Sen. Troy Hashimoto

Establishes additional requirements to revoke or make changes relating to agents under powers of attorney of principals diagnosed with cognitive deficits. Requires submittals to the Adult Protective and Community Service Branch of the Department of Human Services. Requires the Branch to issue a notice of receipt to the principal and any person initiating the change. Establishes a mandatory waiting period before any proposed change takes effect. Establishes an expedited process for a court order granting an emergency change to a power of attorney.

Amends the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit by requiring the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to publish on its website the names of the qualified productions and the amount of the tax credits certified per qualified production per filing year.

By 1/1/2028, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a family and medical leave insurance program and begin collecting payroll contributions to finance payment of benefits. By 1/1/2029, requires the Department to start receiving claims and paying benefits under the program. Specifies eligibility requirements and employee protections under the program.

Maddy summarySB 832 requires health insurance companies to align their prior authorization processes with Medicare's established policies. This directly affects health insurers and their policyholders who need pre-approval for medical treatments, services, or medications. The key provision mandates insurers to adopt Medicare’s standards for when prior authorization is required, reducing inconsistent or unnecessary delays in care. The bill aims to simplify the process for patients by standardizing rules across insurers, though it does not change Medicare’s own policies.

Maddy summarySB 1151 simplifies the legal process for determining parentage when using assisted reproductive technologies (like IVF or surrogacy). It directly affects intended parents, donors, and surrogates by replacing complex court procedures with a streamlined, administrative method. The bill establishes a clear, faster pathway to establish legal parentage without requiring court involvement in most cases. This change aims to reduce delays and legal costs for families formed through assisted reproduction.

Prohibits the sale of flavored nicotine products and the mislabeling of e-liquids as nicotine free. Establishes penalties for violations. Authorizes the Department of Health to appoint, commission, or contract for services of inspectors. Establishes two full-time equivalent program specialist positions and one full-time equivalent hearing officer position. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2026.

Requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority and School of Travel Industry Management at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to collaborate to actively plan for the design, construction, and operations and management of a state hotel. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Maddy summarySB 1021 bans the keeping or breeding of whales, dolphins, and porpoises (cetaceans) in captivity, except in specific circumstances outlined by the bill. This directly affects marine parks, aquariums, and facilities that currently house or breed these animals. The key provision prohibits most captive breeding and holding operations, though it allows exceptions for research, rescue, or other defined purposes. The bill represents a significant policy shift toward restricting cetacean captivity in the state.

Grants the Public Utilities Commission the ability to authorize preferential rates for the purchase of renewable energy from facilities that meet certain prevailing wage requirements. Requires public utilities to forward certain requests for preferential rates to the PUC for approval. Appropriates funds.

Authorizes school complexes to incorporate media literacy in their standards-based curriculum, including content that prevents negative impacts of misinformation, disinformation, digital discrimination, and online hate speech.