Gov. David Ige signed a bill that aims to expedite the resolution of disputes handled by several state agencies, his office announced Wednesday.

House Bill 1581, now Act 48, will allow contested case hearings before the commissions on Water Resource Management, Land Use, Public Utilities and the Hawaii Community Development Authority, and cases involving conservation districts to be directly appealed to the state Supreme Court.

The law, which could affect the case of the Thirty Meter Telescope project being built in a conservation district, also requires the high court to give priority to contested case appeals of significant statewide importance.

“The ability to directly appeal a contested case decision to the Hawaii Supreme Court will be very efficient, saving both time and money for all parties involved,” House Majority Leader Scott Saiki (D, McCully-Kaheka-Kakaako-Downtown) said in a statement. “A Supreme Court decision will provide finality for a contested case much sooner than if appeals must be taken at various court levels.”

The new law takes effect on Aug. 1.

Nuuanu trail reopens after hiker is injured

The state reopened Judd Trail in Nuuanu on Monday, a week after a woman hiking on the trail was injured by a falling tree.

The large banyan tree fell across the path and Nuuanu Stream on May 2, pinning the 42-year-old woman while she hiked with a group of eight. Firefighters freed the woman, and paramedics took her to the hospital in serious condition.

A Department of Land and Natural Resources crew cut up and removed the tree, a DLNR spokeswoman said.

The state is investigating the incident.

Prosecutors on Kauai have new best friend

The Kauai County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney has a new four-legged member on its team, a yellow Labrador retriever named Ollie.

Assistance Dogs of Hawaii, a nonprofit organization, is the owner and trainer of Ollie, a 1-1/2-year-old courthouse facility dog that will provide a calming presence to victims and witnesses involved in stressful legal proceedings, according to a county news release Tuesday.

“Courthouse facility dogs like Ollie can help vulnerable victims and witnesses feel comfortable enough to tell their stories to investigators and in court while their cases proceed through a complicated and sometimes intimidating criminal justice system, while not affecting the fairness of the proceedings,” said Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar in the release.

Courthouse facility dogs assist prosecutor offices on Oahu and Hawaii island as well as the Honolulu Children’s Justice Center.

Maui planning documents put on website

The Maui Planning Department said Tuesday it is posting online supporting documents for agenda items of meetings for eight boards and commissions administered by the department.

Go to mauicounty.gov, find the “Planning Department” under the “Government” heading, then click on “Supported Boards & Commissions.” A list of the department’s boards and commissions will appear; click on any board or commission and then click on the link for its meeting materials.