Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO THE CONVEYANCE TAX.

Renames the Beach Restoration Special Fund as the Beach Preservation and Restoration Fund. Establishes the Special Subaccount of the Special Fund. Requires that all conveyance tax revenues collected from the conveyance or transfer of real property located in whole or in part in a sea level rise exposure area be deposited into the special subaccount of the Special Fund. Allows funds in the special subaccount of the Special Fund to be used to acquire property. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO SEX-BASED DISCRIMINATION.

Clarifies and strengthens the State's protections against sex-based harassment, sex discrimination, and retaliation that occur in public schools, public charter schools, or at the University of Hawaii, including discrimination based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, and pregnancy-related conditions. Establishes procedures for investigations and decision-making. Requires mandatory reporting by certain employees. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to conduct a comprehensive legal review. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Prohibits the sale of tickets at a price at least ten per cent more than the primary sale price charged by the primary venue ticket provider for events held in the State. Authorizes the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules to impose fines for any violations. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Amends the definition of "cultural". Prohibits the use of consumer fireworks except for cultural use by permit. Repeals the wording of section 132D-3(1), HRS, that generally allows the use of consumer fireworks without a permit on New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, and the Fourth of July. Makes it unlawful to offer, display for sale, sell, or furnish consumer fireworks to any person except for cultural use by permit, with a cap of not more than five permits per person. Prohibits the sale of fireworks to a person more than 5 calendar days before a permitted cultural use. Imposes a fee of $25 per permit for the purchase and cultural use of consumer fireworks. Imposes a statewide limitation on consumer fireworks, except by permit for cultural use. Effective 7/1/2025. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PERSONAL INFORMATION.

Prohibits government entities from making personal information publicly accessible through a publicly accessible information system or publicly accessible source of information, except under certain conditions. Allows individuals who reasonably believe their personal information is publicly accessible through a government entity's publicly accessible information system or publicly accessible source of information to submit a written notice to the entity to require corrective action. Establishes a cause of action to compel compliance. Establishes statutory penalties for intentional noncompliance. Requires government entities to adopt and implement policies and procedures to prevent personal information from being publicly accessible. Requires government entities that own, license, maintain, use, collect, or possess personal information to implement and maintain certain reasonable security procedures and practices to protect the personal information. Requires government entities to provide notice to individuals in the case of a breach of a security system protecting personal information. Requires government entities to submit an annual report to the Legislature. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO PRIVACY.

Adds definitions of "identifier" and "specified data element" and amends the definition of "personal information" for the purposes of notifying affected persons of data and security breaches under the State's data breach notification law. Includes telecommunications carriers subject to and in compliance with certain federal provisions among the businesses deemed compliant with this law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO ANIMAL IMPORTATION.

Requires, as a condition of entry into the State, documentation verifying that any dog or cat imported into the State has been surgically sterilized, subject to certain exemptions. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to forward declarations of intact animal importation to appropriate county animal control agencies or contractors. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO WILDLIFE.

Increases the fines for taking or harassing protected turtles in the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO ANIMAL ENDANGERMENT.

Allows law enforcement officers, animal control officers, and firefighters to enter an unattended vehicle to protect the health, safety, or well-being of a pet animal that is endangered by being left or confined in an unattended vehicle. Allows private citizens to rescue a pet animal that has been left in an unattended vehicle under certain circumstances. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO DOGS.

Establishes an additional penalty for a dog owner whose dog destroys property while on land zoned for agricultural use. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC HOUSING.

Requires the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to allow any resident of a public housing project or state low-income housing project to keep one or more pet animals in the resident's unit, subject to applicable state laws, county ordinances, and any reasonable conditions. Prohibits pet animals from being at-large on public housing premises. Provides that the Hawaii Public Housing Authority may charge a refundable deposit for each pet animal but shall not impose a monthly pet fee or pet rent. Allows the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to remove a vicious animal to protect persons or property. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action in the name of the people of the State as parens patriae against any responsible party to recover certain costs or obtain certain relief, including costs and losses incurred by the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, or other state entities, resulting from climate attributable harm or costs for risk of future climate attributable harm. Authorizes the Hawaii Property Insurance Association and Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, or any private insurer licensed in the State to bring a civil cause of action against a responsible party to recover its costs and losses resulting from climate attributable harm. Establishes the Climate Disaster Special Fund to collect and disperse funds collected from certain civil actions to be distributed in a certain order of priority. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE PLANNING ACT.

Establishes green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines for state facility systems, infrastructure, and transit projects in the Hawaii State Planning Act to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. Adds a definition of "green infrastructure". Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to submit a report to the Legislature making recommendations for implementing green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER.

Establishes a public trust purpose for the Commission on Water Resource Management. Allows the Commission on Water Resource Management to retain independent counsel. Repeals the First Deputy to the Chairperson of the Commission on Water Resource Management. Establishes the Executive Director of the Commission on Water Resource Management. Administratively attaches the Commission on Water Resource Management to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Authorizes members of the Commission on Water Resource Management to be eligible to serve as chairperson. Requires the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and Director of Health to serve as ex officio voting members ineligible to serve as chairperson. Authorizes entities to whom an emergency order is directed to challenge the order under certain conditions. Clarifies the notification requirements and contents of declarations of water shortages. Establishes fines. Makes conforming amendments. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.

Appropriates funds for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY.

Clarifies that persons whose driver's licenses have been revoked for certain alcohol-related offenses are required to undergo reexamination before the examiner of drivers may relicense the person. Requires a notice and order of administrative revocation to include certain information. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO LIGHT POLLUTION.

Beginning 7/1/2027, establishes outdoor light fixture requirements throughout the State. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

Authorizes the Land Use Commission to amend, revise, or modify a decision and order granting a district boundary amendment, or fine a petitioner, upon finding that a petitioner or its successors or assigns have not adhered to the conditions imposed by the Commission, regardless of whether there has been substantial commencement of use of the land. Defines "substantial commencement". Effective 3/22/2075. (SD2)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMUNITY CO-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources and community-based organizations to enter into community co-management agreements concerning state lands by direct negotiation without recourse to public auction. Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to dispose of state land through community co-management agreements. Establishes qualifications for community-based organizations that may enter into community co-management agreements. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Prohibits foreign nationals, foreign corporations, and foreign-influenced business entities from making contributions, expenditures, electioneering communications, or donations for election purposes. Requires every for-profit business entity that contributes or expends funds in a state election to certify that the entity was not a foreign corporation or foreign-influenced business entity when the contribution or expenditure was made. Specifies that if the conditions that determine whether a business entity qualifies as a foreign‑influenced business entity are held unconstitutional by a final judgment, including all appeals, the Campaign Spending Commission is required to establish revised conditions that are constitutional. Requires noncandidate committees making only independent expenditures to obtain a statement of certification from each top contributor required to be listed in an advertisement avowing that no funds were derived from foreign nationals, foreign corporations, or foreign-influenced business entities. Exempts entities engaged in transporting cargo and subject to section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND USE.

Beginning 7/1/2027, prohibits counties from imposing minimum parking mandates for certain developments. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

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 HUMAN SERVICES.

Appropriates funds to be expended by the Department of Human Services to increase funding for Medicaid in-home services. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

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 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

PROPOSING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM.

Amends the Hawaii State Constitution to prohibit the State from denying or interfering with an individual's reproductive freedom, including the right to choose to obtain an abortion and to obtain or use contraceptives.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

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 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 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.

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 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 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.

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 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 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 PROCUREMENT.

Establishes the Small Business Procurement Program and Small Business Procurement Coordinator position permanently in the State Procurement Office. Repeals the Small Business Assistance Initiative established in Act 168, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, effective 1/1/2525. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

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 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 PROCUREMENT.

Prohibits a procurement officer from disclosing a competing offeror's proposal or evaluation score, except the summary of scores, to a non-selected offeror until after any protest is resolved and the contract is executed. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

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 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 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 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 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 TAXATION.

Requires the Director of Taxation to appoint a legal, tax, or accounting professional as an Administrative Rules Officer. Authorizes the Administrative Rules Officer to appoint individuals with suitable experience as Administrative Rules Specialists.

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

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

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat