Sen. Samantha DeCorte

Establishes the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program within the Department of Human Services to assist eligible households in paying their energy bills. Requires the Public Utilities Commission Public Benefits Fee Administrator to provide certain information and assistance to recipients of the program. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summaryHawaii's Senate Resolution 158 requests Congress to call an Article V constitutional convention to propose specific amendments. The resolution asks for amendments focused on imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting federal power and jurisdiction, and establishing term limits for federal officials. It includes conditions that the convention must not consider changes to the Bill of Rights, states must vote one-per-state, and Congress can only perform a ministerial duty to set a time and place for the convention. This is a procedural resolution seeking Congress's action, not a law, and Hawaii states it will continue this application until two-thirds of states join the request.

Maddy summaryHawaii's SCR 140 is a state resolution urging Congress to call an Article V constitutional convention to propose specific amendments. It requests amendments focused on imposing fiscal limits on the federal government, reducing federal power and jurisdiction, and limiting terms for federal officials and Congress members. The resolution specifies strict conditions: the convention must exclude any changes to the Bill of Rights, states must vote one per state, Congress can only call the convention if 34 states apply, and Hawaii reserves the right to recall its delegates. This is a procedural request from Hawaii's legislature, not a direct policy change, seeking to initiate a process that requires broad state support to proceed.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to engage in certain capital improvement projects at state small boat harbors and state parks without prior approval from the Legislature and Governor for existing facilities. Requires quarterly reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 5 years after the effective date. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summarySR 171 is a non-binding Senate resolution urging the City and County of Honolulu to complete the Waianae Police Station. The resolution states that $16 million was already spent on the station's structure (including holding cells, parking, and a radio tower) but an additional $6 million is needed to install necessary infrastructure for full operation. It highlights that the station has been non-functional for about 10 years despite rising homicides in West Oahu - over half of Oahu's 2023-2024 homicides occurred in District Eight (covering West Oahu). The resolution directs copies to the Mayor, Managing Director, and Police Chief to prompt action on completing the station.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 167) requests the U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy to conduct a performance review of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project under its existing federal funding agreement. It cites the project's significant cost overruns (from $5.5 billion to $12.45 billion) and delays (pushed to 2030), noting Hawaii has already provided $3.9 billion in state funding. The resolution specifically asks for an assessment of whether the project is making satisfactory progress toward completion, as required by the Amended Full Funding Grant Agreement. This is a procedural request seeking federal oversight, not a new policy change.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 170) requests the State Auditor to audit how the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) spent $600 million appropriated under Act 279 (2022), which aimed to eliminate a waitlist of over 28,000 native Hawaiian beneficiaries for land and housing. It specifically targets DHHL's compliance with reporting requirements under Act 279, following the department's failure to submit its required 2024 Annual Activity Report detailing fund usage and beneficiary assistance. The audit will verify whether funds were properly allocated to projects like land development and housing, as mandated by Act 279 and the 2020 Beneficiaries Study.

Maddy summarySCR 189 is a procedural resolution requesting the State Auditor to audit how the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) used $600 million in funds appropriated under Act 279 (2022). It specifically requires an audit of DHHL's spending to eliminate the waitlist for native Hawaiian beneficiaries, as the department has not submitted its required Annual Activity Report for 2024. The resolution stems from concerns that over 28,700 beneficiaries remain on the waitlist despite the funding, and DHHL reportedly allocated the full $600 million by early 2025 without proper reporting. This is a transparency measure, not a policy change, directly affecting DHHL's accountability for public funds.

Maddy summarySCR 185 is a concurrent resolution urging the Hawaii Legislature to require mandatory inquiries into all child fatalities and serious injuries involving children in state child welfare services. It directly affects the Department of Human Services (DHS) and child welfare cases, seeking to replace reliance on costly lawsuits with systematic investigations. The resolution requests that DHS conduct these inquiries for every incident, rather than waiting for legal action after harm occurs. It cites numerous past cases where DHS failed to act on warnings, leading to preventable deaths and injuries, but does not create new laws or alter existing policies.

Maddy summarySCR 186 is a Hawaii Senate resolution requesting the Federal Housing Finance Agency to direct Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to reduce or repeal a specific insurance requirement (Guide Section 4703.2) for condominiums. This requirement currently mandates that condo master insurance policies cover 100% of the replacement cost for all common elements and structures. The resolution aims to lower this threshold, directly benefiting Hawaii's approximately 2,000 condo associations and 350,000+ residents facing high insurance costs and financial strain under the current rule. The request seeks to ease the burden of expensive special assessments on unit owners by making insurance more affordable and accessible.