Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a statewide Environmental Stewardship Curricula Plan for public schools for certain students. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires public schools to offer an environmental stewardship course for certain students. Requires the Department of Education to establish and administer sustainability programs, including recycling and composting programs, to be implemented at public schools. Beginning 7/1/27, prohibits the use or distribution of single-use plastic utensils, trays, straws, and other disposable plastic food service products in public school cafeterias. Beginning 7/1/28, requires each public school to have at least one operational refillable water bottle filling station accessible to students and staff. Requires reports to the Board of Education and the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE LITERACY EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a statewide Artificial Intelligence Literacy Curricula Plan for students in eleventh and twelfth grades, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year as a condition for graduation. Establishes the Advisory Council for Artificial Intelligence Education. Establishes a three-year Artificial Intelligence Education Grant Pilot Program within the Department of Education. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the Department of Education to provide free breakfast and lunch to students enrolled in a public school who meet certain requirements. Appropriates funds.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO BLUE CARBON.

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to establish a Statewide Blue Carbon Strategy. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH SERVICES.

Requires the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health, to develop and distribute to each public middle and high school in the State guidelines for the establishment and operation of safe spaces for students to access telehealth services on school property during normal school hours. Requires each public middle and high school to establish and maintain a safe space for students according to the guidelines.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS.

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish or select and contract with a third-party administrator to serve as the State Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) who shall be responsible for administering all pharmacy benefits for medicaid beneficiaries enrolled with medicaid managed care organization. Requires medicaid managed care organizations to contract with and utilize the State PBM. Establishes requirements to procure the State PBM in addition to the requirements under state law governing purchases of health and human services. Establishes requirements and prohibitions for the contract to be used by the DHS when contracting with the state PBM. Requires the DHS to establish a single-preferred drug list to be used by the State PBM. Requires the DHS to consult with the Med-QUEST Healthcare Advisory Committee on the development, implementation, and oversight of the State PBM program. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO PLASTIC POLLUTION.

Prohibits the sale of any beverage contained in single-use plastic beverage containers where the plastic beverage cap is not tethered to the single-use plastic beverage container when the plastic beverage cap is removed. Requires plastic beverage caps tethered or otherwise attached to the single-use plastic beverage containers to be the same plastic resin.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Beginning 1/1/2027, repeals the fourteen years and under age limit for health insurance coverage requirements for the diagnosis and treatment of autism. Repeals the maximum coverage benefit limit of $25,000 for applied behavioral analysis services.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a School Bus Driver Recruitment Grant Program. Establishes a School Bus Driver Recruitment Special Fund. Establishes a Repayment Signing Bonus Program. Establishes a School Bus Driver Outreach and Pathway Program. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO FISHERIES.

Exempts actions involving the operation and management of fisheries in the State from environmental review requirements.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes the Hawaii State Fellows Program within the Department of Human Resources Development to match talented applicants with full-time, paid fellowship roles in various state agencies for a period of 10 to 11 months. Establishes minimum qualifications and procedures for eligible applicants to apply to the program. Gives preference to eligible program applicants who have a pre-existing connection to the State or a demonstrated commitment to long-term leadership in the State. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to coordinate with state agencies to implement and promote the program. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Requires the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to establish a Hawaii Urban Planning Museum. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATED TO HOUSING.

Replaces the five-year period during which the sales price of a rent-to-own dwelling unit shall remain fixed with an option period established by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Effective 7/1/2050.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE POMAIKAI HAWAII FUND.

Establishes the Pomaikai Hawaii Fund, a state-owned sovereign wealth fund, into which certain portions of the transient accommodations tax revenues, moneys from general fund balance surpluses, moneys from civil action settlements where the State is a party, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale or other disposition of public lands shall be deposited. Establishes a Board of Directors to manage and invest the moneys in the Fund and distribute the earnings to qualified residents of the State beginning calendar year 2030. Requires the Board to adopt rules. Requires the Director of Finance to provide guidance to the Board on the establishment and administration of the Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Adds the Executive Director of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.

Adds the Executive Director of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPOSITS OF PUBLIC FUNDS.

Requires the Director of Finance to consider, before the selection of a depository for the state treasury, the beneficial effects to the State of using depositories within the State, including but not limited to lending at favorable terms for the creation of certain affordable housing units. Effective 7/1/2050.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO A DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING.

Establishes the Department of Housing. Places the Hawaii Community Development Authority, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and Hawaii Public Housing Authority within the Department of Housing for administrative purposes. Replaces the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism with the Director of Housing on the Hawaii Community Development Authority. Effective 7/1/2050.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO BLUE CARBON.

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to establish a Statewide Blue Carbon Strategy. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH SERVICES.

Requires the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health, to develop and distribute to each public middle and high school in the State guidelines for the establishment and operation of safe spaces for students to access telehealth services on school property during normal school hours. Requires each public middle and high school to establish and maintain a safe space for students according to the guidelines.

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 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

RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL LEASEHOLDS.

Exempts state and county lands leased after July 1, 2026, for an initial period of not less than 99 years from chapters 516 and 516D, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Increases required public school instructional hours beginning in the 2027-2028 school year.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Replaces the Hawaii Tourism Authority with the Corporation for the Stewardship of Hawaii Tourism, a nonprofit entity to guide Hawaii's visitor economy in collaboration with public, private, nonprofit, and community stakeholders in achieving beneficial outcomes from tourism based on the principles of destination stewardship and regenerative tourism.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

By 1/1/2027, requires all law enforcement agencies in the State to maintain a policy on the visible identification of law enforcement officers. Requires law enforcement agencies to maintain confidential, accurate records documenting each officer's adherence to the agency's visible identification policy. Prohibits state and county law enforcement agencies from assisting any law enforcement operation conducted by a federal law enforcement agency that fails or refuses to maintain a policy on the visible identification of law enforcement officers that meets the standards of state law. By 1/1/2027, requires state and county law enforcement agencies to maintain a policy on the minimum requirements to cooperate with a federal law enforcement agency enforcing federal immigration laws in the State.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO RIGHT-OF-ENTRY PERMITS.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources establish, maintain, and update a public database of each right-of-entry area eligible for a right-of-entry permit. Requires DLNR to develop and publish on its website criteria for the addition of a right-of-entry area to the public database or the removal of a right-of-entry area from the public database. Requires DLNR to notify the public and seek public input before the addition of a right-of-entry area to the public database or the removal of a right-of-entry area from the public database. Authorizes DLNR to remove right-of-entry area from the database without advance public notice in the case of an emergency. Requires DLNR to establish and maintain a public changelog documenting each addition to, or removal from, the public database. Requires DLNR to notify a permittee whose access to a right-of-entry area has been revoked before the date of permissible use. Requires DLNR to establish an administrative hearing and review process. Allows permittees whose access has been revoked to seek reimbursement. Requires DLNR to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Hawaii Film Office. Requires DLNR to submit an annual report to the Legislature. Requires DLNR to revise the terms and conditions of its Wiki Permits service. Requires DLNR to ensure that all Wiki Permits forms, digital interfaces, and permit workflows are consistent. Appropriates funds.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER CARRIERS.

Transfers the jurisdiction of the Hawaii Water Carrier Act from the Public Utilities Commission to the Department of Transportation. Makes conforming amendments. Appropriates funds.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for full-arch dental implants that are medically necessary.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes the Kuleana AgTech Pathways Pilot Program. Requires the University of Hawaii to collaborate with the Department of Education, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Agribusiness Development Corporation, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, and appropriate community organizations to develop and administer the program. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII PATIENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ACT.

Revises the Hawaii Patients' Bill of Rights and Responsibilities Act by: (1) Establishing new provisions on telehealth parity, prior authorization timelines, and automated decision systems; (2) Enhancing medical data protection and privacy standards; (3) Expanding the insurance commissioner's enforcement authority; and (4) Improving network adequacy, internal and external appeals procedures, and reporting requirements.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO DAM AND RESERVOIR SAFETY.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to incorporate into their assessment process the possession of dam liability insurance or the active seeking of dam liability insurance by private dam owners, as part of their valid mitigation measures, in conjunction with approved modifications or repairs. Prohibits the DLNR from classifying a dam as high hazard based only on its engineering risk assessment results. Authorizes the DLNR to relax any restrictions and stringent standards on a dam or appurtenance upon verification of certain insurance coverage. Authorizes the DLNR to consider a dam, reservoir, or appurtenance is safe absent certain documents. Shifts the burden of proof to the DLNR to find that a dam is categorized as high-hazard. Establishes additional requirements for the DLNR and Board of Land and Natural Resources regarding the Dam and Appurtenance Improvement or Removal Grant Program.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAL DEBT.

Prohibits a health care provider or medical creditor from filing a civil lawsuit to collect medical debt from a patient whose household income is less than or equal to five hundred percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Prohibits a health care provider or medical creditor from engaging in certain debt collection practices. Prohibits a health care provider or medical creditor from selling medical debt. Prohibits a health care provider whose income exceeds a certain threshold from denying non-emergency medically necessary care to patients.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO NUISANCE.

Establishes liability for any individual who keeps, feeds, or harbors chickens, ungulates, or felids that cause damage to the private property of another individual. Requires the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to conduct a study to determine whether feral chickens should be classified as an invasive species.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS.

Standardizes annual independent financial audits for public charter schools. Authorizes sanctions for noncompliance with independent financial audits. Requires the Board of Education, the Public Charter School Authorizer, and Auditor to review the annual independent financial audits. Allows the Auditor to conduct its own financial audit if a public charter school is a high risk for insolvency. Requires for 2026-2027, the Auditor to conduct its own one-time financial audit of each charter school in addition to the annual independent financial audits and requires a report to the Legislature. Requires State Public Charter School Commission to take action based on Auditor's recommendations in the one-time financial audits. Appropriates moneys.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Authorizes large landowners to petition the Land Use Commission to allow the development of elderly housing on portions of agricultural lands.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HALAULA AGRICULTURAL PARCEL.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to the Agribusiness Development Corporation for the purchase of the Halaula Agricultural Parcel for agricultural development.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.

Establishes the Search and Rescue Special Fund. Requires government entities to seek reimbursement for all or a portion of search or rescue expenses when the person or entity knowingly enters state, county, or private property, knowingly enters a hiking trail that is closed to the public, or violates applicable laws, provided that the closure is posted by sign, barricade, or other device that gives reasonable notice of the closure. Requires an administrative appeal hearing for an individual subject to cost reimbursement to contest the assessment. Requires counties and the State Fire Council to adopt ordinances or rules as necessary to pursue reimbursements. Raises the penalty for criminal trespass from a petty misdemeanor to a misdemeanor under certain circumstances. Imposes a fine on a person convicted of criminal trespass onto public parks and recreational grounds. Appropriates funds.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT EARNINGS.

Requires hourly rate or salary ranges to be disclosed on job listings for full-time, part-time, temporary, or seasonal employees. Removes the exemption for employers having fewer than fifty employees.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

Allows the Department of Human Services to administer and provide public assistance to eligible residents of the State during a Governor-declared state of emergency. Allows the Department of Human Services to expend funds from the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER RETENTION.

Directs the University of Hawaiʻi School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology to conduct a study that identifies, analyzes, and evaluates possible methods to capture, retain, and store rainwater and storm water runoff for counties with a population of more than five hundred thousand. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

Requires each state agency to expeditiously use energy efficient lighting. Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to provide technical assistance and survey state agencies for compliance, prioritizing first responder facilities. Requires the Department of Accounting and General Services to assist the Hawaii State Energy Office in conducting the survey. Requires a report of the survey to the Legislature.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO ALLOWANCE ON SERVICE RETIREMENTS.

Includes certain law enforcement administrators and employees of the Department of Law Enforcement as class A members of the pension and retirement systems and provides guidance for the computation of retirement benefits similar to police officers.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

Removes the Adjutant General as a nonvoting ex-officio member of the Hawaii Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee. Adds the Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency as a nonvoting ex-officio member of the EMSAC.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO INCOME.

Implements a phased elimination of the tip credit.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Establishes safe riding behaviors for electric bicycles. Prohibits the operation of high-speed electric devices in certain locations. Establishes labeling and signage requirements for electric bicycles. Prohibits the operation of a moped or electric motorcycle in certain locations. Amends the definition of "bicycle" for purposes of county vehicular taxes. Defines "electric bicycle" in place of "low-speed electric bicycle". Defines "electric micro-mobility device" and requires the same regulations as electric foot scooters to apply to electric micro-mobility devices. Prohibits a person under the age of sixteen from operating a class 3 electric bicycle. Authorizes a person under the age of fourteen to operate class 2 electric bicycles under supervision. Prohibits a person from riding a class 3 electric bicycle on a sidewalk. Authorizes a person to ride a class 1 or class 2 electric bicycle on a sidewalk under certain circumstances. Prohibits a person from operating a bicycle or electric foot scooter under the age of eighteen without a helmet. Repeals the requirement that moped drivers use bicycle lanes. Substitutes the word "motor-driven cycle" with the word "motor scooter".

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT.

Requires any person applying to the Department of Health to contract or extend or renew a contract to operate certain residential treatment programs to, as a condition of the contract, obtain and maintain a general liability insurance policy with a certain minimum coverage amount; submit to the Department for review and approval a community safety action plan; and provide to the community association or neighborhood board in the community in which the program will operate a written notice of the program's establishment and location and the community safety action plan.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWAL OF DRIVER'S LICENSES.

Requires applicants for driver's license renewal to complete an educational course that includes a road safety video developed by the Department of Transportation and a written examination.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO DENTAL INSURANCE.

Requires dental insurers to file all proposed plan rates and rate changes for a dental insurance plan with the Insurance Commissioner. Authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to disapprove the proposed plan rate if the dental loss ratio for the plan is less than seventy-five per cent. Establishes the method to calculate a dental insurer's dental loss ratio. Requires dental insurers to include dental loss ratio information in their annual reports to the Insurance Commissioner. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to publish certain report information.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Subjects the Hawaii Tourism Authority's updating of the Tourism Functional Plan to availability of funding. Requires the Governor to submit an approved updated plan to the Legislature before the Regular Session following an update, rather than before the Regular Session of 2025.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat