Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks the Office of the Auditor to perform a performance audit of the Plant Industry Division within the Department of Agriculture. The audit will specifically examine the Plant Pest Control Branch and the Plant Quarantine Branch, which are responsible for managing invasive species and protecting Hawaii's agriculture and environment. The request stems from previous findings that these branches have faced staffing shortages and have not fully implemented all recommendations from a 2017 audit. By conducting this review, the legislature aims to assess how well the division is executing its biosecurity duties and whether it has addressed past concerns regarding operational capacity and risk management.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Agriculture to adopt proposed rule changes that would give the agency stronger authority to stop the spread of invasive pests like the coconut rhinoceros beetle, coqui frog, and little fire ants. The key provision would allow the department to legally prevent the sale of merchandise, such as plants, that are known to be infested with these pests, moving beyond its current practice of relying on voluntary compliance from sellers. While the rules would apply to businesses selling directly to the public, they would not restrict sales at farms or ranches that do not sell on-site. The resolution also requests that copies of this urging be sent to the Governor, the Board of Agriculture, and county mayors.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges the Hawaii Community Development Authority to create a multiagency working group to update state land inventories for affordable housing development. The group will review existing maps and data to identify urban lands suitable for new housing, focusing on redeveloping underutilized state properties and aiming to accommodate one hundred thousand new units. Membership includes representatives from various state agencies and county mayors, with the group tasked to submit findings and legislative recommendations to the Legislature by early 2025.

Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study on how certain other states approach the following subjects as they relate to condominiums: an ombudsman, licenses for management, alternative dispute resolution, governmental regulation, owner education, and owner access to documents. Extends the deadline for the final report and the cease date for the Condominium Property Regime Task Force to 6/30/2026. Makes appropriations. (CD1)

Amends the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code to provide for a process to dispose of the tenant's personal property and surrender the dwelling unit to a landlord when there is a death of a tenant. Takes effect 11/1/2024. (CD1)

Establishes another means for a housing project to seek an exemption from laws and rules of the State that are developed under various programs of the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation. (CD1)

Amends the deadline related to the repair of conditions that constitute health or safety violations. Increases the amount deducted from a tenant's rent for the tenant's actual expenditures to correct health or safety violations and defective conditions. Takes effect 11/1/2024. (CD1)

Authorizes the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation to issue bonds for housing project infrastructure and finance the development of regional state infrastructure projects. Exempts bonds issued by HHFDC for improvements by assessments, and the interest thereon, from state, county, and municipal taxation, with certain exceptions. Includes proceeds from bonds issued for regional state infrastructure projects as a source of revenue for regional state infrastructure subaccounts. Authorizes the cost of providing regional infrastructure improvements to be assessed against housing and mixed-use transit-oriented development projects specifically benefiting from the improvements when a regional infrastructure improvement project is undertaken by the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Authorizes regional state infrastructure subaccount revenues to be used to repay regional state infrastructure project bond holders. (CD1)

Clarifies the counties' authority to regulate the time, place, manner, and duration in which uses of land and structures may take place. Clarifies that uses that include the provision of transient accommodations are not considered residential uses and may be phased out or amortized by the counties. Beginning 1/1/2025, expands the scope of the transient accommodations tax law to include certain shelters and vehicles with sleeping accommodations. (CD1)

Establishes a new regulatory framework for the sale of travel insurance in the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)