Requires the Office of Consumer Protection to submit an annual report to the Legislature regarding actions taken in response to potential violations of the Residential-Landlord Tenant Code. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
Amends the membership of the Hawaii Community Development Authority to include the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission or the Chairperson's designee.
Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to work with the appropriate county board or department of water supply to provide access to potable and agricultural water on Hawaiian home lands; provided that any agreement between DHHL and that county board or department of water supply is made available to the public.
Maddy summarySB 1654 authorizes state agencies to transfer specific parcels of land to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL). This directly affects DHHL, which manages land for Native Hawaiian homesteaders. The bill's key provision is granting formal permission for these land transfers to occur under existing state authority. The change would expand DHHL's land holdings without requiring new funding or altering existing land management rules.
Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 3) requests Hawaii's Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) to study whether using mezzanine loans could help increase housing production in the state. Mezzanine loans are a financing tool that could allow housing developers to secure funding with less required equity, potentially lowering costs and accelerating project timelines. The study aims to evaluate if this approach could address Hawaii's severe housing shortage and improve the efficiency of state housing funds. DBEDT must submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027. (Note: This is a study request, not a law implementing mezzanine loans.)
Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCR 1) requests Hawaii's Director of Health to form a working group focused on water fluoridation. The group, including representatives from all major county water departments, will study how adding fluoride to public drinking water could improve oral health across the state. It specifically aims to address Hawaii's low oral health rankings and lack of fluoride in most public water systems (excluding military bases), with a report due by early 2027. The resolution does not require fluoridation but seeks recommendations for potential future action. This is a procedural request, not a law mandating fluoride addition.
Maddy summarySCR 2 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to sponsor a Michelin Guide for the state's restaurants. It does not create new law but asks the department to pursue this partnership, as Hawaii currently has no Michelin Guide despite its growing culinary scene and Michelin-starred chefs. The resolution cites potential benefits like attracting diners, supporting culinary workforce development (noted in a 2022 tourism report), and elevating restaurant standards. This request directly affects Hawaii's restaurants, chefs, and tourism industry by seeking to align with a global dining recognition system.
Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 5) urges the U.S. Congress to change federal tax law so that homeowners (owner-occupants) can deduct the same property-related expenses as business entities - such as depreciation, maintenance, and insurance - currently available to real estate investors. It highlights that under current law, homeowners only deduct mortgage interest, while business owners (like REITs) deduct a broader range of costs, creating a financial disadvantage. The resolution, offered by Hawaii's legislature, does not change tax law itself but formally requests Congress to address this disparity. It specifically asks Congress to provide homeowners with "comparably equivalent" deductions for property ownership expenses. (Note: This is a symbolic resolution, not a bill with legislative effect.)
Maddy summaryThis Hawaii Senate resolution (SCR 12) urges the U.S. Congress to change federal tax law so that homeowners (owner-occupants) can deduct the same property-related expenses as business property owners. Currently, businesses like real estate investment trusts (REITs) can deduct costs such as depreciation, property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and utilities, but homeowners are limited to deducting only mortgage interest. The resolution states this disparity creates an unfair tax disadvantage for Hawaii homeowners, hindering affordability as housing costs are a major barrier. It does not create new law but formally requests Congress to address this imbalance.
Repeals certain prohibitions on the imposition of fees, conditions, or requirements on community retail pharmacies that are not imposed on mail order pharmacies.
