Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Increases fines that may be assessed against certain fireworksrelated violations. Effective 7/1/2025.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO COLORECTAL CANCER.

Requires and appropriates moneys for the Department of Human Services to develop and implement a public assistance program offering state-funded colorectal screenings for certain persons. Requires coverage for all colorectal cancer screenings in the State to be consistent with the Affordable Care Act Implementation Frequently Asked Questions published by the United States Department of Labor, United States Department of Health and Human Services, and United States Department of the Treasury.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

Accelerates the dates for the required upgrades, conversions, or connections of priority level 1 and priority level 2 cesspools to 2035 and 2040, respectively. Appropriates funds to implement the cesspool compliance pilot grant program. Re-establishes a cesspool upgrade, conversion, or connection tax credit.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO DEFERRED RETIREMENT FOR POLICE.

Establishes a deferred retirement option program to allow qualified officers who are eligible for retirement to continue working.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.

Appropriates funds for the operating and capital improvement budget of the Executive Branch for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO DOMESTIC ABUSE.

Specifies that any minor who resides in the same household as a victim of domestic abuse may file a petition for and be granted an order of protection or temporary restraining order.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

Repeals existing statutory language that: (1) declares that the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic devices are a statewide concern; and (2) preempts all local ordinances and regulations that regulate the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic devices.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO A LIBRARY IN EWA BEACH.

Requires the Department of Education to transfer the Ewa Beach Public and School Library from the State Public Library System to James Campbell High School.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO SURFING.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to support the establishment of surfing as an interscholastic sport.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR.

Requires Liquor Commissions or Boards to deny any renewal for a liquor license if the applicant for renewal has violated any provision of the Intoxicating Liquor Law under chapter 281, Hawaii Revised Statutes, on three separate occasions during the twelve-month period preceding the renewal application date.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION ESTABLISHING THE RIGHT TO OWN ONE'S OWN DATA.

Proposes to amend the Hawaii State Constitution by establishing the right of each person to own and have an exclusive property right in the data they generate on the Internet.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND.

Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to maximize the amount of housing built that utilizes loans from the Rental Housing Revolving Fund by prioritizing projects with the shortest projected loan repayment terms that produce the highest number of units, per dollar, per year. Repeals all other priorities and preferences for projects utilizing the RHRF.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes the Hawaii State Fellows Program within the Department of Human Resources Development to match talented applicants with full-time, paid fellowship roles in various state agencies for a period of ten to eleven months. Establishes minimum qualifications and procedures for eligible applicants to apply to the program. Gives preference to eligible program applicants who have pre-existing ties to the State or a demonstrated commitment to long-term leadership in the State. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development, in consultation with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, to coordinate with state agencies to implement and promote the program. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Requires the Department of Health to construct a mental health facility for inmates or detainees with mental health needs in the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Appropriates moneys.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC BANKING.

Establishes a state-owned bank implementation board within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to determine the need for, potential costs and benefits of, and prerequisites to establishing a state-owned bank. Requires a report to the legislature.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL IMPACT FEES.

Exempts certain housing developments from assessments of school impact fees.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires certain landlords to provide a specified notice to a tenant regarding the tenant's potential right to purchase the property, under certain conditions. Allows tenants, families, local governments, affordable housing nonprofits, and community land trusts forty-five days to match or beat the best bona fide offer to buy an eligible affordable housing property.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO EVICTIONS.

Prohibits landlords from terminating certain tenancies without cause. Establishes criteria under which landlords can undertake a no-fault eviction. Requires landlords, when proceeding with a no-fault eviction, to offer relocation assistance to the tenant or waiver of the final month's rent. Effective 1/1/2026.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.

Excludes from the definition of "development" for purposes of coastal zone management restrictions, the reconstruction, under certain circumstances, of structures destroyed in the August 8, 2023, wildfires in Lahaina, Maui.

Elle CochranDemocrat

RELATING TO TREES.

Establishes base selection criteria for exceptional trees. Establishes the significant tree designation, selection criteria, and related processes. Establishes the State Arborist Advisory Committee within the Department of Land and Natural Resources for administrative purposes. Requires County Arborist Advisory Committees to have at least six members, adopt new exceptional tree selection criteria, and designate significant trees. Directs the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the University of Hawaii to cooperate with State and County Arborist Advisory Committees to carry out the Exceptional Trees Program.

Elle CochranDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE OF HAWAII FILM COMMISSION.

Establishes the State of Hawaii Film Commission within the Creative Industries Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to support the State's film and media industries. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, to establish a comprehensive action plan to establish a local housing market in Hawaii. Appropriates moneys.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Appropriates funds in addition to the base budget of the Department of Human Services' Homeless Programs Office to address the need for homeless services in the State.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a climate education, environmental sustainability, and indigenous knowledge into the K-12 curriculum and climate education and environmental sustainability teacher training and professional development programs. Requires the University of Hawaii to develop and implement a series of courses on climate education and environmental sustainability, to be completed by every student prior to the student's graduation, and establish sustainability practices across all university campuses to promote sustainability. Requires the Department of Education and University of Hawaii to conduct annual sustainability audits across their respective campuses to assess the progress of each campus in integrating sustainability into their curriculum and operations.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Requires the Hawaii Health Authority to develop a comprehensive plan for the establishment of a universal, single payer health care system to replace all other health care coverage in the State, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Prepaid Health Care Act. Establishes a universal, single payer health care system to be known as the Hawaii Care program under the Hawaii Health Authority to take effect one hundred eighty days after the approval of waivers from certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and the State's Medicaid plan. Appropriates funds.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO PROSTITUTION.

Establishes penalties for property managers and owners of real property on or in which massage parlors or similar prostitution establishments are located. Requires workers to be treated as victims and offered resources. Appropriates funds.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE PENAL CODE.

Increases the category of offense for criminal trespass in the first and second degree and criminal property damage in the second, third, and fourth degree.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO AUDIBLE VEHICLE REVERSE WARNING SYSTEMS.

Requires the use of current audible reverse warning systems (back-up beepers) on state and county-owned vehicles purchased on or after 1/1/2028, with more effective broadband reversing alarms by 1/1/2028.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires housing projects developed pursuant to section 201H-38, HRS, to be located within county-designated transit-oriented zones.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS.

Requires an environmental impact statement and consultation with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for actions that propose any launch of a spacecraft from or reeintry into state waters or the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE THIRTY-SEVENTH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the thirty-seventh representative district.

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Establishes new requirements for identifying certain top contributors for election campaign purposes. Prohibits structuring, assisting in structuring, or attempting to structure or assist in structuring any solicitation, contribution, expenditure, disbursement, or other transactions. Establishes additional penalties regarding campaign finance violations. Adds and amends various definitions for purposes of campaign finances. Amends reporting requirements for schedules filed for noncandidate committee reports. Repeals certain required information for noncandidate committees making only independent expenditures for late contribution reports. Expands information required for a noncandidate committee that makes independent expenditures of more than $500. Increases the aggregate amount that triggers when a person is required to file a statement of information. Repeals an authorization for a nonprofit organization operating as a noncandidate committee to use a donation for certain expenditures. Requires certain noncandidate committees to maintain transfer records. Requires certain information to be reported to a noncandidate committee. Repeals the requirement to identify certain top contributors.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO BROADBAND SERVICE.

Requires a provider of broadband internet access services to be transparent with network management practices, performance, and commercial terms of its broadband internet access services. Prohibits a provider of broadband internet access services from blocking lawful websites, impairing or degrading lawful internet traffic, engaging in paid prioritization or application-specific differential pricing, or interfering with or disadvantaging users of broadband internet access services. Requires an applicant of a broadband-related permit seeking a state-granted or county-granted right to attach small cell or other broadband wireless communication devices to utility poles to comply with certain practices.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE INSURANCE AFFORDABILITY ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM.

Establishes the Insurance Affordability Assistance Pilot Program within the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to assist eligible homeowners with sudden increases in property insurance premiums. Sunsets 6/30/2028.

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires certain landlords to provide a specified notice to a tenant regarding the tenant's potential right to purchase the property, under certain conditions. Allows tenants, families, local governments, affordable housing nonprofits, and community land trusts forty-five days to match or beat the best bona fide offer to buy an eligible affordable housing property. Establishes conveyance tax rates for the sale of eligible affordable housing properties.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO SOCIAL GAMING.

Authorizes a 10-year renewable license for a social gaming facility in a special district designated for tourism. Allows admission and participation for adults. Non-residents shall be required to apply for guest membership. Establishes the Hawaii social gaming control commission to monitor and measure operational activities as well as collect and distribute tax revenue from social game operations. Imposes a consumption tax on every hand and every contest. Uses revenue for housing developments for currently houseless Native Hawaiian residents.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO CRIMINAL STREET GANGS.

Establishes the offense of criminal street gang participation, solicitation, recruitment, or retention. Provides for enhanced penalties for crimes committed by a defendant while part of a criminal street gang.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LEGISLATURE.

Establishes a basic housing allowance for legislators whose legal residence is on an island other than the island of Oahu during session. Appropriates funds.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires that each Department of Education public school student earn 2 credits in Hawaiian language as a graduation requirement. Establishes a 2-year pilot program for Hawaiian language instruction at a central Oahu elementary school and Nanakuli High and Intermediate School. Appropriates funds.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a tax credit for individual and corporate taxpayers who install and place in service certain projects that support environmental sustainability.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE CENTER FOR CLIMATE RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT.

Appropriates funds for the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology within the University of Hawaii to establish and operate a Center for Climate Resilient Development.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC MEETINGS.

Prohibits boards from beginning or continuing meetings after 9:00 p.m., excluding county council meetings.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the department of education to equip all classroom doors with interior locks, maintain a public address system, feature an emergency access route, and maintain fire alarms. Mandates the establishment of school emergency plans. Requires schools conduct regular testing and emergency preparedness drills. Appropriates funds.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Requires the Office of the Auditor to perform a comprehensive forensic audit of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and Department of Accounting and General Services related to the planning, design, financing, construction, and maintenance of a new jail to replace the Oahu Community Correctional Center. Requires a report. Appropriates funds.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes a high school law enforcement curriculum-to-career pipeline initiative. Appropriates funds to develop and implement the program.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.

Requires motor vehicle safety inspections to be conducted every two years rather than annually.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO STATUTORY REVISION: AMENDING OR REPEALING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE HAWAII REVISED STATUTES OR THE SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII FOR THE PURPOSES OF CORRECTING ERRORS AND REFERENCES, CLARIFYING LANGUAGE, OR DELETING OBSOLETE OR UNNECESSARY PROVISIONS.

Amends or repeals various provisions of the Hawaii Revised Statutes or the Session Laws of Hawaii for the purposes of correcting errors and references, clarifying language, or deleting obsolete or unnecessary provisions.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO VEHICLE MILEAGE.

Requires employers to reimburse employees for vehicle mileage expenses incurred when using their personal vehicle to carry out employee duties or at the direction of the employer.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO THEFT.

Creates the offense of organized retail theft. Provides penalties for organized retail theft. Creates an organized retail theft task force.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO GAMING.

Establishes the Hawaii Lottery and Gaming Corporation for the purpose of conducting and regulating wagering and gaming in the State. Establishes the Lottery and Gaming Special Fund and allocates certain percentages of the fund to various community betterment purposes.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat