Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO STUDENT OUT-OF-SERVICE-AREA ATTENDANCE.

Prohibits the Department of Education from mandating that any student attend a school outside the student's service area. Establishes a 5 year phaseout period. Requires the DOE to submit annual progress reports.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Repeals the cap amount on conveyance tax revenues allocated to the land conservation fund.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO STATEWIDE TRAFFIC CODE.

Establishes 55 miles per hour as the maximum speed limit on all parts of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO SPEEDY TRIALS.

Creates a statutory right of victims and witnesses of sexual offenses under part V of chapter 707, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to a speedy trial in criminal cases involving adult defendants. Requires the court and the prosecution to take appropriate action to ensure a prompt trial to minimize the length of time a child abuse victim or minor witness must endure the stress of the proceedings.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO THE GREEN JOBS YOUTH CORPS.

Makes appropriations to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to continue the Green Jobs Youth Corps program.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC NOTICE.

Establishes enhanced public notice requirements for changes in land use by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Land and Natural Resources, or University of Hawaii and boundary changes by the Land Use Commission. Requires approval of the project by the community through a referendum of nearby adult residents except for projects within the Mauna Kea science reserve, which require a referendum by all adult residents of the country in which the Mauna Kea science reserve is located. Appropriates moneys.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS.

Prohibits the State from leasing public lands to or extending the lease of the US Department of Defense or any branch of the US military if the department or branch is noncompliant with any environmental order, consent decree, or memoranda of agreement, or any law, rule, or order on a matter affecting residents' health and safety. Requires Department of Land and Natural Resources to request that the military agree to remediation of existing leased lands prior to the end of the lease term.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires each public or public charter school to have staff trained in the administration of, and authorized to administer, epinephrine. Requires signs to be displayed in school buildings stating the symptoms of anaphylaxis and the proper method for administering epinephrine. Appropriates moneys.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTIONS.

Establishes general excise tax exemptions for food, medical services, and feminine hygiene products.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO CRIME.

Specifies that the penalty for sex trafficking shall be payment of a fine of no less than $50,000 but no more than $100,000, and a definite term of imprisonment of up to 20 years without the possibility of a suspended sentence, probation, or parole. Provides that consent to sexual conduct is not a defense. Defines "sexual conduct". Provides that a minor who reports that the minor is a victim of sex trafficking shall not be subject to criminal liability.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the counties, before implementing any new mass transit fare or increasing any existing fare, to first seek revenues from alternative sources, including transit-based advertisements. Requires a county that decides, after seeking alternative revenue sources, to implement a new or increased mass transit fare to submit a justification report to the Department of Transportation. Requires the Department of Transportation to reject or approve the proposed new mass transit fare or fare increase within 30 days of receiving a county's justification report.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO EXPLOSION DETECTION TECHNOLOGY.

Requires the county police departments to purchase and deploy explosion detection technology equipment to assist in the location of and response to explosions caused by the illegal use of firearms and fireworks. Appropriates moneys to the counties as a grant in aid.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO MOTOR CARRIER VEHICLES.

Repeals inspection requirements for motor carrier vehicles.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO A STATE PERMITTING OFFICE.

Establishes the State Permitting Office within the Department of Transportation to process building and infrastructure permits for construction of state-owned buildings, state roads and highways, and other construction on state lands. Appropriates moneys.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Accounting and General Services for the Office of Enterprise Technology Services to develop and maintain a translation tool for the State's website.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO HAZARD PAY BONUS.

Appropriates funds for a one-time hazard pay bonus to state officers and employees in bargaining units 5, 6, and 7, and their excluded counterparts under certain conditions.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO PERMITS.

Establishes an exemption from applicable county permit requirements for repetitive construction projects for facilities under the control of any state department or agency, under certain conditions. Clarifies that contracts for the construction, renovation, or repair of facilities under the control of the department of education, university of Hawaii, or school facilities authority shall be exempt from county permitting requirements that related off-site improvements be made by the contracting government agency as a condition to the issuance of any permit.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE.

Establishes the Electric Vehicle Charging System and Infrastructure Funding Program and allows the Electric Vehicle Charging System Subaccount to expend funds for the Program. Increases the amount of petroleum tax to be deposited into the Electric Vehicle Charging System Subaccount. Appropriates funds.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY.

