Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Authorizes a contract for the purchase of local produce having a value of more than $25,000 to be for a term of at least five years, under certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE PROGRAM.

Establishes short-term management initiatives for the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response Program. Establishes standards for the usage of grants awarded pursuant to the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response Program. Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii for activities and positions related to coconut rhinoceros beetle infestation control. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO MOPED INSURANCE.

Requires that moped operators carry an insurance policy by incorporating mopeds into the insurance laws governing motorcycles and motor scooters, including with respect to provisions concerning required licensure, the relationship with tort law, proof of insurance card, penalties, rate regulation, and minimum coverage levels. Makes conforming amendments. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Prohibits the issuance of a certificate of inspection for a moped or motor vehicle that has been altered, installed, or otherwise modified in any way which will noticeably increase the noise emitted by the motor vehicle or moped above that emitted by the motor vehicle or moped as equipped from the factory, except for motorcycles and mopeds that do not exceed certain federal regulations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to revitalize and enhance the agricultural statistics program to collect data on local agricultural interests. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO SPECIAL PERMITS.

Authorizes the Land Use Commission to designate another agency, including the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Department of Agriculture, or Agribusiness Development Corporation, to monitor compliance with any restrictions imposed in a special permit.

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSURE ACTIONS AGAINST SEX OFFENDERS.

Authorizes the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and certain licensing boards to automatically revoke and refuse to renew, restore, or reinstate the professional licenses, registrations, or certifications of registered sex offenders. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HOSPITALS.

Establishes the State's Hospital Price Transparency Act. Prohibits hospitals from taking certain debt collection actions against a patient if the hospital is not in compliance with hospital price transparency laws. Allows patients and patient guarantors to file suit against hospitals in violation. Requires hospitals to make public and post their Medicare reimbursement rates no later than 10/1/25 and deems violations as an unfair and deceptive act or practice. Requires the Department of Health to conduct performance assessments of hospitals for adherence to federal transparency rules annually and make a list of hospitals with poor performance available on its website no later than 2/1/2026. Requires the Department of Health to adopt rules.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO A RATE STUDY FOR HOME HEALTH SERVICES.

Appropriates funding for the Department of Human Services to conduct a rate study for Medicaid home health services in Hawaii.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD.

Allows the commander of the Hawaii Air National Guard to hold the rank authorized by the Department of the Air Force. Provides the Adjutant General with the flexibility to assign either the Chief of Staff or the Assistant Adjutant General to lead the Hawaii Air National Guard. Authorizes the pay and allowances for the Chief of Staff of the Hawaii Air National Guard to be determined according to the pay tables of the Regular Air Force of the United States. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO DESALINATION.

Establishes a Desalination Planning Task Force to examine the feasibility of, and develop a plan and timeline for, the use desalination as a source of potable water in the State. (SD1)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE, ITS OFFICERS, OR ITS EMPLOYEES.

Makes appropriations and approves payments for claims against the State, its officers, and its employees. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Converts two temporary Farm-to-School extension agent positions within the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience into permanent positions. Establishes an Agriculture Education Coordinator position. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS RELATED TO THE MAUI WILDFIRES.

Establishes the Maui Wildfires Settlement Trust Fund to be administered by the Attorney General. Appropriates funds to fund the settlement of claims related to the 2023 Maui wildfires. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE PROTECTIONS.

Requires insurers offering homeowners insurance policies to comply with certain minimum requirements in cases of losses of owner-occupied residences due to a catastrophic disaster. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAII RETIREMENT SAVINGS ACT.

Clarifies the definition of "covered employer" under the Hawaii Retirement Savings Act. Requires covered employers to automatically enroll covered employees into the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program unless the employee chooses to opt out. Repeals the limit on the total fees and expenses that can be spent for the Program each year. Appropriates funds to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for the development and operation of the Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires self-service stations to put Public Utilities Commission-approved labels on gas dispensing equipment to advise consumers on the effects of fossil fuel consumption to human health and the environment.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT.

Clarifies that a partner or member that is a partnership or limited liability company that has been allocated a low-income housing tax credit may either further allocate the credit or transfer, sell, or assign all or a portion of the credit to any person. Extends the sunset date of Act 129, SLH 2016, relating to the low-income housing tax credit, from 12/31/2027 to 12/31/2032. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY.

Requires employers in the food service industry to allow their employees an unpaid rest period of 30 consecutive minutes for a certain number of consecutive hours of working time. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS.

Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to establish a five-year community land trust equity pilot program to provide community land trusts with a line of credit to fund the acquisition, rehabilitation, renovation, or construction of housing for low- to moderate-income households and report to the Legislature regarding the pilot program. Appropriates funds from the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund for the establishment of the pilot program. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Requires the Department of Health to coordinate the stockpiling of no less than a one-year supply of mifepristone. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO GUARDIANSHIP AND CONSERVATORSHIP SERVICES.

Establishes a two-year pilot program in the Probate Court and Family Court of the First Circuit to fund certain guardianship and conservatorship related court resources in situations where the respondent does not have sufficient funds to pay for one or more of the resources and the court has deemed the resource or resources beneficial. Requires the Judiciary to submit reports to the Governor and Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Increases the tax rates for cigarettes and little cigars beginning 1/1/2026, amends the disposition of tax revenues to certain non-general funds starting from fiscal year 2026-2027, with the excess carrying over to the general fund, and expands the disposition of tax revenues to the non-general funds to include all tobacco product taxes. Repeals obsolete historical tax rates. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

Authorizes emergency medical technicians in the State to administer buprenorphine after the administration of an opioid antagonist during an opioid-related drug overdose response. Requires the Department of Health to adopt rules, allocate resources for EMT training, and coordinate with emergency medical services providers in the State, to incorporate the administration of buprenorphine after the administration of an opioid antagonist as a standard component of emergency medical services' protocols during an opioid-related drug overdose response.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Establishes a Procurement Automation System Special Fund. Designates the Executive Director of the School Facilities Authority as the Chief Procurement Officer for the School Facilities Authority. Effective 1/1/2491. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to the Agribusiness Development Corporation for the purchase of a land parcel in Kau for agricultural development. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Appropriates funds to establish positions within the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Establishes the Hawaii Economic Diversification Grant Program under the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to provide grants to qualified high technology businesses engaging in qualified research activities. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE.

Prohibits claims for refunds, reimbursements, or other payments, authorization for which is sought from the Legislature that exceed the time limitations of section 40-68, Hawaii Revised Statutes, from being claimed. Requires the Attorney General to include in the Attorney General's annual report of claims recommended for approval a total dollar amount of possible judgments against the State that have not yet settled. Requires the Attorney General's report to the Legislature describing the claims against the State to include additional information. Requires the Attorney General to submit a report every five years to the Legislature containing further incidents that occurred in an agency that led to a claim. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO TEACHERS.

Increases the bonus for teachers who achieve and maintain a current national board certification from $5,000 to $10,000. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

REYES ODA

RELATING TO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH.

Requires that all schools develop plans to execute mental health check-ins with their students grades six through twelve. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO UNIVERSAL IMMUNIZATION FUNDING PROGRAM.

Establishes the Universal Immunization Purchase Program and Universal Immunization Purchase Special Fund into which the fees will be deposited to finance the distribution of immunizations free of charge to qualifying health care providers. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMERGENCY AND BUDGET RESERVE FUND.

Adds, as an allowable use of the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund, economic payments to certain residents who have incurred losses in a disaster for which the Governor has declared a state of emergency.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID THIRD PARTY LIABILITY.

Amends third party liability provisions for Medicaid program claims for payment as required under the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Authorizes a tax credit for businesses that pay the public transportation costs of employees. Requires reports to the Legislature. Applies for taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025 but not beginning after 12/31/2029. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII FIRST RESPONDERS MEMORIAL.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Accounting and General Services to hire a consultant to evaluate potential locations and designs for the Hawaii First Responders Memorial. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY INDUSTRY INFORMATION REPORTING.

Adds the promotion of emergency management and critical infrastructure protection as relevant purposes of the Energy Data Collection Program. Adds the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security to the list of agencies that may examine the energy industry information statements submitted pursuant to section 486J-3, HRS. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

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, colon, pharynx, and thyroid; and malignant melanoma. Specifies that an employer may prove that the cancer or disease was not associated with the firefighting duties to deny medical benefits under workers' compensation law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO COFFEE LABELING.

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

Herbert M. "Tim" Richards IIIDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes the Accessory Dwelling Unit Financing and Deed Restriction Program to be administered by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to allocate funds to the counties for the purchase of equity for eligible homeowners or homebuyers to finance construction costs, development costs, and non-reoccurring closing costs associated with the construction of an accessory dwelling unit and purchase deed restrictions on such property. Exempts the conveyance tax for certain properties for taxable years beginning on 1/1/2026. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Beginning 1/1/2026, requires kratom products to be registered with the Department of Health and imposes labeling requirements.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING ASSISTANCE.

Establishes the Emergency Home Loan Assistance Revolving Fund to be administered by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Establishes terms for loans issued from the Revolving Fund. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Adds loan funds administered by Nonprofit Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) for certain for-sale affordable housing projects to list of loan priorities for the Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund. Expands use of funds in the revolving fund to allow financing as matching funds for CDFIs to mobilize other funding sources. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO VIRAL HEPATITIS.

Establishes and appropriates funds for a Hepatitis Prevention Program within the Department of Health to address morbidity and mortality due to hepatitis B and C. Repeals an outdated reference to hepatitis and blood transfusions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Adopts the Uniform Health Care Decisions Act (2023), as modified, to replace chapters 327E and 327G, HRS. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CREDENTIALING OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

Requires the Department of Health to establish a two-year Centralized Health Care Credentialing Pilot Program that reduces duplicative activities required for the credentialing of health care providers by hospitals, universities, clinics, health plans, and independent practice associations; and convene an advisory committee. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO MANUFACTURED HEMP PRODUCTS.

Establishes a minimum age requirement for the sale of manufactured hemp products. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO VETERANS CEMETERIES.

Establishes the Veterans Cemeteries Board within the Office of Veterans Services of the Department of Defense to provide veterans cemeteries in the State with guidance, education, technical assistance, and other support to ensure compliance with standards set by the National Cemetery Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat