Bills & Legislation

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.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Short form bill relating to health care.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PERSONNEL.

Updates state position titles by changing "private secretary" to "executive assistant" and "secretary" to "administrative assistant", where applicable. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO SYNDROMIC SURVEILLANCE.

Requires hospitals with emergency departments that are licensed in the State to submit syndromic surveillance data to the Department of Health. Authorizes the Department of Health to establish a state syndromic surveillance system. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PREVENTIVE MEDICINE.

Specifies that no person is subject to liability for providing clinical preventive services in accordance with Department of Health recommendations. Requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, health maintenance organizations, and plans issued by the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to provide coverage for clinical preventive services. Authorizes the Department of Health to make recommendations relating to clinical preventive services and issue standing orders for medications and immunizations. Clarifies that, for child health supervision services coverage, the prevailing medical standards include recommendations by the Department of Health. Prohibits denial of coverage and prior authorization for clinical preventive services based on medical necessity. Specifies that a registered pharmacist may order a vaccine in accordance with the recommendations from the Department of Health. Exempts this measure from an Auditor impact assessment report. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SYSTEMS OF CARE.

Modernizes the State's emergency medical services statutes to align with current best practices. (SD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

Authorizes the Department of Health to establish a vacation payout pilot project 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. Report required. Sunsets June 30, 2029.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO LEAD MATERIALS IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

Amends prohibitions on the use of lead materials in drinking water distribution to align with the Safe Drinking Water Act and related Code of Federal Regulations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S AUTHORITY TO REGULATE FOOD, DRUGS, AND COSMETICS.

Removes duplicative food-related statutory material and aligns all food-related provisions under chapter 328, HRS. Ensures adequate statutory authority for permits, fees, inspections, and enforcement. On 6/30/2027, repeals the Sanitation and Environmental Health Special Fund and transfers any unexpended or unencumbered balance to the newly established Food Safety and Environmental Health Special Fund. Makes conforming amendments. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO INDEPENDENT AUDITS OF DEPOSIT BEVERAGE DISTRIBUTORS.

Requires deposit beverage distributors to obtain independent audits at certain frequencies based on the amount of deposit beverage containers distributed. Requires independent audits to assess specific criteria and report certain information. Requires the Department of Health to develop a web-based system to allow online submission of reports. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

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)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE FIRE COUNCIL.

Replaces the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations with the Department of Law Enforcement as the department responsible for budgeting administrative staffing for the State Fire Council. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT.

Updates chapter 329, HRS, to make it consistent with amendments in the Federal Controlled Substances Act as required under section 329-11, HRS.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO DANGEROUS INTOXICATION.

Establishes the offenses of dangerous intoxication and habitual dangerous intoxication. Provides for civil protective custody and transport for emergency examination in lieu of arrest for dangerous intoxication in specified circumstances, and bars prosecution when civil protective custody is used. Requires probation with mandatory treatment for habitual dangerous intoxication, with incarceration only upon probation violation. Makes conforming amendments to chapter 334, HRS, relating to admission to psychiatric facilities and assisted community treatment. Delays implementation by one year. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW.

Repeals the requirement that health care providers' forms be filed with the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) in triplicate. Clarifies the way a physician transmits a treatment plan to an employer. Repeals a reference to the employer's receipt of a vocational rehabilitation plan by mail. Repeals the option of employers to submit reports to the DLIR via United States mail. Repeals the option of health care providers to provide reports to the DLIR or employer via mail.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH LAW.

Repeals the requirement that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations regulate hoisting machines and certify their operators and the Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board, including its rules requiring a separate state crane operator certificate. Allows additional time for the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to complete an investigation of a discharge or discrimination complaint pertaining to employees exercising rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Law without formal extension. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CIVIL SERVICE EXEMPT POSITIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Exempts certain positions within the State Historic Preservation Division and Commission on Water Resource Management within the Department of Land and Natural Resources from the state civil service law.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt, amend, or repeal administrative fee schedules for use of certain lands pursuant to a specified procedure and to exempt parking lot and concessions operations on those lands from the bidding requirements for concessions operated on public property. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSERVATION BANKS.

Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to approve the operation of conservation banks and amends the Endangered Species Recovery Committee's membership and scope of authority. Effective upon approval.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE USE OF PUBLIC LANDS.

Defines public uses of public lands as uses by an agency either directly or through disposition, that support the agency's functions including but not limited to the uses described in section 171-10, HRS.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

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.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HOSTING PLATFORMS.

Requires hosting platforms that earn service fees for providing booking services for transient accommodations to register with the Department of Taxation as tax collection agents and report, collect, and remit general excise and transient accommodations taxes on behalf of operators.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Short form bill relating to taxation.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL PORT ADMINISTRATION.

Renames the Harbors Division of the Department of Transportation to the Commercial Ports Division and distinguishes between the terms "harbor" and "commercial port" throughout the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to designate airport special district zones within airports statewide. Adds a new HRS section to help prevent unauthorized access and enhance security. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to assume responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for highway projects, as well as railroad, public transportation, or multimodal projects within the State, allowing streamlined environmental reviews. Provides a limited waiver of sovereign immunity to comply with federal requirements. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes priority consideration for full-time employment in state departments or agencies for certain participants in state-funded internship and workforce development programs by granting them eligibility for internal recruitment.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO FEDERAL MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to enter into agreements with the United States Department of Defense for the provision of services at federal military installations, under certain conditions. Authorizes charging an administrative fee. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Removes county-specific expenditure restrictions for funds in the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to assess the procurement of the operator of the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program. Requires the Department of Transportation to reissue procurement for the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program every five years. Requires unencumbered and unexpended revenues from the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund in excess of a certain amount as of June 30 of each year to lapse to the general fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROMISE PROGRAM.

Amends the Hawaii Community College Promise Program (Hawaii promise) to exclude grants, scholarships, and other funding sources from the calculation of Hawaii promise awards, allowing students to apply such funds toward indirect costs, including housing, food, and other living expenses, to reduce financial barriers and support student success. Addresses the change in federal law regarding Pell Grants. Changes Hawaii promise from being a last-dollar award.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

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.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Makes an emergency appropriation for fiscal year 2025–2026 to the University of Hawaii to expand and sustain the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study and Maui Health Registry.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Short form bill relating to the University of Hawaii.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO STRATEGIC FOOD RESERVES.

Establishes the Hawaii Strategic Food Reserves Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Establishes purchasing requirements for crops stored at a strategic food reserve. Establishes the Strategic Food Reserves Advisory Committee. Establishes the Agricultural Market Development Grant Program. Establishes the Hawaii Strategic Food Reserves Program Special Fund. Requires DAB and the Strategic Food Reserves Advisory Committee to submit annual reports to the Legislature, respectively. Establishes a timeline for DAB's implementation of the Hawaii Strategic Food Reserves Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to conduct a proceeding to study and implement the Smart Imports Program. Establishes the Smart Imports Program and requires electric utilities to offer excess electricity to consumers during daylight hours at cost for any legal purpose beginning January 1, 2028. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to adopt rules and establish penalties.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.

Eliminates joint and several liability for child welfare service organizations by limiting liability to each organization's percentage share of damages. (SD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes the Hawaii Micro-Lending Credit Enhancement Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to expand micro-lending capacity by providing state‑funded loan loss reserves or other credit enhancement that absorbs first losses on qualified micro-loans made by participating lenders to Hawaii small businesses. Allows borrower fees and state matching contributions to capitalize lender-held loan loss reserve accounts. Establishes the Hawaii Micro-Lending Credit Enhancement Special Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Appropriates funds to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent Advanced Manufacturing and Cybersecurity Specialist position and one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent Marketing and Branding Specialist position within the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Requires the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to procure a third-party consultant to develop a statewide blue economy and ocean technology and innovation strategy. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation Revolving Fund to provide state matching funds for federal grants awarded to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation that support innovation, technology, research, and manufacturing initiatives. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO COASTAL RESILIENCE.

Establishes a five-year Coastal Resilience Pilot Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the preservation of Mantokuji Bay. Allows the pilot program to be exempt from certain regulatory requirements. Requires the State Historic Preservation Division to conduct a streamlined historic preservation review. Establishes certain procedures for the discovery of Native Hawaiian skeletal remains. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/3005. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes the Hawaii Employer-led Sector Partnerships Special Fund to be administered and expended by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to support employer‑led, demand-driven sector partnerships in the State. Appropriates funds.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Clarifies that any provisions in an association's bylaws relating to cumulative voting shall apply to the removal and replacement of a board member at any regular or special meeting.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Requires the Department of Taxation to accept, evaluate and make determinations on offers in compromise under certain conditions, including for offers requiring the Governor's approval. Amends the income tax and general excise tax statute of limitation periods for collection or commencement of proceedings to six years, except in cases of false or fraudulent returns, or intent to evade tax. Effective 1/1/2027.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO CULTURAL EDUCATION.

Establishes a Cultural Training Pilot Program within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to be administered by the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation for all commercial use permit holders operating in Lahaina Harbor. Requires DOBOR to partner with an organization identified by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in Native Hawaiian culture and place-based history to teach a cultural training course to educate commercial use permit holders and applicants for commercial use permits on the cultural and historic significance of the area. Requires existing commercial use permit holders and applicants to undergo cultural training. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER.

Subjects a person who controls, operates, or manages plants or facilities for conveying, distributing, and transmitting water for irrigation and other purposes for public use to regulation by the Public Utilities Commission.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE MARKET OVERSIGHT.

Establishes a state oversight framework for material health care mergers, acquisitions, and other consolidation transactions. Requires advance notice and public interest review by the State Health Planning and Development Agency. Requires legislative approval, by concurrent resolution, of certain vertically integrated health care transactions that meet specified market share and pricing impact thresholds.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to rehabilitate, remodel, renovate, and repair housing units, including exterior repairs. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat