Sen. Tim Richards

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to expand and strengthen programs focused on financial literacy, credit readiness, and homeownership preparedness for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries. The resolution asks the department to partner with financial educators, credit counselors, and lenders to provide pre-award education, post-award support, culturally responsive materials, and to explore additional funding sources. The department is also required to submit a detailed report to the Legislature by early 2027 outlining program improvements, participant numbers, and measurable outcomes related to lease stability and credit improvement.

Maddy summaryThis bill urges the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to submit an annual report on the Hawaii Genuine Progress Indicator (HI GPI) to the state Legislature, starting with the 2027 session. The HI GPI is a measurement tool that evaluates economic, social, and environmental well-being beyond traditional metrics like GDP. The report must be delivered at least 30 days before each legislative session and include detailed findings on trends, methodology, and policy implications related to the state's overall progress. The bill requires the department to make the report publicly available online and send copies to relevant legislative committee chairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate concurrent resolution that urges the Board of Land and Natural Resources to extend Mauna Kea land leases and subleases for an additional ten years. It directly affects the Board of Land and Natural Resources, the University of Hawaii, the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, and the entities operating telescope observatories on the mountain. The resolution recommends extending the master lease between the Board and the University of Hawaii, as well as all subleases used for astronomical research, which are currently set to expire in 2033. This measure does not change existing laws but requests the Board to consider extending the current agreements without legal barriers.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution urges Hawaii state agencies to create a statewide peer counselor program for high school students to address youth loneliness and social disconnection. The program would involve trained student peer counselors who receive standardized instruction in active listening, ethical boundaries, and culturally responsive practices to help identify and support students experiencing isolation. Key provisions include collaboration between the Department of Education, Department of Health, and Office of Wellness and Resilience, with the Hawaii State Youth Commission providing input on program design and evaluation. The resolution emphasizes face-to-face peer relationships and clear referral pathways to licensed mental health professionals while maintaining centralized oversight across the state's public education system.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources to transfer ownership of specific public land parcels to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. The bill identifies two particular tax map keys - (3) 4-1-6:7 and (3) 2-6-18:1 - that would change from state land management to agricultural department control. The transfer would follow existing state laws and constitutional requirements for using public lands to support farming and homeownership. Both state boards must approve the transaction before the land ownership officially changes hands.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a formal request from the Hawaii Senate asking the U.S. President and Congress to release all federal records related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigations, with redactions only to protect victims' privacy and safety. It directly affects federal agencies holding Epstein-related documents and calls for greater transparency in how these records are handled. The resolution criticizes current Department of Justice actions for allegedly over-redacting names of individuals involved while under-redacting victim information, and urges Congress to investigate all implicated parties. It does not create new laws but serves as an official appeal for federal officials to take specific actions regarding document disclosure and accountability.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and the Department of Law Enforcement to strengthen penalties and enforcement actions against dog attacks on livestock. It directly affects farmers and ranchers who raise animals in Hawaii, aiming to address financial losses from uncontrolled dogs harming their herds. The resolution does not change laws directly but formally requests state agencies to review and enhance their existing measures for protecting livestock from dog attacks. It highlights the economic importance of livestock production and the severe impacts of dog attacks on producers. The document is a formal request rather than a law, so it has no immediate legal effect pending agency response.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Education to provide free school meals to all enrolled students, regardless of their family's income or eligibility for federal meal programs, starting in the 2029-2030 school year. The bill does not authorize funding or mandate implementation but serves as a formal request to the state education agency to consider universal free meals as a policy option. It builds on existing state legislation that has already expanded free meal eligibility to certain income groups in recent years. The resolution aims to address food insecurity among students by ensuring consistent access to nutritious meals across all schools in the state.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests the Department of Law Enforcement to expand an existing agricultural enforcement pilot program to the islands of Kauai and Maui. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies and farmers across Hawaii who face challenges from agricultural crimes such as trespassing, theft, and vandalism. The key provision is a formal request to extend the pilot program's scope from its current locations on Hawaii and Oahu to include Kauai and Maui, aiming to strengthen enforcement efforts in those areas. This resolution does not create new laws or penalties but instead asks the department to apply an already established program to additional islands.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to conduct a study on Hawaii's food manufacturing strengths and identify strategic markets for local high-value products. The study will analyze competitive advantages, calculate minimum profit margins needed to overcome Hawaii's high operational costs, and assess logistical barriers to exporting. It also asks the University of Hawaii to update its curriculum to teach entrepreneurs how to engineer products for premium export markets and requires the Agribusiness Development Corporation to use findings to guide future facility development.