Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO SUBSISTENCE GARDENING.

Establishes within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity a temporary Subsistence-Plus Gardening Pilot Program. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Exempts housing developments that have obtained financing commitments from the State from the requirement to obtain approval from the applicable county council. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the Department of Transportation to assess a per passenger head fee against cruise ships docking in the State's commercial harbors in addition to existing port user fees. Establishes the Cruise Ship Special Fund. Repeals existing law imposing the Transient Accommodations Tax on cruise ships, effective retroactive to 1/1/2026. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.

Clarifies a driver's obligations at crosswalks. Requires drivers to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians in crosswalks. Strengthens penalties for traffic violations, particularly in school zones. Expands the offense of negligent injury in the second degree to include bodily injury to a vulnerable user by the operation of a vehicle in a negligent manner. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC LAND.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to acquire, through eminent domain or otherwise, the leasehold interest in the parcel identified as tax map key: (3) 2-1-001:012 and currently used as the Grand Naniloa Golf Course. Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to approve a new use for the parcel after providing an opportunity for public testimony. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR AEROSPACE INFRASTRUCTURE.

Authorizes the issuance of $15 million in general obligation bonds to finance the planning, design, and construction of a 50,000 square foot aerospace hangar and related facilities at Hilo international airport. Requires matching contributions from the federal government and private sector. Directs appropriation to be expended by the Department of Transportation. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE BUDGET OF THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

Appropriates moneys to fund the operating expenses of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for the fiscal biennium beginning on 7/1/2025, and ending on 6/30/2027. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION AFFORDABILITY.

Requires the Department of Transportation to establish a Clean Vehicle Rebate Program to provide rebates for the purchase or lease of certain new and used zero-emission vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Establishes the Clean Vehicle Special Fund. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2027. (SD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to report to the Legislature on the integration of certain content into existing social studies curricula at public schools. Establishes a one-year 100th Infantry Battalion history curriculum pilot program within certain public high schools during the 2026-2027 school year. Requires reports to the Legislature. (SD1)

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO COMPASSIONATE RELEASE.

Establishes a protocol for compassionate release for certain ill or seriously debilitated incarcerated persons. Establishes a temporary working group within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to develop initial administrative rules to implement the protocol. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO ISLAND BURIAL COUNCILS.

Decreases the size of the Island Burial Councils from nine to seven members. Removes the requirement for the councils to include members having development and large property owner interests. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

Establishes a working group within the Judiciary to improve family court processes, including access to legal representation for youth in the child welfare system. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO DISTRICT COURT JUDGES.

Establishes 1 additional district court judgeship in the Third Circuit.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO RETIRANTS.

Establishes a five-year pilot program allowing retirants to be rehired for exempt service for one-year terms under certain circumstances. Provides that retirants employed under the program are excluded from the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund and will not experience an interruption of pension benefits. Requires an employer of a retirant under the program to contribute to the Employees' Retirement System. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to submit a report to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2031. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWAL OF DRIVER'S LICENSES.

Requires applicants for driver's license renewal who have received two or more traffic citations within the preceding five years for violations involving the operation of a motor vehicle to complete an educational course that includes a road safety video developed by the Department of Transportation and a written road safety examination. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY.

Requires each purchasing agency to provide justification for hiring external consultants. Requires each agency to seek approval from the Legislature for consulting contracts exceeding a certain dollar amount. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Requires the Compliance Audit Unit within the Office of the Auditor to conduct regular audits of agency consultant contracts to assess cost-effectiveness and compliance. Establishes exceptions. Requires each chief procurement officer to ensure that inherent government functions are not delegated to a contractor. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD2)

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Requires an employer to transmit written approval or denial of a treatment plan to the physician who transmitted the plan for approval within seven days of receipt of the plan. Clarifies provisions relating to denying a treatment plan, burden of proof, and objections. Establishes fines and requires the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to assess penalties. Authorizes the Director to enforce penalties. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO DISTRICT COURT JUDGES.

Establishes 1 additional district court judgeship in the First Circuit.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Requires the Board of Regents to expend funds appropriated to renew, improve, or modernize existing University of Hawaii facilities for only those purposes and not for current, ongoing, or anticipated capital improvement projects. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. (SD1)

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS.

Prohibits active employees of the University of Hawaii or the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii from serving on the Board of Regents.

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Disallows the dividends paid deduction for real estate investment trusts, except those having investments or that are community development financial institutions. (SD1)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO COMPENSATION FOR COURT-APPOINTED REPRESENTATION.

Increases the rate of compensation and maximum allowable amounts per case for court-appointed counsel and guardians ad litem in family court proceedings.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for the development or purchase of land or units, for mortgage or rental subsidies, and other services necessary to address the waiting list. Effective 9/9/2129. (SD2)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO COMPENSATION FOR COURT-APPOINTED COUNSEL.

Increases the rate of compensation and maximum allowable amounts per case for court-appointed counsel in criminal proceedings. Appropriates funds. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM.

Exempts the Hawaii Tourism Authority's contracts or agreements for sports events from the Hawaii Public Procurement Code and all other requirements of law for competitive bidding. Requires HTA to notify the Chief Procurement Officer of exempt contracts executed. Requires an annual report to the State Procurement Office. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO PROSPECTIVE JURORS.

Authorizes the Judiciary to determine the format of the juror qualification form and the means of its delivery and return. Authorizes the Judiciary to use more than one method of delivery and attempt to contact any one juror more than once. Removes the requirement that the form be mailed. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION IN SCHOOLS.

Clarifies that the Department of Education and its employees and agents shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability arising from assisting students with the administration of medication under certain circumstances.

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO JURY DUTY.

Increases the amount each juror or prospective juror is paid for each day of actual attendance at court. Appropriates funds. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOLS.

Includes weekends and holidays as times where a reasonable warning or request to leave school premises is not required for a person to commit the offense of criminal trespass in the first degree. (SD1)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

Designates the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Exempts state funds received by the State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra from chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

Appropriates funds for the Judiciary for the fiscal biennium beginning 7/1/2025, and ending 6/30/2027. Effective 7/1/2025. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE GENERAL FUND.

Requires that tuition, tuition-related course and fee charges, and other charges to students deposited into the University of Hawaii Tuition and Fees Special Fund be allocated and expended in accordance with Board of Regents policies governing systemwide operations. On 6/30/2029, requires unencumbered funds in the University of Hawaii Tuition and Fees Special Fund that exceeds the reserve level established by the Board of Regents to lapse to the general fund. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Establishes the Affordable Housing Land Inventory Task Force to conduct a study, subject to legislative appropriation, to assess the viability of housing development in transit-oriented development zones or other areas on state or county lands. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS BOARD.

Exempts certain positions of the Law Enforcement Standards Board from the State's Civil Service Law and collective bargaining requirements. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

Establishes the Hanai Memory Network Program within the Executive Office on Aging to create a network of dementia care specialists and support systems to assist individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO NOISE.

Establishes restrictions on the operation of privately owned and operated refuse collection vehicles before 6:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. within 500 hundred feet of any area zoned for mixed-use or residential apartment use within the Waikiki area of the City and County of Honolulu. Sunsets 6/30/2028. Effective 1/30/2050. (HD1)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO RECORDKEEPING.

Establishes recordkeeping requirements for secondhand dealers, requiring records to be retained for two years from the date of sale. Amends and standardizes recordkeeping requirements for pawnbrokers, requiring records to be retained for two years from the date of maturity. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER.

Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to implement and administer a three-year phased Water-Energy Resilience Competitive Grant Program in the County of Maui. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2027. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE DRIVERS LICENSE REVOCATION.

Authorizes administrative drivers license revocation hearings to be conducted using interactive conference technology, including teleconference, videoconference, and voice over internet protocol (VoIP) systems. Clarifies that evidence in hearings conducted via interactive conference technology may be submitted and exchanged electronically. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO AGGRAVATED CIRCUMSTANCES IN CHILD PROTECTIVE PROCEEDINGS.

Expands the authority of the family court in child protective proceedings to find that aggravated circumstances are present at any stage prior to the termination of parental rights, not only at the outset of the case or the return hearing. Specifies what acts of torture against a child constitute aggravated circumstances.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Establishes a three-year Homelessness Sanctuary Pilot Program to be administered by the Coordinator on Homelessness, in coordination with the Department of Human Services and the City and County of Honolulu, on designated land for the pilot program, which shall serve as a safe location for unhoused primary caregivers and children under the age of eighteen to reside and access services. Requires the Coordinator on Homelessness and the Coordinator's partner agencies to provide certain facilities and services to the designated location. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO DOMESTIC ABUSE ORDERS FOR PROTECTION.

Removes the requirement that requests to withhold from public inspection the petition record of a denied temporary restraining order or denied protective order be made orally.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

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 as one needed for succession planning. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO VETERANS.

Repeals the 6/30/27 deadline by which the Maui State Veterans Home must be assimilated into a state agency having a Maui affiliation. Requires the transfer of the Maui State Veterans Home to be completed as soon as practicable. (SD1)

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO YOUTH PENALTIES.

Prohibits the assessment of any fees, fines, or court costs against a person who was adjudicated for an offense committed during the person's minority, or against the person's parent or guardian, and discharges all related debt obligations assessed before the effective date of the Act. Encourages the use of community service and other programs that employ aina-based principles. Repeals certain penalties imposed on parents, guardians, or other persons associated with unaccompanied children in streets and unmarried minors in dance halls. Effective 7/1/2027. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Increases the procurement thresholds for small purchases. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

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. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM RESERVES.

Requires a detailed budget summary to contain all required information without referring the reader to other portions of the budget or reserve study. Excludes the good faith defense for associations whose boards adopt a budget that omits the required detailed budget summary. Clarifies a unit owner's standing and the association's burden of proving substantial compliance. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS.

Increases the expenditure limit and the amount of partial public campaign financing available for all elective offices. Adjusts the minimum amount of qualifying contributions certain candidates must receive to participate in the program. Increases the matching fund payments for excess qualifying contributions. Appropriates funds for the program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSING.

Requires that state and county firefighters exempt from commercial driver licensure be subject to an alcohol and substance abuse policy for employees that is equivalent to, or exceeds the provisions of, the safety and health standards established by the United States Department of Transportation for holders of commercial driver's licenses.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat