Sen. Troy Hashimoto

Maddy summarySB 2703 allocates state funds for the Area-Wide Fruit Fly Suppression Program, which targets fruit fly infestations threatening fruit crops. The program directly affects fruit growers and agricultural communities in affected regions by funding pest control efforts. The key mechanism is budgetary appropriation, directing state resources to support suppression activities without changing existing agricultural regulations. This is a procedural funding bill, not a policy change, and remains in early legislative stages.

Requires the Department of Education to give reasonable consideration to making all or portions of the facilities of a public school available to housing development for certain employees of the Department when closing the public school. Requires the Department of Education to identify unused public school facilities that may be appropriate for employee housing and inventory suitable grounds available upon public school closure for potential development of employee housing.

Prohibits restaurants from imposing a mandatory gratuity service charge for food or beverage services unless the party includes ten or more customers, the service charge does not exceed eighteen per cent, and the customer is notified of the service charge.

Maddy summarySB 2597 creates an income tax credit for dairy farmers who convert their operations to hog farming. The credit covers costs for building or upgrading facilities like pens, waste systems, or feed storage during the conversion process. This directly affects dairy farmers seeking to switch livestock operations by reducing their state income tax burden for these specific infrastructure expenses. The policy provides a concrete tax benefit for eligible conversion costs without altering broader tax rates or policies.

Establishes a temporary, independent Public School Realignment and Closure Commission to develop and recommend a comprehensive package of school consolidations, realignments, and closures based on the federal Base Realignment and Closure model. Requires an expedited approval process by the Governor and Legislature. Appropriates moneys.

Establishes an Early Learning Apprenticeship Grant Program to be administered by the University of Hawaii to provide financial support for early learning program service providers in the State to participate in state- or federally-approved early learning apprenticeship programs. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Exempts from the state general excise tax any grants received from the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund by an eligible business pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Requires the Department of Taxation to notify all taxpayers eligible for refunds of any state general excise tax paid for grants received from the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund of their eligibility and requires taxpayers to file refund claims no later than six months following notification. Requires any state general excise taxes paid by eligible businesses for Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants to be refunded to the taxpayer. Applies retroactively to 3/11/2021.

Maddy summarySB 2674 authorizes the University of Hawaii to conduct business-related activities (such as student-run ventures or research commercialization) directly tied to educational programs. It specifically allows the university to engage in enterprise activities that support student learning and academic goals. This bill affects the University of Hawaii system by expanding its ability to operate such initiatives under state authorization. The measure focuses on enabling educational opportunities through practical, hands-on business engagement, without changing broader university governance or funding.

Amends the definition of "development" as it pertains to coastal zone management to clarify that certain activities excluded from the definition of "development" are not subject to special management area permit requirements.

Requires the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience to establish a Center for Biosecurity Research, Education, and Extension to develop and implement innovative solutions for detecting, monitoring, eradicating, and managing invasive species. Appropriates funds.