What's Happening in our Community & at the Capitol

Aloha!

While a very busy hearing schedule has resumed, we also are recognizing several groups and individuals on the House floor. Last week was Education Week, where we honor and recognize those who make Hawai'i's schools truly exceptional. Special congratulations to Brianna Craig, at Hāna High School and Elementary for receiving the Maui District's Hāna-Lahainaluna-Lāna‘i-Molokai Teacher of Promise Milken Educator Award. Mahalo to the dedicated teachers and faculty so committed to our keiki and community!

All bills must be in their final referring committee by Thursday; if not, they are considered "dead" for the session. We are closely watching the bills we are the primary introducer for, and while there have been some disappointments, we still have five bills that are still moving. Included in this list are HB619 HD2 providing a tax credit to qualified farms donating foods to nonprofit food pantries; HB622 HD2 preventing suicide among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders; HB622 HD2 providing for telehealth services; HB908 HD2 SD1, increasing funding for the Land Conservation Trust through conveyance taxes; HB1406 HD1 recycling for "cold plane" asphalt. We still have a long way to go, and hopefully, some of the amendments made on the Senate side can be negotiated during Conference Committee.

On Wednesday I was honored to participate in a bill signing ceremony in the Governor's Office for SB1, which codifies in Statute protection for safe reproductive health care services for women. The new law also prohibits the release of information about reproductive health care services and protects health care workers who perform abortions from legal actions brought by states that restrict abortions. This was the first bill passed by the 2023 Legislature and one of the first signed by our new Governor.

Me ke aloha,

Mahina

Welcome to Your House of Representatives!

Gizelle Rodriguez is a Kekaulike High School junior and our intern for this Legislative Session. Gizelle was born and raised in Haʻikū on Maui island and aspires to run for office one day. As a minority within her community, Gizelle is inspired to create change, so families do not face struggles similar to the ones she saw growing up. In her free time, Gizelle enjoys volunteering in her community.

Capital Improvement Funding

Released for District 13

(November 2022 to March 15, 2023)

Molokai High School, Athletic & PE Facilities: $3,026,000

To finance the design and construction to improve aging athletic and PE facilities and may include support facilities such as a batting cage, bullpen, and storage facilities.

Hāna Highway, Replacement and Rehabilitation of Various Bridges: $200,000

To finance additional design for replacing and rehabilitating various bridges along Hāna Highway. Total project cost is $7,500,000 with projected completion Oct. 2023

Kaunakakai Elementary School, Roof Replacement and Install Bleachers: $743,000

To finance construction for roof and gutter replacement for Buildings B and D and installation of bleachers.

Kualapuʻu Elementary School, Playground and Shade Improvements: $1,150,000

To finance construction for playground and shade improvements at Kualapuʻu

Elementary School.

Lāna'i High and Elementary School, Gym Renovations or New Gym: $500,000

To finance design for due diligence to determine improvements needed for the gym functions and to report how a future shelter retrofit can be coordinated.

Ha‘ikū Elementary School, Campus Fencing: $1,000,000

To finance construction funds for fencing and gates

Kalaupapa Settlement, Closure of Landfills, Phase 2, Molokai $7,500,000

This project involves the closure of the landfills for demolition and animal waste at the Kalaupapa Settlement on Molokai.

Resolving with Resolutions

Every session, most Legislators are allowed to introduce five Resolutions. While Resolutions do not become law, they are excellent vehicles for moving issues forward for future legislation. Following are Rep. Poepoe's 2023 Resolutions:

HCR34

Elder Care; Long-Term Care; Study; Molokai; Lanai; East Maui; Legislative Reference Bureau

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE ADEQUACY OF ELDER CARE ON MOLOKAI AND LANAI AND IN EAST MAUI.

HCR150

Air Service Task Force; Molokai & Lāna‘i

REQUESTING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ESTABLISH AN AIR SERVICE TASK FORCE TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING COMMERCIAL AIR TRAVEL TO AND FROM MOLOKAI AND LĀNA‘I .

HCR151

Lanai Airport; Air Traffic Control Tower; Federal Aviation Administration; United States Congress

URGING THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AND HAWAII'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO TAKE ANY ACTIONS NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER AT LANAI AIRPORT.

HCR152

RIMPAC; Armed Forces; Cancel

URGING THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES TO CANCEL RIMPAC EXERCISES IN HAWAII PERMANENTLY.

HCR153

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Molokai; Flooding; Study; Report

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS TO CONDUCT A STUDY THAT EVALUATES POSSIBLE METHODS OF FLOOD REMEDIATION AND FLOOD AVERSION FOR CERTAIN AREAS OF THE ISLAND OF MOLOKAI.

Hot Off the Presses

Addressing the high rate of suicide in our Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders is the goal of House Bill 622 which Rep. Poepoe introduced and recently wrote a Commentary published Wednesday in Civil Beat. As the bill has moved through the Senate, amendments were made which took the focus off the NHPI populations and the impact generational cultural trauma has had on this community. Hopefully we will resolve this in Conference Committee and return the measure to its original purpose.

Click here to read Rep. Poepoe's article on HB622 and the issue.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Renewing Medicaid Eligibility

Throughout the pandemic, all Medicaid members received continuous uninterrupted coverage amid the public health emergency. Med-QUEST Division (MQD) under the Department of Human Services, will begin reaching out to members in March to let them know what month their eligibility will be redetermined. This eligibility renewal work will begin in April and be spread out across 12 months.

Members will receive a pink letter that contains eligibility renewal information one month prior to their month of renewal. This means that renewal notices will go out as early as April 2023 (for May 2023 renewals) and as late as March 2024 (for April 2024 renewals).

Please note that this notification process will happen over a one-year period. This means that not all Members will receive their pink letters at the same time. A plain white letter will be sent in March to every Med-QUEST household letting them know the month of their scheduled redetermination. The redetermination months will range from May 2023 to April 2024.

In preparation for this renewal period, Med-QUEST asks members to do the following:

Be sure to update your contact information by logging into your account on Medical.mybenefits.hawaii.gov or by calling the Health Plan number on the back of your insurance card.
If you no longer need QUEST (Medicaid) coverage, call us at 1-800-316-8005, (TTY/TDD 711) to let us know.

Starting in April, be on the lookout for a pink envelope with a pink letter that will provide instructions on eligibility renewals. This pink letter may require a response in order to maintain health coverage. Be sure to read the letter and follow all instructions, if applicable.

You can read more here.

Legislative Calendar

Deadlines for the 2023 Regular Session are set and the legislative calendar published.

The calendar can be found under the Public Access Room's (PAR) “Events” tab. It is also available on the Public Access Room (PAR) website on the “Current Legislature” page, where you’ll also find the famous “Which Deadlines Apply to My Bill?” handout.

You can access the calendar here.

Come Visit the Capitol!

The Capitol is completely reopened to the public. However, it will continue to offer hybrid options for hearings and testimony. Following is specific information that may be helpful:

Capitol Hours: Building hours for the State Capitol are 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. Photo identification is required for entry into the building. All guests will receive an entry wristband upon completing the security checkpoint.

Paid Public Parking: The Capitol parking lot has reopened for paid public parking.

Rep. Mahina Poepoe

District 13 House of Representatives

415 S. Beretania Street Room 331

Honolulu, HI 96813