Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO HIGHWAYS.

Authorizes the counties to sell or dispose of property bordering the ocean when the Department of Transportation requests the acquisition of the property for state highway purposes.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREFIGHTING AT COMMERCIAL HARBORS.

Limits civil liability of individuals who render firefighting services at any of the State's commercial harbors or roadsteads, any commercial harbor or waterfront improvement belonging to or controlled by the State, or any vessel within a commercial harbor or roadstead to only damages resulting from an individual's gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PUPIL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY.

Amends sections 286-102 and 286-181, HRS, to allow exemptions to include use of motorcoaches, small buses, and vans, which may not meet school bus regulations for school bus services, but which shall otherwise meet vehicle requirements and qualifications set forth in chapter 19-143, Hawaii Administrative Rules, to the extent required by the Department of Transportation and the Department of Education, when adult staff chaperone escorts of students are provided while students are being transported between designated locations off-campus and designated locations on-campus.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL ADVANCEMENT CONTRACTS.

Amends section 266-19.5(d), HRS, for the purpose of increasing the cap for the contract value of any one capital advancement contract (CAC) and the cap for the total aggregate value of CACs in a fiscal year entered into by the Department of Transportation with private parties for harbor improvements. Adds reporting requirements for the department.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Exempts from the Hawaii Public Procurement Code contracts by government bodies to procure certain construction projects.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX ADMINISTRATION.

Permanently exempts the software developer supervisor in the Department of Taxation and the data privacy officer and tax business analysts in the Director's office of the Department from civil service.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO FUNDING ADJUSTMENTS FOR STATE PROGRAMS.

Authorizes supplemental allotments and transfer of unrequired balances for capital improvement program projects and establishes a protocol fund for each state principal department. Effective upon approval.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT IN THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM.

Amend sections 6E-3 and 76-16(b), HRS, to allow the Department of Land and Natural Resources to employ both civil service and non-civil service professional and technical staff in its State Historic Preservation Program.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES.

Adds a minimum penalty and amends the maximum penalty per violation of the State Water Code, expands the types of potential violations of the State Water Code, and makes each day that a violation exists or continues to exist a separate offense. Requires the Commission on Water Resource Management to consider certain factors when imposing penalties.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO OCEAN USER SAFETY.

Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to issue interim rules regarding commercial and recreational use of water sports equipment.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP FEES.

Establishes within the Department of Land and Natural Resources the environmental stewardship fee program to collect a fee from visitors through an environmental stewardship license and allocate the revenue to protect, restore, and manage natural and cultural resources through grants to nonprofit organizations. Establishes the environmental stewardship fee special fund. Establishes the Environmental Stewardship Commission to make recommendations to the Board of Land and Natural Resources regarding the use of revenues in the special fund. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct rulemaking. Requires a report to the legislature, including an environmental stewardship fee strategic plan. Creates civil or administrative penalties to be imposed after July 1, 2030. Appropriates funds.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.

Allows a retirant to be employed without reenrollment in the Employees' Retirement System and without loss or interruption of retirement benefits if the retirant is employed as an investigator in a position identified by the Department of the Attorney General or the Department of Law Enforcement as a labor shortage or difficult—to-fill position, subject to certain conditions. Requires the director of human resources of the appropriate state jurisdiction or the human resources management chief executive of each county to include in their annual reports to the Legislature, details on the employment of retirants as investigators.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAII RETIREMENT SAVINGS ACT.

Clarifies the definition of "covered employer" under the Hawaii Retirement Savings Act. Requires covered employers to automatically enroll covered employees into the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program unless the covered employee chooses to opt out. Effective upon approval.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PARKING FOR DISABLED PERSONS.

Authorizes each county to enact ordinances to enforce the design and construction requirements for the provision of accessible parking spaces, including the establishment of penalties for failure to comply with the ordinances.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO NON-MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS TO IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS.

Repeals the non-medical exemption from immunization requirements.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Beginning July 1, 2026, bans the sale of all flavored tobacco products and mislabeled e-liquid products. Establishes positions and appropriates funds to enforce the ban. Repeals section 328J-11.5, HRS. Effective July 1, 2025.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Repeals section 328J-11.5, HRS.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO MANUFACTURED HEMP PRODUCTS.

Establishes a minimum age requirement for the sale of manufactured hemp products.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO REGISTRATION TO SELL MANUFACTURED HEMP PRODUCTS.

Requires manufactured hemp product distributors and manufactured hemp product retailers to register with the Department of Health to sell manufactured hemp products; requires the Department of Health to collect application fees and issue certificates of registration.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO MANUFACTURED HEMP PRODUCTS.

Clarifies that the definition of "manufactured hemp products" in section 328G-1, HRS, includes hemp products specified in rules adopted by the Department of Health pursuant to section 328G-4, HRS.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO SAFE SPACES FOR YOUTH PROGRAM.

Makes the Safe Spaces for Youth Pilot Program permanent within the Office of Youth Services. Requires the program to collaborate with all state and county departments that offer services for youth and young adults to coordinate the identification of youth and young adults who are experiencing homelessness and placement of these youth at a shelter for homeless youth or young adults. Authorizes the Office of Youth Services to contract with nonprofit organizations to provide shelters for homeless youth or young adults. Requires the Office of Youth Services to submit a report twenty days prior to the regular session of the Legislature.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC HOUSING EVICTIONS.

Reduces the time required to store unclaimed personal effects of an evicted tenant.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.

Amends section 356D-6.7, HRS, to include all Hawaii Public Housing Authority parcels as areas that may be closed to the public.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TENANT SELECTION.

Repeals the tenant selection preferences for disabled veterans and the spouses of deceased veterans in the State Low-Income Housing Program.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO COUNTY USER FEES.

Exempts the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from county user fees, in the amount of $100,000 aggregate per year, and ensures county services to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for Hawaiian Home Lands.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.

Allows the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to assume historic preservation review of the effect of any proposed project for lands under its jurisdiction except for projects affecting properties listed or nominated for inclusion in the Hawaii register of historic places or the national register of historic places.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Increases the tax rates for cigarettes and little cigars beginning 1/1/2026, amends the disposition of tax revenues to certain non-general funds starting from fiscal year 2026-2027, with the excess carrying over to the general fund, and expands the tax disposition of tax revenues to the funds to include all tobacco product taxes. Repeals obsolete historical tax rates.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Reduces the minimum number of years of credited service qualified Tier 2 Employees' Retirement System members must have to be eligible for vested benefit status for service retirement allowance purposes from ten years to five years. Increases employer contributions to offset the resulting liability.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO USE OF INTOXICANTS WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE.

Lowers the blood alcohol content threshold for driving while under the influence of alcohol from .08 to .05 or more grams of alcohol to reduce impaired driving and fatal crashes.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE.

Transfers the Office of Wellness and Resilience to the Department of Human Resources Development on June 29, 2025. Creates a wellness and resilience advisory board. Updates the Office of Wellness and Resilience functions.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Beginning January 1, 2026, prohibits an insurer of property, homeowner's, or renter's insurance from increasing the premium for a policyholder's insurance policy upon renewal unless the insurer submits a report to the policyholder and Insurance Commissioner and receives approval from the Insurance Commissioner. Establishes penalties. Sunsets 1/1/2029.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE LEGISLATIVE VACANCIES.

Provides the Governor with discretion to not fill a vacant legislative position if the vacancy occurs one hundred twenty days or less from an upcoming primary election until after the results of the primary election are certified.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Amends the law to reduce the amount the Department of Education is required to charge for school meals to all students enrolled in department schools.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to implement dyslexia-sensitive universal screenings, provide evidence-based interventions, and offer professional development on dyslexia and structured literacy.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Allows newly graduated high school students to be eligible for workers' compensation coverage during the summer following their high school graduation while participating in work-based learning programs established and regulated by the Department of Education.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Authorizes the Department of Education to establish a program to award a high school diploma to qualified persons who did not receive a high school diploma as a result of compulsorily or voluntarily induction into the armed services of the United States and to persons whose high school education was interrupted due to wartime practices.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EARLY LEARNING BOARD.

Amends section 302L-1.6(b), HRS, to add the head start state collaboration office director as an ex officio, non-voting member of the early learning board, and to require the board to invite the president of the Head Start Association of Hawaii, or the president's designee, to serve as an ex officio, non-voting member of the board.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE.

Expands the powers of the Hawaii Property Insurance Association and Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund to help to stabilize the property insurance market in the State. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to conduct a study. Appropriates moneys.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD.

Authorizes the payment of allowances for TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE Dental Program, and vision coverage to all officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel of the Hawaii National Guard ordered to active duty for more than 30 days in the service of the State.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STRENGTHEN HAWAII HOMES PROGRAM.

Establishes the Strengthen Hawaii Homes Program to encourage single-family homeowners to retrofit their homes to resist damage by providing for grants to help offset the cost of retrofits. Appropriates funds.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.

Converts the Emergency Management Specialist series positions at level V and higher in the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency from civil service status to exempt status.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION'S OPERATING BUDGET.

Permits condominium associations to borrow from or reallocate their reserve funds provided the loan is repaid within one year. Effective upon approval.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

Makes an emergency appropriation out of the Public Utilities Commission Special Fund for the Public Utilities Commission to procure services by consultants with technical expertise in the efforts to strengthen the resilience and reliability of electric utility services in the State.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY-EFFICIENCY PORTFOLIO STANDARDS.

Extends the State's deadline to achieve its energy-efficiency portfolio standards target from 2030 to 2045 and updates the standards. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish interim goals for electricity use reduction to be achieved by 2025, 2035, and 2040. Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to adjust the 2030 and 2045 standard and interim standards.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE MONEY TRANSMITTERS MODERNIZATION ACT.

Aligns the State's Money Transmitters Modernization Act with the Model Money Transmitters Modernization Act, thereby enabling Hawaii to work within a network of states to license, supervise, and examine transglobal money transmission companies as a multistate system; adopts nationwide standards that provide clarity and consistency in calculating the tangible net worth of licensees; ensures that licensees have sufficient financial resources to conduct their business in a safe and sound manner; and promotes efficiency throughout the licensing process.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAM.

Clarifies that the Public Utilities Commission under the Universal Service Program may provide, and may use funds from the Universal Service Fund to provide, free telecommunications access to certain individuals with a print disability.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO FUNDING ADJUSTMENTS FOR STATE PROGRAMS.

Makes emergency appropriations and commensurate reductions to pay for anticipated operating shortfalls in the fourth quarter due to the limited ability to transfer funds between programs.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat