Legislature 2008 - Day 23

During the floor session, the House honored First Hawaiian Bank which is celebrating their 150th anniversary in Hawaii. Pictured below, from left to right: Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu; Don Horner, President and CEO; Rep. Tom Brower; and Brandt Farias, Executive Vice President.

The long day for debating third reading bills will be next week Tuesday, March 4th. On that day, the session starts early at 9:00 a.m. Today, however, a few bills passed third reading. Thanks to the office of Rep. Blake Oshiro for their work on the digest, from which these descriptions are taken. Here are some noteworthy bills that passed third reading today:

HB2034, HD1 Relating to Unattended Children in Motor Vehicles. This bill makes it a violation of the statewide traffic code to leave a child unattended in a motor vehicle. It allows the police officer to whom the matter is reported to assume protective custody of the child without a court order or consent of the child's family.

HB2517, HD1 Relating to Invasive Species. This is a House Majority Package bill. This bill allows the Department of Agriculture to regulate or prohibt the sale of specific plants on the restricted list. It prohibits the sale of noxious weeds, provided that noxious weeds may be imported only for research, by permit.

HB2524 Relating to Transportation. This is a House Majority Package bill. This bill requires that the Statewide Transportation Council comply with county transportation and general plans, to the extent it does not impact federal funds, in the preparation of the statewide transportation plan for projected transportation needs for a six-year period.

HB3249, HD1 Relating to Transportation. This bill prohibits motor vehicles on bicycle lanes or bicycle paths. It assesses up to a $500 fine per violation.

Two campaign spending bills, HB2455, HD1 and HB2602, HD1 were recommitted.