August 16, 2024
Hawaii lawmakers urge DOE to fix school bus driver shortage
Due to a shortage of bus drivers with the required commercial driver’s licenses,
the department temporarily suspended routes in Central Oahu and East Hawaii island
to prioritize transportation for students with disabilities, as mandated by federal law.
Quote: State Rep. Trish La Chica (D, Waipio-Mililani) expressed her frustration that the
issue of bus driver shortages has persisted for years and continues to affect families
and students. "It’s an ongoing crisis," La Chica said. "And then yet, we were all caught
off guard two days before the school year started to not have received any type of outreach,
any type of planning, any type of consideration of communities. … Hundreds of families like
that were experiencing severe disruptions."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE: https://www.staradvertiser.com/2024/08
/16/hawaii-news/legislators-urge-doe-to-fix-bus-driver-shortage/
August 15, 2024
DOE: Bus companies said they’d be ready for school year
Just days before school started, the DOE announced the suspension of nearly 150 bus routes on Oahu,
Maui, and the Big Island due to driver shortages.
Quote: "This school bus crisis happened last year," said Rep. Trish La Chica (D), Education Committee Vice Chair.
"Happened the year prior to that. So the issue is not new. Yet we are really struggling to understand
why it happened yet again this year."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE:
https://www.khon2.com/top-stories/doe-bus-companies-said-theyd-be-ready-for-school-year/
July 10, 2024
Green enacts deepfake media regulations
Last week, Gov. Josh Green signed into law Senate Bill 2686, which prohibits and
penalizes the distribution of "materially deceptive media" and provides for remedies
to parties targeted by such media.
"While artificial intelligence holds tremendous potential for innovation, the threat
posed by manipulated media cannot be underestimated," said state Rep. Trish La Chica.
"Deepfakes can distort our perception of reality, harming not just political candidates
but any individual targeted by this technology."
Read the full article: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/hi/hawaii/news/
2024/07/10/green-enacts-deepfake-media-regulations
March 28, 2024
Rep. Trish La Chica, HPD, Mililani High Partner for Public Safety Event
State Representative Trish La Chica is partnering with HPD and Mililani High School students to hold a sign waving event for public safety.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE: https://www.kitv.com/video/rep-trish-la-chica-hpd-mililani-high-partner-for-public-safety-event/video_17a62be8-4f74-5796-b6a3-09617c799c19.html
March 28, 2024
Mililani community pushes for public safety awareness
The event’s message focused on public safety topics including
driver safety, bullying, and more. Wake Up 2Day went live from
Mililani with Rep. La Chica to find out more details.
"The purpose is really to just spread aloha, show aloha especially
with everything that’s been happening across the state and here in our community," said Rep. La Chica.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE: https://www.khon2.com/local-news/mililani-community-pushes-for-
public-safety-awareness/
March 27, 2024
HECO safety measures instituted in wake of Maui wildfires prove a headache in Mililani
Hawaiian Electric Company recently made changes to improve safety in areas with a wildfire risk, such as Mililani. However, for residents,
that has meant more power outages within the last month.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE:
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/03/28/heco-apologizes-after-new-safety-measures-leave-thousands-mililani-residents-dark/
February 19, 2024
Hawaii Legislators Seek To Crack Down On AI-Generated Political
La Chica’s bill doesn’t explicitly prohibit the use of artificial
intelligence or deepfakes, but it has "strict disclosure requirements,"
she said. "I think it’s really up to us, the younger generation, to
educate the aunties and uncles about these types of things because
they don’t even know what deepfakes are, right?"
READ THE FULL ARTICLE: https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/02/hawaii-legislators-seek-to-crack-
down-on-ai-generated-political-misinformation/
February 1, 2024
Hawaii looks to combat AI-generated deepfakes and disinformation ahead of 2024 elections
State Rep. Trish La Chica, who represents parts of Central Oahu, is
introducing legislation to require campaigns to label any use of artificial
intelligence starting 90 days before any primary or general election.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE: https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2024/02/01/hawaii-
lawmakers-consider-bill-crackdown-artificial-intelligence/
January 18, 2024
Beth Fukumoto: Day 1 Of The Legislative Session: 'Buzzing With
When asked to describe her inaugural opening day, Rep. Trish La Chica
said her office was “buzzing with energy” and listed a slate of policy
goals for the next 60 legislative days. La Chica, who was appointed in
February to replace longtime Mililani Rep. Ryan Yamane, will experience
her first full session this year. And, as she points out, "It will be
our first opportunity to deliver on issues that directly impact the district."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE:
https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/01/beth-fukumoto-day-1-of-the-legislative-session-buzzing-with-energy/
Female carpenters enjoy good pay and mentoring
La Chica plans to introduce a bill to expand similar, pre-apprentice training
programs in Hawaii high schools to help create more housing and “because Hawaii’s future
and the ability for our youth to remain in Hawaii relies on an educated and skilled workforce.
We’re going to need thousands of more jobs and we want them to be local jobs.”
She wants to retrofit more Hawaii high schools to provide on-site, hands-on training while
partnering students with the construction industry to provide paid internships.
“We want to invest in their future by being able to start a life and career here with as
little debt as possible,” La Chica said.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE: https://www.staradvertiser.com/2024/01/14/hawaii-
news/female-carpenters-enjoy-good-pay-and-mentoring/
December 13, 2023
WORKSHOP PREPARES AND EMPOWERS COMMUNITY AGAINST WILDFIRES AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS
"One goal is to bring the community together so they have the knowledge, tools, and resources so
that, in the event of another wildfire or disaster, they can make informed decisions for themselves,
their families, and their neighbors," shared Rep. La Chica. "It’s about activating our communities
to work together, take care of one another, and be prepared."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE:
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2023/12/13/nr23-202/
December 7, 2023
Army, DOT clear Kipapa Gulch
This week’s cleanup was the result of a meeting coordinated by state Rep.
Trish La China and involving McGunegle and Directorate of Emergency Services
Director Col. Charles Green regarding debris removal and collaboration
between the Army and the state to address homelessness in the area and around Oahu.
"The unique circumstances surrounding the encampment required follow-up and
further collaboration between several federal and state entities," La Chica said.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE: https://spectrumlocalnews.
com/hi/hawaii/news/2023/12/07/army--dot-clear-kipapa-gulch-encampment
April 11, 2023
Public transit commute light on suspended school bus routes
La Chica found it took over 1-1/2 hours to traverse the 8 miles from Koa
Ridge to Pearl City High. And even though she started walking from Koa
Ridge to the nearest bus stop at 6:30 a.m. Friday, she arrived on campus
at a time that would mean a tardy mark for a student: 11 minutes after
the 8 a.m. bell to start classes. She made a video documenting her
excursion and distributed the link in her constituent newsletter.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE: https://www.staradvertiser.com/2023/08/09/hawaii-news/public-tran
sit-commute-sheds-light-on-suspended-school-bus-routes/
July 26, 2023
Crime prevention at center of discussion in Central Oahu community meeting
State Rep. Trish La Chica of District 37 says safety is a high priority in the community.
“Clearly this is top of mind,” she said. “And as a mom raising two kids,
similar to many parents in our community. It’s a very high priority to us."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE: https://www.
hawaiinewsnow.com/2023/07/26/crime-prevention-center-discussion-central-oahu-community-meeting/
July 3, 2023
Hawaii Rep. La Chica for Filipino leaders program
La Chica (D, Waipio-Mililani), the only FYLPRO delegate from Hawaii this year,
was born and raised in the Philippines. Her first job out of college was in
journalism working for one of the country’s largest television stations. She
said she witnessed firsthand the “devastating impacts” of poverty, corruption
and political instability on citizens’ everyday lives.
"I felt like I wanted to do more and be part of the solution," she said. "And
I still find myself asking that same question."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE:
https://www.staradvertiser.com/2023/07/03/hawaii-news/hawaii-rep-la-chica-selected-for-filipino-leaders-program/
April 11, 2023
Hawai'i House lawmakers approve 77 Senate bills before second crossover deadline
The state House of Representatives today passed an additional 77 Senate Bills ahead of Thursday?s second crossover deadline. These bills now head back to the Senate for their consideration.
If the Senate disagrees to amendments made by the House, the bills will be negotiated in conference committees. To date, 213 Senate bills have been amended by the House, and crossed over to the Senate after passing third reading.
Key measures passed by the House today include bills relating to electronic smoking devices, child welfare services, a state telework pilot monitoring system, firearms, and destination management in Hawai?i.
"[SB975] is a measure that would regulate e-cigarettes as they remain to be the only tobacco product unregulated in the state. This measure would subject e-cigarettes to the current regulations that apply to cigarettes and other tobacco products. This includes taxation, the restriction of online sales and requiring permitting and licensing. This is our only remaining bill to regulate e-cigarettes," said Representative Trish La Chica (D-37, Portions of Mililani Town, Mililani Mauka, Koa Ridge, and Waipi'o Gentry).
READ THE FULL ARTICLE: Maui Now Second Crossover
February 16, 2023
Gov. Green appoints Trish La Chica and Luke Evslin to fill vacant House seats
Trish La Chica will fill the House District 37 seat that was formerly occupied by Rep. Ryan Yamane, who was selected by Green to serve as the deputy director of the state Department of Human Resources Development.
La Chica formerly served as the City and County of Honolulu executive director of the Mayor's Office of Housing and Homelessness in 2022 and as the community government relations manager at AlohaCare. She's also been a member of the Mililani Neighborhood Board.
During a Wednesday press conference, La Chica said she'd like to focus on lowering the cost of living and transportation needs.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE: HPR Appointment
February 15, 2023
Hawaii Health Advocate And Kauai Councilman Appointed To House
Gov. Josh Green announced Wednesday that he is appointing public health advocate Trish La Chica to fill an empty House seat representing parts of Mililani and Kauai Councilman Luke Evslin to a vacant seat that covers Eastern Kauai.
La Chica and Evslin replace former Reps. Ryan Yamane and Jimmy Tokioka, who vacated their seats to work in Green's administration.
"These are just tremendous people, I'm happy to have them in the House of Representatives," Green said.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE: CB Appointment