Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT.

Extends child care subsidies to disabled parents or guardians, regardless of their employment status. Requires the Department of Human Services to evaluate caregiver capacity and dependent-care responsibilities when determining eligibility for medicaid home- and community-based services. Requires the Department of Human Services to update its evaluation form and functional assessment protocols related to level of care and at-risk needs determinations. Appropriates funds.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FARM TO SCHOOL PROCUREMENT.

Requires the Department of Education to establish rules for the procurement of goods and services related to the administration of food programs at public schools that incorporate a geographic preference for unprocessed locally grown and locally raised food products.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

By January 1, 2027, requires each law enforcement agency operating in the State to maintain a publicly available policy on the visible identification of law enforcement officers and use of facial coverings.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO MENTAL ILLNESS.

Clarifies the procedures for assisted community treatment, examination, and hospitalization for individuals who may be mentally ill or suffering from substance abuse who are imminently dangerous to self, others, or property. Amends the procedures for involuntary hospitalizations and assisted community treatment petitions. Amends the Hawaii Penal Code to streamline the determination process for penal responsibility and fitness to proceed, including requiring courts to issue orders for treatment to defendants excluded from penal responsibility due to a mental disease, disorder, or defect.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIFORM PROBATE CODE.

Requires a personal representative of a decedent appointed under the Uniform Probate Code to notify the police department of the appropriate county of any and all firearms in an estate. Requires the police department to certify that all registered firearms in an estate and other firearms of which the police department has been notified are properly transferred or disposed of before the estate may close.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to contract with community-based organizations to provide preventive and early intervention mental health services to adolescents within the community. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Generally prohibits the sale of over-the-counter diet pills and dietary supplements for weight loss or muscle building to minors. Provides certain exceptions for vitamins and protein products.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURER PRIOR AUTHORIZATION.

Establishes the Prior Authorization Committee to specify medical conditions for which prior authorization by the insurer for treatment is not required for health insurance coverage. Requires health plan insurers to align their prior authorization processes for other conditions with Medicare policies.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FORFEITURE.

Extends the period during which a surety, surety insurer, or bail agent may file a motion or application to set aside the bond or recognizance forfeiture from thirty days to ninety days. Ensures that proper notice of a bail forfeiture judgment is provided to a surety or bail agent. Affirms that a judge may impose financial conditions of release and maintain full discretion to consider individual circumstances. Allows a surety or bail agent to apply to set aside a forfeiture, even if a prior motion has been filed. Subjects bail bond forfeiture proceedings to Rule 60 of the Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure. Prohibits forfeiture from being ordered in any felony case.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO BAIL.

Amends bail and peace bond forfeiture rules to predicate forfeiture on whether bail providers performed and continue to perform their duties with reasonable diligence. Clarifies when bail providers may discharge their duties. Specifies the factors that courts shall consider in determining if bail providers are performing their duties with reasonable diligence or are negligent and should be subject to forfeiture. Requires courts to hold a hearing to order a forfeiture. Extends the deadline to file motions to set aside forfeitures. Clarifies that courts may extend, waive, or modify any procedural deadlines in forfeiture proceedings. Species that bail providers are not in privity with defendants, and therefore not barred res judicata from filing certain motions.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO LIGHT POLLUTION.

Requires all outdoor light fixtures to be fully shielded. Creates exemptions for certain outdoor lighting. Repeals the Night Sky Protection Strategy. Appropriates funds.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO SURGICAL ASSISTANTS.

Requires the Hawaii Medical Board to require each person practicing medicine or podiatric medicine as a surgical assistant in the State to be licensed as a surgical assistant. Establishes exceptions. Requires the Hawaii Medical Board by rule to establish the application procedure, medical educational and training standards, examination requirements, if any, for surgical assistant licensure and degrees of supervision for surgical assistants. Establishes the Surgical Assistant Advisory Committee. Expands the services eligible for Medicaid Prospective Payment System reimbursement to include certain services furnished by a federally qualified health center or rural health clinic and provided by surgical assistants.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Medicaid buy-in program for workers with disabilities. Requires the Department to adopt rules.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Requires that employers pay all workers' compensation claims for compensable injuries and not deny claims without reasonable cause or during a pending investigation. Creates a presumption of compensability for claims submitted by employees excluded from coverage under the Hawaii prepaid health care act. Requires that employers notify medical services providers of any billing disagreements and allows providers to charge an additional rate to employers for outstanding balances owed for undisputed charges. Establishes dispute resolution procedures for employers and providers who have a reasonable disagreement over charges. Requires employers to deny a treatment plan within 3 days of receipt of a treatment plan or the treatment plan is deemed accepted.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Includes housing projects for individuals with disabilities and individuals with access and functional needs as eligible projects to apply for expedited permits. Effective 7/2/2026. Repeals on 6/30/2031.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO 911 SERVICES.

Requires the 911 Board to establish, implement, and maintain a statewide emergency safety profile system that allows residents to voluntarily create and manage secure personal profiles containing information relevant to emergency responses.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO DEMENTIA.

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.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO ENABLE LEGISLATION BY THE PEOPLE.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to provide for initiative and referendum.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO ENABLING LEGISLATION BY THE PEOPLE.

Provides for initiative and referendum procedures. Takes effect upon ratification of a constitutional amendment enabling legislation by the people.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE.

Establishes an independent Office of the Child Advocate within the Office of the Ombudsman to oversee and evaluate the delivery of services to children and their families by various state agencies and entities, receive and investigate complaints, and make recommendations for improvement. Requires annual reports to the Governor, Legislature, and public. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Provides that an individual who becomes a lessee of a tract of Hawaiian home lands, either as an original lessee or as a successor lessee, shall forfeit any interest as an original lessee or successor lessee in any other tract of Hawaiian home lands and be removed from any applicant waitlist.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

Establishes requirements for the clinical review criteria and clinical practical guidelines used to establish step therapy protocols. Provides a process for a patient to request an exception to using step therapy protocols. Establishes insurance coverage requirements relating to the use of step therapy protocols and standards to appeal an adverse step therapy exception determination.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO BIODIESEL.

Requires the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to adopt rules to require that diesel fuel sold in the State for use in on-highway diesel-powered motor vehicles contains no less than five per cent biodiesel by volume.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO VEGETATIVE BURNING.

Prohibits the Department of Health from issuing permits for commercial burning of green waste products in residential areas or within one thousand feet of a residential property.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO ABUSE OF FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS.

Maintains the petty misdemeanor offense of abuse of family or household member by repealing the sunset of amendments made to sections 709-906 and 853-4, HRS, by Act 19, SLH 2020. Repeals provisions authorizing a deferred acceptance of a guilty plea for misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor abuse of family or household members offenses.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO ELDER CRIME VICTIMS.

Removes state of mind requirement pertaining to a victim's age for felony assaults aggravated by the victim's age.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO NEPOTISM.

Subjects legislative and judicial employees to the same ethical standards prohibiting nepotism that are applicable to other state employees.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL COMPACT.

Enacts, and authorizes the Governor to enter into, the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO FIRE PREVENTION.

Requires each state agency to create and regularly update a wildfire hazard map. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to adopt rules. Specifies that the Department of Land and Natural Resources shall clear brush present on state lands for more than sixty days through the Community Fuels Reduction Project. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to remove certain brush from high- and medium-risk wildfire areas on state lands. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO VOTER REGISTRATION.

Makes an application for voter registration part of the enrollment application or course registration process for Department of Education high schools. Requires eligible student applicants to be given the choice to be registered to vote. Requires updating of names and addresses of eligible student applicants who are already registered to vote unless the applicant declines. Requires the sharing of certain information among the counties, Department of Education, election personnel, and online voter registration system.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

Requires the Department of Transportation to require each person arriving in the State at an airport with a state-funded Wi-Fi service to view a one-minute educational video on the environmental protection laws and regulations of the State and counties before the person is granted access to the Wi‑Fi service. Requires the Department to collaborate with the Hawaii Tourism Authority to develop the educational video. Expands the responsibilities of the Hawaii Tourism Authority to include the implementation and administration of tourism-related initiatives, in collaboration with other public agencies, that are designed to educate visitors on the environmental protection laws and regulations of the State and counties. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO ADDITIVES IN FOOD.

Beginning January 1, 2027, bans the manufacture, sale, offer of sale, or distribution in the State of any food that contains certain petroleum-based synthetic food dyes and synthetic chemical additives.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO LUNG CANCER SCREENING.

Requires the Department of Health to develop by 12/31/2026, standardized educational materials relating to lung cancer screening and language on lung cancer screening information to be included in signage and written notices to be used by retailers of tobacco products. Beginning 1/1/2027, requires retailers engaged in the retail sale of tobacco products to display signage on lung cancer screening at each point of sale and provide written notice on lung cancer screening to each buyer of a tobacco product.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO AIR POLLUTION.

Allows air pollutants collected by a complainant or Department of Health's Clean Air Branch master to be used as evidence to initiate complaints on air pollution; in hearings in connection with air pollution; and in legal proceedings in the name of the State for the prevention, control, or abatement of air pollution.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes the Marine Trade Training Apprenticeship Program within the University of Hawaii system of community colleges. Establishes the Marine Trade Training Program Tax Credit.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL COMPACT.

Adopts the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact to regulate the practice of telepsychology and the temporary in-person, face-to-face practice of psychologists when patients are located in compact states other than the state where the psychologist is licensed. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules to implement and administer the compact.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTORCYCLES.

Requires all persons operating or riding a motorcycle to wear a safety helmet.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, requires each public school in the State, including charter schools, to employ, or retain under contract, at least one mental health professional for every 250 students enrolled, subject to certain conditions. Requires the Department of Education to submit a progress report to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027. Appropriates moneys for the Department of Education to contract for mental health professionals and to establish an unspecified number of full‑time equivalent mental health professional positions within the Department of Education.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO TERMINAL ILLNESSES.

Authorizes manufacturers of investigational drugs or biological products that are pending approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration to make the drugs or products available to terminally ill patients under certain conditions.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO VOTING.

Requires the Department of Human Services' Med-QUEST division to automatically transmit applicants' voter registration information to the Office of Elections and clerk of the county of the applicant's residence, subject to certain conditions. Authorizes the Office of Elections to designate state agencies for automatic voter registration if the agency collects, processes, or stores certain information. Updates methods for automatic voter registration conducted by the Examiner of Drivers. Makes conforming amendments. Effective 1/30/2027.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Requires the Department of Education to identify as an excused absence any absence due to the student's mental or behavioral health. Limits the number of excused absences due to mental or behavioral health that a student may take per academic year. Exempts an absence due to the student's mental or behavioral health from the enforcement of penalties relating to compulsory school attendance.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE HOLIDAYS.

Designates the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice of each year as a state holiday celebrating the Lunar New Year.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

Requires the Land Use Commission to reclassify lands that are designated for urban growth under a county general plan or county development plan as being in the urban district at the request of the county.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

Specifies that a simple majority of affirmative votes of the members of the Land Use Commission present at a meeting and qualified to vote is required for any boundary amendment.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning with the - school year, requires public elementary, middle, and high school classes to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. Requires the Department of Education to adjust state-provided bus and school meal schedules accordingly.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE RENTAL INDUSTRY.

Repeals vehicle license recovery fees. Reinstates certain costs of fees and taxes that may be passed on to lessees. Effective 1/1/2051.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Establishes as a deceptive trade practice the advertising, displaying, or offering of a price for goods or services that does not include all mandatory fees or charges, with certain exceptions.

Stanley ChangDemocrat