Sen. Brenton Awa

Maddy summaryThis bill urges the Hawaii Department of Education to add tax instruction as a major topic area within the state's existing financial literacy graduation requirement for public school students. The resolution specifically recommends that tax education cover practical skills such as completing a 1040 form, understanding W-4 forms, payroll deductions, and the differences between federal and state income taxes. As a Senate resolution, the bill does not create new legal requirements but instead formally requests the Department of Education to incorporate these tax concepts into the financial literacy standards already in place for students starting with the Class of 2030.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Education to add tax instruction to the state's financial literacy graduation requirement for public school students. The bill recommends that tax education cover practical topics such as completing a 1040 tax form, understanding W-4 forms, payroll deductions, and federal versus state income taxes. While the resolution does not mandate changes, it formally requests that the Department of Education incorporate tax literacy as a major topic area alongside existing financial education standards. The measure is intended to ensure students gain comprehensive knowledge about personal finances, including tax responsibilities, before graduating from high school.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Governor to request a federal exemption from the Drug Enforcement Administration for Hawaii's registered medical cannabis patients and to seek registration waivers for state-licensed dispensaries. The bill aims to resolve the conflict between Hawaii's state medical cannabis program and federal law, which currently classifies cannabis as an illegal Schedule I substance. By pursuing these exemptions and waivers, the resolution seeks to protect patients from federal prosecution and allow dispensaries to operate with full banking and tax compliance. It also directs the Department of Health to report progress to the Legislature and sends copies of the resolution to federal officials and state agencies.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution asks the Governor to request a federal exemption from the Drug Enforcement Administration for registered medical cannabis patients and registration waivers for state-licensed dispensaries. The bill addresses the conflict between Hawaii's state medical cannabis program and federal law that classifies cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance. By seeking these exemptions, the resolution aims to protect patients from federal prosecution and allow dispensaries to operate legally without violating federal regulations. The measure also requests that the Department of Health provide updates on the status of these federal applications to the Legislature.

Maddy summarySB 1582 symbolically recognizes the coconut palm as a culturally significant plant and sustainable staple food source in the State. The bill does not create new policies or affect any specific group; it is purely a ceremonial acknowledgment. Its provisions consist solely of this recognition statement, with an effective date set for July 1, 3000. As a procedural resolution, it has no direct legislative impact or implementation mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks the next Hawaii Legislature to remove the "with reservations" voting option from its rules, which currently allows legislators to express partial support for a measure. The proposal would require lawmakers to vote either "aye" or "no" on bills, eliminating the ability to formally record a vote that counts as favorable while simultaneously indicating dissent. Currently, Hawaii is the only state legislature that permits this third voting option, which the resolution argues lets legislators avoid taking a clear stance on policies. If adopted, the change would apply to both the Senate and House of Representatives for the 2027 legislative session.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Concurrent Resolution urges the Governor of Hawaii to reconsider the decision to opt out of the Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit Program, which would allow Hawaii to participate in a federal scholarship initiative. The bill explains that the program provides federal tax credits to donors who contribute to scholarship organizations, with funds used to offer educational scholarships to K-12 students from low- and middle-income households. If Hawaii were to opt in, the state could designate local scholarship organizations to receive donations, potentially expanding educational options for families without reducing public school funding. The resolution highlights that 23 states have already joined the program and notes Hawaii's current academic performance statistics as context for why participation might be beneficial. This document is a non-binding recommendation rather than a law, as it does not directly change policy but instead asks the Governor to review the decision.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a state-level resolution urging the U.S. Congress to convene a constitutional convention under Article V of the Constitution, limited to proposing amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit federal power and jurisdiction, and restrict terms of office for federal officials and members of Congress. The resolution outlines specific conditions for such a convention, including that Congress only has the authority to set a meeting time and place, that states retain the power to select and appoint their own delegates, and that the convention cannot consider any amendments to the Bill of Rights. Hawaii is submitting this as a formal application toward the two-thirds threshold required to trigger a constitutional convention, with the state reserving the right to recall delegates if they violate the stated instructions.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii State Department of Education to fulfill its contractual obligations to doctoral-level educational psychology trainees by creating and funding appropriate positions. The bill asks the department to report on the number of stipend recipients, existing positions, and how current job titles like "Mental Health Interventionist" align with the specialized training these professionals received. It further directs the department to evaluate whether current classifications properly reflect doctoral-level qualifications and to identify necessary funding to expand positions statewide. Ultimately, the resolution seeks to ensure that professionals who completed multi-year service commitments are placed in roles consistent with their training and the original agreement.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution requests the Department of the Attorney General to submit an annual report on legal cases involving Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights and the state's public trust obligations under Articles XI and XII of the Hawaii State Constitution. The bill directly affects the state's legal department and Native Hawaiian communities by requiring the Attorney General to compile and present information about court cases related to these constitutional duties. The resolution outlines specific court decisions that have addressed issues such as water resource management, ceded lands, and cultural rights to provide context for the requested reporting. This measure aims to increase transparency and oversight of how the state handles legal matters concerning Native Hawaiian rights and public trust resources.