Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.

Requires state agencies to offer individuals who resigned or were dismissed from employment for not complying with vaccination or testing requirements the option to be reinstated, with back pay, to the position that person held prior to their termination.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

Applies the campaign finance laws to candidates for the neighborhood boards. Requires candidate committees for neighborhood board elections to file an organizational report with the Campaign Spending Commission regarding campaign contributions used for printing and mailing campaign material.

Les Ihara Jr.Democrat

RELATING TO HOUSING RESILIENCY.

Establishes the strengthen Hawaii homes program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to administer grants to retrofit residential properties located in historically vulnerable areas to enhance resilience against disaster impacts and reduce potential insurance liabilities. Establishes the strengthen Hawaii homes program special fund. Appropriates moneys from the special fund.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

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

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriated funds for capital improvement projects in the 38th representative district.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

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

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

Mike LeeDemocrat

PROPOSING TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII REGARDING STATE JUSTICES AND JUDGES.

Proposes to amend the state constitution to:(1) require the election of state justices and judges, as provided by law; authorize the governor and chief justice to make interim appointments for vacancies in the offices of the chief justice, supreme court, intermediate appellate court, and circuit courts, or district courts, respectively; and (3) repeal provisions pertaining to the judicial selection commission.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a landlord resident tenant tax credit.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO PORNOGRAPHIC WEBSITES.

Requires any commercial entity that knowingly publishes pornographic material on an internet website that is accessible to persons in the State to use an age verification system to ensure that the pornographic material is not accessed by a minor.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes within the Department of Human Resources Development the state internship and workforce development program.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION OF REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS.

Disallows the dividends-paid deduction for real estate investment trusts. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO SPORTS WAGERING.

Establishes the Hawaii State Sports Wagering Commission within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Establishes licensing requirements for sports wagering operators. Establishes penalties for violations. Specifies that sports wagering shall not be considered games of chance or gambling. Allows the commission to conduct background checks on applicants for a sports wagering operator license and persons in control of applicants for a sports wagering operator license. Requires tax revenue collected from sports wagering to fund certain initiatives, including 50 per cent for public education programs and 25 per cent for affordable housing. Requires the commission to submit annual reports to the Legislature.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF NON-AGRICULTURAL PARK LANDS.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to accept the transfer of and manage certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands. Allows the Department of Agriculture to request information related to easements prior to any transfer of certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands. Requires approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Board of Agriculture before removing pasture lands for reforestation, or other public purposes.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO PHARMACISTS.

Mandates reimbursement for services provided by participating registered pharmacists practicing within their scope of practice by private and public health plans in the State after 7/1/2026.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO FLAGS.

Requires the honor and remember flag and pride flag to be flown with the United States and Hawaiian flags on specified days.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO LEGISLATORS.

Authorizes state legislators to use state-owned or stateoperated equipment for bona fide community initiatives within their respective electoral districts.

Brenton AwaRepublican

RELATING TO LAND REGISTRATION.

Directs the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct a comprehensive review of the existing land registration systems and transition to a single, unified registry system; oversee the digitization of all land records into an online database; and ensure equitable access, establish a fee structure, and conduct public outreach on how to use the new system and access records. Appropriates funds.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY PROGRAMS.

Expands programming and training for the comprehensive offender re-entry program under the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to reduce the rate of recidivism and increase inmate marketability and workforce readiness. Appropriates funds.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO BOARD MEMBERS.

Requires board members of a condominium association to certify the receipt and review of certain documents and complete a board training and education course approved by an accredited third party organization, to be selected by the Real Estate Commission.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO SPEEDY TRIALS.

Creates a statutory right of victims and witnesses of sexual offenses under part V of chapter 707, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to a speedy trial in criminal cases involving adult defendants. Requires the court and the prosecution to take appropriate action to ensure a prompt trial to minimize the length of time a child abuse victim or minor witness must endure the stress of the proceedings.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires, for tenancies greater than 90 days, a landlord to notify a tenant of any intent to raise the rent for any subsequent rental agreement or any intent to terminate a rental agreement 60 days before the expiration of the original rental agreement. Requires 90 day's notice for a landlord or tenant to terminate tenancies of three years or more and 60 days' notice to terminate tenancies of less than three years, with certain exceptions. Increases the amount of notice required to terminate tenancies that are less than month-to-month.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

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 ACCESS TO WATER ON HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to work with the appropriate county board or department of water supply to provide access to potable and agricultural water on Hawaiian home lands; provided that any agreement between DHHL and that county board or department of water supply is made available to the public.

Herbert M. "Tim" Richards IIIDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER.

Establishes the Landfill Advisory Committee within the Department of Health. Requires the DOH, in consultation with the Department of Land and Natural Resources and each county's department of board or water supply to create maps of the State's drinking water aquifers. Prohibits the siting, construction, modification, or expansion of any waste or disposal facility for hazardous or solid waste on land that is near or above an aquifer as determined by the DOH in consultation with the affected county's department or board of water supply. Expands buffer zones from one-half mile to one mile around a waste or disposal facility. Establishes penalties. Expands the definition of buffer zone to include aquifers, hotel or tourist accommodations, and businesses.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT.

Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to mail beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, monthly accountability reports that contain certain information on leases and fiscal matters.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO IMMIGRATION DETENTION FACILITIES.

Prohibits the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Board of Land and Natural Resources from disposing of or approving the use or setting aside of public lands for the establishment of any immigration detention facility. Prohibits state and county agencies from contracting with the federal government for this purpose.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO NON-COMPETE CLAUSES.

Prohibits non-compete and non-solicit clauses in employment contracts for employees of restaurants and retail stores. Effective retroactive to 7/1/2015.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Board of Education to adopt a policy that bans the use of phones and related devices by students during school hours.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO GREEN BONDS.

Establishes a Green Bonds Working Group within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS.

Increases the mandatory minimum jail sentence for a first conviction of knowingly or intentionally violating a temporary restraining order from forty-eight to seventy-two hours. Requires mandatory mental health counseling for a first conviction of knowingly or intentionally violating a temporary restraining order.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

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.

Samantha DeCorteRepublican

RELATING TO A COMPENSATORY TIME CASH-OUT PILOT PROGRAM.

Establishes a Compensatory Time Cash-Out Pilot Program for eligible employees of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation who work in any state correctional facility. Appropriates funds.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

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 HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Authorizes the election of the members of the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Establishes the elected office of Director of Hawaiian Home Lands, the holder of which shall have administrative oversight over the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Subject to congressional approval.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO STATE GOVERNMENT.

Authorizes boards and commissions to make employment decisions related to its officers and employees without the approval of the head of the department to which the board or commission is administratively attached.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Appropriates funds for faculty positions, student programs, and facilities at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and University of Hawaii, West Oahu for workforce development in the defense sector.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS.

Designates each county as the special management area authority within the county's respective jurisdiction. Makes conforming amendments.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND RESTORATION.

Creates the Aloha Aina Land Trust to rehabilitate and manage lands transferred by the United States military to the State after the leases for those lands expires. Appropriates funds.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO DEFERRED RETIREMENT FOR POLICE.

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

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO GENETIC INFORMATION.

Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules establishing privacy requirements for directtoconsumer genetic testing in the State. Requires the Department's rules to specify whether consumers' genetic information may be used for purposes of investigative genetic genealogy.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

Clarifies the Lieutenant Governor's duties as Secretary of State for Intergovernmental Relations, including working to prevent other jurisdictions from making or supporting travel arrangements to Hawaii for homeless or unhoused individuals.

Samantha DeCorteRepublican

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish a streamlined grid-ready homes interconnection process. Authorizes the use of the Hawaii electricity reliability surcharge for cost recovery of certain expenses of the Hawaii electricity reliability administrator associated with the grid-ready homes interconnection process. Requires report to the Legislature on the grid-ready homes interconnection process.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO CORPORATIONS.

Requires domestic and foreign corporations to provide their shareholders with reports of independent expenditures and political contributions.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

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 TORT LIABILITY.

Clarifies that persons who enter private property for recreational purposes have no cause of action, unless exempted under law. Requires courts to award attorneys' fees and costs to landowners if plaintiffs bring unreasonable actions. Establishes, as a matter of law, that persons participating in outdoor recreational activities accept the inherent risks, dangers, or hazards in the activities. Clarifies the definitions for "recreational purpose" and "recreational user".

Sam Satoru KongDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE.

Establishes a Child Welfare Services Branch (CWS) Oversight Commission within the Department of the Attorney General to review and assess case management procedures, training, staffing levels and other support given to CWS and address issues identified in the 2024 Auditor's Report on CWS and make recommendations on actions to reduce child harm and death and for legislation, funding, and other needs for CWS to support the goals of the Commission. Requires annual status reports to the Legislature. Dissolves the Commission on 6/30/2028. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO FOSTER CARE.

Prohibits the Department of Human Services from using any social security income payments, including supplemental income payments it receives on behalf of a child under foster custody of the Department to cover the cost of foster care services. Requires the Department of Human Services to deposit all social security income payments received on behalf of a child under foster custody of the Department into a savings account that shall be made accessible to the child when the child leaves foster care custody.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE FUEL.

Establishes the sustainable aviation fuel import tax credit. Increases the renewable fuels production tax credit amount. Repeals the: (1) cap amount of claimable renewable fuels production tax credit; (2) requirement that the tax credit be claimed for fuels with lifecycle emissions below fossil fuels; and (3) prohibition on claiming other tax credits for the cost incurred to produce renewable fuels. Specifies that the renewable fuels production tax credit can only be claimed for fuels that meet the certain thresholds. Adds an additional tax credit value. Clarifies that a taxpayer who previously claimed a renewable fuels production tax credit may claim another one for taxable years beginning after 12/31/2024. Clarifies and expands required information in the certified statement for the tax credit. Repeals the requirement that the Hawaii State Energy Office provide the taxpayer with a determination of whether the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions for each type of qualified fuel produced is lower than that of fossil fuels.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat