Rep. Cedric Gates

Increases the maximum fine for violations of the fire protection laws. Specifies that each day a violation exists or continues to exist shall constitute a distinct and separate offense. Raises the criminal penalty for the offense of arson in the fourth degree to a class C felony if the offense was committed during the time period and within the geographic area in which a red flag warning was in effect. Provides that the state of mind requirement with respect to the attendant circumstance that the red flag warning was in effect is negligence. (SD1)

Requires the Department of Health to amend the definition of "homemade food products" in its administrative rules on food safety and adopt certain rules regarding the sale and delivery of homemade food products. (CD1)

Beginning 7/1/2027, requires roasted coffee, instant coffee, and ready-to-drink coffee beverages that contain Hawaiʻi-grown and Hawaiʻi-processed coffee blended with coffee of another regional origin to contain no less than fifty-one per cent coffee by weight from the Hawaiʻi geographic origin. Exempts retailers that do not package roasted coffee, instant coffee, or ready-to-drink coffee beverages from liability for the sale of roasted coffee, instant coffee, or ready-to-drink coffee beverages that use a label or advertisement in violation of the coffee labeling law. (CD1)

Clarifies labeling requirements for macadamia nuts to require a disclosure indicating that a product may contain macadamia nuts not grown in Hawaiʻi if the consumer package contains macadamia nuts grown outside the State. Exempts from the labeling requirements products that contain any other ingredient, except seasonings and flavorings, in addition to macadamia nuts. Effective 1/1/2026. (CD1)

Authorizes a state department, division, or agency, rather than the Department of Human Resources Development, to conduct a minimum qualification review of applicants for vacant positions within the department, division, or agency. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to provide state departments, divisions, and agencies the applications received for vacancies under certain circumstances. (CD1)

Maddy summaryThis bill allows farmers and land managers to use fine-meshed nets to protect plants from invasive species under specific conditions. The measure aims to provide a practical tool for controlling non-native plants that threaten local agriculture and ecosystems. By permitting this method, the legislation seeks to support plant protection efforts while addressing the spread of invasive species.

Requires the Executive Office on Aging, in coordination with the State Health Planning and Development Agency, to create a comprehensive long-term care plan to accomplish certain long-term care policy goals that ensure the availability of a full continuum of institutional and community-based services. Establishes and appropriates funds for one long-term care planner position within the Executive Office on Aging to oversee the development and implementation of the long-term care plan. Requires the Executive Office on Aging to submit a report to the Legislature. (CD1)

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for Kaiapuni programs and the establishment of three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) Kaiapuni education curriculum specialist II positions and ten full-time equivalent (10.0 FTE) Kaiapuni classroom teacher positions. (CD1)

Appropriates funds to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and Department of Education to support health care workforce development programs, specifically the public high school health care workforce certificate program and glidepath program for certified nurse aides. Appropriates funds to renovate and equip certain public high school classrooms to be used for health care training. (CD1)

Beginning 7/1/2026, establishes provisional or associate-level licensure requirements for marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, and psychologists and authorizes insurance reimbursements in certain circumstances; authorizes psychologist license applicants who possess a provisional license to sit for the licensing examination before completing certain supervised experience requirements; and authorizes insurance reimbursements for services provided by a supervised social work intern in certain circumstances. Appropriates funds out of the Compliance Resolution Fund. (CD1)