Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole

Requires any disposition of more than one thousand acres of public lands to governments by the Board of Land and Natural Resources to be subject to approval by a majority vote of both houses of the Legislature. Requires the government seeking the disposition of the public land to submit for introduction to the Legislature a resolution containing certain information. Requires a copy of the draft resolution to be sent to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Maddy summarySB 2496 appropriates state funds to the Executive Office on Early Learning to administer support for family-child interaction learning programs. It directly affects early childhood education providers and families participating in these programs by providing dedicated funding. The key mechanism is the allocation of specific budget resources to the Executive Office, which will distribute funds to eligible local programs focused on parent-child engagement. This bill does not change program requirements but ensures financial support for existing early learning initiatives.

Clarifies that a member can distribute each vote they are entitled to among any or all of the candidates for a planned community association or condominium association board election conducted by cumulative voting. Defines "candidate".

Requires the Attorney General to designate safe community places. Prohibits employees at safe community places from providing voluntary consent to federal law enforcement agents for operations that identify or seek to identify apprehend, arrest, or impose any other penalty for activities protected by the First Amendment or immigration enforcement.

Amends section 150A-58, Hawaii Revised Statute, to clarify that signatory industries to a biosecurity government-industry agreement shall not be liable for costs related to performing activities pursuant to the agreement. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish a working group that comprises signatories of the biosecurity government-industry agreements for joint-decision making.

Extends the period during which a surety, surety insurer, or bail agent may file a motion or application to set aside the bond or recognizance forfeiture from thirty days to ninety days. Ensures that proper notice of a bail forfeiture judgment is provided to a surety or bail agent. Affirms that a judge may impose financial conditions of release and maintain full discretion to consider individual circumstances. Allows a surety or bail agent to apply to set aside a forfeiture, even if a prior motion has been filed. Subjects bail bond forfeiture proceedings to Rule 60 of the Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure. Prohibits forfeiture from being ordered in any felony case.

Requires the Director of Finance to consider, before the selection of a depository for the state treasury, the beneficial effects to the State of using depositories within the State, including but not limited to lending at favorable terms for the creation of certain affordable housing units. Effective 7/1/2050.

Requires all managing agents of cooperative housing corporations, planned community associations, and condominiums to distribute information received regarding educational opportunities or seminars electronically to the board of directors of the cooperative housing corporation, planned community association, or condominium.

Maddy summarySB 2296 expands the legal definition of "condominium association" under Hawaii law to explicitly include associations organized under HRS Chapter 421J. This change directly affects homeowners' associations (HOAs) operating under Chapter 421J, bringing them under the same regulatory framework as traditional condominium associations. The bill’s key mechanism is amending the definition to ensure these specific HOAs are subject to the same legal rules and oversight. It does not create new requirements but clarifies which associations fall under existing condominium association statutes. The bill was introduced in January 2026 and referred to committee.

Establishes a tax credit for sustainable aviation fuel distribution in Hawaii to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Provides $1 per gallon, increasing by 2 cents per additional 1 per cent emissions reduction, up to $2 per gallon. Caps total credits at $20,000,000 annually, with carryover provisions. Requires reporting to ensure transparency and compliance. Applies to taxable years after December 31, 2025, and sunsets on December 31, 2035.