Prohibits the sale of tickets at higher price than the original price charged by the primary venue ticket provider for events held in the State. Repeals provisions relating to ticket brokers. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)
Maddy summarySB 178 would allocate state funds to the Department of Education to help public schools establish surfing as an official interscholastic sport. It directly affects public high schools that choose to add surfing to their athletic programs and students who would participate in school-sponsored surfing teams. The bill provides funding support for this new program but does not require schools to adopt it. The measure remains pending in committee after being introduced in January 2025.
Part I: Renames the Department of Agriculture to the "Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity". Renames the Board of Agriculture to the "Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity" and amends the composition of the Board. Part II: Establishes and appropriates funds for a Deputy Director of Biosecurity. Part III: Changes references to the plant and animal declaration form to the "biosecurity form". Part IV: Authorizes and specifies conditions under which the Department may declare a biosecurity emergency, during which the Department and Governor may take certain actions to prevent the establishment or spread of pests and prohibited or restricted organisms. Authorizes the Chairperson of the Board to quarantine an area under certain conditions. Broadens the objectives and general actions of the Biosecurity Program. Part V: Requires the Department to establish and regularly update an invasive species dashboard. Authorizes pest management plans to address, contain, or eradicate pests. Part VI: Appropriates funds for positions for the Department. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
Establishes a regulatory framework specifically for pet insurance based on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Pet Insurance Model Act.
Proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit discrimination against a person because of ethnicity, age, disability, religion, national ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes. (SD1)
Requires the Executive Office on Early Learning to establish an Imagination Library of Hawaii Program to provide one free book each month to children from birth through five years of age who reside in the State. Appropriates funds.
Requires the licensing of sellers of ammunition, and for the identification and proper permitting of purchasers or possessors of ammunition. Regulates ammunition in the same manner that firearms are regulated.
Requires the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to allow any resident of a public housing project or state low-income housing project to keep one or more pet animals in the resident's unit, subject to applicable state laws, county ordinances, and any reasonable conditions. Provides that HPHA may charge a refundable deposit for each pet animal but shall not impose a monthly pet fee or pet rent. Allows HPHA to remove a vicious animal to protect persons or property. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds.
Requires the Department of Health to develop a service availability form to be completed by covered entities to convey to patients and the public certain health care services unavailable at the entity before 12/1/2026, and to publish and maintain on its website a list of covered entities and the service availability form submitted by each covered entity before 02/1/2027. Requires the Department of Health to adopt rules, including a process for receiving and investigating complaints and assessing fines against covered entities in violation. Requires each covered entity to submit a completed service availability form to the Department of Health, adopt certain relevant policies by 2/1/2027, provide patients with their current service availability form as part of the informed consent process before initiating a health care service, and maintain a record of the patient's receipt of the form beginning 2/1/2027. Establishes penalties.
Maddy summarySB 123 eliminates a tax deduction for home mortgage interest on second homes under Hawaii's income tax law. This change directly affects Hawaii residents who currently claim this deduction for properties not used as their primary residence. The bill requires the state to submit annual reports to the Legislature detailing the deduction's impact. These provisions represent a specific policy change to Hawaii's tax code, removing a financial benefit for second-home owners.
