Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO THE PROMOTION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.

Amends the offense of promoting a controlled substance in, on, or near schools, school vehicles, public parks, or public housing projects or complexes to include homeless facilities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Requires the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu to submit a report to the Legislature. Appropriates grant-in-aid moneys to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu for the Victim Witness Assistance Program. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO ELDER CRIME VICTIMS.

Removes state of mind requirement pertaining to a victim's age for felony assaults aggravated by the victim's age.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY.

Amends the offense of negligent injury in the first degree to include substantial bodily injury caused by the operation of a vehicle in a negligent manner while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO ABUSE OF FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS.

Maintains the petty misdemeanor offense of abuse of family or household member by repealing the sunset of amendments made to sections 709-906 and 853-4, HRS, by Act 19, SLH 2020. Repeals provisions authorizing a deferred acceptance of a guilty plea for misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor abuse of family or household members offenses.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO BIODIESEL.

Requires the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to adopt rules to require that diesel fuel sold in the State for use in on-highway diesel-powered motor vehicles contains no less than five per cent biodiesel by volume.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO BROTHER JOSEPH DUTTON DAY.

Designates April 27 of every year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO VEGETATIVE BURNING.

Prohibits the Department of Health from issuing permits for commercial burning of green waste products in residential areas or within one thousand feet of a residential property.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO LOCAL PURCHASING PREFERENCE.

Gradually requires that, by 2032, 30% of the natural landscaping materials purchased by certain departments be locally sourced, meaning 50% of the wholesale value is added by manufacture, processing, production, or harvesting in the State. Applies to the Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of Defense, Department of Accounting and General Services, and University of Hawaii System. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

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

Establishes the Hawaii Dementia Initiative Business Recognition Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Provides that an individual who becomes a lessee of a tract of Hawaiian home lands, either as an original lessee or as a successor lessee, shall forfeit any interest as an original lessee or successor lessee in any other tract of Hawaiian home lands and be removed from any applicant waitlist.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires Huli Au Ola to conduct a study on physician and dentist recruitment and retention to be located on and serve the island of Molokai. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO POLLUTION.

Requires the Department of Health to establish and administer a centralized reporting system for the public to report solid waste pollution complaints. Increases penalties for solid waste pollution violations. Establishes a state-county illegal dumping task force and reporting requirements. Increases penalties for felony and petty misdemeanor disposal of solid waste. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO BUSINESS COMPETITIVENESS.

Establishes a goal for the State to achieve a ranking among the top 10 states in the nation for business competitiveness by 2045. Defines and requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to select a "ranking metric" and establishes interim goals. Requires DBEDT to establish a working group to develop and recommend policies that improve Hawaii's business competitiveness. Requires annual reports to Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE.

Establishes an independent Office of the Child Advocate within the Office of the Ombudsman to oversee and evaluate the delivery of services to children and their families by various state agencies and entities, receive and investigate complaints, and make recommendations for improvement. Requires annual reports to the Governor, Legislature, and public. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO ENABLE LEGISLATION BY THE PEOPLE.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to provide for initiative and referendum.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO ENABLING LEGISLATION BY THE PEOPLE.

Provides for initiative and referendum procedures. Takes effect upon ratification of a constitutional amendment enabling legislation by the people.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO 911 SERVICES.

Requires the 911 Board to establish, implement, and maintain a statewide emergency safety profile system that allows residents to voluntarily create and manage secure personal profiles containing information relevant to emergency responses.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO EQUITY.

Requires all places of public accommodation and public entity construction projects planned and designed after 7/31/2027 to provide at least one universal changing accommodation within the building in a public restroom, with certain exceptions. Makes conforming amendments to sections 489-6, 489-7.5, and 489-8, HRS, to prevent conflicts among the provisions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO DEMENTIA.

Establishes the Hanai Memory Network Program within the Executive Office on Aging to create a network of dementia care specialists and support systems to assist individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Appropriates funds.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Includes housing projects for individuals with disabilities and individuals with access and functional needs as eligible projects to apply for expedited permits. Effective 7/2/2026. Repeals on 6/30/2031.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO HOSPITAL LICENSING.

Permits hospitals to demonstrate compliance with all licensing inspections required by the State through accreditation or certification by any accreditation or certification organization approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD2)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO HOME HEALTH LICENSING.

Authorizes the Department of Health to accept accreditation from an accreditation organization or a certification organization approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as demonstration that a licensed home health agency is in compliance with all licensing inspections required by the State. Specifies conditions under which a home health agency may be exempt from a licensing inspection on a continuing basis. Requires information obtained in reports of survey and accreditation or certification letters to be public information. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD2)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Requires that employers pay all workers' compensation claims for compensable injuries and not deny claims without reasonable cause or during a pending investigation. Creates a presumption of compensability for claims submitted by employees excluded from coverage under the Hawaii prepaid health care act. Requires that employers notify medical services providers of any billing disagreements and allows providers to charge an additional rate to employers for outstanding balances owed for undisputed charges. Establishes dispute resolution procedures for employers and providers who have a reasonable disagreement over charges. Requires employers to deny a treatment plan within 3 days of receipt of a treatment plan or the treatment plan is deemed accepted.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

Repeals statutory language that currently authorizes the Department of Law Enforcement to: (1) inspect a qualifying medical cannabis patient's medical records held by the health provider who issued a written certification for the qualifying patient; and (2) suspend or revoke a health provider's ability to issue written certification for medical cannabis if the provider refuses the foregoing inspection, or if the medical records do not comply with the medical use of cannabis law.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Medicaid buy-in program for workers with disabilities. Requires the Department to adopt rules.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO SURGICAL ASSISTANTS.

Requires the Hawaii Medical Board to require each person practicing medicine or podiatric medicine as a surgical assistant in the State to be licensed as a surgical assistant. Establishes exceptions. Requires the Hawaii Medical Board by rule to establish the application procedure, medical educational and training standards, examination requirements, if any, for surgical assistant licensure and degrees of supervision for surgical assistants. Establishes the Surgical Assistant Advisory Committee. Expands the services eligible for Medicaid Prospective Payment System reimbursement to include certain services furnished by a federally qualified health center or rural health clinic and provided by surgical assistants.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO HOSPITAL PRICE TRANSPARENCY.

Requires each hospital licensed in the State to provide an annual attestation to the State Health Planning and Development Agency that the hospital is in compliance with federal hospital price transparency requirements. Permits patients to file a counterclaim against debt collection actions filed by hospitals to determine if the hospital is in compliance with federal hospital price transparency requirements. Requires hospitals to provide patients with an easy-to-understand itemized bill statement before initiating a debt collection action against a patient. Effective 1/30/2050. (HD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO LIGHT POLLUTION.

Requires all outdoor light fixtures to be fully shielded. Creates exemptions for certain outdoor lighting. Repeals the Night Sky Protection Strategy. Appropriates funds.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

By 1/1/2027, requires all law enforcement agencies in the State to maintain a policy on the visible identification of law enforcement officers. Requires law enforcement agencies to maintain confidential, accurate records documenting each officer's adherence to the agency's visible identification policy. Prohibits state and county law enforcement agencies from assisting any law enforcement operation conducted by a federal law enforcement agency that fails or refuses to maintain a policy on the visible identification of law enforcement officers that meets the standards of state law. By 1/1/2027, requires state and county law enforcement agencies to maintain a policy on the minimum requirements to cooperate with a federal law enforcement agency enforcing federal immigration laws in the State.

Herbert M. "Tim" Richards IIIDemocrat

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 EDUCATION.

Increases required public school instructional hours beginning in the 2027-2028 school year.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL LEASEHOLDS.

Exempts state and county lands leased after July 1, 2026, for an initial period of not less than 99 years from chapters 516 and 516D, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Establishes as a deceptive trade practice the advertising, displaying, or offering of a price for goods or services that does not include all mandatory fees or charges, with certain exceptions.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH SERVICES.

Requires the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health, to develop and distribute to each public middle and high school in the State guidelines for the establishment and operation of safe spaces for students to access telehealth services on school property during normal school hours. Requires each public middle and high school to establish and maintain a safe space for students according to the guidelines.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

Requires the Land Use Commission to reclassify lands that are designated for urban growth under a county general plan or county development plan as being in the urban district at the request of the county.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO BLUE CARBON.

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to establish a Statewide Blue Carbon Strategy. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

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

Renames the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism as the Department of Housing, Economic Development, and Tourism. Effective 7/1/2060. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO A DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING.

Establishes the Department of Housing. Places the Hawaii Community Development Authority, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and Hawaii Public Housing Authority within the Department of Housing for administrative purposes. Replaces the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism with the Director of Housing on the Hawaii Community Development Authority. Effective 7/1/2050.

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 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 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 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 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 7/1/2050.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires applicants for rental housing revolving fund moneys to be either organizations that are required to use all financial surplus, excluding fees, to develop additional housing in the State, or government agencies. Effective 7/1/2050.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Adds the Executive Director of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.

Adds the Executive Director of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority.

Stanley ChangDemocrat