Sen. Mike Gabbard

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCR 32) requests Hawaii's Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to collaborate with the Department of Transportation. It proposes using existing inmate work furlough programs - where eligible inmates gain work experience before release - to assist with state highway and roadway maintenance tasks like pothole repair and vegetation control. The resolution aims to support inmate rehabilitation and reduce recidivism by providing work experience while addressing workforce needs for road maintenance. It does not create new law but asks state agencies to explore this partnership.

Maddy summarySCR 16 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Health to form a task force focused on developing minimum professional standards for community health worker (CHW) training programs. The task force must include representatives from each county's CHWs, health institutions (like the Hawaii Public Health Institute), housing authorities, healthcare associations, and community organizations. The resolution requires the task force to submit a report with recommendations to the Legislature by January 2026, no later than 20 days before the 2026 legislative session begins. This bill directly affects CHW training programs across Hawaii by initiating a process to establish standardized training requirements.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 111) declares a public health emergency in Hawaii due to climate change impacts. It requests all state departments - including health, land, water, agriculture, and transportation - to coordinate cross-sector efforts to address climate-related health risks like heat illness, disease spread, food/water insecurity, and mental health stressors. The resolution directly affects all Hawaii residents by mandating statewide coordination to strengthen public health responses to climate threats. As a procedural resolution (not a binding law), it does not create new regulations but urges collaborative action across state agencies.

Maddy summarySCR 69 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the State Health Planning and Development Agency to convene a Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Working Group. The group will evaluate policies to lower drug costs for patients and improve healthcare access, focusing on four key areas: which state agency should oversee PBMs, required reporting, fair pharmacy audit procedures, and protections against under-reimbursed medications. The working group will include representatives from insurance, pharmacy associations, state agencies, and pharmacy benefit managers. It must submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2026, but the resolution itself does not enact new laws.

Maddy summarySB 1582 declares the coconut palm as a culturally significant plant and a sustainable staple food source for the State. This recognition is scheduled to become effective on July 1, 3000.

Maddy summarySCR 22 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HEMA) to work with county emergency agencies to create outreach programs specifically for kupuna (Hawaiian elders aged 65+). It directly affects Hawaii's elderly population, which makes up over 19% of the state's residents and faces higher vulnerability during disasters due to health limitations and limited access to technology. The resolution asks HEMA to collaborate with city and county emergency management agencies to develop initiatives that inform kupuna about emergency preparedness. This is a procedural request, not a law, focused on improving communication and safety resources for an at-risk group.

Maddy summarySCR 57 is a Hawaii Senate resolution urging Congress to create a national reinsurance program to address insurance shortages in disaster-prone areas. It directly affects homeowners, businesses, and agricultural producers struggling with unaffordable or unavailable coverage due to climate-driven disasters like hurricanes and wildfires. The resolution proposes a federal reinsurance backstop that would cover extreme catastrophic losses only (after private insurers pay initial claims), operate on a state opt-in basis, and include safeguards to protect taxpayers. It also requests Congress provide incentives like premium discounts for disaster-resistant building to reduce long-term costs. This is a non-binding request to Congress, not a law.

Maddy summarySCR 118 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the Hawaii Department of Health to form a working group to study whether business owners could legally use filtered rainwater collected through water catchment systems for business purposes. Currently, state law only permits this water use for personal household needs, not commercial activities. The working group - comprising health officials, legislators, county water departments, and public representatives - will assess feasibility, safety testing protocols, plumbing code compliance, and potential state support for businesses. It will submit recommendations, including possible legislation, to the 2027 Legislature. This resolution does not change existing law but initiates a review of expanding water catchment use for business operations.

Maddy summarySCR 21 is a concurrent resolution (not a law) requesting Hawaii's Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide separate mental health counseling services for correctional facility staff. It directly affects correctional staff members, who face mental health risks from trauma exposure in their work. The resolution asks the department to use its operating funds to make these staff-specific services available - distinct from inmate mental health resources - potentially by hiring additional counselors. It does not mandate the action but urges the department to prioritize staff mental health through this request.

Requires the Department of Transportation to institute proceedings to condemn certain lands in Lahaina to build a new access road from Keawe Street to the Kilohana and Kalaiola sites developed in the Villages of Leialii. Appropriates funds out of the Major Disaster Fund for the appraisals and other preparations for the condemnation proceedings. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)