Sen. Angus McKelvey

Maddy summarySB 377 would exempt medical services - including doctor visits, hospital care, and related health treatments - from the general excise tax, a tax currently applied to many services in the state. This change would directly affect patients receiving medical care (reducing their out-of-pocket costs) and healthcare providers (who would no longer collect or remit this tax on medical services). The key provision removes the tax requirement specifically for medical services, making them tax-free while leaving other services subject to the tax. The bill is currently pending committee review after introduction in January 2025.

Designates the Department of Land and Natural Resources as the primary agency for the trapping of feral goats, sheep, and pigs. Requires the Department to establish a program to humanely manage populations of feral goats, sheep, and pigs in the State by trapping.

Maddy summarySB 569 funds an additional ambulance for the island of Hawaii, specifically based in Makalei, to support local emergency medical services. The bill provides operational funding for this new ambulance, directly affecting residents on the island who rely on emergency response in that area. It does not change existing health policies but allocates state resources to expand ambulance coverage on Hawaii Island. This is a straightforward funding measure, not a policy change.

Appropriates funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop, construct, and support facilities that can accommodate shock aging processes for meat products. Appropriates funds into and out of the Hawaii Agricultural Development Revolving Fund for programmatic funding relating to facilities using shock aging processes for meat products. Authorizes the Agribusiness Development Corporation to contract with existing and future slaughterhouses in the State.

Requires periodic inspections of certain walls and appurtenances of buildings five or more stories in height. Establishes procedures for inspections, preparing inspection reports, and responding to report findings.

Prohibits the State or any of its branches, political subdivisions, or agencies or any county from requiring a bachelor's degree as a condition of eligibility for hire to a position in state or county employment. Establishes exemptions.

Establishes a civil cause of action that may be brought by any person, other than an officer or employee of the State or employee of a local governmental entity in the State, for certain violations or aiding or abetting certain violations of the Fireworks Control Law.

Establishes statewide goals for solid waste reduction and organic waste diversion. Requires each county to incorporate into its next integrated solid waste management plan revision a plan to reduce all organic waste produced within the county by facilities generating more than a specified amount of organic waste per year in alignment with established state benchmarks. Appropriates funds.

Establishes the hike safe card program and search and rescue special fund to be administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Requires government entities to seek reimbursement for all or a portion of search or rescue expenses when the person or entity knowingly enters state, county, or private property, knowingly enters a hiking trail that is closed to the public, or violates applicable laws, provided that the closure is posted by sign, barricade, or other device that gives reasonable notice of the closure. Exempts persons who possess a hike safe card from search and rescue cost reimbursement, under certain conditions. Requires counties and the State Fire Council to adopt ordinances or rules as necessary to pursue reimbursements. Raises the penalty for criminal trespass from a petty misdemeanor to a misdemeanor. Makes appropriations.

Establishes a teacher loan program revolving fund to encourage individuals to become teachers in hard-to-fill positions of Department of Education schools. Allows a loan to be forgiven for teachers who become a licensed teacher in Hawaii or for teachers who will commit to teach for seven years at a Hawaii public school or public charter school. Appropriates funds.