Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO A HAWAII CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE PLAN.

Requires the Office of Sustainable Development to establish a Hawaii Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan. Requires a report to the Legislature. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

Prohibits an employer from discriminating against a person in hiring, termination, or any term or condition of employment based on the person's status as a medical cannabis registry card holder or lawful use of medical cannabis, under certain conditions. Authorizes an employer to use a fit-for-duty test for medical cannabis qualifying patients in potentially dangerous occupations under certain conditions. Prohibits a professional or vocational licensing board from revoking the license of medical cannabis qualifying patients, or otherwise subjecting them to discipline, for their lawful use of medical cannabis, under certain conditions.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Renames the Electric Bicycle and Electric Moped Rebate Program to the Electric Mobility Rebate Program. Expands eligibility and amends the maximum rebate amounts. Allows for the registration of class 3 electric bicycles that have wheels smaller than twenty inches and that are intended for adult use. Establishes safe riding behaviors for electric bicycles. Prohibits the operation of high-speed electric devices in certain locations. 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 micro-mobility device" and requires the same regulations as electric foot scooters to apply to electric micro-mobility devices. 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. Changes the term "motor scooter" to "motor‑driven vehicle".

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Defines "portable solar generation device" and establishes certain requirements for their regulation and use. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish an online registration system. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES.

Adds a minimum penalty and maximum penalty per violation of the State Water Code and authorizes the Commission on Water Resource Management to consider each day that a violation exists or continues to exist a separate offense. Establishes factors the CWRM must consider when determining the amount of the penalty. Increases maximum fines, for violations that cause harm, every five years from 2030 to 2045.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO PRIVACY.

Prohibits the sale of geolocation information and internet browser information without consent. Prohibits the sale of data collected through eavesdropping or through an application operating in the background of a device that uses the device's microphone.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY EQUITY.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish residential electricity rate structures that prioritize affordability and equity. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish a lifeline baseline performance standard, a medical essential needs energy program, and a new tariff. Requires electric utilities to file revised tariffs no later than twelve months after the Public Utilities Commission has issued a final decision and order under this Act. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to convene a stakeholder process for developing and implementing this Act.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Requires each food establishment to clearly and conspicuously display, when a price is shown to a customer, the total price of that food or beverage item, including any mandatory fees a customer would incur during the purchase. Prohibits a food establishment from imposing on a customer or advertising any mandatory fees that are excessive or deceptive for any food or beverage offered by the food establishment. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Prohibits persons with a license to carry a firearm from carrying a firearm on the licensee's person without also carrying an electric gun on the licensee's person. Requires a person's license to carry a firearm be revoked if the licensee carries a firearm without also carrying an electric gun.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO INCARCERATED PERSONS.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to establish a five-year pilot program to employ and pay incarcerated individuals with fewer than five years left on their sentence the minimum wage. Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to submit reports to the Legislature. Makes an appropriation.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Requires businesses or restaurants open to the public to post a color-coded placard indicating whether the business or restaurant allows firearms or large knives to be brought onto the premises. By January 1, 2027, requires the Department of Law Enforcement to provide businesses and restaurants with free and easily downloadable placards. Effective 1/1/2027.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Expands the Department of Law Enforcement's Agricultural Enforcement Pilot Program to operate on the islands of Kauai and Maui.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

Appropriates funds for the Department of Health to provide health care to persons under the custody of the Director of Health who do not require hospital level of care and to petition for assisted community treatment where appropriate.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Clarifies that the Department of Health is to presume both the recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the recommendations by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the United States Department of Health and Human Services constitute the prevailing medical standard for child health supervision services for purposes of health insurance coverage.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO USE OF FORCE IN SELF-PROTECTION.

Provides that an actor is not obliged to retreat for purposes of self-defense and defense of others, from agricultural lands if the actor is lawfully present as an owner, lessee, employee, or agent of the State, unless the actor was the initial aggressor.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO FIRE PREVENTION.

Requires the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the County Fire Departments to develop and administer the Community Risk Reduction Program. Defines "prescribed burn" and includes its use within the Community Risk Reduction Program. Requires the Office of the State Fire Marshal to make annual reports to the Legislature.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX CREDITS.

Requires that income tax credits existing on 12/31/2026 include a sunset on 12/31/2030. Requires that income tax credits established or renewed after 12/31/2026 include a sunset 7 years after the date of enactment or renewal of the tax credit. Provides for exceptions.

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE, ITS OFFICERS, OR ITS EMPLOYEES.

Makes appropriations and approves payments for claims against the State, its officers, and its employees.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

Permanently exempts specified positions of the Department of the Attorney General and its administratively attached Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission from civil service (chapter 76, HRS) and, for certain positions where the exemption from collective bargaining under chapter 89, HRS, may be unclear, to expressly provide the exemption. Makes housekeeping amendments to section 28-10.5(b), HRS.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION.

Requires the Director of Law Enforcement to adopt rules establishing training and certification standards and procedures for crisis intervention officers. Clarifies the scope of treatment allowable under orders for assisted community treatment. Requires the Department of the Attorney general to assist with the preparation, filing, and presentation of any request for a court or administrative order authorizing treatment over the objection of certain patients.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO COURT-ORDERED PAYMENTS.

Requires the Judiciary to contract with a collection agency or licensed attorney to collect delinquent court-ordered fees, fines, sanctions, and court costs. Allows courts to specify a period of time or installments for payment of fines, fees, and restitution, and requires the defendant to show cause if the defendant defaults on the payments.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO FILM PRODUCTION.

Adds the marketing and promotion of film production as a power of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMERGENCY AND BUDGET RESERVE FUND.

Appropriates moneys out of the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 to maintain the levels of programs determined to be essential to education, public health, and public welfare, to provide for counter cyclical economic and employment programs of economic downturn, to restore facilities destroyed or damaged or services disrupted by disaster, and to meet other emergencies declared by the governor or determined to be urgent by the legislature.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt by rule any federal regulation relating to the public lands of the State as it existed on 1/1/2025 that it deems is in the public interest.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE MOTION PICTURE, DIGITAL MEDIA, AND FILM PRODUCTION INCOME TAX CREDIT.

Increases the qualified production credit from twenty-two per cent to twenty-seven per cent in any county of the State with a population of over seven hundred thousand and twenty-seven per cent to thirty-two per cent in any county of the State with a population of less than seven hundred thousand. Lifts the per production cap of $17,000,000 for productions with qualified expenditures of $60,000,000 per project. Increases the annual cap to $60,000,000 from $50,000,000 for the total amount of the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit allowed under section 235-17, HRS, and extends the sunset date of the tax credit to January 1, 2038. Clarifies and amends the requirement for an independent third-party certification and expands the definition of "qualified production" to include streaming platforms for the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit. Includes a definition of "streaming platform".

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Prohibits a landlord or the landlord's agent from charging an application fee for a criminal background check or credit report if an applicant provides a certified copy of a recent criminal background check or credit report. Prohibits a landlord or the landlord's agent from charging an application fee if a recent comprehensive reusable tenant screening report is available. Requires a landlord or the landlord's agent to provide, upon request, a certified copy of an applicant's criminal background check or credit report.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE.

Requires insurers, after a policyholder experiences a total loss, to automatically refund any unearned premium; adjust premiums for subsequent policy terms to reflect the absence of a dwelling, structure, or contents; and provide policyholders with clear notice of the coverage needed for vacant property or while rebuilding.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Defines the term "cosmetics". Requires all merchants that sell cosmetics to accept returns of new or unopened goods within specified time frames. Exempts certain merchants that sell cosmetics. Clarifies the definition of "conspicuous sign". Beginning 1/1/2027, requires a merchant that sells cosmetics and receives three or more warning letters from the Office of Consumer Protection for failing to post a conspicuous sign to post return and refund policy signs printed and distributed by the Office of Consumer Protection. Appropriates funds.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY.

Amends the administrative process at the Administrative Driver's License Revocation Office. Establishes a tiered administration revocation period of a driver's license for those arrested for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Establishes consumer protections and insurer governance requirements for the use of artificial intelligence systems in certain insurance practices, including health insurance benefit determinations and residential property underwriting decisions. Establishes review, monitoring, recordkeeping, disclosure, rebuttal, and cure requirements for the use of artificial intelligence systems in certain insurance practices. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Designates pricing practices based on surveillance data as unfair or deceptive acts or practices and unfair methods of competition in the conduct of any trade or commerce.

