Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO THE EAST-WEST CENTER.

Exempts the Center for Cultural and Technical Exchange Between East and West, Inc. from the qualifying standards and conditions related to the receipt of funds contained in chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, provided that if the center contracts with a recipient or provider, then the conditions in chapter 42F, shall apply to that recipient or provider and the contract.

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING DISCRIMINATION.

Authorizes the counties to prohibit discrimination against a renter based on the renter's source of income.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO TREATMENT FOR MENTAL ILLNESS.

Establishes a pilot program in the Department of Health to provide intensive mobile treatment-type services, e.g., "street psychiatry", to chronically houseless adult individuals suffering from serious brain disorders like schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO PARKING FOR DISABLED PERSONS.

Allows persons entitled to park in disabled parking spaces to report vehicles illegally parked in disabled parking spaces to the Department of Law Enforcement. Upon receipt of a legitimate report, requires the Department to send a notice to the offender informing them of the report and advising them of the law and penalties for illegally parking in a handicapped space.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO EQUITABLE GENDER REPRESENTATION ON CORPORATE BOARDS.

Requires publicly held domestic corporations to have gender-diverse boards of directors. Requires the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to publish certain reports on the Department's website. Establishes penalties.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO WEAPONS.

Prohibits any person from openly carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon. Includes bladed weapon in the list of deadly or dangerous weapons. Establishes an affirmative defense to a prosecution for the purposes of lawful self-defense and transporting a weapon.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

Creates an incremental prohibition on tobacco products and electronic smoking devices by restricting their sale, possession, furnishing, or consumption in a public place to people born after 1/1/2005. Effective 1/1/2026.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the Department of Education to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students enrolled in department schools. Appropriates funds.

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND LEASES.

Prohibits the State from leasing any public lands, or extending the lease of any public lands, to any individual, corporation, or federal agency that is in arrears in the payment of certain moneys to the State, noncompliant with a consent decree or memoranda of agreement with the State that requires environmental maintenance or remediation with regard to the subject public lands, or convicted of a crime. Requires certification by the Office of the Governor before the issuance or extension of any federal lease that the individual, corporation, or federal agency is in good standing with the State. Provides that, if any existing lessee of public lands is found not to be in good standing with the State as of the effective date of this Act, the lessee shall have three years, or until the end of the lease term, whichever is sooner, to correct the violation or the lease shall be terminated.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO LABOR STANDARDS AT HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.

Establish certain minimum registered nurse-to-patient ratios for hospitals. Establishes a process to obtain a variance from the minimum registered nurse staffing standards. Requires hospitals to establish hospital registered nurse staffing committees by 9/1/2025 to develop and adopt registered nurse staffing plans. Requires the staffing committees to submit a charter to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Beginning 7/1/2026, requires hospitals to submit their registered nurse staffing plan on an annual basis, and implement the staffing plan. Establishes a complaint and appeals process and penalties. Appropriates funds.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAIL ACCESSIBILITY.

Establishes the Accessible Wilderness and State Parks Trails Program within the Division of State Parks of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Establishes the Accessible Wilderness and State Parks Trails Program Special Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Establishes a civil cause of action that may be brought by any person, other than an officer or employee of the State or employee of a local governmental entity in the State, for certain violations or aiding or abetting certain violations of the Fireworks Control Law.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to design and construct photovoltaic panel coverings over playgrounds at all Department of Education schools.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE AND COUNTY EMPLOYMENT.

Prohibits the State or any of its branches, political subdivisions, or agencies or any county from requiring a bachelor's degree as a condition of eligibility for hire to a position in state or county employment. Establishes exemptions.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

Expands the State's temporary disability insurance coverage to, and exempts from TDI benefit eligibility requirements that are employment-related, employees who are unable to perform their employment duties due to the employee's childbirth or provision of kangaroo care to, or expression of breast milk for, the employee's child who is required to stay in a neonatal intensive care unit. Extends under certain conditions the temporary disability benefit payment period and family leave period for employees who are unable to perform their employment duties due to a preterm birth of a child who is required to stay in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or birth of a child who is required to stay in a NICU for more than eight weeks. Defines "kangaroo care" and "preterm birth". Requires the Department of Health to amend its rules to include neonatal care as related condition where the phrase "pregnancy, childbirth, or other related condition" is used.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to increase per-pupil expenditures to $18,000 per student.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO SERVICE ANIMALS.

Requires sellers or providers of emotional support animals or of certificates, identifications, tags, vests, leashes, and harnesses that identify an animal as an emotional support animal to provide certain disclaimers to the buyer or recipient. Establishes penalties.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO BEACHES.

Limits public funding of beach replenishment projects in resort zoned areas to twenty per cent of the total cost.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Establishes notice requirements for employers under Hawaii's Workers' Compensation Law. Requires employers who deny the compensability of an employee's injury to submit a written report supporting the denial to the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations within a specified period. Requires employers to furnish to the injured employee up to $10,000 for medical care, services, and supplies for the period immediately following the injury and so long as reasonably needed or until the employer files a written report with the Director denying the compensability of the injury, whichever is earlier. Clarifies that failure to give an employer notice of an employee's injury does not bar a claim for compensation if any person having authority in the interest of the employer had knowledge of the injury.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Prohibits a person from lending a firearm to a person who does not have a firearm permit or does not have a registered firearm. Requires an adult who is borrowing a firearm to have either a firearm permit or a registered firearm, and not be prohibited to own or possess a firearm. Specifies that an adult who is twenty-one years of age or older may be lent a rifle or shotgun for a period not to exceed twelve hours. Repeals the authorization to use a rifle or shotgun outside of the State for up to seventy-five days. Repeals the authorization to lend a rifle or shotgun without a permit.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO AN ATMOSPHERIC CARBON CAPTURE PLANT.

Directs the Hawaii State Energy Office, in conjunction with the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, to conduct a feasibility study for the construction of an atmospheric carbon capture plant in the State. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD LABOR LAW.

Removes the exemption of the State, its political subdivisions, and the United States from the Child Labor Law.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO HOSPITALS.

Requires any hospital with an operating room licensed by the Department of Health to adopt and implement policies to prevent exposure to surgical smoke.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO THE SPAYING AND NEUTERING OF ANIMALS.

Establishes a Spay and Neuter Special Fund. Allows funds from an income tax check-off to be deposited into the Spay and Neuter Special Fund. Establishes the Spay and Neuter Special Fund Advisory Committee to establish eligibility criteria and disbursement procedures from the Special Fund. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO LEAD POISONING.

Beginning 1/1/2026, requires physicians to perform or order lead screening tests for minor patients at certain intervals as recommended by the Department of Health and make an entry of the lead screening test in the minor patient's record. Requires the Department of Health to adopt recommendations for lead screening tests. Requires the Department of Health to report to the Legislature if it adjusts the recommendations.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SIXTEENTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the 16th senatorial district.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC BICYCLES.

Amends the definition of electric bicycles subject to various state laws and classifies electric bicycles by top assisted speed. Establishes additional regulations for the registration and use of electric bicycles. Increases the minimum age to operate an electric bicycle.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATED TO TEACHER LOANS.

Establishes a teacher loan program revolving fund to encourage individuals to become teachers in hard-to-fill positions of Department of Education schools. Allows a loan to be forgiven for teachers who become a licensed teacher in Hawaii or for teachers who will commit to teach for seven years at a Hawaii public school or public charter school. Appropriates funds.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER SYSTEMS.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to acquire all West Maui water systems by eminent domain and hold the water systems in trust for the County of Maui to manage.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO NON-GENERAL FUNDS.

Reclassifies certain non-general funds of the Department of Accounting and General Services, pursuant to the recommendations made by the Auditor in Auditor's Report No. 23-17.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Exempts medical services from the general excise tax.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO ONLINE FANTASY SPORTS.

Establishes an online fantasy sports contests registration and monitoring program under the Department of the Attorney General. Imposes an online fantasy sports contests tax on the gross revenues of registrants. Establishes the Online Fantasy Sports Contests Special Fund and allocates proceeds of the fund to the Lahaina community recovery efforts. Exempts registered online fantasy sports contests from state gambling laws. Appropriates funds.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX INCREMENT BONDS.

Requires counties to commission a comprehensive economic impact analysis before issuing tax increment bonds and make the analysis publicly available. Requires counties issuing tax increment bonds to conduct publicly available biennial independent audits and report to the Legislature. Requires counties issuing tax increment bonds to establish a review board to oversee tax increment bond projects. Restricts the amount of total outstanding tax increment bonds that may be excluded from the calculation of a county's debt limits from exceeding twenty per cent. Conforms county debt limit statements law to exclude tax increment bonds from the debt limit of the counties if a constitutional amendment authorizing the use of tax increment bonds and excluding tax increment bonds from determinations of the counties' funded debt is ratified.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE NAMING COMMISSION.

Establishes an Advisory Commission in the Department of Accounting and General Services to propose names or a change of names for state buildings, parks, facilities, and events.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO MIDWIVES.

Establishes a licensing scheme for licensed certified midwives and licensed certified professional midwives, to be overseen by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Reestablishes the home birth task force to provide recommendations on issues related to home births. Dissolves the task force on 6/30/2026. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO RESILIENCY.

Establishes the Food and Beverage Supply Chain Resiliency Income Tax Credit to be administered by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Department of Taxation. Requires DBEDT to establish expedited permitting processes for food and beverage supply chain activities.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Prohibits the issuance of a certificate of inspection for a moped or motor vehicle that has been altered, installed, or otherwise modified in any way which will noticeably increase the noise emitted by the motor vehicle or moped above that emitted by the motor vehicle or moped as equipped from the factory.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAL RECORDS.

Requires health care providers to provide patients with copies of billing records within ten working days of a request from the patient and provide written notice to patients if there is a credit on the patient's account. Clarifies that health care providers must respond to medical record requests from patients in a timely manner pursuant to federal regulations, with exceptions. Establishes penalties for violations.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO LEAF BLOWERS.

Beginning 1/1/2027, prohibits the sale or offer for sale of gasoline-powered leaf blowers. Repeals the exemption on leaf blower restrictions for government agencies.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE BOATING FACILITIES.

Establishes a State Boating Facility Lease Program within the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to be administered by DOBOR. Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural to lease Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor for private development, management, maintenance, and operation. Repeals provisions relating to the leasing of fast lands and submerged lands of Ala Wai Boat Harbor. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Repeals the State Boating Facility Lease Program on 6/30/2045.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO STREAM MAINTENANCE.

Clarifies that personal property stored in or near a public stream or tributary for a continuous period of more than twenty-four hours shall become abandoned property which the Department of Land and Natural Resources shall dispose of.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO DIGITAL CURRENCY.

Clarifies that chapter 489D, HRS, relating to the Money Transmitters Modernization Act, applies to digital currency companies and activity.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO LEAF BLOWERS.

Defines "residential zone" for purposes of leaf blower restrictions to include residential districts, apartment districts, and business mixed use districts.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

Requires the Land Use Commission to reclassify lands that are designated for urban growth under a county general plan or county development plan as being in the urban district at the request of the county.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to establish a permanent Return-to-Home program to return homeless individuals in the State to families and relatives in their home states. Requires the Office to report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO LABOR.

Establishes clear criteria for unpaid student internship programs under the state wage laws.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO FAIR SCHEDULING.

Requires employers to provide employees with written notice of the employee's shift schedule at least ten calendar days before the employee is scheduled to work, under certain circumstances. Requires certain employers to pay their employees twice as much as their regular rate of pay for time worked when their shift schedule was not timely given.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat