Bills & Legislation

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT THE INHERENT AND INALIENABLE RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE TO CLEAN WATER AND AIR, A HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE, HEALTHY NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS, AND BEACHES.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure that the inherent and inalienable right of the people, including future generations, to clean water and air, a healthful environment and climate, healthy native ecosystems, and beaches, shall be protected and shall not be infringed. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS.

Establishes a Food and Product Innovation Network within the Agribusiness Development Corporation. Appropriates funds for the development of Food and Product Innovation Network facilities. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to establish a Healthy Soils Program. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE RULES.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires all state agencies to make the full text of their rules available on the website of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor in a digitally accessible and searchable format that meets or exceeds certain federal standards. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL.

Appropriates funds for the Native Resources and Fire Protection Program and Hawaii Invasive Species Council to ensure their long-term viability and continue to control and eradicate invasive species in the State. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER CONSERVATION.

Incentivizes the installation and use of gray water recycling systems and atmospheric water generators in the State by establishing an income tax credit to be administered by the Department of Taxation. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish a rebate program. Requires the State Building Code Council to adopt certain standards on gray water recycling systems and atmospheric water generators in the State. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO ARBORISTS.

Requires the State to ensure and enforce that all certified arborists in its employ, including contractors, adhere to best management practices.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO TOXIC CHEMICALS.

Requires state agencies that monitor environmental toxins and pollutants to establish environmental action levels (EALs) to ensure the preservation of a safe environment. Prohibits modifications to EALs unless certain procedural requirements are met. Establishes a process to allow any resident to petition for modifications to an established EAL.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

Clarifies the process by which the Hawaii Community Development Authority may approve residential development on certain parcels of Kakaako Makai. Raises the building height limit and the maximum floor area ratio on certain parcels in the area. Requires a certain percentage of the residential units developed on certain parcels to be allocated to households at or below a certain income level in perpetuity, with priority given to certain essential workforce in the area. Limits the sale of residential units developed in certain residential developments to prospective owner-occupants. Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to determine a Kakaako Makai association fee to be collected from residents, tenants, and lessees of certain parcels to be deposited into a special account in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Special Fund to fund various services and projects in the Kakaako Makai area. (SD1)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to support public schools impacted by a local investor‑owned electric utility's planned public safety power shutoff program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO BRAILLE LITERACY.

Establishes Braille literacy as a policy of the State. Requires literacy assessments for eligible low vision and blind students to include Braille instruction and the use of Braille. Authorizes the Department of Education to adopt administrative rules. Establishes the Braille Literacy Resource Center. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for its Hoakea Program. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds for the establishment of five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) positions within the Civil Rights Compliance Branch of the Department of Education. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WOMEN'S COURT.

Establishes a temporary three-year Women's Court Pilot Program within the second, third, and fifth circuits. Establishes temporary positions. Requires a report. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2028. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL BIOSECURITY.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to establish and administer a Biosecurity Fencing Cost-Sharing Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTEWATER SYSTEMS.

Requires the Department of Health to amend its administrative rules to: (1) Authorize not more than five dwellings and dwelling units connected to a single individual wastewater system; and (2) Provide that not more than five bedrooms may be connected to a single individual wastewater system. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HALAULA AGRICULTURAL PARCEL.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to the Agribusiness Development Corporation for the purchase of the Halaula Agricultural Parcel for agricultural development. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO CARBON OFFSETS.

Requires the Department of Transportation to assist and enable a person to voluntarily purchase a verified carbon offset for carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the person's air travel to or from an airport in the State. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER.

Authorizes the Department of Health to allow any county to implement a Gray Water Recycling Program that permits certain small farms of less than ten square acres in size the ability to use gray water for the purposes of irrigation. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Clarifies that projects seeking exemptions from planning and development laws and rules may be modified by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation under certain conditions. Authorizes HHFDC to make recommendations to appropriate Legislative bodies. Requires HHFDC or a county to accept an application seeking certain exemptions within thirty days, and to process the application within one hundred twenty days before final approval by a county legislative body for certain housing projects. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to conduct a study on agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers. Appropriates funds for the one-year study on agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers. Establishes and funds two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) positions to collect agricultural data and conduct data analysis for public consumption. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes a Local Agriculture Transportation Cost Reimbursement Program within the Department of Agriculture to reimburse eligible ranchers and farmers a portion of their costs to transport livestock, livestock products, agricultural commodities, and certain supplies, under certain conditions. Establishes a position to administer the Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

Requires the Department of Health, to the extent allowable under federal law, to prioritize the use of Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund moneys for projects by homeowners to upgrade cesspools to director-approved wastewater systems or connect homeowners' properties to sewerage systems, including projects for the installation of cluster systems or community package plants. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO COFFEE LABELING.

Clarifies the labeling and advertising requirements for coffee that is grown and processed in the State. Defines regional origin. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Requires the Board of Agriculture to define the terms "bona fide farmer" and "bona fide agricultural activity". Requires a report to the Legislature. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE VACANCIES.

Establishes that if a state legislative vacancy occurs due to the death or permanent incapacitation of the prior incumbent before a primary election, but after the close of filing for that election, and the prior incumbent was the only person whose name appeared on any ballot for that seat for that election, the Governor's appointment of a replacement shall be valid for both the unexpired term and the next succeeding term. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE HOLIDAYS.

Designates the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice of each year as the Lunar New Year. Establishes the Lunar New Year as a state holiday. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS.

Requires all performance incentive contracts to specify a pricing basis, performance goals, and a formula in calculating the contractor's profit, fees, or price decrease if the specified performance goals are exceeded or not met. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RENTAL MOTOR VEHICLE SURCHARGE TAX.

Requires the rental motor vehicle surcharge tax to be pro-rated if the vehicle is rented or leased for a portion of the day. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO BED BUGS.

Requires landlords to ensure that the dwelling unit premises is free of bed bugs at all times during the tenancy. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Medicaid buy-in program for workers with disabilities. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO AUTISM.

Appropriates funds to increase the funding for the Med-QUEST Division's reimbursement for applied behavioral analysis services for persons with autism. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Appropriates funds to the Agribusiness Development Corporation to acquire a conservation easement on agricultural lands in Central Oahu. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTE MANAGEMENT.

Beginning 7/1/2025, prohibits the construction, modification, or expansion of a landfill unit or any component of a landfill unit mauka of the underground injection control line without first establishing a buffer zone of not less than one-quarter mile around the landfill unit. Prohibits the utilization of fly ash, bottom ash, or a combination of fly and bottom ash from a municipal waste combustor, including any ash residue that remains after removal of metals for recycling into new metal products, for the purposes of road building, construction, or as alternative daily cover material on a landfill. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD2)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes the Future Career and Technical Education Teacher Scholarship Program to be administered by the Department of Education to facilitate the recruitment and retention of career and technical education teachers in Hawaii public schools. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.

Allows a retirant to be employed without reenrollment in the Employees' Retirement System and without loss or interruption of benefits if the retirant is employed in a position identified for succession planning purposes. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO FEES.

Requires the Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt rules to impose user fees that apply solely to nonresidents visiting state parks and trails, as selected by the Board. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO VOTING.

Requires the Office of Elections to include a notice to voters that a digital and print voter information guide is available. Requires the notice to be in thirty-two-point font and enclosed as a separate insert with each ballot. Requires the Office of Elections to maintain a notice on its website providing certain information about the voter information guide. Requires the Office of Elections to make the digital voter information guide available to the public no later than twenty-one days before the primary election and no later than fifty days before the general election. Appropriates funds. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL.

Provides that no person shall serve as State Fire Marshal for more than three terms. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Requires the Department of Taxation to provide refunds to taxpayers at the same interest rate as the federal government. Effective 7/1/2025. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO QUALIFIED COMMUNITY REHABILITATION PROGRAMS.

Clarifies that the civil service exemption for personal service contracts for building, custodial, and grounds maintenance services with qualified community rehabilitation programs shall not cost more than $850,000 in the aggregate per private person or entity, regardless of the number of contracts or qualified community rehabilitation programs utilized for the personal service. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO AN EARLY LEARNING APPRENTICESHIP GRANT PROGRAM.

Establishes an Early Learning Apprenticeship Grant Program to be administered by the University of Hawaii to provide financial support for early learning program service providers in the State to participate in state- or federally-approved early learning apprenticeship programs. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO LITERACY.

Requires the Department of Education to administer a general dyslexia screening to all students in kindergarten through grade three. Requires the Department of Education to continue to administer the general English language arts universal screening for students in kindergarten through grade nine. Requires the Department of Education to collaborate with teacher training programs to ensure prospective candidates are trained on literacy instruction, including evidence-based intervention, to support all students. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Authorizes the Department of Education to award a high school diploma to qualified persons who did not receive a high school diploma as a result of compulsory or voluntary induction into the armed services of the United States or whose high school education was interrupted due to wartime practices during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO REGULATORY SUNSET REVIEW IN HAWAII.

Establishes a regulatory review program overseen by the Department of the Attorney General to evaluate all Hawaii Administrative Rules adopted by state agencies and identify any rules that should be retained, modified or repealed. Requires each state agency to review 20 per cent of their rules every year and submit a report to the Department of the Attorney General. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to notify the Governor and Legislature of any noncompliance by a state agency, adopt rules, and submit annual reports to the Legislature and Governor. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Requires each motor vehicle insurance policy to cover the replacement cost of a child passenger restraint system that was damaged or in use by a child during a motor vehicle accident for which liability coverage under the policy is applicable. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Allows newly graduated high school students to be eligible for workers' compensation coverage during the summer following their high school graduation while participating in Department of Education-sponsored work-based learning programs. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat