Sen. Samantha DeCorte

Maddy summarySB 1239 prohibits golf courses from using municipal drinking water for irrigation, directly affecting golf course operators and owners in communities that supply potable water. The bill defines "potable water" for clarity and allows limited exceptions for specific situations. This policy change aims to conserve drinkable water resources by restricting its use on non-essential landscaping.

Maddy summarySB 791 prohibits the use of specific food dye additives in meals served to students through the state Department of Education and charter schools. It directly affects public and charter schools by banning certain artificial dyes from their meal programs. The key provision requires schools to remove these additives from all food items provided as part of school meals. This bill focuses solely on school nutrition standards, without impacting other food sales or requiring new labeling.

Prohibits certain foreign parties from owning, purchasing, or acquiring an interest in lands located with 10 miles of a military installation or land within the State. Establishes an Office of Intelligence within the Department of Defense to investigate claims that land is unlawfully owned by a prohibited foreign party. Requires the Attorney General to undertake enforcement activities. Appropriates moneys.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a food waste composting pilot project at Nanakuli High and Intermediate School. Appropriates moneys.

Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to establish the Interstate Collaboration on Homelessness to discourage sending unsupported homeless individuals to other states and territories. Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to enter into formal agreements with other states to reimburse costs associated with relocated homeless individuals. Appropriates funds.

Requires condominiums and planned community associations to issue monthly damage and repair reports, have a reserve study done every 3 years, have a fully funded reserve, and only spend reserve funds to maintain the property.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires the Department of Education to require the teaching of financial literacy to be included in the existing personal transition plan requirement for each student.

Appropriates funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop, construct, and support facilities that can accommodate shock aging processes for meat products. Appropriates funds into and out of the Hawaii Agricultural Development Revolving Fund for programmatic funding relating to facilities using shock aging processes for meat products. Authorizes the Agribusiness Development Corporation to contract with existing and future slaughterhouses in the State.

Establishes the hike safe card program and search and rescue special fund to be administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Requires government entities to seek reimbursement for all or a portion of search or rescue expenses when the person or entity knowingly enters state, county, or private property, knowingly enters a hiking trail that is closed to the public, or violates applicable laws, provided that the closure is posted by sign, barricade, or other device that gives reasonable notice of the closure. Exempts persons who possess a hike safe card from search and rescue cost reimbursement, under certain conditions. Requires counties and the State Fire Council to adopt ordinances or rules as necessary to pursue reimbursements. Raises the penalty for criminal trespass from a petty misdemeanor to a misdemeanor. Makes appropriations.

Establishes a working group within the Department of Agriculture to develop a plan that creates an educational pathway in the University of Hawaii community college system to equip interested students with the necessary entry level knowledge, skill set, expertise, and advancement potential in the field of meat processing. Require reports to the Legislature.