Sen. Troy Hashimoto

Maddy summarySB 2659 prohibits current employees of the University of Hawaii or the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii from serving on the Board of Regents. This bill directly affects active staff members at these institutions who might otherwise be eligible for board appointments. The key provision is a clear legal ban preventing such employees from holding board positions, aiming to avoid potential conflicts of interest. The bill is currently in committee review, having passed its first reading and scheduled for a public hearing on February 9, 2026.

Establishes the preventive maintenance special fund under the Department of Education to be used exclusively for preventive maintenance of public school facilities. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys.

Allows a licensed dental hygienist to place interim therapeutic restorations in public health settings under the general supervision of licensed dentist.

Maddy summarySB 2880 clarifies that public charter school teachers qualify for the Teacher National Board Certification Incentive Program, which provides financial rewards to educators who earn national board certification. This change directly affects public charter school teachers in the state, removing a previous eligibility barrier for this specific incentive. The bill’s key mechanism is a straightforward clarification in program rules, ensuring charter school teachers can access the same incentives as teachers in traditional public schools. The bill is currently under review by the Education (EDU) committee, with a public hearing scheduled for February 11, 2026.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish a streamlined grid-ready homes interconnection process. Authorizes the use of the Hawaii electricity reliability surcharge for cost recovery of certain expenses of the Hawaii Electricity Reliability Administrator associated with the grid-ready homes interconnection process. Requires a report to the PUC on the grid-ready homes interconnection process. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Human Resources Development to offer fully subsidized public transit passes for state employees. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Requires health care providers using artificial intelligence (AI) in patient interactions to disclose to the patient that the patient is interacting with artificial intelligence. Requires health care providers using AI in making consequential decisions relating to the patient to provide certain notice and statements to the patient; maintain a qualified AI oversight personnel who shall be a natural person that reviews, evaluates, and validates or overrides AI outputs; monitor and conduct regular performance evaluations of their AI systems; implement procedures to address identified deficiencies; and maintain certain records. Requires the Department of Health to adopt rules. Implementation effective 7/1/2028. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Establishes the Prescription Drug Affordability Board within the Department of Health to conduct affordability reviews on high-cost prescription drugs and establish upper payment limits under certain circumstances. Establishes out-of-pocket maximums for prescribed insulin, asthma inhalers, and epinephrine auto-injectors. Prohibits copayment adjustment programs. Requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to comply with certain affordability measures. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Requires adoption of rules by the Affordability Board and Insurance Commissioner. Appropriates funds.

Establishes the Hanai Memory Network Program within the Executive Office on Aging to create a network of dementia care specialists and support systems to assist individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

Appropriates funds to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division of the Department of Health to contract with community-based organizations for a behavioral health complex patient model. Requires a report to the Legislature. (SD1)