Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes a Local Agriculture Transportation Cost Reimbursement Pilot Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to reimburse eligible ranchers and farmers a portion of their costs to transport livestock, livestock products, agricultural commodities, and certain necessary supplies, under certain conditions. Establishes a position to administer the Program. Appropriates moneys. Sunsets 6/30/2029. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

Authorizes the State Historic Preservation Division to conduct a phased review of a proposed project on private property under certain circumstances. Amends the process and deadlines by which SHPD must provide written concurrence or non-concurrence for proposed projects on private property or certain projects that require state or county approval for entitlement for use. Clarifies when an application for a proposed project on an existing privately-owned residential property shall be subject to the requirements of section 6E-42, HRS. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO FARM EMPLOYEE HOUSING.

Clarifies the allowable uses within agricultural districts with respect to farm dwellings and farm employee housing. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

Replaces the Adjutant General on the Hawaii Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee with the Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Effective 7/1/2055. (SD1)

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT.

Amends the definition of "development," as it pertains to coastal zone management, to exclude any state- or county-funded infrastructure improvement project that is exempted from an environmental assessment or determined as a finding of no significant impact under chapter 343, HRS. Applies only to zones established in Lahaina in the aftermath of the 2023 Maui wildfires that have been designated for reentry by the State or County of Maui as of January 1, 2026, excluding lands owned by or under the control of the State or County of Maui. Effective 7/1/2050. Sunsets 6/30/2029. (SD2)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Expands the protections established under Act 2, SLH 2023, to include gender-affirming health care services, including clarifying permitted disclosures of protected health information to address changes in federal regulations. Establishes protections against abusive litigation. Prohibits medical malpractice insurers and health carriers from taking certain adverse actions against health care providers solely on the basis that the health care provider provides lawful reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services. (SD2)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO REGISTRATION OF TIME SHARES.

Establishes that applications for registration renewals for time share developers, acquisition agents, plan managers, and exchange agents required by section 514E-10, HRS, shall be deemed approved thirty days after receipt of all required documents, unless the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs issues a deficiency letter within that period. Establishes that any amendment to a required time share plan registration shall be deemed approved by operation of law on the sixtieth day after the amendment is submitted to the Director, unless the Director issues a deficiency letter within that period. Effective 9/1/2026. (SD2)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIFORM PROBATE CODE.

Provides for the temporary sealing of certain medical records and professional evaluations filed in guardianship and conservatorship proceedings pending a judicial determination on the need for continued sealing. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO AGGRAVATED CIRCUMSTANCES IN CHILD PROTECTIVE PROCEEDINGS.

Clarifies and expands procedures for aggravated circumstances determinations in Child Protective Act proceedings. Authorizes the Family Court to make a finding of aggravated circumstances at any stage of a Child Protective Act proceeding before the termination of parental rights, rather than limiting these findings to the return hearing. Incorporates the definition of torture under the Penal Code for purposes of defining aggravated circumstances involving child torture under the Child Protective Act. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE DRIVERS LICENSE REVOCATION.

Authorizes administrative drivers license revocation hearings to be conducted using interactive conference technology, including teleconference, videoconference, and voice over internet protocol systems. Clarifies that evidence in hearings conducted via interactive conference technology may be submitted and exchanged electronically. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE, ITS OFFICERS, OR ITS EMPLOYEES.

Makes appropriations and approves payments for claims against the State, its officers, and its employees. (SD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Makes emergency appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of bargaining units (1) and (10) and their excluded counterparts to resolve issues related to temporary hazard pay for fiscal year 2025-2026. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Makes emergency appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of bargaining unit (11) and their excluded counterparts, including the cost of salary adjustments negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal biennium 2025-2027. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires insurers to provide explanation of premium increases upon request; clarifies grounds for denial, suspension, and revocation of an adjuster and bill reviewer license; clarifies procedures for denying, suspending, and revoking an insurance producer license; and amends the notice requirements for cancellation or nonrenewal of a property insurance policy. Clarifies the date on which purchase groups are required to pay an annual service fee. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EXPENDITURE CEILING ON THE AUTOMATED VICTIM INFORMATION AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM SPECIAL FUND.

Increases from $600,000 to $1,000,000 the annual expenditure ceiling on the Automated Victim Information and Notification System Special Fund to address rising program costs and growing victim service demands. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Updates Hawaii's statutory framework for adult and community education programs to ensure alignment with federal funding requirements and current best practices in those programs. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

Provides an emergency appropriation to the Department of Human Services to replace general fund appropriations redirected to provide emergency food assistance during the 2025 federal government shutdown. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SYSTEMS OF CARE.

Modernizes Hawaii's emergency medical services laws to align with current best practices. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

Authorizes the Department of Health to establish a vacation payout pilot program in which eligible Department of Health employees may defer unused vacation leave credits in favor of a pay out to provide home purchase down payment assistance. Requires reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2029. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE HEALTH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY.

Amends the functions and responsibilities of the State Health Planning and Development Agency. Adds a new definition of "health care" for chapter 323D, HRS. Amends the exemption threshold for bed changes to up to thirty per cent of existing licensed bed types. Exempts the Department of Health from certificate of need requirements. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CONFORMITY TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.

Conforms Hawaii income and estate and generation-skipping transfer tax laws to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended as of December 31, 2025. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII REVENUE BONDS.

Authorizes the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii to issue revenue bonds for the purpose of financing qualifying priority capital improvement projects. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO VETERANS.

Repeals the 6/30/2027 deadline by which the Maui State Veterans Home must be assimilated into a state agency having a Maui affiliation and instead requires the assimilation to be completed as soon as practicable. (SD1)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE TAKING OF MARINE DEPOSITS.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to approve permits for research, education, management, or propagation purposes that include the taking of marine deposits seaward of the shoreline, as long as the resources will be returned to the beach if possible and that the taking poses no more than a minimal or negligible risk to the environment. Effective 1/1/3000. (SD1)

Lisa KitagawaDemocrat

RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSE REVOCATION.

Clarifies administrative driver's license revocation procedures by specifying the effect of the notice of administrative revocation and conforming related administrative review and hearing provisions. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO ASSISTED COMMUNITY TREATMENT.

Clarifies that community mental health outpatient programs that have agreed to provide mental health services to a defendant as part of an assisted community treatment order may prepare a certificate for assisted community treatment and provide the certificate to a defendant and may file an assisted community treatment petition with the Family Court. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO BACKGROUND CHECKS.

Clarifies and streamlines background check requirements for healthcare facility applicants, operators, and direct patient access employees. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD2)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE MAUNA KEA STEWARDSHIP AND OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY.

Part I: Clarifies the powers of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority so that it may carry out its intended duties regarding land use on Mauna Kea. Part II: Adds reversion dates of 6/30/2028 and 12/31/2029 if timelines requiring the adoption of a management plan or sending of proposed administrative rules to the Governor are not met; extends the transition period to 12/1/2029; requires the University of Hawaii to transfer the various Mauna Kea astronomical observatory conservation district use permits to the astronomical observatories; clarifies that the oversight and interest of MKSOA in the Mauna Kea lands shall be no more than the University of Hawaii's leasehold interest in the Mauna Kea lands unless otherwise agreed to by the Board of Land and Natural Resources. Part III: Provides that the existing plans and administrative rules adopted or developed by UH under which Mauna Kea is currently governed remain in effect until plans and administrative rules adopted by MKSOA take effect. Part IV: Clarifies that MKSOA has state sovereign immunity. Part V: Authorizes MKSOA to extend leases and subleases before the expiration of the transition for up to an additional ten-year term. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO UNCREWED AIRCRAFT OFFENSES.

Clarifies the applicable felony offenses for using an uncrewed aircraft in the furtherance of the commission of a felony. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PARKING FOR DISABLED PERSONS.

Requires the Disability and Communication Access Board to issue a disability travel placard to an applicant who has a valid removeable windshield placard or disabled paid parking exemption permit but does not have a valid special license plate, and provides proof of travel. (SD2)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO SMALL BOAT HARBORS.

Revises provisions relating to state small boat harbors fees and permits. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO VETERINARY MEDICINE.

Requires veterinarians to provide a written prescription, upon the request of a client, for any animal patient of a client with whom the veterinarian has established an existing veterinarian-client-patient relationship, to be filled at the pharmacy of the client's choosing. Allows pharmacies licensed in the State to dispense medications prescribed by veterinarians. Specifies that violators may be subject to disciplinary action by the Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine, which may include fines or suspension or revocation of a license. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

AUTHORIZING AND EMPOWERING THE SPEAKER TO PERFORM AND CARRY OUT ANY OFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS DURING THE INTERIM BETWEEN THE 2026 AND 2027 REGULAR SESSIONS.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RETURNING ALL BILLS, CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS, AND RESOLUTIONS TO THE CLERK'S DESK.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

INFORMING THE HOUSE AND GOVERNOR THAT THE SENATE IS READY TO ADJOURN SINE DIE.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

REGARDING COMPLETION OF THE WORK OF THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, REGULAR SESSION OF 2026, SUBSEQUENT TO ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

INFORMING THE SENATE AND GOVERNOR THAT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS READY TO ADJOURN SINE DIE.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

REQUESTING THE CENTER FOR NURSING TO COMPILE A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF RECOMMENDED SAFE PATIENT STAFFING STRATEGIES AND RATIOS FOR ALL NURSING SPECIALTIES AND SUBSPECIALTIES ACROSS ALL HEALTH CARE SETTINGS, AND TO MAINTAIN A REPOSITORY FOR THIS INFORMATION.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO CONSIDER OFFERING OLELO HAWAII MICRO-CREDENTIALS FOCUSING ON OLELO NIIHAU.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

URGING MAUI HEALTH SYSTEM TO COLLABORATE WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO ESTABLISH A FULL-TIME MEDICAL RESIDENCY PROGRAM ON THE ISLAND OF MAUI.

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

URGING THE ʻAHA MOKU ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO FOLLOW ITS ADOPTED RULES OF PRACTICE, FULFILL ITS STATUTORY DUTIES, ESTABLISH POLICIES TO ASSURE CONSISTENT STANDARDS OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTABILITY; AND CONVENING A WORKING GROUP TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE A HOSPICE WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE TRENDS AND REGULATIONS IN THE HOSPICE INDUSTRY.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR'S SENIOR ADVISOR FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO FORMULATE A PLAN TO CREATE PLACES OF SHELTER FOR PERSONS UNDER CIVIL COMMITMENT AND FOR PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN RECENTLY RELEASED FROM THE HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL AND ARE AT RISK OF RECIDIVISM.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

ENCOURAGING HAWAIʻI COUNTY, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE PUAKŌ COMMUNITY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI AT HILO, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, TO COMPLETE THE PUAKŌ SEWAGE PROJECT.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII BOARD OF REGENTS TO CONDUCT A SYSTEMWIDE ASSOCIATE DEGREE COMPLETION AUDIT.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND LAND MANAGEMENT OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO DEVELOP A COUNTYWIDE HOUSING PATTERN BOOK TO STREAMLINE PERMIT APPROVALS AND REDUCE REGULATORY BARRIERS FOR SAFE, AFFORDABLE, AND WELL-DESIGNED HOMES.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Establishes the Mental Health Emerging Therapies Task Force within the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine to prepare the State for the integration of breakthrough therapies, expansion of pathways for clinical trials and clinical research, and development of policy recommendations for safe, ethical, and culturally informed implementation of emerging therapies. Requires reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2028. Effective 1/30/2050. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO FAMILY RESILIENCE PILOT PROGRAM.

Establishes a two-year Family Resilience Pilot Program within the Office of Wellness and Resilience. Appropriates Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds. Sunsets 6/30/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 12 AND 13, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION.

Proposes constitutional amendments to expressly provide that the Legislature may authorize political subdivisions, such as the counties, to issue resilient infrastructure for shelter and equity bonds for specified public works, public improvements, or other actions necessary for housing and community development, and exclude these bonds from determinations of the funded debt of the political subdivisions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE HOUSING.

Requires state agencies that administer agricultural leases, licenses, development programs, or procurement involving agricultural products to award points or preferences to agricultural projects incorporating agricultural workforce housing. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to submit a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat