Exempts Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation employees from the requirement that their employment actions and job descriptions be subject to approval by the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Requires the Executive Director of HHFDC to be paid a salary recommended by its Board of Directors and subject to the approval of the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, not to exceed ninety-nine per cent of the salary of the Governor. Renames the position of Executive Assistant to Deputy Executive Director for HHFDC and increases the salary cap for the Deputy Executive Director. Establishes conditions for the issuance, renewal, and termination of employment contracts issued by the HHFDC, Hawaii Community Development Authority, and the Hawaii Public Housing Authority. Exempts the Executive Director of HCDA, and officers, agents, and employees appointed by the Executive Director, from the requirement that their employment actions and job descriptions be subject to approval by the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Requires the Executive Director of HCDA to be paid a salary recommended by the Authority and subject to the approval of the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, not to exceed ninety-nine per cent of the salary of the Governor. (CD1)

Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill removes the expiration date for the State Rent Supplement Program, which provides financial assistance to help elderly residents afford housing. By eliminating the sunset clause, the legislation ensures that current and future eligible seniors can continue to receive rent subsidies without the program ending automatically. The measure directly affects older adults who rely on this state-funded aid and the agencies responsible for administering the program. If passed, the change allows the program to operate indefinitely rather than requiring renewal or replacement at a specific future date.
Makes it an unfair or deceptive act or practice for businesses to: advertise, display, or offer the price of live-ticket events or short-term lodging without clearly and conspicuously disclosing the total price; and misrepresent any fees or charges in any offer, display, or advertisement for the sale of live‑event tickets or short-term lodging. Specifies that any advertisement, display, or offer of short-term lodging or live-event tickets in compliance with the federal Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees are in compliance with this Act. (CD1)
Requires the Department of Education to establish an updated plan for maximizing Medicaid reimbursements for administrative and support services provided to students with special needs. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. (CD1)
Maddy summarySB 2175 prohibits the sale, offering for sale, or distribution of certain disposable electronic smoking devices beginning January 1, 2027. This law directly affects retailers who sell these devices and consumers who purchase them. The key provision sets a specific date (January 1, 2027) for the ban to take effect. The bill focuses on restricting the availability of these devices through a clear sales prohibition.
PART I: Redesignates the Stadium Development District as the Halawa Community Development District (HCDD). Amends the composition of the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) for purposes of the HCDD. Amends the duties and powers of the HCDA and Stadium Authority as they relate to activities within the HCDD. Clarifies the HCDA's permitting and consultation powers regarding public projects within community development districts. Establishes the HCDD Special Fund. Establishes requirements for the Comptroller to verify that invoices for the capital costs of the HCDD comply with applicable law and the purposes for which public funds were appropriated, allocated, transferred, deposited, or otherwise made available. PART II: Appropriates funds for the establishment of positions. Appropriates funds from the Stadium Development Special Fund for the purposes of the special fund. Conditions the expenditure of the appropriated funds out of the special fund upon compliance with state planning, land use, and financing statutes. PART III: Requires the HCDA, when planning and developing housing, to endeavor to plan for complete communities that include various aspects supporting quality of life. (CD1)
Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to increase funding for certain Medicaid home- and community-based services, including residential services offered in community care foster family homes and expanded adult residential care homes. Requires the Department to obtain matching federal funds and pursue additional funding sources as a condition for expending the appropriated funds. (CD1)
Amends the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit (tax credit) by, beginning for costs incurred after 12/31/2025, providing an additional credit to qualified productions with a workforce of at least eighty percent local hires; requiring each taxpayer claiming the tax credit to submit an independent third-party certification verifying certain information to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; increasing the per-production cap amount to $20,000,000 and excluding qualified productions that incur at least $60,000,000 of qualified production costs from the per-production cap amount; changing the aggregate cap amount to $60,000,000; providing that, beginning for costs incurred after 12/31/2023, if the total amount of tax credits claimed in a year is less than the aggregate cap amount, the cap for the subsequent year shall be increased by the unclaimed amount; defining "streaming platform" and amending the definition of "qualified production" to include certain streaming productions; and extending the sunset date of the tax credit to 1/1/2038. Exempts from the general excise tax certain amounts received by a motion picture project employer from a client company that represent reimbursements for costs paid or incurred by the client company for reasonable employment-related costs of motion picture project workers or loan-out companies. (CD1)
Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to convene a Bona Fide Farmer Working Group to develop multi-tiered, matrix-based definitions for the terms "bona fide farmer" and "bona fide agricultural activity". Requires a report to the Legislature. (CD1)
Amends the factors a family court is required to consider in deciding whether the family court may waive jurisdiction over a minor or adult held for criminal proceedings for acts committed during the person's minority. Preserves the family court's jurisdiction over a minor transferred for criminal proceedings for subsequent acts that would otherwise be within the family court's jurisdiction. Requires the family court to retain jurisdiction over a minor if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the minor was trafficked, sexually abused, or raped by the alleged victim in the case before or during the commission of the alleged offense. (CD1)