Sen. Dru Kanuha

Maddy summarySB 1199 allows school districts and transportation providers to use motorcoaches, small buses, and vans for student transportation services, provided specific safety and operational conditions are met. This directly affects school districts managing student transportation routes and private contractors offering such services. The bill’s key provision expands vehicle options beyond traditional school buses while requiring compliance with established safety standards. It aims to provide flexibility in transportation planning without altering existing safety regulations.

Establishes a Teacher Workforce Housing Stipend Program to support teacher retention at public and charter schools classified as rural and underserved. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a statewide financial literacy curricula plan for public high schools. Requires all public high schools to offer instruction in financial literacy as a requirement for graduation. Requires the Department of Education to provide professional development to teachers on financial literacy. Requires the Board of Education to adopt administrative rules to implement the financial literacy education curriculum.

Requires all health care providers who accept Medicare to provide a cognitive assessment as part of the Medicare Part B annual wellness visit for Medicare beneficiaries sixty-five years of age or older, with certain exceptions. Requires health care providers to submit certain information to the Executive Office on Aging and the Executive Office on Aging to report de-identified aggregated data to the Legislature on an annual basis. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2026.

Adopts the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact to regulate the practice of telepsychology and temporary in-person, facetoface practice of psychology by psychologists across state boundaries in the performance of their psychological practice. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules to implement and administer the Compact. Effective 1/1/2026.

Establishes the State-Owned Historic Properties Preservation Plan Working Group within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to ensure the preservation of state-owned historic properties and inherited lands. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Beginning 7/1/2027, requires app store providers to determine the age category for each of their users in the State and verify their age; provide a mechanism for parents to block minors from downloading unsuitable apps; and obtain parental consent before allowing a minor to use their app store or download and purchase apps. Requires certain app store providers to provide parents with a mechanism to set filters and usage limits for minors. Requires certain app store providers to display age ratings and content description for each app available in their app store. Establishes age verification and parental consent requirements for certain app developers. Establishes violations as unfair or deceptive act or practice. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules no later than 7/1/2026.

Maddy summarySB 143 authorizes the state to issue special license plates commemorating the island of Kahoolawe. This bill directly affects vehicle owners who may choose to purchase these commemorative plates. It is a procedural bill with no complex mechanisms, simply enabling the creation of these plates to honor Kahoolawe.

Maddy summarySB 1603 appropriates state funds for capital improvement projects within the Third Senatorial District. It directly affects residents and local infrastructure in that district by allocating money for physical upgrades like roads, buildings, or public facilities. The bill does not create new policies or regulations but provides financial resources for specific local projects. As a funding measure, it is limited to the Third District's needs without broader statewide implications.

Authorizes departments to issue permits for the development of multi-family rental housing projects on state or county land that was used for a multi-family rental housing project before a state emergency.