Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO THE PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS.

Establishes patient rights with respect to timely access to specialists and referrals and prior authorization determination timelines. Establishes certain requirements for health carriers for prior authorization determinations. Establishes certain requirements for the use of automated decision support tools for claims determinations and utilization review. Requires health carriers to establish certain safeguards for protected health information. Establishes certain reporting requirements for network adequacy. Establishes certain provider protections. Expands the Insurance Commissioner's enforcement authority.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION.

Requires the State Building Code Council to provide greater flexibility for the use of alternative materials, designs, or methods of construction within the specifications of the Hawaii state building codes. Authorizes procurement debriefing and award protests for awards that do not account for the alternatives.

Elle CochranRepublican

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.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

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

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

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO PHYSICIAN CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION.

Requires nutrition and metabolic education as part of the physician continuing medical education requirements.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY HEALTHCARE LICENSURE WAIVERS.

Authorizes the waiver of certain healthcare worker licensure requirements during emergencies. Requires an annual report to the legislature.

Elle CochranRepublican

RELATING TO THE CAMPAIGN SPENDING COMMISSION.

Adjusts the salaries of the Campaign Spending Commission's Executive Director and Associate Director to align with similar government officials who have compliance and enforcement responsibilities. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO RECORDINGS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.

Establishes the right of a person to record law enforcement activities. Establishes a private right of action for any violation of the right to record law enforcement activities.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Requires the Chief Data Officer to enhance the State's open data portal website through the phased development and publishing of an artificial intelligence chatbot and necessary data visualizations on statewide shared data sets to assist the public in navigating the open data portal website and finding information about statewide services across state departments and agencies. Requires the Chief Data Officer to develop a system to evaluate and select for procurement artificial intelligence governance tools for use by state departments and agencies and establish a mechanism for reporting and publication of artificial intelligence use cases and artificial intelligence vendors used by the departments and agencies. Appropriates funds.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES.

Requires an automated vehicle used by a motor carrier to transport passengers commercially to have a human supervisor present in the vehicle. Establishes an income tax credit to incentivize the training of supervisors for autonomous vehicles. Sunsets 12/31/2036. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Appropriates moneys to sponsor a Michelin Guide for restaurants statewide.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO ABUSE OF FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS.

Maintains the petty misdemeanor offense of abuse of family or household member by repealing the sunset of amendments made to sections 709-906 and 853-4, HRS, by Act 19, SLH 2020. Repeals provisions authorizing a deferred acceptance of a guilty plea for misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor abuse of family or household members offenses.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO VEHICLES.

Allows an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle to drive in the evening and night if they are equipped with headlights, taillights, turn signals, and brake lights, and while displaying a slow moving vehicle emblem. Allows drivers of all-terrain vehicles and utility vehicles to wear a safety helmet with a securely fastened chin strap, rather than require. Includes in the definition of "utility-terrain vehicle" a motor vehicle that accommodates one driver and one passenger sitting side-by-side, and up to six people in seat belts. Includes "all-terrain vehicle" and "utility terrain vehicle" in the definition of "motor vehicle" under the State's motor vehicle insurance law. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO ZERO-EMISSIONS VEHICLES.

Appropriates funds for the Hawaii State Energy Office to analyze zero-emissions vehicle infrastructure in the State. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires the Department of Education to give reasonable consideration to making all or portions of the facilities of a public school available to housing development for certain employees of the Department when closing the public school. Requires the Department of Education to identify unused public school facilities that may be appropriate for employee housing and inventory suitable grounds available upon public school closure for potential development of employee housing.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION.

Establishes the offense of prohibited acts related to female genital mutilation of a minor. Authorizes a victim of female genital mutilation to bring a civil action for damages under certain conditions. Amends the statutory definitions of "child abuse or neglect" and "harm" to include prohibited acts related to female genital mutilation of a minor.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO PARKING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

Amends the fee exemption period for individuals possessing a disabled paid parking exemption permit from the first 2.5 hours or the maximum amount of time the meter allows, whichever is longer, to the first 4.5 hours.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND.

Authorizes the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to be used to provide loans or grants to eligible individuals to purchase rental units.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO TEACHERS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education and State Public Charter School Commission to provide monetary awards to educators who are recognized by the legislature, during education week, for their accomplishments, excellence in teaching, leadership, and service. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Establishes an executive committee and amends the membership and duties of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission (Commission). Requires each member agency of the Commission to implement its own actions to address certain strategies and goals established by the Commission. Establishes reporting and review requirements for member agencies relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts and clean economy targets. Updates reporting requirements for the Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation reports. Allows the Commission to enter into certain procurement contracts. Updates the zero emissions clean economy target. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

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 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 TRADE-ORIENTED PRODUCTION CAPACITY GRANT PROGRAM.

Establishes the Trade-Oriented Production Capacity Grant Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to support one-time capital investments that expand the State's manufacturing and production capacity for trade. Provides grants for equipment, automation, and facility improvements that directly increase output, efficiency, and competitiveness for eligible businesses, with required private-sector matching funds. Prioritizes traded-sector businesses with interstate or international market potential to help generate measurable near-term trade and economic returns. Appropriates funds.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO SENTENCING.

Amends repeat offender sentencing provisions to allow sentencing courts, under certain circumstances, to sentence defendants in class C felony cases to probation with appropriate terms and conditions.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO VEHICLE SAFETY.

Requires the Director of Transportation to adopt rules allowing for mobile vehicle safety inspections of passenger cars. (SD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HEALTHCARE EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.

Requires a participant in the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program to remain and work in the State for a certain number of years based on the amount of financial assistance received.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Requires the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to procure a third-party consultant to develop a statewide blue economy and ocean technology and innovation strategy. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

Provides that any corporation operating under state law shall hold all the corporate powers it previously held; provided that nothing in state law shall be construed to grant or recognize any corporate power to engage in election activity.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Appropriates moneys to support the State's gun buyback program, including at least two gun buyback events in each county. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the Department of Transportation to establish a Clean Transportation Alternatives Incentive Program that returns funds to eligible residents of the State who meet a certain income threshold or use a certain amount of gasoline as fuel for transportation.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Requires the Department of the Attorney General to publish, on the Department's public website, an annual report that compiles information on firearms, firearm-related deaths and injuries, and firearm violations. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR.

Requires an advertisement for liquor or alcohol to include a cancer-risk warning. Establishes guidelines for cancer-risk warnings included in advertisements for liquor or alcohol. Establishes penalties for an advertiser that fails to include a compliant cancer-risk warning in an advertisement for liquor or alcohol. Effective 1/1/2027.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO PRETRIAL RELEASE.

Requires certain factors to be considered when determining a defendant's financial ability to afford bail.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes a program and income tax credit to incentivize the conversion of commercial properties into residential properties. Appropriates moneys.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Exempts county elected officials, county candidates, and county candidate committees from the prohibition on receiving contributions from a lobbyist during a state legislative session.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.

Requires contractors performing an agency function to retain records related to the performance of that function and provide agencies with access to those records. Deems the records to be government records under the Uniform Information Practices Act. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Transportation to establish a pilot program to offer fully subsidized public transit passes for department employees. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO PORTABLE PLUG-IN SOLAR GENERATION DEVICES.

Prohibits binding agreements preventing the installation of a portable plug-in solar generation device on any residential dwelling, subject to certain requirements.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

Prohibits state elected officials from soliciting or accepting campaign contributions during any Regular Session or Special Session of the Legislature, including any extension of any Regular Session or Special Session or any legislative recess day, holiday, or weekend. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY EQUITY.

Allows the Public Utilities Commission to establish a lifeline baseline performance standard and medically essential needs energy program based on proposals from electric utilities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

Amends section 11-364, HRS, to provide that an excess contribution of more than $100 in cash, in the aggregate, from a single person during an election period to a candidate, candidate committee, or noncandidate committee shall escheat to the Hawaii election campaign fund if not returned to the contributor within 30 days.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Beginning 7/1/2027, requires newly installed or modified individual wastewater systems that are near the shoreline or on highly porous soils to include denitrification capacity. Requires the Department of Health to reduce requirements for disposal systems connected to wastewater systems with denitrification capacity. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO PRIVATE SUPPORT OF EDUCATION.

Clarifies that free tuition at private educational institutions are to be considered conditional gifts that support educational advancements rather than contractual obligations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PRIVACY.

Establishes the offense of nonconsensual distribution of an intimate image.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PARKING.

Prohibits minimum off-street parking requirements for new developments or redevelopment projects located in transit‑oriented development infrastructure improvement program areas. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

Allows the Department of Human Services to administer and provide public assistance to eligible residents of the State during a Governor-declared state of emergency. Allows the Department of Human Services to expend funds from the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO WAREHOUSE WORKERS.

Establishes the Warehouse Worker Protection Act. Requires certain warehouse employers to provide written descriptions of quotas to employees and maintain records of quotas and employee work speed data. Protects employees from quotas that would prevent compliance with meal or rest periods or the use of bathroom facilities. Allows employees to request a written description of their quota and employee work speed data. Requires the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to adopt rules to implement the provisions of the Act.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat