Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO CARBON DISPLACEMENT.

Establishes a carbon displacement tax credit for taxpayers of locally produced goods. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to certify tax credit amounts.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS.

Authorizes neighborhood boards to solicit suggestions for capital improvement projects and operating budget priorities from residents. Requires each county mayor to consider and respond in writing to the suggestions for capital improvement projects and operating budget priorities submitted by each neighborhood board. Requires each county council to consider the neighborhood boards' recommendations, the mayor's responses, and county fiscal health in determining the final budget.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO CULTURE.

Short form bill relating to culture.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO CULTURE.

Short form bill relating to culture.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

Adds the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission or the Chairperson's designee to the Hawaii Community Development Authority. Considers the Chairperson in determining quorum and majority and makes the Chairperson eligible to vote on matters affecting the Kalaeloa Community Development District.

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO CULTURE.

Short form bill relating to culture.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Adds the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, or the Chairperson's designee, to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO THE COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.

Adds the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission or the Chairperson's designee to the Commission on Water Resource Management. Clarifies that only the five, non-ex-officio members appointed by the Governor are required to have substantial experience in water resource management.

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO SENTENCING.

Establishes a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for persons convicted of offenses based on the possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Appropriates funds to establish positions within the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO RARE DISEASES.

Establishes the rare disease advisory council to increase awareness and effective medical intervention for rare diseases. Establishes the rare disease advisory council special fund. Requires DOH and DOE to incorporate the importance of annual physical examinations for children in programs and literature. Amends the insurance code to include coverage for individuals with velocardiofacial syndrome and other genetic disorders. Exempts from cost sharing. Appropriates funds.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY PROGRAMS.

Expands programming and training for the comprehensive offender reentry program under the department of corrections and rehabilitation to reduce the rate of recidivism and increase inmate marketability. Appropriates funds.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Appropriates moneys to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for the rehabilitation, remodeling, renovation, and repair of housing units.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO SCHOOL BUS SERVICES.

Authorizes the Department of Education to use alternative vehicles for student transportation under certain conditions and appropriates funds for the purchase of alternative vehicles and individuals to obtain CDL licensure. Allows Department schools to initiate staggered start times. Appropriates funds.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.

Establishes a three-year pilot program within the early learning system to administer a home-based early learning program. Serves three and four-year-old children. Provides individualized software instruction in reading, mathematics, and science. Appropriates funds.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO RECYCLING.

Allows manufacturers to coordinate activities directly related to the recycling of covered electronic devices. Expands the scope of covered electronic devices to include electronic device peripherals and certain legacy devices. Requires manufacturers to provide free collection service locations and collection events.

Dee MorikawaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE NURSE LICENSURE COMPACT.

Authorizes the Governor to enter the State into a multistate Nurse Licensure Compact that will allow a nurse who is licensed by a home state to practice under a multistate licensure privilege in each party state. Beginning 7/1/20 , requires each person who holds a multistate nurse license issued by another state and is employed by a health care facility to complete annual demographic data surveys. Authorizes the State Board of Nursing to charge different fees for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses who hold a multistate license issued by the State. Provides that the Nurse Licensure Compact shall become effective and binding in the State two years after the Act takes effect.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION.

Classifies certain former military vehicles as special interest vehicles. Enables owners of former military vehicles to apply for registration. Effective 1/1/2026.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN SEXUALITY HEALTH EDUCATION CURRICULUM.

Requires that student health and sexuality health education programs include discussion of fetal growth and development. Outlines specific content to be included.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.

Prohibits state contractors, prospective state contractors, holders of procurement prequalification certificates, or principals of these groups from making contributions to, or soliciting contributions from their employees or from subcontractors or principals of subcontractors on behalf of, certain candidate committees, noncandidate committees, and political party committees. Requires the Procurement Policy Board to adopt rules to issue prequalification certificates to prospective contractors for public buildings or other public works. Amends the contribution limits for certain individuals and noncandidate committees. Prohibits lobbyists and certain persons related to lobbyists from soliciting contributions from client lobbyists. Increases the administrative fines.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF FIREWORKS LAWS.

Appropriates moneys to the county police departments to enforce applicable fireworks laws, subject to certain conditions.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO SEXUAL OFFENSES.

Provides for a sentence of death or life imprisonment without possibility of parole upon a conviction for sex trafficking. Requires a separate sentencing proceeding by a jury, except if waived by the defendant, for a conviction for sex trafficking. Makes commercial sexual exploitation a class A felony. Makes conforming amendments.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO MARIJUANA.

Decriminalizes the possession of drug paraphernalia relating to marijuana; possession of a certain amount of marijuana concentrate; and the possession of a certain amount of marijuana and smoking of marijuana in a public place. Lowers the criminal penalty for the possession of a certain amount of marijuana concentrate from a misdemeanor to a petty misdemeanor.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATIONS.

Establishes the Ombudsman's Office for Condominium Associations within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Updates the Condominium Property Act to integrate the role and functions of the ombudsman's office for condominium associations. Appropriates funds for establishment of the Ombudsman's Office for Condominium Associations.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TAX.

Provides Hawaii taxpayers with a refundable transient accommodations tax credit.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAFFIC.

Provides that if a law enforcement officer lawfully stops a motor vehicle and the operator is cited for driving without a valid license, the officer shall not permit the operator to resume the use of the motor vehicle. Requires the motor vehicle to be moved by a licensed driver or towed at the owner's expense. Provides that the cited operator is responsible for arranging the operator's transportation from the scene of the stop.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO PREVAILING WAGES.

Requires prevailing wages for human services providers.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO CARE CENTERS.

Requires that new and newly renovated state buildings with a budget of $5,000,000 or more include dedicated space for a child care center or an adult day care center.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

Requires the Hawaii emergency management agency to inventory all designated emergency shelters and their ability to withstand a category one hurricane or higher. Requires Hawaii emergency management agency to publish a publicly available list of shelters and their respective hurricane ratings. Appropriates funds for a hurricane shelter retrofit program and director.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Establishes a program that requires property insurers to offer discounts to condominium associations that make certain upgrades or take other specific actions to increase the building's resilience or reduce the association's risk profile. Requires the insurance commissioner to adopt rules to implement the program.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LANDS.

Prohibits certain foreign parties or their agents, trustees, and fiduciaries from owning, purchasing, or acquiring an interest in agricultural lands. Establishes an Office of Agricultural Intelligence within the Department of Agriculture to investigate claims that land is unlawfully owned by a prohibited foreign party. Requires the Attorney General to undertake enforcement activities. Appropriates moneys.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES.

Establishes and implements the Catastrophic Wildfire Securitization Act, to allow public utilities to securitize rates in order to raise capital that can be used to pay for costs and expenses arising out of catastrophic wildfires.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO INCOME TAX CREDITS.

Amends the amount of total income tax credits available. Increases the annual per production and aggregate caps. Provides the State with alternative marketing opportunities in lieu of a shared-card, end-title screen credit.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO HEALTHCARE PRECEPTORS.

Adds psychology, physician assistant, marriage and family therapist, mental health counselor, clinical social worker, rehabilitation counselor, and school counselor students to the definition of "eligible student" under the qualifications for the healthcare preceptor tax credit. Amends the definition of "preceptor" by adding psychologists, physician assistants, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, clinical social workers, rehabilitation counselors, and school counselors to the list of preceptors eligible to receive the tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025.

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO PESTICIDE BUFFER ZONES.

Increases the buffer zone for restricted use pesticides around schools to one-half mile. Allows the use of restricted use pesticides within the buffer zone as part of invasive species control conducted by the Department of Agriculture or invasive species committees organized under the University of Hawaii Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Appropriates funds for a State Capitol tour guide position within the Public Access Room.

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Directs the Department of Human Services to adopt rules to expand Medicaid eligibility to all children in the State from birth to age 5 years without regard to household income. Appropriates moneys.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

Expands eligibility for scholarships under the Hawaii Community College Promise Program to all qualified students. Appropriates funds.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO DISABILITIES.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to evaluate its facilities for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and compile a list of non-compliant facilities. Requires report to the Legislature.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires the Department of Education to include the teaching of financial literacy in kindergarten through grade twelve. Requires students in grades nine through twelve to complete a one-half credit in financial literacy before graduation. Requires the Board of Education to provide professional development to teachers who are teaching financial literacy courses.

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Requires all accident and health or sickness insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations operating in the State to adopt policies, procedures, and criteria for approving or denying requests for prior authorization that are the equivalent to the guidelines for prior authorization established by Medicare.

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OF COMMITTED PERSONS.

Appropriates $500,000, for each year of the fiscal biennium to the department of corrections and rehabilitation to procure a new software for electronic record keeping of medical records. Requires a report to the legislature.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO THE COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES.

Appropriates funds for eight full-time agricultural technician, and four full-time coordinator positions at University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Provides that a living beneficiary's place on the Department of Hawaiian Home Land's waitlist for any residential, agricultural or pastoral tract may be designated for transfer to a successor if the living beneficiary dies before receiving an offer for a tract; provided that the successor shall be at least twenty-five per cent native Hawaiian.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO SERVICE CHARGES.

Prohibits restaurants from imposing a mandatory gratuity service charge for the sale of food or beverage services unless the party includes ten or more customers, the service charge does not exceed eighteen per cent, and the customer is notified of the service charge.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO SELF DEFENSE.

Clarifies that a person who uses deadly force in self-defense does not have a duty to retreat if they are in their dwelling or on their property unless they are the initial aggressor. Repeals statutory language that permits a person to use deadly force at their place of work.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a refundable Family Caregiver Tax Credit for nonpaid family caregivers. Requires the department of taxation to report to the legislature before the convening of each regular session.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Clarifies that the terms of a loan must first be sent to unit owners and approved by a majority of unit owners' consent to the loan. Requires a majority of unit owners to vote in favor of or provide written consent to maintenance fee increases before they take effect. Requires a forensic audit of an association's financial records no less frequently than once every three years, with the first forensic audit to be completed by 6/30/2026.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND CONTRIBUTIONS.

Sets the amount of the employer contribution to the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund as a fixed percentage of the health benefits plan or life insurance plan premium cost. Makes conforming amendments.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CONTRACTORS.

Raises the threshold exemption under the contractor licensing law's handyman exemption from $1,500 to $2,500.

Diamond GarciaRepublican