Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO FOOD SECURITY.

Establishes and appropriates funds for the Hawaii Farm to Families Program under the Department of Human Services to alleviate food shortages in the State. Requires reports to the Legislature before the Regular Sessions of 2027 and 2028.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.

Prohibits the driver of a vehicle from proceeding on a roadway until a pedestrian within a crosswalk completely crosses the roadway.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts from the state general excise tax any grants received from the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund by an eligible business pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Requires the Department of Taxation to notify all taxpayers eligible for refunds of any state general excise tax paid for grants received from the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund of their eligibility and requires taxpayers to file refund claims no later than six months following notification. Requires any state general excise taxes paid by eligible businesses for Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants to be refunded to the taxpayer. Applies retroactively to 3/11/2021.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Requires the Department of Health, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Finance and Office of Enterprise Technology Services, and Department of Human Services, to establish and maintain an online clearinghouse enhanced by artificial intelligence of evidence-based treatment and prevention programs. Requires DOH to support the integration of artificial intelligence in the online clearinghouse. Requires DOH to ensure that any artificial intelligence model used in support of the online clearinghouse is subject to regular audits. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE FUNDS.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICATION IN SCHOOLS.

Establishes provisions regarding the volunteered administration of certain medications by authorized persons at public schools, including requirements for parent authorization, administration instruction, and liability protections. Expands permitted emergency treatments to include epinephrine, inhalers, seizure rescue medication, glucagon, insulin, and blood-glucose monitoring.

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Repeals language prohibiting county legislative bodies from imposing stricter conditions or other requirements on certain housing projects of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Requires an insurance producer to disclose a description of services to be provided, and compensation and commission to be received, before the procurement, placement, or renewal of any insurance policy purchased by a condominium association, and incorporates verification procedures into annual audit requirements. Requires at least two competitive quotes from insurance producers for any association insurance policy procurement, placement, or renewal with an annual premium greater than $250,000. Requires the board of directors to prepare and disclose to unit owners a one-page project summary for any capital improvement, repair, or maintenance project authorized with an estimated cost greater than $200,000.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO BUSINESS.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION WORKER COVID-19 HAZARD PAY PROGRAM.

Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish and administer the Construction Worker COVID-19 Hazard Pay Program. Appropriates funds to pay eligible construction workers a one-time payment in recognition for essential labor performed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sunsets 6/30/2031.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires public charter schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to provide free meals to students whose family income is no more than three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO AN EARLY LEARNING APPRENTICESHIP GRANT PROGRAM.

Establishes an Early Learning Apprenticeship Grant Program to be administered by the University of Hawaii to provide financial support for early learning program service providers in the State to participate in state- or federally-approved early learning apprenticeship programs. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT.

Extends child care subsidies to disabled parents or guardians, regardless of their employment status. Requires the Department of Human Services to evaluate caregiver capacity and dependent-care responsibilities when determining eligibility for medicaid home- and community-based services. Requires the Department of Human Services to update its evaluation form and functional assessment protocols related to level of care and at-risk needs determinations. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO MICROPLASTICS.

Requires the Department of Health to establish a pilot project to test the drinking water at 4 public elementary schools for microplastics and to post the results on its website by 12/31/2026. Dissolves the pilot project on an unspecified date. Appropriates moneys.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS.

Exempts agricultural ponds and low-risk green stormwater infrastructure from regulations covering retention ponds. Defines agricultural ponds and low-risk green stormwater infrastructure.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Excludes drug testing products from the definition of drug paraphernalia under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes the Carbon Emissions Tax and Dividend Special Fund. Gradually increases the Environmental Response, Energy, Carbon Emissions, and Food Security Tax and establishes a refundable income tax credit to mitigate the effect of the increased tax on taxpayers. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.

Amends section 150A-58, Hawaii Revised Statute, to clarify that signatory industries to a biosecurity government-industry agreement shall not be liable for costs related to performing activities pursuant to the agreement. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish a working group that comprises signatories of the biosecurity government-industry agreements for joint-decision making.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO LABOR.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Appropriates funds for the Area-Wide Fruit Fly Suppression Program.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Restructures the conveyance tax to a marginal rate system for the sale of properties with residential use, adjusts the tax for multifamily properties to reflect value on a per-unit basis, and applies a cost-of-living adjustment to conveyance tax rates. Allocates revenues from conveyance tax collections. Allocates a portion of conveyance tax collections to the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund to fund infrastructure programs in county-designated transit-oriented development areas that meet minimum standards of transit-supportive density. Allocates a portion of conveyance tax revenues to the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust Fund.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO GRANTS.

Appropriates funds to the Office of Community Services (OCS) of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to award grants for fiscal year 2026-2027 to nonprofit organizations that expand or create new opportunities for residents needing to meet new community engagement requirements to qualify for federal programs. Establishes an evaluation and selection committee to oversee the awarding of grants. Requires an applicant for a grant to provide certain documentation on activities that qualify for community engagement hours to qualify for the grant. Appropriates funds for positions in OCS and for the Department of the Attorney General to assist OCS in reviewing contracts and monitoring costs.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELL-BEING.

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer a Hawaii Rx kids program to improve the economic stability of households with very young children who reside in the State through a one-time payment and several monthly payments.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ECONOMY.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

Establishes the Hawaii Benefits Hub within the Office of Enterprise Technology Services. Appropriates funds.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMERCE.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires all health insurers in the state, including Medicaid managed care programs, to cover annual mental health wellness examinations.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TEACHER STANDARDS BOARD.

Permits the Department of Education and charter schools to hire unlicensed individuals as teachers on an emergency basis for five, rather than three, years. Requires the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to adopt rules.

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Requires the Workforce Development Council to recommend to the Governor, a comprehensive Statewide Workforce Strategy to inclusion in the State Unified Plan and be responsible for facilitating the alignment of workforce development efforts and programs conducted by state departments and agencies to achieve the State Unified Plan and the Comprehensive Statewide Workforce Strategy.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE ENTERPRISE ZONES.

Increases the number of enterprise zones that may be nominated by each county. Amends the definition of "eligible business activity" to include recycling facilities and film production.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL GAINS TAX.

Increases the capital gains tax rate for individuals, estates, and trusts to nine per cent. Increases the alternative capital gains tax for corporations to five per cent.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Amends the requirements for productions to qualify for the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax to include completing at least fifteen per cent of the production's principal photography and post-production in the State within the same taxable year the production is qualifying for the Tax Credit.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT HEAT EXPOSURE.

Requires the Board of Education to adopt a heat acclimatization and practice policy based on the Hawaii Athletic Trainers Association's Hawaii High School Athletic Association Heat Acclimatization and Practice Policy of 2017 for students in grades kindergarten to twelve in Department of Education schools and public charter schools statewide for certain physical activities. Appropriates funds.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS.

Allows for a prosecution for any offense or attempt of any offense under parts V and VI of chapter 707, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to be brought at any time. Prohibits the dismissal of the prosecution of any offense or attempt of any offense under parts V and VI of chapter 707, Hawaii Revised Statutes, solely because a period of time has elapsed between the commission of the offense and commencement or continuation of the prosecution.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO CARDIOVASCULAR SCREENING.

Requires cardiovascular screening for students, including student athletes. Requires the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health, to distribute educational and informational materials regarding sudden cardiac arrest. Requires the Department of Health to implement policies, programs, training, and continuing education that increase health care provider knowledge of cardiovascular screening guidelines.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO PARKING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

Authorizes the Disability and Communication Access Board to issue a disability parking travel placard to qualified applicants.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Expands the purposes of the establishment and operation of offices in out-of-state locations to include serving Hawaii's businesses and tourism efforts through various initiatives. Requires, and appropriates funds for, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish an out‑of-state office in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Appropriates funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's Beijing office and Taipei office to promote "Made in Hawaii" branded products and increase the export of Hawaii products.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO LEGALIZE THE ADULT USE OF CANNABIS.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize individuals aged twenty-one and older to use and possess a personal-use amount of cannabis. Requires the Legislature to enact laws governing the use, manufacture, distribution, sale, possession, regulation, and taxation of cannabis within the State.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

Clarifies that residential projects involving ground disturbance in high-risk areas remains subject to review under the State Historic Preservation Program. Removes the historic review exemption for lands presumed nominally sensitive.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

By 1/1/2028, requires the Department of Human Services, upon obtaining a federal waiver, to establish a pre-release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) application process for inmates nearing release. Allows all individuals convicted of an offense involving the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance to apply for SNAP benefits, regardless of treatment status.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

Repeals existing law that preempts local ordinances or regulations that regulate the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic smoking devices and voids any existing local laws and regulations conflicting with the state law governing smoking. Allows counties to adopt ordinances that regulate the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic smoking devices that do not conflict with and are more stringent than the state law that governs smoking.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER PROGRAM.

Repeals requirement for Auditor to audit the Deposit Beverage Container Program and requires that an independent auditor conduct the audits instead. Establishes the Bag Drop Pilot Program to allow redeemers of deposit beverage containers to drop bags of empty deposit beverage containers at participating redemption sites and be paid later.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTEWATER SYSTEMS.

Establishes a Wastewater Technical Advisory Group to assist the Department of Health in a review of the Department's administrative rules and practices regarding wastewater systems and cesspools and in the development of proposed changes to make cesspool conversions more affordable. Requires report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds for positions and hiring of a consultant to assist the Wastewater Technical Advisory Group.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO HABITAT CONSERVATION PLANS.

Requires any operator of a golf course in the State to consult with the Department of Land and Natural Resources to apply for an incidental take license and enter into a habitat conservation plan. Requires any existing habitat conservation plan that does not include an agreement for emergency medical and rehabilitation services to affected native wildlife to be amended to include the agreement, and the amended rights and obligations under the habitat conservation plan to be recorded by a certain deadline.

Chris LeeDemocrat