Sen. Brenton Awa

Allows a person who has been convicted of 3 misdemeanors committed in Ewa Beach, Kapolei, or Waianae, to be sentenced to a term of geographic restriction during which the person is prohibited during certain hours from entering the specific area where the acts occurred. Mandates a sentence of imprisonment for 30 days for a violation of the geographic restriction.

Maddy summarySB 1241 creates a tax exemption for certain medical services, including dental care, by removing a general excise tax that would otherwise apply. This directly affects medical providers who offer these services, as they will no longer owe the tax on qualifying treatments. The bill establishes specific exemptions for services like dental care, reducing their tax burden under current law. It does not change patient costs but alters the tax obligation for healthcare providers offering these services.

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 655 designates September 2nd of each year as "Richard 'Buffalo' Keaulana Day" to honor Richard Keaulana's contributions. This commemorative bill has no policy provisions or direct impact on laws, programs, or specific groups. It is purely symbolic, recognizing an individual through an annual observance. The bill was introduced and passed first reading in January 2025, with no further legislative action noted.

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 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.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a procedural resolution scheduling a formal address by Hawaii's Chief Justice. It directs the state legislature to convene in joint session on January 23, 2025, at 10 a.m. to hear the Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court deliver the annual "State of the Judiciary" address. The resolution does not change laws or affect constituents; it merely sets a date for this routine legislative tradition. A certified copy will be sent to Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald.

Establishes the State Permitting Office within the Department of Transportation to process building and infrastructure permits for construction of state-owned buildings, state roads and highways, and other construction on state lands. Appropriates moneys.

Maddy summarySB 186 removes existing inspection requirements for motor carrier vehicles operating in the state. This bill directly affects commercial trucking companies and other businesses that operate large vehicles for transportation. The key provision is the repeal of current inspection mandates, which would eliminate a specific regulatory burden for these operators. The bill is currently in early stages, having been introduced on January 13, 2025.