Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO COFFEE LABELING.

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

Herbert M. "Tim" Richards IIIDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LAND.

Establishes one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Hawaii Island Property Manager position within the Agribusiness Development Corporation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Herbert M. "Tim" Richards IIIDemocrat

RELATING TO COMPASSIONATE ACCESS TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

Allows terminally ill patients and qualifying patients over sixty-five years of age with chronic diseases to use medical cannabis within specified health care facilities under certain conditions. Requires enforcement by the Department of Health. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

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.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires electronic smoking device and e-liquid manufacturers to certify to the Department of Attorney General annually that the manufacturer received a Marketing Granted Order from the federal Food and Drug Administration and that the manufacturer is in compliance with federal regulations and state laws. Requires the Department to compile and make public a directory of all electronic smoking device and e-liquid manufacturers and products duly certified. Establishes penalties for manufacturers that fail to comply with the certification requirements and for other parties that sell products that are not in the directory. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Clarifies that for campaign committee reports, the date a candidate receives a check from a third-party website or the date the deposit is made by the third party is the reporting date for contributions aggregating more than $100 in an election period. Clarifies that for contributions by lobbyists prohibited during a legislative session, the date of a violation is the date of the acceptance or the date where the agreement of acceptance of a contribution occurred and not the date of deposit.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Appropriates funds to establish a bachelor's degree program in American Sign Language interpretation at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus with a multi-year plan to include a master's degree program for interpreter training. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

Authorizes dispensaries to sell viable cannabis seeds to qualifying patients or their primary caregivers; provided that not more than 10 seeds per month may be purchased by, or on behalf of, the qualifying patient. Repeals existing statutory language that authorizes the Department of Law Enforcement to: (1) inspect a qualifying medical cannabis patient's medical records held by the health provider who issued a written certification for the qualifying patient; and (2) suspend or revoke a health provider's ability to issue written certification for medical cannabis if the provider refuses the foregoing inspection, or if the medical records do not comply with the medical use of cannabis law. Requires the Department of Health to adopt any necessary rules. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO THE DISABILITY AND COMMUNICATION ACCESS BOARD.

Requires the Disability and Communication Access Board to study the health care communication needs of patients who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or deaf-blind. Requires a report to the Legislature 20 days prior to the 2027 Regular Session.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO MICROPLASTICS.

Requires the Department of Health to establish a pilot project to test the drinking water at 4 public elementary schools for microplastics and to post the results on its website by 12/31/2026. Dissolves the pilot project on an unspecified date. Appropriates moneys.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO THE DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER PROGRAM.

Repeals requirement for Auditor to audit the Deposit Beverage Container Program and requires that an independent auditor conduct the audits instead. Establishes the Bag Drop Pilot Program to allow redeemers of deposit beverage containers to drop bags of empty deposit beverage containers at participating redemption sites and be paid later.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

By 1/1/2028, requires the Department of Human Services, upon obtaining a federal waiver, to establish a pre-release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) application process for inmates nearing release. Allows all individuals convicted of an offense involving the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance to apply for SNAP benefits, regardless of treatment status.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.

Repeals the law prohibiting drug paraphernalia under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Makes housekeeping amendments to repeal obsolete references to the repealed criminal offense of unlawful methamphetamine trafficking. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Excludes drug testing products from the definition of drug paraphernalia under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO LEGALIZE THE ADULT USE OF CANNABIS.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize individuals aged twenty-one and older to use and possess a personal-use amount of cannabis. Requires the Legislature to enact laws governing the use, manufacture, distribution, sale, possession, regulation, and taxation of cannabis within the State.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO CANNABIS.

Establishes the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to regulate all aspects of the cannabis plant. Contingent upon specific changes at the federal level or a state constitutional amendment, legalizes the personal adult use of cannabis and decriminalizes certain marijuana-related offenses. Beginning 1/1/2027, establishes taxes on cannabis sales. Adds new traffic offenses relating to the consumption or possession of marijuana or marijuana concentrate. Transfers the personnel and assets of the Department of Health and assets of the Department of Agriculture relating to cannabis and hemp to the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office. Establishes various positions within state entities. Appropriates funds.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes the Pro-Housing Score Program to evaluate each county's performance in expanding housing opportunities and reducing regulatory barriers. Requires the counties to publish their respective pro-housing scores online and the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to publish certain related information and data on a public dashboard. Establishes criteria for deeming a county noncompliant. Establishes builder's remedies for certain housing projects in transit-oriented development areas. Specifies that if a county is deemed noncompliant, the planning director or an equivalent county officer responsible for land use approvals shall be responsible for approving or denying certain affordable housing development applications. Establishes procedures for certain transit-oriented development housing project appeals. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO ZONING.

