Sen. Stanley Chang

Establishes a joint legislative Long-Term Care Financing Advisory Commission to examine the feasibility of different financing options for long-term care services and supports. Permits the Commission, through the Legislative Reference Bureau, to contract for services of a part-time project director and prepare proposals for contracts for consultants to support the work of the Commission. Requires the Commission to submit reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Establishes the Carbon Emissions Tax and Dividend Special Fund. Gradually increases the Environmental Response, Energy, Carbon Emissions, and Food Security Tax and establishes a refundable income tax credit to mitigate the effect of the increased tax on taxpayers. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Allows for a prosecution for any offense or attempt of any offense under parts V and VI of chapter 707, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to be brought at any time. Prohibits the dismissal of the prosecution of any offense or attempt of any offense under parts V and VI of chapter 707, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because a period of time has elapsed between the commission of the offense and commencement or continuation of the prosecution.

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience for the development of its human and community resilience institute.

Increases the number of enterprise zones that may be nominated by each county. Amends the definition of "eligible business activity" to include recycling facilities and film production.

Establishes provisions regarding the volunteered administration of certain medications by authorized persons at public schools, including requirements for parent authorization, administration instruction, and liability protections. Expands permitted emergency treatments to include epinephrine, inhalers, seizure rescue medication, glucagon, insulin, and blood-glucose monitoring.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires all health insurers in the state, including Medicaid managed care programs, to cover annual mental health wellness examinations.

Maddy summarySB 2559 would authorize the Disability and Communication Access Board to issue disability parking travel placards directly to qualified applicants. This bill changes the process by giving the Board explicit authority to issue these placards, rather than relying on previous administrative procedures. It directly affects individuals with disabilities who need accessible parking permits to park in designated spaces. The bill focuses on streamlining the issuance process for these placards.

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.