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE.

Requires insurers intending to non-renew a property insurance policy to provide the insured with timely notice, factual reasons, and an opportunity to address any correctable issues.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Beginning 11/1/2026, requires landlords to accept comprehensive reusable tenant screening reports, if made available by an applicant, and prohibits application fees in such case.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION.

Specifies that the county annual vehicle registration fee is equal to the state annual motor vehicle registration fee.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Expands the allowable uses of Hawaii Technology Development Corporation grant funds to include providing grants to applicants for qualifying federal research and development awards and matching funds for recipients of those awards and related contracts.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Requires residential property insurers to disclose wildfire risk scores upon request and at renewal, nonrenewal, and application. Requires insurers using wildfire risk models, catastrophe models, or scoring methods to file model-use information with the Insurance Commissioner and incorporate property-level and community-level wildfire mitigation. Requires insurers to provide mitigation discounts if property-level and community-level wildfire mitigations are not incorporated into risk models. Establishes a standardized notice and an appeal process for wildfire risk scores and mitigation discounts. Authorizes insurers to provide benefits or premium reductions for wildfire risk-preventative measures and clarifies treatment for midterm premium increases and anti-rebate laws. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION ASSESSMENTS.

Requires the Board of Education to update content and performance standards to reinstate the Presidential Fitness Test.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOLS.

Requires public schools with elementary students to allow faculty and staff to provide time and space each day for students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and Hawaii Ponoi.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FOURTH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the fourth representative district.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO SYNDROMIC SURVEILLANCE.

Requires hospitals with emergency departments that are licensed in Hawaii to submit syndromic surveillance data to the Department of Health. Authorizes the Department of Health, as needed, to establish by administrative rules a syndromic surveillance system under state jurisdiction that is independent of federal systems.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Short form bill relating to education.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.

Allows the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to assume historic preservation review of the effect of any proposed project for lands under its jurisdiction except for projects affecting properties listed or nominated for inclusion in the Hawaii register of historic places or the national register of historic places.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Short form bill relating to health care.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE OCEAN RECREATION SPECIAL FUND.

Authorizes the Ocean Stewardship Special Fund to be used for planning, development, designing, or implementation of beach restoration projects, including the awarding of grants to nonprofit organizations for beach and nearshore environmental cleanup.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO PREVENTIVE MEDICINE.

Establishes the Hawaii Preventive Services Advisory Committee and authorizes the Department of Health to issue preventive service recommendations. Requires health insurance coverage without cost-sharing for Department of Health-recommended clinical preventive services. Provides immunity for healthcare providers' and facilities' provision of recommended clinical preventive services.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EXEMPTION FROM CIVIL SERVICE OF EXECUTIVE PERSONNEL OF THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Allows the Board of Trustees of the Employees' Retirement System, through its Executive Director, to appoint specified executive personnel positions of the Employees' Retirement System of the State of Hawaii and exempts these positions from the State's civil service requirements.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM'S EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS FOR NORMAL COST AND ACCRUED LIABILITY.

Increases employer contributions for normal cost and accrued liability for a specified group of employees to ensure the unfunded accrued liability of the Employees' Retirement System of the State of Hawaii does not exceed the maximum funding period.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO A PROGRAM TO CHARACTERIZE THE POTENTIAL OF UNDERGROUND ENERGY RESOURCES STATEWIDE.

Establishes the Underground Energy Resource Characterization Program to identify the location and characteristics of underground energy resources through the use of slim-hole bores and requires a related environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. Requires a report to the legislature. Appropriates funds.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Makes the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund Equity Pilot Program permanent, with modifications. Repeals the sunset date for Act 92, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND.

Clarifies the Rental Housing Revolving Fund statute by defining "mixed-income rental projects" to establish consistent eligibility and use of appropriations for mixed-income rental housing projects. Clarifies that mixed-income rental projects are primarily for households at or below one-hundred-forty per cent of the area median income, allowing participation by higher-income households. Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to transfer funds between the Rental Housing Revolving Fund into the mixed-income subaccount to support eligible mixed-income projects, without legislative approval. Repeals the sunset date in Act 159, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, thereby making these provisions permanent. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat