Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

Appropriate funds into and out of the Hawaii Historic Preservation Special Fund for the State Historic Preservation Division to inventory historic properties and burial sites in the State, collect data on burial site locations, and conduct an archaeological survey necessary to compile the inventory. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER CATCHMENT SYSTEMS.

Establishes a Business Activity Water Catchment System Working Group within the Department of Health to assess the feasibility of allowing business owners in the State to utilize filtered water collected by water catchment systems for business activities. Requires the Business Activity Water Catchment System Working Group to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature before the Regular Session of 2027 and dissolve on 6/30/2027. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTEWATER SYSTEMS.

Requires the Department of Health to amend its administrative rules to: (1) Authorize not more than five dwellings and dwelling units connected to a single individual wastewater system; and (2) Provide that not more than five bedrooms may be connected to a single individual wastewater system. (SD1)

Herbert M. "Tim" Richards IIIDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTHY WORKPLACES.

Prohibits any employer or employee from subjecting an employee to abusive conduct. Requires employers and certain employees to take all reasonable preventative and responsive measures to ensure a safe work environment free of abusive conduct. Prohibits employers and certain employees from taking retaliatory actions against employees who engage in certain protected acts. Establishes a penalty, private cause of action, and remedies. Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to adopt rules.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO SEWER TRANSMISSION LINES.

Requires that all county sewer transmission lines on Hawaiian home lands in compliance or brought into compliance by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, are licensed or dedicated to the respective county within sixty days after the receipt by the appropriate county agency of a completed application for maintenance request.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO AN INTENSIVE MOBILE TEAM PILOT PROGRAM FOR HOUSELESS INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM SERIOUS BRAIN DISORDERS.

Establishes a three-year Intensive Mobile Team Pilot Program in the Department of Health to provide intensive mobile treatment-type services, including "street psychiatry", to chronically houseless individuals suffering from serious brain disorders, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Requires the Adult Mental Health Division of the Department of Health to submit reports to the Legislature. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO POLOLU VALLEY MANAGEMENT EFFORTS ON HAWAII ISLAND.

Appropriates moneys for Pololu Valley management, including for the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop the trailhead; develop the infrastructure necessary to accommodate parking; install appropriate informational, historical, and educational signage; design and construct restroom facilities; and establish positions to manage the trail area. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Herbert M. "Tim" Richards IIIDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Increases the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit for qualified productions that utilize qualified production facilities located within the State. Changes the cap amount and aggregate cap amount of the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit to unspecified amounts. Imposes the manufacturing GET rate on motion picture, digital media, and film productions and repeals the provision in the definition of "qualified production costs" that applied the term to mean costs incurred that are subject to the highest GET rate. Exempts from the GET amounts received by a motion picture project employer from a client equal to amounts that are disbursed by the motion picture project employer for employee wages, salaries, payroll taxes, insurance premiums, and employment benefits and payments to loan-out companies. (HD1)

LAMOSAO

RELATING TO AQUACULTURE.

Prohibits certain octopus aquaculture. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL CRIMES.

Establishes the Hawaii Agricultural Crimes Council. Expands the duties of the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with and support the Council. Establishes the Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO TOXIC CHEMICALS.

Requires state agencies that monitor environmental toxins and pollutants to establish environmental action levels (EALs) to ensure the preservation of a safe environment. Prohibits modifications to EALs unless certain procedural requirements are met. Establishes a process to allow any resident to petition for modifications to an established EAL.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires each county, in collaboration with the Department of Transportation to establish a Summer Streets Pilot Program that closes vehicular traffic and repurposes roads for pedestrian and cyclist use, outdoor events, and other community-driven activities. Requires each county to submit an initial proposal to the Director of Transportation. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

Establishes a working group for legal services for youth in the child welfare system within the Judiciary. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds for the working group. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes what constitutes transit-oriented development and incentivizes development in county-designated transit-oriented development areas or zones. Prioritizes the allocation of a minimum percentage of the Rental Housing Revolving Fund for certain mixed-income rental housing projects or units. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO TOWING.

Requires towing truck operators to obtain a towing license. Establishes the Towing Authority within the Department of Transportation to issue towing licenses and regulate towing operations. Prohibits the act of vehicle mobilization without a valid towing license. Prohibits the counties from enacting ordinances that provide less consumer protections than state law. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO CULTURE AND ARTS.

Establishes the Hawaii Leadership Awards Program to honor individuals who have made considerable and outstanding contributions to Hawaii and serve as inspirations to others. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO AVIAN INFLUENZA.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health and Department of Agriculture to prevent, monitor, and respond to avian influenza in Hawaii. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES.

Part I: Requires the Public Utilities Commission to impose certain conditions of approval on any order approving, in whole or in part, an application for the proposed acquisition, merger, or consolidation of an electric utility company by an acquiring entity. Establishes a process to ensure that when an electric utility is subject to an application for a proposed acquisition, merger, or consolidation by a potential acquiring entity that is an investor-owned utility and seeks approval of the application from the Public Utilities Commission, it must demonstrate that it solicited bids from potential acquiring entities that operate under a non-investor-owned utility ownership model. Requires the electric utility to submit those acceptable bids concurrently with an application by a potential acquiring entity that is an investor-owned utility. Part II: Authorizes the issuance of reimbursable GO bonds for acquiring Hawaiian Electric Industries and converting it to a publicly owned utility. Authorizes the establishment of a non-bypassable electric utility conversion charge, to be deposited into the new Electric Utility Conversion Special Fund. Appropriates Funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Establishes a new gift card fraud law, under the scope of unfair and deceptive practices law, which requires merchants and third-party gift card resellers to take certain steps to prevent gift card scams. Requires the conspicuous provision of information regarding terms and conditions of gift certificates, regardless of whether the cards are sold in person, electronically, or telephonically. Extends the minimum redemption period for paper gift certificates to four years. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Establishes rate transparency requirements for insurance companies operating in the State. Establishes the Office of Insurance Consumer Affairs within the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer affairs to provide oversight, information, and consumer advocacy. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO IRRIGATION.

Authorizes the Director of Finance to issue general obligation bonds and appropriates funds to finance capital improvement projects for irrigation systems. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO OVERDOSE PREVENTION.

Establishes and provides criteria for overdose prevention centers, including standards for the Department of Health to designate certain facilities as overdose prevention centers. Establishes an Overdose Prevention Center Oversight Committee. Provides immunity from state criminal prosecution for certain offenses for persons using a designated overdose prevention center and persons operating a designated overdose prevention center. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT.

Requires a wastewater treatment works to test sewage sludge and any other residual material for the presence of PFAS. Requires the Department of Health to adopt administrative rules for the safe disposal and sequestration of sewage sludge and other residual material that contain specific amounts of PFAS. Prohibits the issuance or renewal of permits if testing yields PFAS in sewage sludge or other residual material on land used for agronomic purposes, on land where drainage tiles have been installed, on land that drains into waters of the State, or land in a five hundred-year floodplain. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Establishes a pilot program within the Department of Agriculture to determine feasibility and prepare an environmental impact statement to drill non-potable water wells on individual parcels at Panaewa agricultural park and Panaewa farm lots. Requires DOA to consult and coordinate with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands on the location and distribution of water from the wells before and after the completion of the EIS. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Imposes an additional fee for a certificate of registration for motor vehicles, to be deposited into the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO.

Appropriates funds for one retention coordinator position, one internship coordinator position, and student enrollment management initiatives at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO TELEHEALTH.

Extends the sunset date of Act 107, SLH 2023, which allows for the reimbursement of services provided through telehealth via an interactive telecommunications system, until 12/31/2026. (HD2)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO VOTER REGISTRATION.

Authorizes state agencies to implement automatic voter registration if designated by the Office of Elections. Requires eligible applicants for instruction permits, provisional licenses, driver's licenses, and identification cards to be automatically registered or preregistered to vote unless the applicant opts out. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO IDENTIFICATION.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in collaboration with various agencies and upon request of the inmates, to assist inmates in obtaining the inmates' civil identification card, birth certificate, social security card, and other relevant identification necessary for successful reentry into society, as soon as practicable. Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to initiate the process of obtaining identifying documents for inmates released to work furlough, extended furlough, or community placement programs, by providing the forms necessary for the inmate to obtain civil identification cards and other identifying documents to the inmate as soon as practicable. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSING.

Amends requirements to commercial driver's license qualification standards to meet current federal regulations to allow the State to issue a limited-term non-domiciled commercial learner's permit and non-domiciled commercial driver's license for applicants who are unable to provide proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO MANAGING AGENTS.

Requires managing agents for residential condominium properties over seventy-five feet in height to have commercial property management experience. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

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. Effective 07/01/3000. (HD2)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health for the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project. Establishes three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) positions. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

Extends the sunset date of the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project to 2038. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

Transfers the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development for administrative purposes. Removes the manager of the Coastal Zone Management Program from the Commission. Adds a representative from the University of Hawaii to the Commission. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WAGE AND HOUR LAW.

Amends the definition of "employee" in Hawaii's wage and hour law by excluding individuals who are primarily engaged in the range production of livestock. Effective July 1, 3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DOG BREEDERS.

Defines a "dog breeder" as any person who owns, possesses, controls, or otherwise has charge or custody of more than ten dogs over the age of twelve months with intact sexual organs, and who sells, barters, or otherwise transfers more than three litters and more than twenty-five dogs per calendar year. Requires dog breeders to meet minimum standards of care and not place certain types of dogs in the same enclosure to ensure the proper treatment and care of dogs and the dogs' offspring. Prohibits any person from owning or having custody of more than thirty dogs over one year with intact sexual organs. Requires dog breeders to maintain specific written records for each dog for a specified period. Authorizes each county to assess, implement, and enforce its own licensing system. Establishes civil and criminal penalties for violations. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriate funds for the Agribusiness Development Corporation to purchase a land parcel in Kau on the county of Hawaii for agricultural development. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS.

Allows a party aggrieved by the judgment of a circuit court on a minimum term order to appeal to the Intermediate Appellate Court. Requires prisoners to continue to be represented by counsel in any petition challenging minimum term proceedings. Requires the Supreme Court to establish rules. Establishes grounds for challenging a minimum term order. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO BURIAL SITES.

Establishes an inter-division program within the Department of Land and Natural Resources consisting of certain agencies to address the location, movement, and restoration of Hawaiian burial sites or ‘iwi, exposed or likely to be exposed by coastal erosion. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation the Government Employee Housing Program. Establishes the Government Employee Housing Revolving Fund. Clarifies eligibility for the Government Housing Revolving Fund and Government Employee Housing Program. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII RESIDENT TUITION FEE.

Requires the University of Hawaii to grant the resident tuition fee for enrollment at any University of Hawaii campus to individuals who have graduated from a Hawaii high school and are enrolling in an undergraduate degree program, under certain conditions. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO NURSING.

Requires the State Board of Nursing to identify one facility in each of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui that has the capability to establish a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center as a test site to administer a National Council Licensure Examination for nurses; equip each facility identified with the technical and facility requirements necessary for a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center; and submit an application for each facility to Pearson Education, Inc. to be authorized and contracted as a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

Provides rebates for the installation of eligible electric vehicle-ready parking stalls for new construction of affordable housing.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to achieve the full funding, including estimated payment increases, of Medicaid home- and community-based services. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO EVICTION MEDIATION.

Beginning 2/5/2026, extends the period for a notice of termination of a rental agreement; requires landlords to engage in mediation and delay filing an action for summary possession if a tenant schedules mediation; and requires landlords to provide specific information in the 10‑calendar-day notice to tenants. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. Repeals 2/4/2027. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO REMEDIES.

Clarifies the applicability of the statute of repose for actions arising from construction defects. Clarifies the required contents of a notice of claim of construction defect served on a contractor. Amends the process and time frame for a claimant to accept a contractor's offer to settle or inspect and authorize the contractor to proceed with repairs. Limits the amount a claimant can recover if the claimant rejects a contractor's reasonable proposal for inspection or a reasonable offer to remedy. Clarifies the consequences of rejecting an offer of settlement. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

AQUINO

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Authorizes a tax credit for businesses that pay the public transportation costs of employees. Applies to counties having populations of 700,000 or more. Applies for taxable years beginning after 12/31/2024 but not beginning after 12/31/2029. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat