Bills & Legislation

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO ADDRESS THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF AUDITOR'S REPORT NO. 26-08 REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HAWAII'S FARM-TO-SCHOOL AND LOCAL FOOD PROCUREMENT INITIATIVES.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.

Part I: Authorizes the impoundment of motor vehicles when certain traffic violations have been alleged or committed. Provides that if a law enforcement officer lawfully stops a motor vehicle and the operator is cited for driving without a valid license, the officer shall not permit the operator to resume the use of the motor vehicle. Requires the motor vehicle to be moved by a licensed driver or towed at the owner's expense. Provides that the cited operator is responsible for arranging the operator's transportation from the scene of the stop. Part II: Imposes a restriction on a person's ability to obtain or renew a driver's license or to register, renew the registration of, or transfer or receive title to a motor vehicle, as a consequence of unpaid monetary obligations, under certain circumstances. Repeals provisions that would have allowed any person prevented from obtaining or renewing a driver's license or motor vehicle registration solely due to failure to pay any monetary assessment to petition the court for a driver's license or motor vehicle clearance. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO COORDINATE THE TRANSFER OF SMALL BOAT HARBORS BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND TO ESTABLISH A MANAGEMENT TEAM TO DEVELOP TRANSITION PLANS.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO EXEMPT ANY AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE PRACTICING DIVERSIFIED AGRICULTURE ON FORMER SUGARCANE LANDS WITHIN THE CONSERVATION DISTRICT FROM ANY REQUIREMENT FOR A PERMIT OR SIGHT PLAN APPROVAL GRANTED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes a nonrefundable income tax credit for certain agricultural investment costs incurred for agricultural activities conducted on Hawaiian home lands. Applies to costs incurred after 12/31/2026. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes a two-year Conservation and Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Pilot Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Establishes the Board of Education Internal Audit Office. Requires the Board of Education to establish, as a standing committee of the Board, a standing committee with a scope that includes audit-related responsibilities. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Authorizes governmental bodies and public employees to procure project management services through non-governmental third-party contracts under certain conditions. Appropriates funds to establish a Special Project Branch within the Public Works Division of the Department of Accounting and General Services. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Clarifies that public charter school teachers are eligible for incentives under the Teacher National Board Certification Incentive Program. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS.

Establishes certain requirements for pharmacy benefit managers, other than health maintenance organizations that own and operate their own pharmacies, that reimburse contracting pharmacies for drugs on a maximum allowable cost basis. Allows contracting pharmacies to reverse and rebill claims if a maximum allowable cost is denied on appeal. Authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to assess fines for violations. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.

Appropriates funds to be expended by the Department of Health as a grant for the Hawaii Primary Care Association to support solar-plus-storage microgrid implementation at community health centers in medically underserved communities, and provide programmatic services, project management, contract management, reporting and fiscal stewardship responsibilities, and developing future scalable plans for the development and deployment of solar-plus-storage microgrids at nonprofit community health centers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Prohibits the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, and Department of the Attorney General from appointing or employing certain former United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol agents and employees as law enforcement officers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Amends the renewable energy technologies income tax credit by: for taxable years beginning after 12/31/26, prohibiting taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $250,000 or greater if filing as an individual or $350,000 or greater if filing jointly from claiming the credit for certain solar energy systems installed and placed in service on a single-family residential property; limiting credit claims for certain solar energy systems for single-family residential property to two systems per single-family residential property and requiring systems to have a total output capacity of at least five kilowatts; and increasing the adjusted gross income threshold below which an individual taxpayer may elect to have any excess credits refunded. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD.

Clarifies that employees of the Hawaii National Guard youth and adult educational programs are excluded from collective bargaining. Renames the "Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Program" to the "Hawaii National Guard Civil-Military Program" and codifies its Hawaiian name, "Na Kula Alakaʻi". Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.

Requires the Auditor to conduct a financial audit of each charter school under the State Public Charter School Commission. Requires a report to the Legislature. Requires the State Public Charter School Commission to take action based on the Auditor's recommendations. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO NEPOTISM.

Subjects all nominated, appointed, or elected officers and employees of the State, including members of boards, commissions, and committees; individuals under contract to the State or constitutional convention; and legislators, delegates to a constitutional convention, and justices and judges, and their respective employees, to nepotism prohibitions in the State's Code of Ethics. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT.

Allows tax credits claimed under the State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program to be used to offset taxes imposed by the state transient accommodations tax law. Specifies that tax credit amounts applied to state transient accommodations taxes be limited to state transient accommodations taxes imposed in the same county in which the qualified low-income building is located. Makes permanent Act 129, SLH 2016. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2027. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC NOTICE.

Establishes the Electronic Posting Pilot Project for any county with a population between one hundred thousand and 175,000, to be administered by the county clerk of each participating county. Allows county agencies to satisfy county-wide public notice requirements by posting notices on official county websites, while retaining publication as an option. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND.

Authorizes the Rental Housing Revolving Fund (RURF) to be used to provide any and all forms of financing for the development, pre-development, construction, acquisition, preservation, and substantial rehabilitation of rental housing units. Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) to give preference to certain projects with perpetual affordability commitments and to applicants with a demonstrated history of early repayment to the RHRF. Authorizes HHFDC, with the approval of the Director of Finance, to transfer moneys between the RHRF and its subaccounts without further legislative authorization. Requires certain RHRF loans applied for or awarded after 12/31/2026 to be subject to review and renegotiation when any mortgage debt to which the loan is subordinate is refinanced or retired. Authorizes HHFDC to use reserved but unencumbered funds for short‑term projects with certain conditions. Authorizes HHFDC to secure lines of credit, standby bond purchase agreements, or other credit enhancement facilities to provide liquidity for the RHRF in certain circumstances. Authorizes the Director of Finance to transfer moneys from the RHRF to its Mixed-Income Subaccount for FY 2026‑2027. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.

Allows the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to assume historic preservation review of the effect of any proposed project for lands under its jurisdiction, except under certain circumstances. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2026. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Makes the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund Equity Pilot Program permanent, with modifications that include changing the method for computation of interest for purchasers of certain real property. Expands the use of proceeds in the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund to include purchasing equity in for-sale housing development projects and interim primary or secondary financing. Exempts disbursements from the Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund from appropriation and allotment requirements. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE EMPLOYMENT.

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 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT LEASES.

Requires that real property leases between state government entities cost no more than $1 per year except if the real property subject to the lease is being used by a department to meet a core responsibility of that department. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO PRIVATE SUPPORT OF EDUCATION.

Clarifies that free tuition at private educational institutions or school-conditioned enrollment at private educational institutions where no tuition or other monetary consideration is required or paid by the recipient are to be considered conditional gifts that support educational advancements rather than contractual obligations unless the parties agree otherwise in writing. (SD1)

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 for the working group. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION MEDICAL BENEFITS.

Expands workers' compensation medical benefits for firefighters to include coverage for adenocarcinoma or mesothelioma of the respiratory system; cancer of the buccal cavity, cervix, colon, esophagus, ovary, pharynx, skin, female reproductive organs, including the uterus, endometrium, and fallopian tubes, and thyroid; and malignant melanoma. Specifies that an employer may deny medical benefits under workers' compensation law only if they prove that the cancer or disease was not associated with firefighting duties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE HOUSING.

Establishes an Agricultural Workforce Housing Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to address the shortage and challenges of agricultural workforce housing in the State. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMUNITY LITERACY LABS.

Establishes and appropriates funds for the Department of Education to establish and implement a two-year Community Literacy Labs Pilot Program. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT.

Establishes a Disability and Caregiver Support Working Group to explore compliant and fiscally responsible approaches that address the longstanding gap affecting parents and guardians with disabilities whose caregiving capacity may be substantially impaired due to disability or serious medical conditions, while preserving federal funding integrity. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ʻŌLELO HAWAIʻI COMMISSION.

Establishes and appropriates funds for the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Commission to coordinate and promote initiatives that support the use of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. Sunsets 12/2/2030. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HOUSEHOLD AND DEPENDENT CARE SERVICES TAX CREDIT.

Increases a taxpayer's applicable percentage of employment-related expenses that is used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit. Establishes certain disallowance periods following a final decision that a claim for the credit was due to fraud and that the claim was disallowed. Extends the sunset date of the temporary increase in maximum employment-related expenses that are used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit, established by Act 163, SLH 2023, to 6/30/2030. Sunsets 6/30/2030. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to support community schools. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR.

Provides that the University of Hawaii and its campuses and state libraries may utilize liquor in certain educational settings without obtaining liquor licenses, subject to certain limitations. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO A REGULAR SESSION REVIEW WORKING GROUP.

Establishes a Regular Session Review Working Group to develop a comprehensive plan and make recommendations to the Legislature on the adoption of an effective year-round legislative session calendar. Establishes a Technical Advisory Committee to advise the Regular Session Review Working Group. Requires reports to the Legislature. Requires report finalization and drafting assistance from the Legislative Reference Bureau. Dissolves the Working Group and Advisory Committee on 6/30/2028. Appropriates funds. Effective 10/18/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

SUPPORTING THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION TO JOIN THE WEST COAST HEALTH ALLIANCE TO GUIDE PUBLIC HEALTH DECISIONS.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

Amends the membership and responsibilities of the Public Land Trust Working Group established under Act 226, SLH 2022. Requires the Working Group to submit four reports to the Legislature: by 8/1/2027, a first interim report regarding Act 178, SLH 2006, financial reporting and accounting; by 12/1/2027, a second interim report regarding the public land trust inventory; by 6/1/2028, a third interim report that includes a preliminary draft of findings and recommendations regarding Act 178 financial reporting and accounting and the public land trust inventory; and by 10/1/2028, a final report that includes proposed legislation. Authorizes the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to provide administrative support to the Working Group in coordination with a third-party consultant. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to submit annual reports to the Legislature outlining certain information concerning capital improvement projects and facilities. Requires the reports to be posted on DOE's website annually in a searchable format. Provides that any CIP funds encumbered for more than five years without commencement of construction to be identified and justified, or be subject to legislative review for reversion or reassignment. Establishes a three-year pilot program authorizing the Superintendent to redesignate certain positions in the Office of Facilities and Operations as exempt from civil service laws. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTEWATER SYSTEMS.

Establishes a Cesspool Conversion Implementation Working Group to assist the Department of Health in a review of the Department's administrative rules and practices regarding wastewater systems and cesspools and in the development of proposed changes to make cesspool conversions more affordable. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds for positions and hiring of a consultant to assist the Cesspool Conversion Implementation Working Group. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Authorizes HHFDC to designate certain for-sale units as permanently affordable housing, subject to certain restrictions. Clarifies that certain resale and occupancy restrictions apply only to projects developed prior to a certain date. Amends the definition of "qualified resident" for the purposes of HHFDC housing development programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS BOTH SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF PROPOSED MANDATED HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF AUTISM AND FOR APPLIED BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS SERVICES.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO SURVEILLANCE PRICING.

Requires the Office of Consumer Protection of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to conduct a study to determine the extent to which companies operating in the State deploy surveillance pricing practices. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO LIABILITY.

Provides certain liability protections for nonprofit child welfare service organizations that are under contract with the Department of Human Services to provide child welfare services to children and families. Prohibits contracts between nonprofit child welfare service organizations and the State from including indemnification and hold harmless provisions and from requiring either party to name the other as an additional insured in their respective liability insurance policies. Prohibits pre- and post-judgment interest and punitive damages for nonprofit child welfare service organizations. Requires actions against nonprofit child welfare service organizations to be tried by the court, except in certain circumstances. Removes joint and several liability for nonprofit child welfare service organizations. Specifies that no bond shall be required from a nonprofit child welfare service organization on appeal. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Requires purchase, lease, and power purchase agreements for residential solar energy devices to include a cover page with certain required disclosures. Requires any person or entity that markets, sells, leases, or solicits a residential solar energy device or markets, sells, or solicits power purchase agreements to comply with consumer protection laws. Prohibits any person or entity from installing, marketing, offering financing, or engaging in customer acquisition for a residential solar energy device without holding a contractor's license or having a contractual affiliation with a licensed contractor. Allows for rescission or cancellation of the agreement. Specifies that agreements in violation of the law are voidable. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to transfer funds from the Hydrogen Fueling System Subaccount of the Public Utilities Commission Special Fund to the Electric Vehicle Charging System Subaccount of the Fund. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Declares that the State is an ocean cluster. Establishes the Office of Marine Affairs within the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation for administrative purposes only. Establishes and appropriates funds for the Marine Affairs Coordinator position. Requires the Marine Affairs Coordinator to submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature. Transfers the functions of the Governor's Advisory Committee on Marine Affairs to the Office of Marine Affairs. Appropriates funds for the Office of Marine Affairs to procure the services of a consultant to support the marine affairs declaration of intent. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Clarifies that the disposition of agricultural park lots for commercial activity may occur after the initial development of the agricultural park and regardless of whether the applicable county council approved plans and specifications for the future disposition of lots for commercial activity, with certain exceptions. Authorizes the care and production of swine and swine products within certain agricultural parks and under certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.

Amends the amount and expending agency for a fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriation for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO LIBRARIES.

Clarifies that the Board of Education, through the State Librarian, has exclusive authority over the development, use, support, and improvement and maintenance of public library system facilities. Allows the Board of Education to authorize the State Librarian to exercise exclusive control of certain land for development or expansion purposes, subject to legislative appropriation. Requires the Department of Education to expeditiously cooperate with the State Librarian and Hawaii State Public Library System to effectuate any project authorized by the Board of Education on certain lands. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY.

Part I: Requires drivers of vehicles approaching stationary motor vehicles stopped in any location on the roadway, shoulder, or roadside to slow down and make a lane change if necessary. Part II: Prohibits the operation of a pickup truck with a passenger seated in the bed or load-carrying area on roadways with posted speed limits of forty-six miles per hour or higher and roadways with three or more lanes traveling in the same direction. Provides certain exemptions from passenger restrictions. Increases the minimum age to ride in the bed or load-carrying area of a pickup truck while in operation from twelve years of age to eighteen years of age. 0Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to: (1) Establish a 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. Sunsets 6/30/2030. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat