Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Requires the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to establish a Hawaii Urban Planning Museum. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes the Hawaii State Fellows Program within the Department of Human Resources Development to match talented applicants with full-time, paid fellowship roles in various state agencies for a period of 10 to 11 months. Establishes minimum qualifications and procedures for eligible applicants to apply to the program. Gives preference to eligible program applicants who have a pre-existing connection to the State or a demonstrated commitment to long-term leadership in the State. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to coordinate with state agencies to implement and promote the program. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a School Bus Driver Recruitment Grant Program. Establishes a School Bus Driver Recruitment Special Fund. Establishes a Repayment Signing Bonus Program. Establishes a School Bus Driver Outreach and Pathway Program. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Establishes the offense of use of a mask or facial covering by a law enforcement officer. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Beginning 1/1/2027, repeals the fourteen years and under age limit for health insurance coverage requirements for the diagnosis and treatment of autism. Repeals the maximum coverage benefit limit of $25,000 for applied behavioral analysis services.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO PLASTIC POLLUTION.

Prohibits the sale of any beverage contained in single-use plastic beverage containers where the plastic beverage cap is not tethered to the single-use plastic beverage container when the plastic beverage cap is removed. Requires plastic beverage caps tethered or otherwise attached to the single-use plastic beverage containers to be the same plastic resin.

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 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 PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS.

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish or select and contract with a third-party administrator to serve as the State Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) who shall be responsible for administering all pharmacy benefits for medicaid beneficiaries enrolled with medicaid managed care organization. Requires medicaid managed care organizations to contract with and utilize the State PBM. Establishes requirements to procure the State PBM in addition to the requirements under state law governing purchases of health and human services. Establishes requirements and prohibitions for the contract to be used by the DHS when contracting with the state PBM. Requires the DHS to establish a single-preferred drug list to be used by the State PBM. Requires the DHS to consult with the Med-QUEST Healthcare Advisory Committee on the development, implementation, and oversight of the State PBM program. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO RENTAL DISCRIMINATION.

Allows the court to award attorneys' fees to a prevailing party in an action relating to discriminatory practices in a rental transaction based on source of income. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING DISCRIMINATION.

Allows the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission to prosecute discrimination based on source of income in housing cases. Clarifies penalties. Establishes a position. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

Provides an emergency appropriation to the Department of Human Services to replace general fund appropriations redirected to provide emergency food assistance during the 2025 federal government shutdown. Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to help Hawaii residents obtain insurance available through the federal marketplace. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE LITERACY EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a statewide Artificial Intelligence Literacy Curricula Plan for students in eleventh and twelfth grades, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year as a condition for graduation. Establishes the Advisory Council for Artificial Intelligence Education. Establishes a three-year Artificial Intelligence Education Grant Pilot Program within the Department of Education. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a statewide Environmental Stewardship Curricula Plan for public schools for certain students. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires public schools to offer an environmental stewardship course for certain students. Requires the Department of Education to establish and administer sustainability programs, including recycling and composting programs, to be implemented at public schools. Beginning 7/1/27, prohibits the use or distribution of single-use plastic utensils, trays, straws, and other disposable plastic food service products in public school cafeterias. Beginning 7/1/28, requires each public school to have at least one operational refillable water bottle filling station accessible to students and staff. Requires reports to the Board of Education and the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

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 EDUCATION.

Beginning with the - school year, requires public elementary, middle, and high school classes to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. Requires the Department of Education to adjust state-provided bus and school meal schedules accordingly.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE RENTAL INDUSTRY.

Repeals vehicle license recovery fees. Reinstates certain costs of fees and taxes that may be passed on to lessees. Effective 1/1/2051.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

Specifies that a simple majority of affirmative votes of the members of the Land Use Commission present at a meeting and qualified to vote is required for any boundary amendment.

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 PUBLIC ACCESS.

Establishes a Capitol Visitor Center Working Group to study the feasibility of establishing a Capitol Visitor Center and submit a report to the Legislature. Requires the Department of Accounting and General Services to provide administrative support to the Working Group. Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to assist the Working Group in preparing and submitting the report to the Legislature. Working Group to sunset on 6/30/2027. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE HOLIDAYS.

Designates the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice of each year as a state holiday celebrating the Lunar New Year.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO TERMINAL ILLNESSES.

Authorizes manufacturers of investigational drugs or biological products that are pending approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration to make the drugs or products available to terminally ill patients under certain conditions.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Requires the Department of Education to identify as an excused absence any absence due to the student's mental or behavioral health. Limits the number of excused absences due to mental or behavioral health that a student may take per academic year. Exempts an absence due to the student's mental or behavioral health from the enforcement of penalties relating to compulsory school attendance.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO VOTING.

Requires the Department of Human Services' Med-QUEST division to automatically transmit applicants' voter registration information to the Office of Elections and clerk of the county of the applicant's residence, subject to certain conditions. Authorizes the Office of Elections to designate state agencies for automatic voter registration if the agency collects, processes, or stores certain information. Updates methods for automatic voter registration conducted by the Examiner of Drivers. Makes conforming amendments. Effective 1/30/2027.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, requires each public school in the State, including charter schools, to employ, or retain under contract, at least one mental health professional for every 250 students enrolled, subject to certain conditions. Requires the Department of Education to submit a progress report to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027. Appropriates moneys for the Department of Education to contract for mental health professionals and to establish an unspecified number of full‑time equivalent mental health professional positions within the Department of Education.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL COMPACT.

Adopts the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact to regulate the practice of telepsychology and the temporary in-person, face-to-face practice of psychologists when patients are located in compact states other than the state where the psychologist is licensed. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules to implement and administer the compact.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTORCYCLES.

Requires all persons operating or riding a motorcycle to wear a safety helmet.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

Requires the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to award monthly rent supplement payments on behalf of qualified tenants under the State Rent Supplement Program prioritizing certain tenants, including kupuna. Authorizes the HPHA to enter into memoranda of agreement for rental supplement payments with the counties or specialized nonprofit organizations. Amends provisions relating to the State Rent Supplement Program. Establishes the State Rent Supplement Program Special Fund. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to assess a transaction tax for each applicable recording in the Office of the Assistant Registrar of the Land Court or the Bureau of Conveyances to be deposited into the State Rent Supplement Program Special Fund. Repeals the existing separate State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna. Establishes four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) permanent public housing specialist II positions and one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent public housing specialist IV position within the Hawaii Public Housing Authority. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes the Marine Trade Training Apprenticeship Program within the University of Hawaii system of community colleges. Establishes the Marine Trade Training Program Tax Credit.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

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

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study the impacts of the incremental minimum wage increases pursuant to Act 114, SLH 2022, on businesses and other employers. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO HUNTING.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to identify public lands on each island of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, and Hawaii, that may be newly designated as public hunting areas for the hunting of game birds and game mammals without conflicting with other land uses. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Subjects the Hawaii Tourism Authority's updating of the Tourism Functional Plan to availability of funding. Requires the Governor to submit an approved updated plan to the Legislature before the Regular Session following an update, rather than before the Regular Session of 2025.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO DENTAL INSURANCE.

Requires dental insurers to file all proposed plan rates and rate changes for a dental insurance plan with the Insurance Commissioner. Authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to disapprove the proposed plan rate if the dental loss ratio for the plan is less than seventy-five per cent. Establishes the method to calculate a dental insurer's dental loss ratio. Requires dental insurers to include dental loss ratio information in their annual reports to the Insurance Commissioner. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to publish certain report information.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT.

Requires any person applying to the Department of Health to contract or extend or renew a contract to operate certain residential treatment programs to, as a condition of the contract, obtain and maintain a general liability insurance policy with a certain minimum coverage amount; submit to the Department for review and approval a community safety action plan; and provide to the community association or neighborhood board in the community in which the program will operate a written notice of the program's establishment and location and the community safety action plan.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWAL OF DRIVER'S LICENSES.

Requires applicants for driver's license renewal to complete an educational course that includes a road safety video developed by the Department of Transportation and a written examination.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO PRIVACY.

Establishes the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images or private images as a criminal offense. Amends the criteria for an extended term of imprisonment to include an offender whose act of attempting to commit or committing the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images or private images against a minor or vulnerable adult was the proximate cause of the victim's death. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Establishes safe riding behaviors for electric bicycles. Prohibits the operation of high-speed electric devices in certain locations. Establishes labeling and signage requirements for electric bicycles. Prohibits the operation of a moped or electric motorcycle in certain locations. Amends the definition of "bicycle" for purposes of county vehicular taxes. Defines "electric bicycle" in place of "low-speed electric bicycle". Defines "electric micro-mobility device" and requires the same regulations as electric foot scooters to apply to electric micro-mobility devices. Prohibits a person under the age of sixteen from operating a class 3 electric bicycle. Authorizes a person under the age of fourteen to operate class 2 electric bicycles under supervision. Prohibits a person from riding a class 3 electric bicycle on a sidewalk. Authorizes a person to ride a class 1 or class 2 electric bicycle on a sidewalk under certain circumstances. Prohibits a person from operating a bicycle or electric foot scooter under the age of eighteen without a helmet. Repeals the requirement that moped drivers use bicycle lanes. Substitutes the word "motor-driven cycle" with the word "motor scooter".

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.

Beginning 7/1/2027, authorizes state departments, divisions, and agencies to elect to assume hiring and recruitment functions from the Department of Human Resources Development for vacant civil service positions within that department, division, or agency under certain conditions. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to adopt rules. Repeals existing law authorizing state departments, divisions, and agencies to conduct minimum qualification review of applicants for their vacant civil service positions. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD STATE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Authorizes the Adjutant General to expand the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program to include graduate degrees at the University of Hawaii for qualified enlisted personnel in the Hawaii National Guard. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

Removes the Adjutant General as a nonvoting ex-officio member of the Hawaii Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee. Adds the Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency as a nonvoting ex-officio member of the EMSAC.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO COUNTY LABOR STANDARDS.

Authorizes counties to require contractors to disclose employee wage, benefit, hour, and employment‑status information. Authorizes counties, under certain conditions, to deny, revoke, or suspend building permits for violations of related laws. Establishes a process by which an owner or developer may replace a noncompliant contractor and transfer the building permit to the replacement contractor. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

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.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

Requires each state agency to expeditiously use energy efficient lighting. Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to provide technical assistance and survey state agencies for compliance, prioritizing first responder facilities. Requires the Department of Accounting and General Services to assist the Hawaii State Energy Office in conducting the survey. Requires a report of the survey to the Legislature.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER.

Establishes an order of succession for an Interim Chief Election Officer in the event of a vacancy in the position of Chief Election Officer until the Elections Commission appoints a new Chief Election Officer. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER RETENTION.

Directs the University of Hawaiʻi School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology to conduct a study that identifies, analyzes, and evaluates possible methods to capture, retain, and store rainwater and storm water runoff for counties with a population of more than five hundred thousand. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO RECORDINGS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.

Establishes the right of a person to record law enforcement activities. Establishes a private right of action for any violation of the right to record law enforcement activities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS.

Establishes a Traffic Fines Task Force that will examine the Finnish tiered traffic fines system, determine whether a similar system could be implemented in the State, and provide recommendations as to how a system could best be implemented. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat