Sen. Tim Richards

Maddy summaryThis bill (SCR 112) is a ceremonial resolution requesting the City and County of Honolulu to illuminate City Hall with purple lights on August 7, 2025. It honors National Purple Heart Day, recognizing military service members injured or killed in action who have received the Purple Heart medal. The resolution does not create new laws or policies; it simply asks Honolulu to display purple lights as a symbolic tribute on this specific date. The request is directed at the City and County of Honolulu, not a new legislative requirement.

Establishes the Mixed-Income Subaccount within the Rental Housing Revolving Fund that targets workforce rental housing projects for persons and families with incomes at or below one hundred forty per cent of the area median income. Authorizes the Director of Finance to transfer funds from the Rental Housing Revolving Fund into the Mixed-Income Subaccount. Appropriates funds into and out of the Mixed-Income Subaccount of the Rental Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summarySCR 135 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution urging all Hawaii state departments to establish secure data-sharing agreements with the Office of Wellness and Resilience. It directs departments to collaborate on sharing deidentified, aggregated data to help the Office integrate information across agencies. This aims to overcome current data silos, enabling a more comprehensive analysis of community needs through the existing Quality of Life and Well-Being Dashboard. The resolution emphasizes protecting resident privacy while supporting evidence-based program development.

Maddy summarySB 328 creates a state income tax credit for farmers who convert dairy farms to hog farms, covering capital infrastructure costs like building modifications. It directly affects dairy farmers planning such conversions by reducing their tax burden for eligible expenses. The credit becomes effective July 1, 3000, as specified in the bill's abstract. This policy change provides a financial incentive for agricultural land-use shifts without altering existing tax rates or creating new regulatory requirements.

Maddy summarySCR 93 is a concurrent resolution (not binding legislation) urging Hawaii's Governor, state agencies, and county mayors to integrate Native Hawaiian knowledge into climate policy. It specifically calls for incorporating *ike kupuna* (traditional ecological knowledge) and the Hawaiian language (*Olelo Hawaii*) into climate adaptation, mitigation, and resiliency planning. The resolution emphasizes that meaningful inclusion of Indigenous knowledge is essential for achieving a "just climate future," referencing Hawaii's constitutional protections for traditional practices and the Pacific-wide Tuurama Ariki Declaration. It directs the state to develop goals that purposefully integrate this knowledge into decision-making processes, without changing existing laws or creating new requirements.

Maddy summaryHawaii's SCR 56 is a resolution urging the U.S. government to develop a national biodiversity strategy. It highlights Hawaii's status as home to over 550 endangered species (25% of the U.S. total) and its receipt of only 3% of federal conservation funding. The resolution specifically requests the U.S. establish a strategy that sets conservation targets, coordinates federal agencies, and promotes equitable conservation efforts. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws but formally requests federal action to address the biodiversity crisis threatening ecosystems, cultural practices, and community well-being.

Maddy summarySCR 141 is a non-binding resolution urging Hawaii's Department of Agriculture to collaborate with the Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) to access existing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant programs. It specifically targets funding opportunities that support local farmers, ranchers, and aquaculture groups to advance Hawaii's agricultural sustainability goals, including increasing local food production by 2030. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but formally requests interagency coordination to help agricultural entities secure USDA grants. It references Hawaii's 2050 Sustainability Plan and the Aloha+ Challenge as context for this collaboration.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 164) requests the Department of Agriculture to adopt rules permitting rodeos on lands legally zoned for agricultural use. It directly affects ranchers, event organizers, and communities seeking to host rodeos on working farmland. The key provision is a formal request for the Department to create specific regulations allowing these events, rather than directly authorizing them. The resolution cites Hawaii's historical paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) culture as context but does not change existing land-use laws. It is a procedural request, not a binding law.

Establishes the Agricultural Enforcement Program within the Department of Law Enforcement. Establishes the Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 88) requests Hawaii's Department of Agriculture to create a pilot program testing microbial algae-based soil products on farms. It specifically targets small to medium-sized farms (10-100 acres) with certain crop types, soil health issues, or organic operations. The program requires collaboration with the University of Hawaii's College of Tropical Agriculture and mandates a report to the legislature by 2026 detailing findings and potential long-term use of these products. The goal is to reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers, improve soil health, and support sustainable agriculture without imposing new regulations.