Sen. Chris Lee

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges government agencies to redevelop the Pali Lanes property in Kailua, Oahu, to preserve its historic mid-century architecture and maintain it as a community space for recreation and cultural activities. The bill directly affects residents of Kailua and Windward Oahu by advocating for affordable public use of the site, which closed in 2021 after serving as a community hub for over sixty years. Key provisions request that if the property is not renovated for public benefit, the Department of Land and Natural Resources evaluate acquiring the land to ensure it remains available for community use. The resolution also asks that copies be sent to relevant officials and the property owner, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution urges government authorities to redevelop the Pali Lanes property in Kailua, Oahu, to preserve its historic mid-century architecture and provide recreational, cultural, and community-serving uses for local residents. The bill highlights that the facility served the community for sixty years before closing in 2021 and notes concerns about for-profit redevelopment proposals that could limit public access. It requests that if public benefit redevelopment does not occur, the Department of Land and Natural Resources evaluate acquiring the property to maintain it for public use. The resolution also directs copies to relevant state officials and community leaders involved in the property's future.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Education and Board of Education to create a plan for transitioning public school buses to electric models. The bill cites existing state laws requiring greenhouse gas reduction and energy independence as the legal basis for this initiative. It references successful examples from other districts, such as Oakland, where electric buses have shown benefits like longer lifespans, lower operating costs, improved air quality, and enhanced disaster response capabilities. The resolution requests that the education agencies collaborate with stakeholders and submit a report with findings and a proposed implementation plan to the Legislature by early 2027.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Education to submit a report on its farm-to-school program and local food procurement efforts. The bill requires the department to detail how its purchasing aligns with state regional kitchen investments and to provide data on current local food buying levels across different islands and product categories. It also requests information on barriers preventing local farmers from participating in school meals, the status of federal grant applications, and recommendations for improving procurement processes. The report aims to help the legislature understand how well the state is utilizing public investments to support local agriculture and food security.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges Hawaii's Department of Education and Board of Education to create a plan for transitioning school buses used for public transportation to electric models. The bill cites existing state laws requiring greenhouse gas reduction and energy independence as the legal basis for this request. It calls for collaboration with districts that have already made the switch, such as Oakland, to evaluate potential benefits including reduced emissions, lower operating costs, improved air quality, and enhanced disaster response capabilities. The resolution requires a report with findings and recommendations to be submitted to the Legislature by the end of 2026.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Education to submit a detailed report to the Legislature on its farm-to-school program and local food procurement efforts. The report should cover current local food purchasing levels, how school meal operations align with regional kitchen infrastructure, and any barriers preventing small and mid-sized farms from participating. It also asks for information on the Department's use of federal farm-to-school grants and a plan for future grant participation. The goal is to gather data that can help coordinate statewide efforts to strengthen local food supply chains and support local agriculture.

Establishes the Future Career and Technical Education Teacher Scholarship Program to be administered by the Department of Education to facilitate the recruitment and retention of career and technical education teachers in Hawaii public schools. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes a two-year Mental Health Emerging Therapies Pilot Program within the Office of Wellness and Resilience. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summarySB 3250 designates March 5 of every year as "Liberty and Justice Day" for public observance. This ceremonial bill does not create new laws, affect specific groups, or alter government programs. It simply establishes an annual date for recognizing liberty and justice themes. As a procedural resolution, it has no direct policy impact beyond the designated observance.

Requires a digital application store provider to verify the age of users, require parental consent for users under sixteen years of age to download or purchase, or make a purchase on, a social media platform, and distribute that information to social media platforms. Requires social media platforms to obtain the age information from digital application store providers, determine whether parental consent has been provided for young persons, and take reasonable steps to identify young person users through their algorithms. Effective 1/1/2077. (HD2)