Sen. Angus McKelvey

Establishes the Shipping Container Inspection Program. Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to submit reports to the Legislature on implementation of the Shipping Container Inspection Program. Exempts employees of the Department of Transportation and DLE from personal liability under certain conditions. Requires any damages to container goods be borne by the State. Requires DLE and DOT to designate a site outside of the immediate port area to conduct inspections. Require the DLE to secure all illegal goods. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Appropriates funds to the Department of Transportation to implement the recommendations of the Task Force on Mobility Management, established pursuant to Act 214, SLH 2013, in consultation with the Aging and Disability Resource Center of the Executive Office on Aging and other stakeholder groups.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture for permanent positions in agricultural biosecurity established by Act 231, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024, and various biosecurity programs. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Requires Huli Au Ola to conduct a study on physician and dentist recruitment and retention to serve the island of Molokai. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Requires the Department of Agriculture to establish rules allowing the sale and distribution of fine mesh nets in the State to protect plants from invasive species. Requires DOA to establish a program to provide certain monofilament netting free of charge to the public to slow the growth and spread of coconut rhinoceros beetles in the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Requires, when a defendant is convicted of negligent homicide in the first degree for causing the death of another while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, that victim restitution shall include financial support to raise the decedent's surviving minor children until each child reaches the age of eighteen, or until the age of twenty-three for any child who enrolls full-time in a college, university, vocational school, or trade school, in an amount to be determined by the court and to be paid to the person responsible for raising the children. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Maddy summarySB 1254 prohibits current employees of the University of Hawaii and the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii from serving on the Board of Regents. This directly affects active staff at these institutions who might otherwise hold board positions. The bill's key provision is a clear ban on dual roles, requiring board members to be separate from university operational staff. The policy change would prevent current employees from being appointed to the Board of Regents moving forward.

Specifies that the macadamia nut labeling requirements apply if the applicable products are produced in whole or in part from Hawaii-grown and Hawaii-processed macadamia nuts. Effective 1/2/2026.

Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to establish and maintain Native Hawaiian cultural centers within the State. Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to construct one cultural center on Oahu by 2040. Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to submit reports to the Legislature regarding the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' compliance with this Act. Appropriates funds for the planning and design of the first Native Hawaiian cultural center. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Maddy summarySB 1173 requires noncandidate committees - groups not running for office but spending money on elections - to pay a fee based on their total independent expenditures during election periods. This fee applies to spending like ads or mailers aimed at influencing elections, directly affecting organizations like advocacy groups or unions that fund such activities. The bill takes effect on April 23, 2057, and the fee amount is tied to the total spending level. It does not change campaign contribution limits or alter candidate fundraising rules.