Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Clarifies the definition of "qualified nonprofit housing trust" in chapter 201H, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to require qualifying organizations to exclusively serve "qualified residents" as defined in section 201H-32, Hawaii Revised Statutes. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Amends the State Internship and Workforce Development Program for the public sector by expanding the program to the Legislative and Judicial branches; limiting the internships to full-time placements of ten to eleven months; establishing eligibility criteria, application requirements, and selection preferences; and requiring the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to collaborate with coordinating agencies to promote the program and recruit eligible applicants. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO A TINY HOME GRANT PILOT PROGRAM.

Establishes a three-year Tiny Home Grant Pilot Program within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Requires counties and nonprofit organizations that are awarded a grant to submit an annual report to the HHFDC. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds and establishes a position. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

Requires the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to award monthly rent supplement payments on behalf of qualified tenants under the State Rent Supplement Program prioritizing certain tenants, including kupuna. Authorizes the HPHA to enter into memoranda of agreement for rental supplement payments with the counties or specialized nonprofit organizations. Amends provisions relating to the State Rent Supplement Program. Establishes the State Rent Supplement Program Special Fund. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to assess a transaction tax for each applicable recording in the Office of the Assistant Registrar of the Land Court or the Bureau of Conveyances to be deposited into the State Rent Supplement Program Special Fund. Repeals the existing separate State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna. Establishes four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) permanent public housing specialist II positions and one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent public housing specialist IV position within the Hawaii Public Housing Authority. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC ACCESS.

Establishes a Capitol Visitor Center Working Group to study the feasibility of establishing a Capitol Visitor Center and submit a report to the Legislature. Requires the Department of Accounting and General Services to provide administrative support to the Working Group. Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to assist the Working Group in preparing and submitting the report to the Legislature. Working Group to sunset on 6/30/2027. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

Provides an emergency appropriation to the Department of Human Services to replace general fund appropriations redirected to provide emergency food assistance during the 2025 federal government shutdown. Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to help Hawaii residents obtain insurance available through the federal marketplace. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING DISCRIMINATION.

Allows the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission to prosecute discrimination based on source of income in housing cases. Clarifies penalties. Establishes a position. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO RENTAL DISCRIMINATION.

Allows the court to award attorneys' fees to a prevailing party in an action relating to discriminatory practices in a rental transaction based on source of income. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to study the establishment of a Hawaii Workforce Excellence Award Program. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO LIMITED-PROFIT HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS.

Establishes an organizational, tax, and regulatory framework for limited-profit housing associations. Establishes the Limited-Profit Housing Council within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to oversee limited-profit housing associations. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO INCLUSIONARY ZONING.

Prohibits any law, ordinance, or rule from imposing an inclusionary zoning requirement on housing offered exclusively for sale or rent in perpetuity to buyers or renters who are residents of the State, are owner-occupants or renters, and do not own any other real property. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Authorizes a county to reduce the aggregate zoned residential capacity within the county only if the county offsets that reduction by increasing zoned residential capacity elsewhere in the county, such that there is no net loss in residential capacity in the county. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Repeals requirement that the Chairperson of Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation Board of Directors be a public member. Repeals the prohibition on certain members of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation Board of Directors from serving as Chairperson. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

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 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL HEMP.

Establishes an Industrial Hemp Program in the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity that includes education and support for non-cannabinoid industrial hemp cultivation and use. Establishes the Industrial Hemp Program Advisory Board to develop a strategic plan to establish and expand the processing infrastructure and commercialization of industrial hemp. Requires the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience to support research and development focused on local adaptation, sustainability, and economic development goals. Requires DAB to promote partnerships with Native Hawaiian practitioners, cooperatives, and aina-based programs. Adopts state building codes for hemp-based materials, including hempcrete. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to quarantine any business or other area that is known or reasonably suspected to be infested or infected with any pest. Authorizes the Department to establish interim rules governing the transportation of any material into and within the State known to harbor or transport a high-impact invasive species or pest. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation or a county to accept a complete application seeking certain exemptions within 30 days. Requires HHFDC to process an application and bring it before the Corporation's Board of Directors within 120 days of accepting the application. Requires county agencies to process an application and bring it before the county's legislative body within 120 days of accepting the application. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE NORTH KOHALA KYNNERSLY EAST SITE LAND PARCEL.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for the Agribusiness Development Corporation to purchase the North Kohala Kynnersly East Site Land Parcel for agricultural development. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND USE.

Authorizes plant and animal sanctuaries with ancillary functions and related support and visitor facilities, rodeos, and rodeo activities on lands that are zoned for agricultural use. Requires the applicable department that owns, manages, controls, or leases the land used for rodeos or rodeo activities to adopt rules to restrict the scale of rodeo activities. Defines the terms "rodeo or rodeo activities" and "plant and animal sanctuaries". Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO BEEKEEPING.

Clarifies the registration process for beekeepers with the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to provide guidance and support to registered beekeepers to help beekeepers adhere to certain industry standards and best management practices. Establishes a limitation on liability for any registered beekeeper who follows industry standards and best practices. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO FARM DWELLINGS.

Prohibits residing on agricultural park lots unless within a farm dwelling permitted by the Board of Agriculture. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to conduct inspections of agricultural park lots for unpermitted farm dwellings during fiscal year 2025-2026. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO VETERINARIANS.

Establishes the Veterinarian Workforce Development Special Fund. Establishes the Veterinarian Workforce Development Loan Repayment and Scholarship Program to support qualified veterinarians committed to or currently working in veterinary medicine in the State. Authorizes the Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine to enter into agreements, including memoranda of understanding, with the University of Hawaii, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, and accredited out-of-state schools to increase the availability of accredited veterinary programs and licensure opportunities to residents of the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND USE.

Permits film production on certain lands zoned for agricultural use under certain conditions, including obtaining land use special permits. Establishes the Agricultural Film Production Land Use Oversight Committee within the Creative Industries Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish film permit application requirements and processes, facilitate the issuance of special permits for film production on agricultural zoned parcels, and advise and make recommendations relating to the regulation of film productions on agricultural zoned lands. Requires DBEDT to adopt rules. Requires DBEDT to consult with state and county agencies to issue permits for film production within an agricultural district using the consolidated film permit process under certain circumstances. Includes temporary filming activities as a permissible conditional accessory use of lands within the agricultural district. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTEWATER SYSTEMS.

Increases the number of bedrooms an individual wastewater system may serve from five to six. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to conduct a study of agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds for the one-year study of agricultural markets for Hawaii farmers. Appropriates funds to establish positions to collect agricultural data and conduct data analysis for public consumption. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO TOWING COMPANIES.

Changes the fees that a towing company may charge to tow vehicles left unattended on private and public property. Prohibits a towing company or parking management company from installing immobilization devices on motor vehicles. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO LOVE MY LIBRARY DAY.

Designates the first Friday in February of each year as "Love My Library Day" in the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO FAMILY.

Establishes an exemption from mediation in parentage proceedings where there are allegations of domestic abuse. Clarifies the exemption from mediation in divorce proceedings as it relates to domestic abuse. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO RECORDINGS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.

Establishes the right of a person to record law enforcement activities. Establishes a private right of action for any violation of the right to record law enforcement activities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.

Beginning 7/1/2027, authorizes state departments, divisions, and agencies to elect to assume hiring and recruitment functions from the Department of Human Resources Development for vacant civil service positions within that department, division, or agency under certain conditions. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to adopt rules. Repeals existing law authorizing state departments, divisions, and agencies to conduct minimum qualification review of applicants for their vacant civil service positions. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO HUNTING.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to identify public lands on each island of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, and Hawaii, that may be newly designated as public hunting areas for the hunting of game birds and game mammals without conflicting with other land uses. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO TRESPASS.

Provides that any person who uses their property, including firearms, hunting animals, or vehicles, to hunt on private land without the permission of the owner or occupier of the land shall be subject to a fine for a first offense and have their property be subject forfeiture to the State for a second or subsequent offense. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM.

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study the impacts of the incremental minimum wage increases pursuant to Act 114, SLH 2022, on businesses and other employers. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION.

Establishes a water pollution working group to establish liability standards for water pollution runoffs. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL GRANTS.

Establishes the Farming Grant Program to be administered by the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to provide grants to small and midsized farmers. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO CAFETERIA PLANS.

Specifies that the maximum contribution and carryover amounts for a public service flexible spending account plan shall be set in accordance with the annual limits prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service for cafeteria plans. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSFER OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

Requires the State, Legislature, and counties to amend rules and policies to ensure that certain employees can transfer accrued vacation and sick leaves if rehired by the State or a county within one calendar year of separation under certain conditions. Extends the allowable break in service for purposes of determining certain state and county contributions to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund from ninety calendar days to 180 calendar dars under certain conditions. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND.

Allows impasses and disputes relating to the amounts of State and county contributions to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to be resolved by arbitration. Repeals the prohibition against strikes by members of bargaining units on the issue of the amounts of State and county contributions to the Trust Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO REIMBURSEMENT OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.

Requires the State or a county to reimburse an officer or employee for work-related travel costs that the officer or employee loaned to the State or a county within 30 calendar days of submitting an approved Statement of Completed Travel with detailed expenditures and related receipts. Requires the State or a county to pay interest on a loan not reimbursed within 30 days until the loan is fully reimbursed. Obligates an officer or employee to request a complete refund from the travel vendor for travel not taken through no fault of their own, and entitles an officer or employee to reimbursement from the State or a county when a travel vendor offers no or a partial refund. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO INDEBTEDNESS TO THE STATE.

Repeals the requirement that the disbursing officer immediately begin recovery of the indebtedness regardless of a pending contested case. Amends the maximum amount that a disbursing officer may deduct from an employee's salary, wage, or compensation as recovery of an employee's indebtedness to 5% of the employee's gross income per pay period, with exceptions. Requires a written statement to be provided to the employee at least thirty calendar days before the deduction. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

Repeals the prohibition placed on certain employees exempt from Civil Service Law from grieving a suspension or discharge. Allows any employee who is a member of an appropriate bargaining unit to grieve any disciplinary action, unless prohibited by the applicable collective bargaining agreement. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.

Requires the Attorney General to establish a confidential process for persons to anonymously file complaints against public employees. Requires the Attorney General to review and forward the complaints to the department, board, commission, or agency deemed appropriate by the Attorney General. Requires the departments, boards, commissions, and agencies to process the complaint pursuant to their standard complaint-processing procedures and report the disposition to the Attorney General. Authorizes the Attorney General to adopt rules. Requires the Attorney General to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

Amends the collective bargaining negotiation procedure on the repricing of classes within a bargaining unit for public employees. Establishes an impasse procedure to be applied when an employer fails to initiate the negotiation or the parties fail to reach an agreement within 90 days. Repeals existing law that requires a different impasse procedure to apply in those situations. Sunsets 6/30/2029. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO ADDITIVES IN FOOD.

Beginning January 1, 2027, bans the manufacture, sale, offer of sale, or distribution in the State of any food for human consumption that contains petroleum-based synthetic food dyes and synthetic chemical additives. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Prohibits the sale of nonprescription diet pills and dietary supplements for weight loss or muscle building to any person under eighteen years of age. Requires retail establishments and delivery sellers to follow certain protocols regarding certain products to prevent access by minors to the restricted products. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO PESTICIDES.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to use consistent units of measurement in its summary to the public on the amounts of restricted use pesticides applied. Beginning 1/1/2027, establishes a one-half mile buffer zone for pesticides around schools during normal school hours and state and county public parks. Establishes certain exemptions. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO PESTICIDES.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to develop an online reporting tool for restricted use pesticides. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat