Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO CANNABIS.

Establishes the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to regulate all aspects of the cannabis plant. Contingent upon specific changes at the federal level or a state constitutional amendment, legalizes the personal adult use of cannabis and decriminalizes certain marijuana-related offenses. Beginning 1/1/2027, establishes taxes on cannabis sales. Adds new traffic offenses relating to the consumption or possession of marijuana or marijuana concentrate. Transfers the personnel and assets of the Department of Health and assets of the Department of Agriculture relating to cannabis and hemp to the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office. Establishes various positions within state entities. Appropriates funds.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LAND CONVEYANCE TAX.

Establishes a surcharge on the conveyance tax upon the net capital gain from the transfer or conveyance of agricultural land.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC BICYCLES.

Amends various definitions of "moped" throughout the Hawaii Revised Statutes to exclude low-speed electric bicycles. Deletes an unused term from Chapter 286, Hawaii Revised Statutes. Establishes regulations for low-speed electric bicycles and clarifies the applicability of certain conflicting regulations that are applicable to all bicycles.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO CORAL REEFS.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct a study on the populations of coral reef herbivores around the island of Oahu and an analysis of policies and strategies to increase the populations of coral reef herbivores around Oahu, in consultation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center and other experts. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

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.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO INCOME TAX.

Eliminates the state individual income tax.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO VEGETATION MANAGEMENT.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish and enforce vegetation management requirements to prevent wildfires caused by electric utilities.

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Implements the Condominium Property Regime Task Force recommendations.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

Repeals statutory language that currently authorizes the Department of Law Enforcement to: (1) inspect a qualifying medical cannabis patient's medical records held by the health provider who issued a written certification for the qualifying patient; and (2) suspend or revoke a health provider's ability to issue written certification for medical cannabis if the provider refuses the foregoing inspection, or if the medical records do not comply with the medical use of cannabis law.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to develop an online reporting tool through which users may report their restricted use pesticide usage. Appropriates funds to convert temporary Environmental Health Specialist III positions into permanent positions.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Short form bill relating to housing.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOMELANDS LEASES.

Requires leases used in the conveyance of available lands as defined by section 203 of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, as amended, to conform to the requirements for securitization by federally insured lending programs.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO THE PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL COMPACT.

Adopts the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact to regulate the practice of telepsychology and the temporary in-person, face-to-face practice of psychologists when patients are located in compact states other than the state where the psychologist is licensed. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules to implement and administer the compact.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO USE OF INTOXICANTS WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE.

Lowers the blood alcohol content threshold for driving while under the influence of alcohol from .08 to .05 or more grams of alcohol to reduce impaired driving and fatal crashes.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a high-earners surtax on taxable income for certain taxpayers.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO EPINEPHRINE.

Beginning 1/1/2027, authorizes county lifeguards providing services at a county or state beach park to administer epinephrine auto-injectors to render emergency care to another person. Requires the counties to approve training providers and establish standards for the use and administration of epinephrine auto-injectors. Establishes requirements for health care providers to issue prescriptions for, and pharmacists to dispense, epinephrine auto-injectors to counties or county life guards. Establishes certain limitations of liability.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Establishes safe riding behaviors for electric bicycles. Prohibits the operation of high-speed electric devices in certain locations. Beginning 12/31/2026, establishes labeling and signage requirements for electric bicycles. Prohibits the operation of a moped or electric motorcycle in certain locations. Amends the definition of "bicycle" for purposes of county vehicular taxes. Defines "electric bicycle" in place of "low-speed electric bicycle". Defines "electric micro-mobility device" and requires the same regulations as electric foot scooters. Prohibits a person under the age of sixteen from operating a class 3 electric bicycle. Authorizes a person under the age of fourteen to operate class 2 electric bicycles under supervision. Prohibits a person from riding a class 3 electric bicycle on a sidewalk. Authorizes a person to ride a class 1 or class 2 electric bicycle on a sidewalk under certain circumstances. Prohibits a person from operating a bicycle or electric foot scooter under the age of eighteen without a helmet. Repeals the requirement that moped drivers use bicycle lanes. Substitutes the term "motor-driven cycle" with the term "motor scooter".

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO LABOR.

Short form bill relating to labor.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE PROGRAMS.

Short form bill relating to state programs.

Chris ToddDemocrat

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

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

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ARTS.

Short form bill relating to the arts.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Short form bill relating to economic development.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO NONPROFITS.

Authorizes the Department of the Attorney General to initiate an investigation into a nonprofit corporation for compliance with the Hawaii Nonprofit Corporations Act and its tax exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Short form bill relating to taxation.

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO STREAM MAINTENANCE.

Transfers responsibilities related to the maintenance of channels, streambeds, streambanks, and drainageways from the counties to the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO PROPERTY.

Prohibits a county from issuing a building permit for a project that violates any private covenant or restrictive covenant that has been registered with the Bureau of Conveyances or Land Court.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO LABOR.

Short form bill relating to labor.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO NEONICOTINOIDS.

Beginning 1/1/2027, prohibits the sale, possession, or use of a pesticide containing one or more neonicotinoid pesticides, under certain conditions. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to evaluate the potential impacts of and adopt any necessary control measures for neonicotinoid pesticide use on pollinating insects, native migratory and resident birds, aquatic organisms, and human health.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Creates exemptions from interconnection requirements for portable solar generation devices. Establishes basic safety requirements for portable solar generation devices. Provides liability protections for electric utilities.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATIONS.

Expands the definition of condominium association to include associations organized under chapter 421J, HRS.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO MASSAGE THERAPY.

Exempts individuals and establishments that offer only foot, hand, and outer ear manipulation from massage therapy licensure requirements and related advertising restrictions.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Short form bill relating to housing.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Short form bill relating to housing.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Short form bill relating to housing.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Establishes a Health Care for All Hawaii Board to design and recommend the Health Care for All Hawaii plan that is publicly funded and available to every resident of the State. Establishes values and principles for the board in developing its plan, designates the scope of the plan, requires the board to establish an advisory committee to provide consumer perspective input, and requires the board to submit the plan to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2027.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Short form bill relating to housing.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Establishes restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence, algorithms, or other software tools for purposes of decision-making in health insurance utilization reviews. Requires a licensed health care provider to review all adverse actions by the health carrier.

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning no later than the 2028-2029 school year, requires the Department of Education to administer a dyslexia-sensitive universal screening to all students in kindergarten through grade three. Beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, requires certain employees of public schools to have an opportunity to participate in training on literacy instruction. Requires a report to the Legislature and Board of Education before the 2031-2032 school year. Appropriates funds.

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO MENTAL ILLNESS.

Amends the definition of "dangerous to self". Defines the terms "gravely disabled" and "psychiatric deterioration". Broadens the term of "imminently dangerous to self and others". Increases the maximum period of emergency hospitalization.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts food and groceries from the general excise tax. Expands the general excise tax exemption implemented in 2024 for certain medical and dental services to include all medical and dental services.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO FERAL CHICKENS.

Appropriates funds to each county to facilitate the collection of feral chickens that have already been caught.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO ELDER CRIME VICTIMS.

Removes state of mind requirement pertaining to a victim's age for felony assaults aggravated by the victim's age.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO EMERGENCIES.

Short form bill relating to emergencies.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Exempts predator control and trapping for the purpose of protecting property or native biodiversity from the offense of cruelty to animals in the first degree.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO OAHU CORAL REEF RESTORATION.

Temporarily prohibits the taking by spearing of uhu or kala in state marine waters around the island of Oahu, and prohibits the commercial sale of uhu and kala so taken, until the Division of Aquatic Resources' Holomua Marine Initiative process adopts applicable regulations.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

Part I: Extends the Zero Emissions Clean Economy Target from 2045 to 2050. Part II: Maintains the existing Zero Emissions Clean Economy Target but exempts the Department of Transportation and transportation systems and services from the target.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO PROPERTY DAMAGES.

Limits claims alleging property damage from covered catastrophic wildfires to actual damages. Amends the aggregate liability limit for qualifying damages from covered catastrophic wildfires to be $1,000,000,000, rather than administratively established by the Public Utilities Commission, and makes the limit applicable only to property covered by a property insurance policy up to the coverage limit. Requires the Director of Emergency Management to determine whether a wildfire is a covered catastrophic wildfire. Specifies that claims subject to the limit must be filed within one year of the covered catastrophic wildfire. Clarifies that a property and casualty insurer's rights to subrogation are not limited in the context of an insured's recovery by judgment or settlement of a third-party tort claim.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat