Maddy summarySCR 54 is a resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources to convene a Desalination Planning Task Force to study whether desalination (converting seawater to fresh water) could feasibly meet the state's large-scale water needs. The task force, composed of state and county water officials, health representatives, and cultural advisors, will assess water demand, environmental impacts of desalination plants, cultural site protections, and how it might support water resilience after events like the Red Hill contamination. It must report findings and recommendations to the legislature by 2026, including potential policy changes. This resolution does not enact new law but directs a study to inform future water management decisions.
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Authorizes the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture to adopt, amend, and repeal rules to develop an assessment and approval process to import and move aquatic livestock in the State. Requires the Aquaculture Program to develop a biological aquatic risk-based framework and biocontainment standards for the aquatic livestock assessment and approval process. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Prohibits a procurement officer from disclosing a competing offeror's proposal or evaluation score, except the summary of scores, during a debriefing requested by a non-selected offeror. Authorizes the disclosure of a competing offeror's proposal or evaluation score after any protest is resolved and the contract is executed. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Requires the Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Office of Wellness and Resilience, to design a five-year Child Welfare System Diversion and Intervention Pilot Program to support families and children involved, at risk of involvement, or at risk of reinvolvement with Child Welfare Services. Specifies that the Department of Human Services shall implement and administer the pilot program. Allows the Department to contract with public and private entities to provide necessary services. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Amends the membership and responsibilities of the Public Land Trust Working Group established under Act 226, SLH 2022. Requires the Working Group to submit four reports to the Legislature: by 8/1/2026, a first interim report regarding the public land trust inventory; by 12/1/2026, a second interim report regarding Act 178, SLH 2006, financial reporting and accounting; by 6/1/2027, a preliminary draft settlement of the income and proceeds from OHA's pro rata portion of the public land trust; and by 10/1/2027, a final report that includes a final draft settlement. Requires the State, OHA, and other applicable parties to begin preliminary negotiations regarding the final draft settlement by 10/1/2027. Appropriates funds for the Legislative Reference Bureau to retain independent third-party professionals for the Working Group and requires matching funds from OHA. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
Maddy summarySCR 117 is a concurrent resolution urging the Hawaii Department of Education to collaborate with the Department of Transportation, Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee, and the County of Hawaii to conduct a safety inventory of school bus stops on Hawaii Island. It directs this collaboration to assess specific safety factors - including sidewalks, lighting, traffic patterns, and hazards - at stops used by students traveling to school, and to develop improvement strategies. The resolution requires a report with prioritized safety recommendations to be submitted to the Legislature by January 2026. This affects Hawaii Island students, particularly those in rural or underserved areas relying on school transportation.
Maddy summarySB 299 proposes to appropriate funds for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program. This bill is designed to provide financial assistance to healthcare professionals by helping them repay their education loans. The funding aims to support the healthcare workforce by making loan repayment programs available to eligible professionals.
Amends the definition of "eligible business activity" for State Enterprise Zone Program purposes to include retail sales of tangible personal property manufactured and sold in the enterprise zone to the final consumer, the processing of value-added agricultural products grown within an enterprise zone, the provision of professional services by health care professionals in health-care-related sectors, the use of advanced manufacturing to produce products, or the development of cybersecurity technology. Extends the eligibility period of the state business tax credit and general excise tax exemption for qualified businesses within state enterprise zones from 7 years to 9 years. Extends the eligibility period of the general excise tax exemption for qualified businesses within state enterprise zones engaged in the manufacturing of tangible personal property or the producing or processing of agricultural products from 10 years to 12 years. Makes the extension of the state business tax credit eligibility period applicable to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. Makes the extension of the general excise tax exemption eligibility period take effect on 1/1/2027. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Maddy summarySB 298 proposes to appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services. These funds are specifically designated to increase financial support for Medicaid in-home services, directly affecting individuals who receive these services. The bill aims to enhance the resources available for in-home care through Medicaid. It is currently set to become effective on July 1, 3000.
Maddy summarySCR 16 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Health to form a task force focused on developing minimum professional standards for community health worker (CHW) training programs. The task force must include representatives from each county's CHWs, health institutions (like the Hawaii Public Health Institute), housing authorities, healthcare associations, and community organizations. The resolution requires the task force to submit a report with recommendations to the Legislature by January 2026, no later than 20 days before the 2026 legislative session begins. This bill directly affects CHW training programs across Hawaii by initiating a process to establish standardized training requirements.