Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO PUBLIC NOTICE.

Authorizes government agencies to satisfy public notice requirements by electronic posting on official state or county websites or electronic calendars, while preserving traditional publication as an option. Directs the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, in consultation with the Access Hawaii Committee, to adopt rules governing the implementation of electronic notice before the electronic notice authorization takes legal effect. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE RISK MANAGEMENT REVOLVING FUND.

Increases the expenditure ceiling and appropriates funds out of the State Risk Management Revolving Fund to transfer and distribute property and liability insurance proceeds related to the 2023 Maui wildfires to applicable accounts. Requires the Department of Accounting and General Services to submit to the Legislature a master coordinated project spreadsheet developed in collaboration with certain state agencies, the County of Maui, and other relevant entities. Requires full funding for the projects for which funds are appropriated to be available before expenditure. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO LONG-TERM CARE.

Establishes the Hawaii CARES Fund Long-term Services and Supports Trust Program within the Department of Human Services to be implemented in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Insurance Commissioner, provide eligible beneficiaries with a lifetime benefit for approved long-term services and supports funded through payroll-based premium assessed on wages, with exemptions and optional participation for self-employed persons and certain out‑of‑state participants. Establishes a trust fund commission and council. Establishes premium assessment and collection requirements. Provides cancellation procedures under certain circumstances. Establishes a supplemental private coverage framework and consumer education requirements. Establishes the Hawaii CARES trust fund and investment requirements. Requires DHS, DLIR, and the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE FACILITIES.

Requires all state building construction begun on or after 7/1/2028 to provide at least one universal changing accommodation in each public restroom designated as a family or assisted-use restroom, unless technically infeasible. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE COSTS.

Establishes the Prescription Drug Affordability Board within the Department of Health to conduct affordability reviews on high-cost prescription drugs and establish upper payment limits under certain circumstances. Establishes out-of-pocket maximums for prescribed insulin, asthma inhalers, and epinephrine auto-injectors. Prohibits copayment adjustment programs. Requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to comply with certain affordability measures. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Requires adoption of rules by the Affordability Board and Insurance Commissioner. Appropriates funds.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO AMBULANCES.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to purchase one advanced life support ambulance and related equipment to be based in Central Maui and fund pay-related personnel costs for state-certified emergency medical services personnel. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTIONS.

Establishes a general excise tax exemption for the gross proceeds or income from feminine hygiene products. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO PARKING FOR DISABLED PERSONS.

Beginning 7/1/27, increases the number of required accessible and van accessible parking spaces in parking lots with more than twenty-five parking spaces that are covered by title II or III of the Americans with Disabilities Act with certain expectations. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.

Establishes the Search and Rescue Card Program and Search and Rescue Special Fund to reimburse state and county agencies and volunteer organizations for search and rescue operations. Establishes reimbursement procedures for search and rescue operations.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.

Establishes the Office of the State Search and Rescue Coordinator within the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Provides for the authority and duties of the State Search and Rescue Coordinator. Designates participating agencies and their duties with regard to state search and rescue operations and training. Establishes the Search and Rescue Special Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature. Requires the Administrator of Emergency Management to hire the Coordinator by 1/1/2027. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2525. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY PROJECTS.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to hold not less than two community meetings before approving a major energy project that would be hosted in the affected community.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO SOLAR ENERGY.

Defines and provides requirements for the use of a portable solar generation device. Requires each portable solar generation device to be registered with the Public Utilities Commission. Provides that electric utility companies are not liable for any damage or injury caused by a portable solar generation device. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish and maintain an online system for registering a portable solar generation device, at no cost to the customer.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO DISPOSABLE BODYBOARDS.

Prohibits the sale, rental, or distribution of disposable bodyboards in the State. Establishes penalties.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish rules allowing the sale and distribution of fine mesh nets, including monofilament netting, in the State to protect plants from the coconut rhinoceros beetle.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

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.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSERVATION.

Requires the Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt rules that implement wildlife viewing guidelines that substantially conform to the wildlife viewing guidelines issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Requires annual reports to the Legislature until rules are adopted. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Authorizes condominium associations to inspect high-risk components in a unit upon the replacement or repair of the component by the owner.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO FORECLOSURES.

Specifies that a judicial foreclosure sale is not final until the earliest of either fifteen days after the public sale, unless an eligible bidder submits a subsequent bid or written notice of intent to submit a subsequent bid, or forty-five days after the public sale. Requires subsequent successful bidders to make a downpayment.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

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 INSURANCE FRAUD.

Prohibits certain solicitation and inducement practices relating to insurance claims. Establishes disaster-related insurance fraud offenses. Broadens the scope of the offense of insurance fraud and the acts that constitute insurance fraud. Clarifies the penalties for the offense of insurance fraud and the capabilities and operations of the Insurance Fraud Investigations Branch, including the annual report to the Legislature and the use of fraud analytics. Reiterates protections for insurance fraud whistleblowers. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Establishes the Ombudsman's Office for Homeowners Insurance within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Establishes the Ombudsman's Office for Homeowners Insurance Special Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Authorizes captive insurance companies to underwrite, reinsure, or otherwise assume catastrophic property and casualty risks, subject to the approval and continuing supervision of the Insurance Commissioner. Allows the Commissioner to set certain minimum standards for captive insurance companies underwriting catastrophic property and casualty risk. Requires captive insurance companies underwriting catastrophic property and casualty risk to provide certain information in reports to the Commissioner. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE PROCEEDS.

Requires mortgage servicers to comply with certain requirements regarding the disbursement of insurance proceeds for residential real estate that has been destroyed or damaged.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires certain insurers to notify policyholders of rate changes at least 60 days before the effective date of the rate change. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

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 TRAFFIC SAFETY.

Requires the Department of Transportation to complete and publish a traffic engineering study before installing specified traffic safety devices or changing posted speed limits on state highways. Establishes a publicly accessible dashboard for requests, studies, decisions, and public comments. Requires annual reporting to the Legislature.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HONOAPIILANI HIGHWAY COASTAL MITIGATION PROJECT.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates moneys to finance capital improvements for the Honoapiilani Highway coastal mitigation project. (SD1)

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 HOUSING.

Establishes the Tenant Displacement Working Group within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to address tenant displacement and relocation in the State. Requires the Tenant Displacement Working Group to report to the Legislature. Appropriates Funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

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 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 PROPERTY INSURANCE.

Establishes a minimum time frame of twenty-four months following loss due to declared state of emergency for the policyholder to submit documentation to recover full replacement cost value of covered dwelling or structure. Allows extensions for good cause. Establishes a minimum time frame of twelve months from completion of covered dwelling or structure for the policyholder to submit documentation to recover full replacement cost value of covered personal property. Requires homeowners insurers to give timely notice to policyholders to explain the time frames and extensions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Requires homeowners insurance policies to permit an insured who sustains a total loss from a peril for which a state of emergency was declared to (1) apply additional living expenses benefits toward the lease of a housing unit to serve as the insured's temporary primary residence; (2) pay an advance of at least four months of additional living expenses benefits; and (3) provide additional living expenses benefits for a minimum of twenty-four months, subject to policy limits. Provides for extensions of additional living expenses benefits under certain conditions. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Prohibits homeowners insurance policies from limiting or denying payment of replacement costs, extended replacement costs, or building code upgrade costs for a dwelling solely because the insured elects to rebuild the dwelling at a different location or purchase an already-constructed home at a different location. Allows for the combination of dwelling and other structures coverage limits to fund the rebuilding or replacement of the primary residence under certain conditions. Requires notice to policyholders.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Requires the automatic payment of 100% of the personal property or contents coverage limit stated in an insurance policy in the event of a total loss of a dwelling caused by certain perils that occurred pursuant to a state of emergency. Prohibits an insurer from requiring the submission of an itemized inventory of damaged or destroyed personal property. Requires notice to policyholders of the right to an automatic payment.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE.

Requires homeowners insurance producers to notify policyholders that they may submit information regarding improvements made to the insured residential property, which shall then be submitted to the homeowners insurer. Requires homeowners insurers to reevaluate the replacement cost estimate based on the information submitted by a policyholder, and offer the policyholder the option to purchase additional coverage to cover the full amount of the replacement cost estimate. Establishes an administrative penalty. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

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 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 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Establishes consumer protection requirements for the use of artificial intelligence systems in consumer interactions and consequential decisions, including disclosures, documentation, and a right to correction, appeal, and human review. Makes certain violations an unfair or deceptive act or practice. Requires risk management and impact assessments for high-risk artificial intelligence systems. Requires incident reports to the Executive Director of the Office of Consumer Protection and the Attorney General.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT.

Requires hotelkeepers to supply and provide annual training on the proper use and limitations of a panic button to certain workers no later than 1/1/2027. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE MAUI WILDFIRE EXPOSURE STUDY AND MAUI HEALTH REGISTRY.

Appropriates funds for the University of Hawaii to expand and sustain services provided by the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study and Maui Health Registry. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.

Repeals the $10,000 value threshold for certain prohibited contracts involving legislators or employees. Prohibits state agencies from contracting to procure or dispose of goods or services, or for construction, with businesses owned, operated, or controlled by relatives or household members of department heads or deputy directors. Requires department heads, acting department heads, and deputy directors of principal state departments to ensure compliance with the Code of Ethics provision governing contracts and provides for liability for violations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER STANDARDS.

By 1/1/2040, requires all municipal wastewater treatment facilities owned by a State or county agency to meet state R-1 water standards. Requires the Department of Health to adopt five-year benchmarks to ensure compliance with state R-1 water standards. Requires the Legislature to appropriate sufficient funds. Appropriates funds.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO OAHU CORAL REEF RESTORATION.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources to begin the Holomua Marine Initiative process no later than 7/1/2027 to address coral reef restoration on Oahu. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO FISHING.

Requires the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to begin the rulemaking process no later than 7/1/2026 to regulate or ban jug line fishing and jug rig variant fishing methods. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

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 MARINE LIFE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to close all or portions of any marine life conservation district for various periods of time and to adopt rules for the regulation of commercial activity within a marine life conservation district; provided that the marine life conservation district is located on or adjacent to the shores of Oahu. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

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