Sen. Stanley Chang

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Human Services to study the costs and benefits of creating an Office of the Child Advocate to oversee child welfare services. The proposed office would conduct site visits, investigate complaints, review agency records, and issue annual reports with recommendations to improve oversight of children and families served by state programs. The resolution directs the department to determine whether the new office should be established as an independent entity or placed within an existing agency, with findings to be reported to the Legislature by early 2027.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Education to create artificial intelligence literacy curricula and programs for public schools. The bill aims to address the growing use of AI tools by students while ensuring they receive formal instruction on how to use these technologies responsibly and effectively. Key provisions include defining AI concepts, teaching ethical considerations, and incorporating local context related to Hawaii's history and culture. The Department of Education must submit the developed curriculum plans to the Legislature at least twenty days before the 2027 Regular Session begins.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution requests a study to examine how federal housing allowances, such as the Basic Allowance for Housing, affect rental market conditions in Hawaii. The study will be conducted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism in collaboration with the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization and other stakeholders. It will analyze whether military housing allowances influence rental prices, landlord behavior, and housing availability for local residents, while also assessing the economic benefits of federal housing spending in the state. The final report is due to the Legislature before the start of the 2027 session and will be shared with state officials and the congressional delegation.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Governor of Hawaii to establish a backup plan for filling the Chief Election Officer position if it becomes vacant. The bill directs the Governor to appoint an acting officer from within the Office of Elections, following a specific order of succession based on current staff roles like election support services or counting center operations. This measure aims to ensure there is always someone authorized to manage and certify election results, preventing disruptions during critical election periods. The resolution applies specifically to state election administration and does not change existing laws but rather requests an executive action to clarify succession procedures.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks the Legislative Reference Bureau to study whether Hawaii should replace its current appointed Chief Election Officer with an elected Secretary of State to oversee elections. The study will examine existing laws governing election officials and outline the legal steps needed to make such a change, including any new legislation required. The bureau must submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027. This proposal does not implement the change itself but rather initiates research to determine if and how the current election oversight structure could be altered.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks Hawaii's Department of Taxation to study how corporations report income, particularly regarding foreign subsidiaries, to help the state plan its long-term budget. The analysis will examine different reporting methods like separate entity or combined reporting, estimate revenue from companies with foreign structures, and compare Hawaii's approach to other states. The department must deliver its findings to the Legislature by late 2026 without changing any tax laws. This request focuses on gathering data to better understand the state's tax base rather than proposing immediate policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks Hawaii's Department of Education to create curriculum plans and programs teaching artificial intelligence literacy in public schools. The proposed curriculum would cover AI fundamentals, ethical use, best practices for academic and professional settings, and how AI relates to Hawaii's history, environment, and culture. The resolution requires the Department to submit these plans to the Legislature at least 20 days before the 2027 session begins. This measure responds to the growing use of AI tools by students nationwide and aims to prepare students for future workforce demands while addressing concerns about misuse and educational equity.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Education to work with the Department of Health to study the costs and benefits of hiring mental health professionals in public schools. The study would examine staffing ratios, such as one professional for every 250 students or one per school with fewer students, and analyze guidelines for creating safe telehealth spaces during school hours. The resolution directs the departments to prepare a report with findings and recommendations for the Legislature by late 2026. This measure is a non-binding request for information gathering rather than a law that immediately changes policy.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks Hawaii's Department of Taxation to study how corporations report income, especially regarding foreign subsidiaries, to help plan future state budgets. The analysis will examine different reporting methods, estimate tax revenue from companies with foreign structures, and compare Hawaii's current system with approaches used by other states. The Department must submit its findings to the Legislature by early 2027 without changing any existing tax laws. This study aims to provide data-driven insights for long-term fiscal planning while respecting taxpayer privacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to work with state and local agencies to evaluate how much infrastructure capacity exists around transit-oriented development areas in Honolulu. The assessment will focus on sewer and water systems to determine what upgrades are needed to support future growth in these neighborhoods. This study aims to identify necessary improvements before new construction begins, ensuring that infrastructure can handle anticipated population increases. The resolution directs copies to relevant city and state officials to coordinate the evaluation process.