Prohibits the counties from imposing certain lot requirements on lots zoned for housing on parcels of land located within the urban district for purposes of subdivision, development, or the issuance of a building permit, with certain exemptions. Allows the counties to establish a petition process for neighborhoods, subdivisions, or other geographically contiguous areas to establish or retain certain requirements or specifications. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Removes the prohibition against qualified residents for Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation-approved projects holding a majority interest in land and removes the requirement that qualified residents demonstrate financial viability or ability to pay rent. Amends exemptions from statutes, ordinances, charter provisions, and rules for certain housing projects developed by the Corporation that satisfy certain conditions, including requirements related to employment, owner-occupancy, and deed restrictions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to honor a patient's written assignment of benefits to a substance use disorder treatment provider. Prohibits health insurance policies, plans, contracts, and agreements from including anti-assignment clauses that restrict or invalidate a patient's right to assign benefits. Authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules and take enforcement action to ensure compliance. Deems violations to be unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the business of insurance. Requires insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to furnish an explanation of benefits to the assigned provider upon request. Effective 1/30/2050. (HD1)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

Allows the Department of Land and Natural Resources to contract or form a partnership with private parties to assist with the maintenance and management of sunscreen dispensers at all state beaches, as well as publicize that the mineral-based sunscreen in these dispensers is more protective of the coral reefs of the State. Appropriates funds for the installation, maintenance, management, and operation of non-chemical sunscreen dispensers on all state beaches. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO FOOD SECURITY.

Establishes and appropriates funds for the Hawaii Farm to Families Program under the Department of Human Services to alleviate food shortages in the State. Requires reports to the Legislature before the Regular Sessions of 2027 and 2028.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, health maintenance organizations, and health plans under the State's Medicaid managed care program to provide coverage for brief cognitive assessments for individuals fifty years of age and older.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

Specifies a time limit for the validity of a finding of no significant impact of a final environmental assessment or acceptance of a final environmental impact statement for a proposed action. Requires an agency or applicant to commence a new environmental review process for the proposed action if the validity expires.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Phases in requirements that all newly manufactured washing machines sold within the State by January 1, 2042, be equipped with a microfiber filter. Requires certification that newly manufactured washing machines have microfiber filters. Establishes penalties.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Establishes a lifecycle greenhouse gas emission intensity standard that an energy source must meet to be considered a renewable energy source. Excludes trees and woody products of trees from the definition of "renewable energy".

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Reestablishes the Agricultural Development and Food Security Special Fund. Establishes the Carbon Emissions Tax and Dividend Special Fund. Gradually increases the Environmental Response, Energy, Carbon Emissions, and Food Security tax rates and establishes a refundable carbon cashback tax credit to offset increases for most taxpayers. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO NEONICOTINOIDS.

Beginning 1/1/2027, prohibits the sale, possession, or use of a pesticide containing one or more neonicotinoid pesticides, under certain conditions. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to evaluate the potential impacts of and adopt any necessary control measures for neonicotinoid pesticide use on pollinating insects, native migratory and resident birds, aquatic organisms, and human health. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires the payment of an Agricultural Land Conversion Fee by the buyer or lessee in a transaction for any agricultural land that will be converted from agricultural production for certain purposes. Establishes the Agricultural Land Conversion Fee Fund to, among other things, support the Health Soils Program. Requires all state lands used in the commercial production of agricultural commodities, including any lands under lease agreements with the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, to use an established metric to advance the adoption of conservation practices.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Requires the Agribusiness Development Corporation to establish an Agricultural Conservation Easement Program to purchase from willing private land owners agricultural conservation easements to preserve and protect the land for agricultural use in perpetuity. Establishes the Agricultural Conservation Easement Management Special Fund. Appropriates funds.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO TREES.

Requires State departments, offices, and agencies to ensure and enforce that all arborists and other professionals in its employ, including contractors, who manage trees or lands that will impact public trees adhere to best management practices. Effective 7/1/2525. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a Numeracy Coaching Program to provide numeracy coaches in certain Department of Education elementary schools, middle schools, and intermediate schools to support teachers, improve instruction, and ensure that students develop a strong foundation in mathematics. Appropriates funds.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL.

Makes both the representative of the Building Industry Association of Hawaii and the representative of the General Contractors Association of Hawaii permanent standing members of the State Building Code Council, instead of members who alternate terms every 4 years. Adds members representing the Plumbers and Fitters United Association, Local 675 and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1186 to the State Building Code Council. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

Authorizes SHPD to conduct a phased review of a proposed project on private property under certain circumstances. Amends the process and deadlines by which SHPD must provide written concurrence or non-concurrence for a proposed project on private property or other project that requires entitlement for use, after which concurrence may be assumed and the project may proceed.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes, and appropriates funds for, a working group to make recommendations to revise the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation's Qualified Allocation Plan and propose revisions to the prioritization of the Rental Housing Revolving Fund and the terms of loans made from the Rental Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LEGISLATURE.

Establishes a Regular Session Review Working Group to determine the essential timing and effective framework for a lengthened legislative session calendar for election and non-election years. Requires the Working Group to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature before the convening of the Regular Session of 2028. Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to assist the Working Group in finalizing its report and drafting any proposed legislation. Appropriates fund. Effective 7/1/2525. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to compile, maintain, and publish on its website a public inventory of underutilized public properties suitable for affordable rental housing development. Requires the HHFDC to provide legal and administrative assistance to requesting county agencies and eligible developers to accelerate the development of affordable rental housing projects. Establishes eligibility requirements for developers and rental housing projects seeking interim financing from the HHFDC. Establishes the Affordable Rental Supply Revolving Fund to be administered by the HHFDC to provide interim financing for eligible developers of approved rental housing projects. Establishes the Affordable Homeownership Program within the HHFDC to provide second mortgages to homebuyers under certain conditions. Establishes eligibility requirements for a homebuyer seeking a second mortgage from the HHFDC. Establishes the Affordable Homeownership Assistance Revolving Fund to be administered by the HHFDC. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES.

Beginning July 1, 2027, requires certain sugar-sweetened beverages to contain an excessive sugars warning label. Establishes civil penalties. Requires the Department of Health to adopt rules.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO AIRPORTS.

Requires the Department of Transportation to transition all motor vehicles used within airport grounds to zero emission vehicles to meet the State's zero emissions clean economy target.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Requires the Office of Consumer Protection to periodically publish an accessible, multilingual notice of tenant rights. Requires the notice to be included in the informational handbook on the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code maintained by the Office. Requires a landlord to provide a tenant with a copy of the most recent notice of tenant rights in the tenant's preferred language, if available, and subjects the landlord to a fine for failure to do so. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO CARDIOVASCULAR SCREENING.

Requires cardiovascular screening for students, including student athletes. Requires the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health, to distribute educational and informational materials regarding sudden cardiac arrest. Requires the Department of Education to implement policies, programs, training, and continuing education that increase health care provider knowledge of cardiovascular screening guidelines.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to: (1) Establish a four-year Restorative Aquaculture Development Program to reduce aquaculture permit processing time, support aquaculture infrastructure expansion, increase the aquaculture workforce, and pursue federal aquaculture grants; (2) Establish three pilot demonstration sites for restorative aquaculture; and (3) Convene a Restorative Aquaculture Advisory Council. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Transfers the rights, powers, functions, and duties of the Aquaculture and Livestock Support Services Branch of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity that relate to agricultural enterprises to the Agribusiness Development Corporation. Requires that the regulatory functions of the Aquaculture and Livestock Support Services Branch remain within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE PARKS SPECIAL FUND.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to expend the moneys from the State Parks Special Fund for programs aimed at environmental protection.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Requires certain government entities in the State that issue building permits to establish a self-certification process for behind-the-meter, customer-sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build solar distributed energy resource system immediately. Requires certain government entities in the State that issue building permits to develop guidance for determining specific conditions when a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway. Effective 4/19/2042. (SD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO OUTDOOR SIGNAGE.

Allows the display of outdoor advertising devices, including digital outdoor signage devices, within the Stadium Development District with the authorization of the Stadium Authority and subject to certain conditions. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to conduct a study on the impacts of light pollution associated with the devices and report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD2)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS.

Requires the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to make certain contact information for newly registered entities available online. Requires the Director to transmit the contact information to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's Business Development and Support Division. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat