Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Clarifies that public charter school teachers are eligible for incentives under the Teacher National Board Certification Incentive Program.

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE INCOME TAX.

Provides that taxable income subject to reporting as distribution on Internal Revenue Service Form 1099-R may be subject to withholding at the taxpayer's election. Requires the Department of Taxation to adopt rules and prescribe forms. Applicable to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE BUILDINGS.

Requires certain state buildings with the intent of serving a secondary purpose as an emergency shelter and designed on or after July 1, 2027, to be designed to withstand Category 5 hurricanes and be used as shelters in the event of an emergency. Designates the Department of Accounting and General Services as the lead agency in enforcing this requirement in consultation with the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO BUILDING CODES.

Requires all single family residences and apartment buildings built after 1/1/2027 include a safe room that can withstand winds of two hundred miles per hour or higher. Requires single‑family residences and apartment buildings built after 1/1/2027 be built to withstand Category 3 hurricanes when located in an area with winds of one hundred thirty miles per hour and a Category 5 hurricane when located in an area with winds of one hundred forty miles per hour or higher.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for a certain percentage of expenses paid to retrofit a residence with wind resistive devices or to purchase, install, or construct, a hurricane shelter on the taxpayer's property. Reduces the general excise tax rate on the gross proceeds or income from the sale of a concrete high-rise certified hurricane-resistant residential project or certain hurricane-resistant components of the project. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Sunsets 12/31/2030. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.

Beginning 1/1/2027, establishes mandatory handling and storage rules for commercial and residential coconut rhinoceros beetle host material to reduce the spread of CRB within infested zones and to prevent spread into non-infested zones. Establishes penalties. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO TIME LIMITATIONS FOR CRIMES.

Adds sexual assault in the third and fourth degrees to the list of offenses which are not subject to a time limitation for prosecution.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

For taxable years beginning after 1/1/2027, establishes a nonrefundable income tax credit for certain agricultural investment costs incurred for agricultural activities conducted on Hawaiian home lands. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Increases the rooftop solar tax credit to forty five per cent for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025 through December 31, 2030. Establishes the Direct Solar Rebate Program to be administered by the Hawaii State Energy Office for low‑ and moderate-income households. Streamlines rooftop solar permitting and requires the counties to develop electronic application systems. Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to enhance workforce development and coordinate with county permitting agencies. Authorizes the adoption of interim rules. Appropriates funds.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS.

Restricts commercial helicopter tour operations over sensitive areas designated by the Department of Transportation through public process. Requires the Department of Transportation to enforce restrictions through a permit process, flight tracking, noise monitoring, complaint investigation, and the issuance of a civil penalty for each violation. Requires an annual report to the Legislature by the Department of Transportation.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.

Amends the program scope of the grant authorized for Hawaii Foodbank, Inc. by Act 250, SLH 2025, pursuant to chapter 42F, HRS. Authorizes the grant moneys to be used for plans, design, and construction for a new facility.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts from the general excise tax, the gross process or income from the sale of groceries purchased by persons 65 years old and older.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO FERAL CHICKENS.

Appropriates funds to each county to facilitate the receipt, handling, and humane disposition of feral chickens that have already been caught. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO GAMBLING.

Provides that a defendant may not assert social gambling as an affirmative defense if the gambling activity occurred at the defendant's residence and gambling activities have resulted in multiple recent documented noise complaints.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

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 CIVIL IDENTIFICATION.

Lowers the age to obtain a state civil identification card without a signature from a parent or guardian from eighteen years old to sixteen years old.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSES.

Lowers the age of who may drive commercially within the State from nineteen to eighteen. Repeals the requirement that a person only operates category 3 vehicles to qualify to drive commercially in the State. Prohibits a person under twenty-one years of age from operating a commercial motor vehicle outside of state-approved commercial driver training programs or registered apprenticeship programs as determined by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Requires the Department of Transportation to consult with DLIR to amend its rules to allow persons under twenty-one years of age to operate a commercial motor vehicle under certain conditions. (SD1)

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION FUNDING.

Requires the Committee on Weights to develop recommendations for a weighted student formula that achieves resource parity between public schools and independent schools of the State. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

Appropriates funds for the Department of Human Services to contract with one or more organizations specializing in domestic violence to provide training and on-site staff in Child Welfare Services Branch offices to support all aspects of screening for and addressing domestic violence within a case.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

For policies, contracts, plans, and agreements issued or renewed after 12/31/2026, requires insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for standard fertility preservation services for persons undergoing medically necessary treatment that may cause iatrogenic infertility.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO SPORTS OFFICIALS.

Authorizes the Attorney General to represent sports officials in civil proceedings if the sports official has been assaulted or threatened in the course of legally discharging their sports official duties. Makes intentional bodily injury of a sports official engaged in the lawful discharge of the sports official's duties a class B felony. Clarifies that a sports official includes a school or league administrator. Clarifies that a sports official's duties cover sports events at public schools and private schools.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES.

Authorizes geological subsurface characterization activities conducted by a public research institution under certain conditions. Clarifies that boreholes or test holes drilled for the purposes of geological subsurface characterization are distinct from water well exploration and geothermal or mineral exploration. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, to designate the Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center of the University of Hawaii, or a successor entity, as the repository for data collected from any geological subsurface characterization activity. Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to designate a repository or be the repository for any scientific data collected from any geological subsurface characterization activity on lands it holds in trust. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to amend its exemption list to specify that certain geological subsurface characterization activities shall be exempt from the environmental review process or shall only require an exemption notice. Requires the University of Hawaii to amend its exemption list to specify that certain geological subsurface characterization activities shall be exempt from the environmental review process or shall only require an exemption notice. Requires the Department of Health to amend its rules related to hazardous waste and hazardous waste management for consistency with federal regulations to specify that certain waste products generated by geological subsurface characterization activity are exempt from hazardous waste management requirements. Requires that the first site where a borehole or test hole is drilled shall be on lands owned by DHHL. Establishes the Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center within the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology of UH Manoa. Appropriates funds.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Establishes certain standards for the use of portable solar generation devices and provides certain exemptions from net energy metering and interconnection requirements for devices that meet these standards. Prohibits electric utility companies from requiring customers using portable solar generation devices to obtain approval from the utility, pay any fee or charge, or install additional controls or equipment. Limits the installation of portable solar generation devices to condominiums. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish and maintain an online system for registration of portable solar generation devices. Clarifies that any person who owns, controls, operates, or manages a portable solar generation device that is located on the person's property does not qualify as a regulated public utility. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY.

Includes the Chief Energy Officer of the Hawaii State Energy Office as a member of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Ensures that the State's zero emissions clean economy aspirational target encourages both local and global sequestration. Requires each state agency to review the impacts of its internal plans as they relate to the purpose and goals of the Commission. Requires HSEO to submit summary reports to the Governor and Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires each county to implement fare-free access to its public transportation systems. Establishes the Fare-Free Public Transportation Tax and Dividend Special Fund. Increases the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax on petroleum products to fund fare-free public transportation.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Increases the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax and the amount collected from the tax that is deposited into the Electric Vehicle Charging System Subaccount. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Establishes the Tourism Liaison Officer position within the Office of the Governor. Amends the duties of the Hawaii Tourism Authority to focus on marketing and branding, rather than destination management and regenerative tourism. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO MARINE AFFAIRS.

Declares that the State is an ocean cluster. Establishes the Office of Marine Affairs and Marine Affairs Governing Board within the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation. Establishes and appropriates funds for the Marine Affairs Coordinator position. Repeals the powers and duties of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism over marine affairs. Transfers the employees and functions of the Governor's Advisory Committee on Marine Affairs to the Office of Marine Affairs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO PERMITTING.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, in collaboration with a county selected by the Department, to develop an artificial intelligence-assisted pre-compliance intake pilot platform, subject to a matching funds requirement for the county. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop a policy or metric to measure the success of the pilot platform. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO PERMITTING.

Implements certain recommendations of the SPEED Task Force. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop a permitting workforce pipeline in partnership with the University of Hawaii and community colleges and coordinate with state and county permitting agencies on certain tasks related to classification levels, salary and benefits, hiring, and responsibilities of employees. Appropriates funds.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL.

Implements certain recommendations of the SPEED Task Force. Requires the State Building Code Council to provide annual training to state and county permitting agency employees. Appropriates funds for the training, subject to a matching funds requirement from the counties.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO INTOXICATING LIQUOR.

Allows direct shipment of beer and distilled spirits by certain licensees. Requires the liquor commission of each county to adopt rules and regulations. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR.

Defines "low alcohol spirits beverages". Establishes lower tax rates for class 18 small craft producer pub licensees, including for low alcohol spirits beverages. Increases the amount of alcohol that a class 18 small craft producer pub licensee may manufacture. Increases the amount of alcohol a class 18 small craft producer pub licensee may sell to consumers in recyclable containers. Authorizes class 18 small craft producer pub licensees to sell a certain number of barrels of malt beverages, wine, and cooler and low alcohol beverages to any class of licensee, except for class 3 wholesaler dealer licensees.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR LICENSES.

Authorizes an increase in the volume of manufactured alcoholic beverages permissible under a small craft producer pub license. Increases the amount of alcohol manufactured on small craft producer pub licensees' premises that may be sold in recyclable containers.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO LAWMAKER SAFETY.

Prohibits the public disclosure of legislators' personal contact information in a voter's affidavit of registration, nomination papers, and electronic database for campaign committees.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO CANCER.

Repeals the requirement that a certain amount received from the cigarette tax on the wholesale price of each article or item of certain tobacco products deposited into the Hawaii Cancer Research Special Fund must be used for debt service of capital expenditures and building maintenance. Appropriates funds for the University of Hawaii Cancer Center.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE ARCHIVES.

Appropriates funds for the planning, designing, environmental studies, site evaluation and selection studies, and permitting conducted relative to a new facility for the State Archives. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO ASSISTED COMMUNITY TREATMENT.

Requires community health outpatient programs to prepare a certificate for assisted community treatment and provide the certificate to a defendant. Requires a petition for assisted community treatment to be heard within five days after the petition is filed.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

Requires the Hawaii Community Development Authority to establish a Community Action Center in Chinatown. Expenditure contingent upon the City and County of Honolulu providing matching funds. Appropriation. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

Appropriates funds to the Office of the Public Defender for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Deputy Public Defender III position. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Amends and repeals certain exemptions under the general excise tax and use tax laws.

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE FUNDS.

Transfers to the general fund the excess balances of various non-general funds and programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS.

Clarifies that cooperative associations organized under chapter 421C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, may include multi-stakeholder cooperatives, producer cooperatives, workers cooperatives, and consumer cooperatives. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD2)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Establishes the Office of Artificial Intelligence Safety and Regulation within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to regulate the development, deployment, and use of artificial intelligence technologies in the State. Prohibits the deployment of artificial intelligence products in the State unless affirmative proof establishing the product's safety is submitted to the Office. Appropriates funds.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO THE KANEHILI COMMUNITY HALE.

Appropriate funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for the construction of the Kanehili community hale, a new access road, and a parking lot at the Kanehili homestead. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO COCONUT TREES.

Establishes an income tax credit for qualified costs to implement natural management of coconut rhinoceros beetles that result in consumable coconut trees. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

PART II: Allows certain extensions of the deadline for cesspool conversions. PART III: Authorizes and appropriates funds to the Department of Health to retain qualified consultants as necessary to identify necessary public outreach and education resources and tools and develop a comprehensive public outreach strategy and website to educate homeowners and wastewater industry professionals about information and resources regarding the State's cesspool upgrade, conversion, and connection requirements and deadlines.

Mike GabbardDemocrat