Requires the Board of Agriculture to define the terms "bona fide farmer" and "bona fide agricultural activity". Requires a report to the Legislature. (SD1)
Authorizes a person intoxicated by alcohol, under the influence of drugs, or incapacitated by substances, including a minor, to voluntarily admit themself to a psychiatric facility or a behavioral health crisis center for an emergency evaluation to determine need for treatment.
Expands mandatory health insurance coverage for low-dose mammography for occult breast cancer to include any supplemental imaging deemed medically necessary for a patient of any age having an above-average risk for breast cancer as determined by the use of a risk-factor modeling tool. On or before 1/1/2026, expands mandatory health insurance coverage to include additional supplemental imaging for any patient, regardless of age, as deemed medically necessary by the patient's primary care provider. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)
Establishes and appropriates moneys for a Select Commission on Government Restructuring within the Office of the Governor. Requires interim reports and a final report to the Legislature. Dissolves the Commission on 12/31/2027. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)
Maddy summarySB 546 requires the state to ensure all certified arborists working for the state (including contractors) follow established best management practices for tree care. It directly affects state-employed arborists and their contractor partners by mandating adherence to these industry-standard practices. The bill focuses on enforcing consistent safety and environmental standards in tree maintenance work performed under state contracts. This creates a clear requirement for oversight, rather than changing existing certification rules. The measure is currently under review by the GVO committee.
Requires that Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation housing projects include a restrictive covenant that states that the units designated as affordable housing, as described in the submitted project application, shall remain as affordable housing in perpetuity. Prohibits development of affordable housing in a special flood hazard area.
Establishes a regulatory review program overseen by the Department of the Attorney General to evaluate all Hawaii Administrative Rules adopted by state agencies and identify any rules that should be retained, modified or repealed. Requires each state agency to review 20 per cent of their rules every year and submit a report to the Department of the Attorney General. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to notify the Governor and Legislature of any noncompliance by a state agency, adopt rules, and submit annual reports to the Legislature and Governor. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)
Establishes a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for expenses paid to retrofit a residence with wind resistive devices. Requires the Department of Taxation to prepare forms. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to pre-certify claims. Appropriates funds. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. Sunsets 1/1/2028. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
Requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience to design, implement, and administer trauma-informed organizational assessments and a training curriculum for Child Welfare Services to support the development of a trauma-informed child welfare system in the State. Allows the office to contract with public and private entities to provide necessary services. Appropriates funds.
Maddy summarySB 245 prohibits certain entities from owning, purchasing, or acquiring agricultural land starting January 1, 2026. It directly affects entities seeking to buy or hold agricultural property, though the specific entities targeted are not named in the provided abstract. The bill creates a new restriction on land ownership transactions for agricultural properties, effective in 2026. The measure is currently under review by the Agriculture and Natural Resources committee, with a public hearing scheduled for January 27, 2025.
