Sen. Les Ihara

Maddy summarySB 2494 establishes a 9-year time limit for prosecuting bribery offenses, replacing the current statute of limitations. This bill directly affects individuals accused of bribery and prosecutors handling such cases, as it sets a specific window for bringing charges. The key provision is the fixed 9-year period from the date of the alleged offense, ensuring all bribery cases must be filed within this timeframe. The bill is currently under review by the Public Safety and Municipal Affairs committee, with a scheduled hearing.

Prohibits any law enforcement agency or law enforcement official from entering into an agreement under federal law that permits state or county agencies to engage in immigration enforcement. Prohibits law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officials from engaging in certain immigration-related actions, except under limited circumstances. (CD1)

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an official sister-state relationship between Hawaii and Okayama Prefecture in Japan, formalizing existing cultural and historical ties between the two regions. The resolution recognizes shared heritage dating back to 1868 Japanese immigration, including connections between the Gannenmono settlers and local communities in Okayama. It authorizes the transmission of certified copies to relevant government officials and organizations to facilitate future cooperation in areas like tourism, education, agriculture, and cultural exchange. This action does not create new laws or funding but serves as a diplomatic designation to strengthen institutional collaboration between the two jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Governor of Hawaii to create procedures allowing out-of-state health care professionals to practice temporarily during a state of emergency without holding a Hawaii license. The measure specifically targets physicians, nurses, pharmacists, mental health counselors, and other designated professionals who must hold valid licenses in their home jurisdictions and be affiliated with recognized emergency response organizations. Key provisions include permitting telehealth services without prior patient relationships, requiring professionals to register within 24 hours of deployment, and limiting authorization to 60 days or until the emergency ends. The resolution also establishes an online registry for tracking participating professionals and includes liability protections for the state while maintaining malpractice standards for the practitioners.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an official sister-state relationship between the State of Hawaii and the Prefecture of Okayama, Japan, formalizing existing cultural and historical ties between the two regions. The resolution recognizes shared heritage dating back to Japanese immigration in the late 19th century and builds on decades of grassroots exchanges, including university partnerships and charter flights between the two locations. By designating Okayama as a sister state, Hawaii aims to expand institutional collaboration in areas such as tourism, agriculture, education, and climate resilience while strengthening people-to-people connections between residents of both jurisdictions. The bill directs the transmission of the resolution to relevant state and federal officials to complete the formal establishment of this partnership.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Transportation, working with the Department of Education, to evaluate and recommend improvements to the licensing, training, and recruitment process for school bus drivers. The bill aims to address driver shortages that cause route cancellations and transportation disruptions, particularly affecting students in rural and neighbor island communities. The evaluation will examine barriers such as testing availability, interagency coordination, and workforce pipeline issues, with a deadline to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Department of Transportation to work with the Department of Education to study how to improve the process for hiring and training school bus drivers in Hawaii. The bill addresses ongoing shortages of qualified drivers that have led to canceled routes and disrupted transportation for students, particularly in rural and neighbor island communities. The requested evaluation will examine barriers to commercial driver's licensing, coordination between agencies and private contractors, and strategies to expand testing and training access. The departments must consult with various stakeholders and submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 regular session.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution expresses the Legislature's support for the findings and recommendations of the Hawaiʻi Water Safety Coalition's Hawaiʻi Water Safety Plan, which addresses the state's high drowning rates and aims to reduce fatalities and injuries. The document outlines specific recommendations including establishing a centralized water safety authority, expanding funding for drowning prevention programs, requiring safety measures at pools and flood control structures, and ensuring free swim lessons for all children. While the resolution does not create new laws, it formally endorses the plan and urges state agencies and local governments to collaborate on implementing its strategies to improve water safety across the state.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution expresses legislative support for the Hawaiʻi Water Safety Coalition's comprehensive water safety plan, which aims to address the state's high drowning rates and reduce drowning deaths among children and visitors. The resolution urges state agencies, including the Department of Health and Department of Land and Natural Resources, to collaborate with the coalition to implement key recommendations such as establishing the coalition as a central water safety authority, expanding funding for drowning prevention programs, and improving safety measures at pools and flood control structures. The plan also calls for culturally competent water safety education, free swimming lessons for children, and better access to public pools in underserved communities, while encouraging compliance with national pool safety standards.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the U.S. Department of Defense to create a working group that would study and recommend how Hawaii could establish its own commemorative medal for Vietnam War veterans living in the state. The proposed group would include state officials, representatives from local veterans organizations, and other interested parties to develop eligibility rules, application procedures, and design concepts for the medal. The working group must submit its findings and any proposed legislation to the Hawaii Legislature by late 2027, along with cost estimates for creating and distributing the medal. This bill does not create the medal itself but initiates a process to explore whether such a state award is feasible and how it would be implemented.