements to include the total spending by certain market channels. Requires certain departments and the University of Hawaii System to include a corrective action plan in their respective reports to the Legislature, should they not meet their benchmarks. Repeals the separate benchmark for the Department of Education that requires thirty per cent of food served in public schools to consist of locally sourced products by 2030. Appropriates funds for the establishment of a farm-to-state liaison position within the Office of the Governor.

Establishes the Landfill Advisory Committee within the Department of Health. Requires the DOH, in consultation with the Department of Land and Natural Resources and each county's department of board or water supply to create maps of the State's drinking water aquifers. Prohibits the siting, construction, modification, or expansion of any waste or disposal facility for hazardous or solid waste on land that is near or above an aquifer as determined by the DOH in consultation with the affected county's department or board of water supply. Expands buffer zones from one-half mile to one mile around a waste or disposal facility. Establishes penalties. Expands the definition of buffer zone to include aquifers, hotel or tourist accommodations, and businesses.

Maddy summarySB 1183 requires māmaki tea grown within the state to display specific labeling. This directly affects local producers and sellers of māmaki tea by mandating clear product identification. The key provision is the new labeling requirement for all māmaki tea cultivated in-state. The bill is currently in early stages, having been introduced on January 17, 2025.