Sen. Mike Gabbard

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.

Requires the counties to adopt ordinances setting forth procedures and requirements for the review and permitting of agricultural tourism uses and activities as secondary uses, in addition to accessory uses, on a working farm or farming operation. Requires the counties' ordinances to include requirements that: the principal agricultural use on a working farm or farming operation preexists the issuance of any land use permit or building permit for any accessory and secondary use; agricultural tourism includes only those activities that are allowed under existing zoning and land use regulations; and agricultural tourism be allowed only on land on which productive agricultural use is occurring.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct a study on the populations of coral reef herbivores around the island of Oahu and an analysis of policies and strategies to increase the populations of coral reef herbivores around Oahu, in consultation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center and other experts. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Requires the Department of Transportation to install and use at each state airport and commercial harbor electronic equipment capable of scanning for illegal fireworks.

Proposes to amend the Hawaii State Constitution by establishing the right of each person to own and have an exclusive property right in the data they generate on the Internet.

Requires the Department of Education to establish rules for the procurement of goods and services related to the administration of food programs at public schools that incorporate a geographic preference for unprocessed locally grown and locally raised food products.

Requires the Department of Human Services to assess the feasibility of offering a 20% discount on certain goods and services for the State's low- to moderate-income elders.

Provides that complex area superintendents have the authority to implement the farm to school and farm to school meals programs. Requires certain school cafeteria supervisors to report directly to complex area superintendents. Establishes school cafeteria supervisor positions. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to conduct a compensation review of school cafeteria supervisor positions. Appropriates funds.

Establishes a Plant-Based Building Materials Working Group to study how best to grow plants, develop plant-based building materials in Hawaii, and provide economic development and green jobs while sequestering greenhouse gases to help achieve the State's climate target. Requires a report to the legislature.