Sen. Tim Richards

Requires the Agribusiness Development Corporation to develop a succession planning education program to educate and assist farmers and ranchers in the process of transitioning agricultural businesses to new owners. Requires the program to connect individuals interested in entering farming or ranching, or existing farmers or ranchers interested in expanding their business, with farmers and ranchers who have not yet identified a successor owner. Appropriates funds.

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to identify sites throughout the State that are suitable for the development of slaughterhouses. Requires the Agribusiness Development Corporation to plan, design, construct, and operate certain animal slaughterhouses throughout the State. Makes appropriations.

Maddy summarySB 567 establishes an income tax credit for individuals who pay for medically-related travel expenses not covered by insurance. The bill directly affects residents who incur out-of-pocket costs for transportation related to medical care, such as trips to specialists or treatment facilities. Key provisions allow these individuals to reduce their state income tax liability by claiming the credit for eligible travel costs. This policy change provides a concrete financial benefit for people facing uncovered medical transportation expenses.

Authorizes a county with a pre-existing surcharge to continue the surcharge after December 31, 2030, at a lower rate of one-fourth per cent. Authorizes counties that have not adopted a surcharge ordinance on state tax to adopt a surcharge ordinance at the current rate of one-half of one per cent through December 31, 2030, and at a rate of one-fourth of one per cent after December 31, 2030. Expands the authorized use of surcharge revenues to more than capital costs of a locally preferred alternative for a mass transit project for counties with a population greater than five hundred thousand.

Requires lot owners in subdivisions that are not planned communities to pay for the repair and maintenance of subdivision roads. Authorizes counties to assess and collect fees for repair and maintenance of subdivision roads if no courtappointed or deeddesignated entity is authorized to do so. Requires counties to provide certain services to associations. Restricts provisions to counties having a population greater than 200,000 but less than 500,000. Extends the reporting date and sunset date for the working group established pursuant to Act 200, SLH 2022. Appropriates moneys.

Clarifies the level of environmental restoration owners and operators of underground storage tanks or tank systems that had a confirmed release must satisfy by requiring the removal of all jet fuel, including fuel additives and all compounds resulting from the degradation of jet fuel or jet fuel additives or the reaction of jet fuel or jet fuel additives with water or other chemicals. Establishes a rebuttable presumption that the detection of these contaminants in the vicinity of an underground storage tank or a tank system after a confirmed release is a result of the confirmed release.

Establishes a Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Fee Program to be administered by the Department of Agriculture that, beginning 1/1/2026, imposes a fee on the distribution and sale of sugar-sweetened beverages in the State. Establishes the Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Fee Special Fund. Requires moneys in the Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Fee Special Fund to be expended for the Hawaii Healthy Food Incentive Program and administration of the Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Fee Program. Allows the Department to contract with a third-party to administer the program. Requires the Auditor to conduct a management and financial audit of the program. Requires the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture to adopt rules by 12/31/2025. Establishes criminal and civil penalties. Requires reports to the Legislature and the Governor. Appropriates funds.

Raises the minimum age to enter into marriage from sixteen to eighteen years of age. Repeals the authority of parents and the family court to consent to a minor's marriage. Repeals spousal cohabitation after the parties attain legal age as an exception for an annulment based on nonage. Makes conforming amendments.

Directs the Hawaii State Energy Office, in conjunction with the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, to conduct a feasibility study for the construction of an atmospheric carbon capture plant in the State. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Prohibits any person from charging any fees on a transient accommodation or resort time share vacation interest, plan, or unit that were not disclosed before the time of purchase. Requires a person to clearly and conspicuously display a rate or price that includes all fees to be charged at the time of purchase in each advertisement for a transient accommodation or resort time share vacation interest, plan, or unit. Requires any taxes and fees that are displayed as a percentage of the cost on a booking transaction also be displayed as a dollar amount at the time of purchase.