Requires the State to prioritize the installation of photo red light imaging detector systems in school zones if the State establishes a photo red light imaging detector system. Requires proceeds of fines collected for disregarding a steady red signal pursuant to a photo red light imaging detector system installed in a school zone to be deposited into the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO FOREIGN CRITICAL ASSETS.

Limits foreign ownership of certain public and private utilities and companies controlling the State's critical infrastructure.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Allows captive insurance companies that are not risk retention captive insurance companies to apply to the Insurance Commissioner for certificates of exemption from examination if the captive insurance companies meet certain requirements.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND TRANSFERS.

Authorizes the transfer of certain lands under the jurisdiction of certain state agencies to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

Establishes the Climate Change Adaptation Cost Recovery Program within the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to secure compensatory payments from historically responsible parties that contributed to pollution, based on a standard of strict liability to provide a source of revenue for climate change adaptive infrastructure projects within the State. Establishes the Climate Change Adaptation Special Fund.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE USE OF INTOXICANTS WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE.

Lowers the blood alcohol content threshold for driving while under the influence of an intoxicant.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Establishes that development of a fixed guideway system in a county having a population greater than 500,000 is a function of state government. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to develop a fixed guideway system in a county having a population greater than 500,000. Requires the Department of Transportation to transfer the fixed guideway system to the respective county upon completion. Transfers functions of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation to the Department of Transportation.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Repeals statutory requirements for certain housing projects to be eligible for loans from the Rental Housing Revolving Fund. Repeals certain statutory provisions for grants to developers for rental units eligible to be financed in part or in whole by the RHRF. Repeals statutory language requiring the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to establish an application process for RHRF allocation that prioritized projects meeting certain requirements. Renames the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to the State Housing Revolving Fund (SHRF). Clarifies eligible applicants of the SHRF. Authorizes the HHFDC to use funds from the SHRF for broader housing projects. Establishes the Housing Efficiency and Innovation Subaccount within the SHRF. Authorizes the HHFDC to transfer funds between the Housing Efficiency and Innovation Subaccount and the RHRF without legislative approval. Amends the criteria and eligibility requirements for applicant developers seeking assistance from the SHRF. Requires the HHDFC to maximize the amount of housing built that utilizes loans from the SHRF by prioritizing projects with the shortest projected loan repayment terms that produce the highest number of units, per dollar, per year. Repeals all other priorities and preferences for projects utilizing the RHRF. Establishes a working group to revise the State's Qualified Allocation Plan, the prioritization of the SHRF, and the terms of loans. Requires a report to the Legislature. Allocates ten per cent of conveyance tax collections to the DURF. Removes the annual cap on conveyance taxes paid into the SHRF.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO JOURNALISM.

Establishes a Journalistic Ethics Commission within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Establishes a Journalistic Code of Ethics. Requires news media outlets to provide training in the ethics of journalism to journalists and editors in their employ. Establishes a Journalistic Ethics Review Board to be administratively attached to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Requires the Journalistic Ethics Review Board to handle complaints and appeals regarding violations of the Journalistic Code of Ethics. Requires the Journalistic Ethics Commission to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Establishes penalties for violations. Requires the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii to conduct an analysis of the journalism program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Social Sciences. Requires the Board of Regents to report to the Legislature.

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF JUSTIFICATION.

For the purposes of state justifiable-use-of-force law: (1) Amends the definition of "dwelling" to include agricultural land used as a residence or place of lodging; and (2) Creates a definition of "place of work" that includes agricultural land.

Samantha DeCorteRepublican

RELATING TO PROPERTY.

Imposes an increased penalty upon any person who trespasses upon certain state or county lands when the person trespasses again by returning, within 30 days after the initial offense, to the same land at which the person committed the initial offense.

Samantha DeCorteRepublican

RELATING TO THE PUBLIC LAND TRUST WORKING GROUP.

Appropriates funds to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to hire necessary staff, purchase equipment, and retain professional services on behalf of the Public Land Trust Working Group.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS.

Increases the valuation threshold of development subject to a special management area minor permit or a special management area use permit from $500,000 to $750,000.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO ADAPTATION PATHWAYS PLANNING.

Requires the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to develop adaptation pathways plans to modify and relocate development and associated infrastructure away from critically vulnerable areas to locations outside of sea level rise and coastal flooding exposure area. Appropriates funds.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO FLAGS.

Requires the honor and remember flag and pride flag to be flown with the United States and Hawaiian flags on specified days.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE FOUNDATION ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS.

Establishes the Performing Arts Grants Program to support performing arts in the State. Clarifies the scope of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts' responsibilities to include the coordination, planning, promotion, marketing, and execution of performing arts events. Allows the use of moneys from the Works of Art Special Fund for performing arts. Appropriates funds to provide grants under the Performing Arts Grants Program.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF NON-AGRICULTURAL PARK LANDS.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to accept the transfer of and manage certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands. Allows the Department of Agriculture to request information related to easements prior to any transfer of certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands. Requires approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Board of Agriculture before removing pasture lands for reforestation, or other public purposes.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO PREVAILING WAGES.

Requires prevailing wages for human services providers.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO A HAWAII TEACHER REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

Establishes the Hawaii Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program, to be administered by the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board. Appropriates funds.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

Applies the campaign finance laws to candidates for the neighborhood boards. Requires candidate committees for neighborhood board elections to file an organizational report with the Campaign Spending Commission regarding campaign contributions used for printing and mailing campaign material.

Jr. IharaDemocrat

RELATING TO VEGETATION MANAGEMENT.

Establishes vegetation management requirements to prevent wildfires caused by electric utilities. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to enforce the provisions.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO TREES.

Establishes base selection criteria for exceptional trees. Establishes the significant tree designation, selection criteria, and related processes. Establishes the State Arborist Advisory Committee within the Department of Land and Natural Resources for administrative purposes. Requires County Arborist Advisory Committees to have at least six members, adopt new exceptional tree selection criteria, and designate significant trees. Directs the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the University of Hawaii to cooperate with State and County Arborist Advisory Committees to carry out the Exceptional Trees Program.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.

Prohibits the feeding of feral non-native animals on state land within one-half mile of the ocean or a stream. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to enforce certain penalties for violations. Requires the counties to adopt or amend ordinances to prohibit the feeding of feral non-native animals on county land within one-half mile of the ocean or a stream and impose certain penalties for violations. Establishes an annual reporting requirement to the Legislature.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.

Provides for the transfer of certain parcels in the Liliha Civic Center area and Iwilei Fire Station area from various state agencies to the City and County of Honolulu. Provides for the transfer of the parcel of land on which Alii Place is sited from the City and County of Honolulu to the State. Repeals the sunset provision of Act 4, SLH 2024. Requires the City and County of Honolulu to accept the properties transferred in satisfaction of all amounts owed by Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation under the Kapolei roadways, drainage, and sewer settlement. Exempts the land transferred from the definition of public lands for purposes of chapter 171, HRS.

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO NATIVE HAWAIIANS.

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to identify all legislative districts in the State in which a majority of the population consists of Native Hawaiians. Designates these districts as Native Hawaiian majority districts.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO TEACHER EDUCATION.

Requires the Board of Regents to grant a waiver on all tuition and mandatory fees to a resident student enrolled in the College of Education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa for the semester or term that the student enrolls in a State-Approved Teacher Education Program.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the Department of Transportation or appropriate county department when disposing of a deceased cat or dog from a public roadway to scan the animal for a microchip, record certain information, and report that information to the appropriate county animal services or animal service contractors. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION.

Establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for prior authorization process in the State, including disclosure and notice requirements for utilization review entities regarding their prior authorization requirements and restrictions; qualifications and criteria for prior authorization review and appeals personnel; prior authorization process for non-urgent and urgent health care services, including the time frame by which utilization review entities must render a decision; adverse determination and appeal processes; prohibition of prior authorization for emergency health care services and medication for opioid use disorder; payments to health care providers; length and duration of prior authorizations; and exemptions for certain health care providers. Requires health insurers to utilize NCPDP SCRIPT Standard electronic prior authorization transactions by 1/1/2026. Requires utilization review entities to submit annual reports to the Insurance Commissioner each year. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules by 1/1/2026.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR CARRIERS.

Exempts non-profit community-based organizations providing transportation services from motor carrier regulations under certain circumstances.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat