Sen. Maile Shimabukuro

Requires commercial ocean operators who take customers into state waters to engage in recreational activities to have at least one individual aboard the vessel who is rescue diver or lifeguard certified by a nationally recognized certification organization. Requires vessels that transport customers for the purpose of engaging in an activity in state waters to have a backboard, emergency oxygen, and an automated external defibrillator included in its onboard safety equipment. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Prohibits dispositions that authorize diverting water from East Maui county streams for commercial purposes, except for existing water uses by the Maui County Department of Water Supply.

Requires the Board of Education, in collaboration with the University of Hawaiʻi, to develop a Hawaiian Language Medium Education Kindergarten Entry Assessment to be administered by the Department of Education, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.

Establishes a carbon emissions tax credit. Expands the environmental response, energy, and food security tax to include carbon emissions. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2023. Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, in consultation with the Department of Taxation, to recommend updates to the tax per fuel and corresponding tax credits.

Increases the maximum value of the low-income household renters credit to $150 per qualified exemption for households. Adjusts and provides income threshold tiers based on filing status.

Appropriates moneys to the Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corporation for its manufacturing assistance programs.

Increases fines for any operator of a motor vehicle carrier using a vehicle for commercial tour operations who is not registered with the Public Utilities Commission. Increases penalty for any person who advertises as a motor carrier of passengers without a valid certificate or permit.

Creates within the Department of Health's wastewater branch a cesspool conversion section, which will be responsible for facilitating the conversion of cesspools within the State. Establishes 2.0 full-time equivalent positions within the cesspool conversion section in fiscal year 2023-2024, and 2.0 additional full-time equivalent positions within the section in fiscal year 2024-2025. Appropriates moneys.

Increases the percentage rate of weekly workers' compensation benefits for partially dependent parents of a deceased child from twenty-five per cent to fifty per cent.

Adds definitions for "floodway", "natural stormwater infrastructure", and "wetlands" to section 343-2, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes. Requires a proposed housing project of the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation that is exempt from all statutes, ordinances, charter provisions, and rules of any government agency relating to planning, zoning, and construction standards to ensure that the proposed housing project does not have a significant adverse impact on wetlands or natural stormwater infrastructure. Requires an environmental assessment for actions under the environmental impact statements law that propose any development that would impact wetlands or natural stormwater infrastructure. Takes effect 3/22/2075. (SD1)