Bills & Legislation

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Appropriates funds for the University of Hawaii I Hoa Na Moolelo program, including for the hiring of a graduate assistant, hiring of undergraduate writers, and acquiring a new website domain. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO VETERINARIANS.

Establishes the Veterinarian Workforce Development Special Fund. Establishes the Veterinarian Workforce Development Fee to support recruitment and retention of veterinarians in the State. 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. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Herbert M. "Tim" Richards IIIDemocrat

RELATING TO RETIRED TEACHERS.

Amends the break in service requirement for retirants to six months before they can be rehired as teachers or administrators in teacher shortage areas or in hard-to-fill positions. Prohibits rehired retirants from receiving additional employment benefits. Directs the Department of Education to adopt rules to identify teacher shortage areas and hard-to-fill positions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION.

Amends payroll requirements for public officers and employees by requiring them to be paid pursuant to a predicted payroll schedule, rather than an after-the-fact payroll schedule. Provides that the predicted payroll schedule shall not be subject to negotiation under Chapter 89, HRS. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD CARE.

Establishes a child care classroom contracts pilot program to require the Department of Human Services to contract directly with child care center providers in licensed infant and toddler child care centers and group child care centers that meet certain criteria. Requires reports to the Legislature. Sunsets the pilot program on 6/30/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Designates student transportation as critical infrastructure and a critical service for Hawaii's public education system. Requires all school bus contracts between the State and the contractor to include certain standards, performance metrics, and accountability requirements to prevent service disruptions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

LA CHICA

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. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Herbert M. "Tim" Richards IIIDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.

Requires motor vehicle safety inspections to be conducted every two years rather than annually.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Requires newly installed or modified individual wastewater systems that are near the shoreline to include denitrification capacity. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PUMPED STORAGE HYDROPOWER.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to finance the planning, designing, and construction of a water pump storage hydroelectric facility in the Kohala Mountains on Hawaii Island. Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to conduct a feasibility study and report the results to the Legislature. Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement and submit an annual progress report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Herbert M. "Tim" Richards IIIDemocrat

RELATING TO CONTRACTORS.

Repeals the leasing restriction on owner-builders who obtain an owner-builder exemption to act as their own contractor and who build or improve residential or farm buildings or structures on property they own or lease and do not offer the buildings or structures for sale. Requires an owner or lessee to provide signed written notice that the structure for lease or sublease was built or improved by an individual who is not a licensed contractor. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Beginning 1/1/2027, establishes a preference in the Hawaii Public Procurement Code that favors bids or offers from businesses that intend to use a higher proportion of allelectric construction vehicles in Department of Transportation construction projects.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO ADVISORY REFERENDUMS.

Authorizes the Legislature to adopt any Concurrent Resolution to propose a non-binding advisory referendum question concerning the issuance of general obligation bonds to the people, who may vote on the question during any general election. Imposes notice, certification, and reporting requirements on the Chief Election Officer. Requires a written explanation for any legislative acts that are contrary to the reported majority vote on the advisory referendum question to be reflected in the legislative record. Effective 1/1/2491. (SD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

Creates a process for expediting the review of majority-residential mixed-use transit-oriented development or residential transit-oriented development on certain parcels within county-designated transit-oriented development zones that have a low risk of affecting historically significant resources. Authorizes lead agencies, including county governments, to make determinations on the potential effects of a project. Creates a ninety-day limit, or thirty-day if no historic property is to be affected, to concur or not concur with project effect determinations. Exempts projects with written concurrence from further review unless there is a change to the project or additional historic properties, aviation artifacts, or burial sites are identified within the project area. Establishes notice and reporting requirements if there is a change to the project or additional historic properties, aviation artifacts, or burial sites are identified within the project area after the initial written concurrence. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Increases the caps for the total contract value for any one Capital Advancement Contract (CAC) and the total aggregate value of CACs in a fiscal year entered into by the Department of Transportation with private parties for harbor improvements. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Requires a bidder and their subcontractors for certain public works construction contracts to utilize apprentices if the bidder receives a bidding advantage for being a party to an apprenticeship agreement registered with the State at the time of general bidding and is awarded the contract. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RENTAL MOTOR VEHICLE SURCHARGE TAX.

Requires the rental motor vehicle surcharge tax to be pro-rated if the vehicle is rented or leased for a portion of the day. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE SAFETY OF EDUCATIONAL WORKERS.

Requires the Department of Education and public charter schools to take certain steps to report incidents of harassment and implement procedures for handling harassment of educational workers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO ACUPUNCTURE.

Recognizes individuals practicing acupuncture as essential health care providers who are subject to regulation and control.

AQUINO

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Includes agricultural businesses as a qualified high technology business to receive tax credits for certain research activities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO WILDFIRES.

Establishes the Wildfire Recovery Fund. Allows securitization for electric utilities. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO AUTISM.

Appropriates funds to increase the funding for the Med-QUEST Division's reimbursement for applied behavioral analysis services for persons with autism. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO TRAFFIC.

Transfers to the Department of Transportation one hundred per cent of the proceeds of the fines and forfeitures collected for uncontested traffic infractions committed within any county having a population of more than 150,000 but less than 175,000. Requires the proceeds to be deposited into a new county progress subaccount of the State Highway Fund, from which the DOT shall allocate moneys for the Lahaina Bypass North Project, and subsequently for state-designated critical highway projects within the county in which the uncontested traffic infractions were committed. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LAHAINA BYPASS.

Adds a special assessment to the Rental Motor Vehicle Surcharge Tax, sunsetting in 10 years, to fund revenue bonds for the Lahaina Bypass North. Includes payment of principal and interest of revenue bonds for the construction, operation, and maintenance costs of the Lahaina Bypass North as a permissible use of the State Highway Fund. Authorizes the issuance of general obligation and revenue bonds to fund the Lahaina Bypass North. Directs transient accommodations taxes collected from West Maui transient accommodations to fund the Lahaina Bypass North. Defines "West Maui". Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to increase the funding of certain Medicaid home- and community-based services, including adult day programs and residential services offered in community care foster family homes and expanded adult residential care homes. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

AQUINO

RELATING TO CHIROPRACTIC.

Allows students enrolled in certain qualifying chiropractic colleges to engage in clinical practice as part of their college instruction if directly supervised by a qualified licensed chiropractor. Requires the Hawaii Board of Chiropractic to adopt rules. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Medicaid buy-in program for workers with disabilities. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Prohibits rental agreements from prohibiting tenants from keeping pet animals in dwelling units, subject to certain conditions. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER CONSERVATION.

Incentivizes the installation and use of gray water recycling systems and atmospheric water generators in the State by establishing an income tax credit to be administered by the Department of Taxation. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish a rebate program. Requires the State Building Code Council to adopt certain standards on gray water recycling systems and atmospheric water generators in the State. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Exempts any development of homestead lots or housing for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from general excise and use taxes. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL.

Appropriates funds for the Native Resources and Fire Protection Program and Hawaii Invasive Species Council to ensure their long-term viability and continue to control and eradicate invasive species in the State. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

By 1/1/2028, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a family and medical leave insurance program and begin collecting payroll contributions to finance payment of benefits. By 1/1/2029, requires the Department to start receiving claims and paying benefits under the program. Specifies eligibility requirements and employee protections under the program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX REVENUES.

Beginning on 1/1/2026, increases transient accommodations tax rates by 1 percentage point. Deposits the increased revenues into the Hawaiian Home General Loan Fund established under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, as amended. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO CRIMES AGAINST PROTECTIVE SERVICES WORKERS.

Specifies that intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury to a protective services worker who is engaged in the performance of the worker's duties is a class C felony. Clarifies that a protective services worker is a public servant for the purposes of section 707-716, HRS, Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.

Limits moving violations arising from the operation of a motor vehicle that appear on traffic abstracts to those that resulted in convictions. Requires the Traffic and Emergency Period Violations Bureaus to remove all dismissed moving violations not resulting in a conviction from certified abstracts. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Samantha DeCorteRepublican

RELATING TO COLD CASE INVESTIGATIONS.

Establishes and appropriates funds for a Cold Case Investigation Unit within the Department of the Attorney General. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO FINANCING.

Establishes and appropriates funds for a cesspool conversion on-bill financing program to be administered by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority to provide low-interest loans to eligible homeowners for the upgrade, conversion, or connection of cesspools. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HANALEI BAY.

Prohibits vessels longer than seventy-five feet from entering Hanalei Bay except for vessels operated by a federal, state, or county agency. Requires the Board of Land and Natural Resources to define boundaries of Hanalei Bay by rule. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Extends the sunset date of Act 67, SLH 2023, to 6/30/2030. Appropriates funds for the illegal fireworks task force. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO ROADS.

Allows for a percentage of general excise and fuel taxes generated by the counties to be used for maintenance of private roadways that are open to the public. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO FAMILY RESILIENCE PILOT PROGRAM.

Establishes the Family Resilience Pilot Program within the Office of Wellness and Resilience and appropriates funds to execute the program, including the contracting of services. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. Repeals 6/30/2030. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Requires, for each draft environmental impact statement, a public hearing in the community directly affected by the underlying proposed action. (SD1)

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE.

Directs the Office of Wellness and Resilience to collaborate with the Department of Human Services to, either directly or by contract, design, administer, and implement a program for trauma-informed organizational assessments and a training curriculum for the Child Welfare Services Branch of the Department of Human Services. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Specifies that adjustments required to compensate for certain unavoidable increases in financing costs, if proven by a producer of nonfossil fuel generated electricity by clear and convincing evidence, are mechanisms for reasonable and appropriate incremental adjustments that the Public Utilities Commission may include in the rate payable to the producer. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

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 to provide public assistance to eligible residents during a Governor-declared state of emergency. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Authorizes each county that has established a surcharge on state tax before 7/1/2015 to extend the surcharge until 12/31/2045, at the same rates, if the county does so before 1/1/2028. Provides that no county surcharge on state tax authorized for a county that has not established a surcharge on state tax before 7/1/2015, shall be levied before 1/1/2019, or after 12/31/2045. Repeals certain conditions on the use of surcharges for housing infrastructure costs. Effective 5/13/2040. (SD1)

Herbert M. "Tim" Richards IIIDemocrat

RELATING TO LONG DURATION CLEAN ENERGY STORAGE.

Renames the Hawaii Renewable Hydrogen Program to the Hawaii Renewable Hydrogen and Long Duration Clean Energy Storage Program (Program). Amends the required activities of the Program, including conducting engineering and economic evaluations of potential locations for long duration clean energy storage and pumped storage hydroelectric projects. Renames the Hydrogen Investment Special Fund to the Hydrogen and Long Duration Clean Energy Storage Investment Capital Special Fund. Effective 5/13/2040. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat