Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Authorizes general excise tax exemptions for residential care services provided by certain licensed health care facilities pursuant to a contract with the Adult Mental Health Division of the Department of Health. Effective 1/1/26.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HARM REDUCTION.

Repeals the one-to-one syringe limit for the needle exchange program. Authorizes the Sterile Needle and Syringe Exchange Program to provide needs-based distribution. Authorizes non-injection drug user participation in the Program. Modifies liability for exchange program participants, staff, and law enforcement officers.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THERAPY SERVICES.

Expands the scopes of practice for occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech pathologists to allow those professionals working for or contracted by the Department of Education to diagnose medical conditions that can be treated with their respective services.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

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.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

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.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH AND MORALS.

Clarifies that the definition of "profits from prostitution" includes any money or property accepted or received from the proceeds of prostitution activity even if it is accepted or received as the reimbursement or repayment of a debt. Restructures provisions that define terms or establish exemptions for part I of chapter 712, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to enhance readability. Makes technical amendments to update statutory references to part I of chapter 712, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Clarifies and expands the circumstances and procedures available for emergency transportation, examination, and hospitalization under chapter 334. Provides limits on liability for state and local governments and professionals during mental health emergency procedures while performing their duties in the course of employment. Expands the notice requirements for an emergency hospitalization to include an individual's health-care surrogate and clarifies when notice to family members can be waived. Removes the authority of the family court to appoint a legal guardian in a proceeding for involuntary hospitalization. Removes the requirement that psychiatric facilities wait for a response on a notice of intent to discharge an involuntary hospitalization patient prior to discharge. Clarifies the circumstances under which a subject of an order for assisted community treatment can be administered medication over the subject's objection. Provides limits on liability for an assisted community treatment provider. Modifies the administrative authorization of medical treatment over the patient's objection to be reviewed by a single decision-maker who is a psychiatrist.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

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.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for teacher-requested classroom supplies for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND USE.

Authorizes county petition process for review and approval of land use district boundary amendments based on adopted county general plans or county development plans.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO SERVICE CHARGES.

Prohibits restaurants from imposing a mandatory gratuity service charge for the sale of food or beverage services unless the party includes ten or more customers, the service charge does not exceed eighteen per cent, and the customer is notified of the service charge.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO THE PESTICIDE USE REVOLVING FUND.

Increases the ceiling of the pesticide use revolving fund. Effective July 1, 2025.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PESTICIDE DRIFT MONITORING.

Appropriates funding to the department of agriculture to continue the statewide pesticide drift monitoring study.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

Establishes the Office of the State Architect within the Department of Accounting and General Services to be headed by the State Architect. Authorizes the State Architect to organize, manage, and oversee the design review of all state construction projects and issue design approvals. Establishes the Design Review Special Fund. Requires the State Architect to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature. Authorizes DAGS to provide centralized design review services for state construction projects and issue design approvals through the State Architect. Exempts state construction projects from county building permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy requirements, subject to certain conditions. Makes appropriations.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts from the general excise tax amounts received by a nurse entrepreneur for health care-related goods and services purchased under Medicaid, Medicare, or TRICARE.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION.

Establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for prior authorization process in the State, including disclosure and notice requirements for utilization review entities regarding their prior authorization requirements and restrictions; qualifications and criteria for prior authorization review and appeals personnel; prior authorization process for non-urgent and urgent health care services, including the time frame by which utilization review entities must render a decision; adverse determination and appeal processes; prohibition of prior authorization for emergency health care services and medication for opioid use disorder; payments to health care providers; length and duration of prior authorizations; and exemptions for certain health care providers. Requires health insurers to utilize NCPDP SCRIPT Standard electronic prior authorization transactions by 1/1/2026. Requires utilization review entities to submit annual reports to the Insurance Commissioner each year. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules by 1/1/2026.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

Prohibits persons from operating a medical cannabis dispensary or producing, manufacturing, or selling cannabis products without a license from the Department of Health. Prohibits individuals from providing certain services to individuals engaging in unlicensed cannabis operations. Requires the Department of Health to send a cease and desist notice to violators. Establishes criminal penalties.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO BI-LEVEL LIGHTING SYSTEMS.

Requires all newly constructed state buildings and facilities to use only bi-level lighting systems beginning 1/1/2026.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Establishes that any grants received from the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) by an eligible business pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 shall not be subject to state general excise tax. Requires any state general excise tax paid by eligible businesses for RRF grants to be refunded to the tax payer. Applicable to taxable years beginning after 3/11/2021.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO FINANCIAL LITERACY.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a statewide financial literacy curricula plan for public high schools. Requires all public high schools to offer instruction in financial literacy as a requirement for graduation. Requires the Department of Education to provide professional development to teachers on financial literacy. Requires the Board of Education to adopt administrative rules to implement the financial literacy education curriculum.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO THE COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.

Adds the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission or the Chairperson's designee to the Commission on Water Resource Management. Clarifies that only the five, non-ex-officio members appointed by the Governor are required to have substantial experience in water resource management.

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO SENTENCING.

Establishes a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for persons convicted of offenses based on the possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN SEXUALITY HEALTH EDUCATION CURRICULUM.

Requires that student health and sexuality health education programs include discussion of fetal growth and development. Outlines specific content to be included.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION.

Classifies certain former military vehicles as special interest vehicles. Enables owners of former military vehicles to apply for registration. Effective 1/1/2026.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO THE NURSE LICENSURE COMPACT.

Authorizes the Governor to enter the State into a multistate Nurse Licensure Compact that will allow a nurse who is licensed by a home state to practice under a multistate licensure privilege in each party state. Beginning 7/1/20 , requires each person who holds a multistate nurse license issued by another state and is employed by a health care facility to complete annual demographic data surveys. Authorizes the State Board of Nursing to charge different fees for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses who hold a multistate license issued by the State. Provides that the Nurse Licensure Compact shall become effective and binding in the State two years after the Act takes effect.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO SEXUAL OFFENSES.

Provides for a sentence of death or life imprisonment without possibility of parole upon a conviction for sex trafficking. Requires a separate sentencing proceeding by a jury, except if waived by the defendant, for a conviction for sex trafficking. Makes commercial sexual exploitation a class A felony. Makes conforming amendments.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO MARIJUANA.

Decriminalizes the possession of drug paraphernalia relating to marijuana; possession of a certain amount of marijuana concentrate; and the possession of a certain amount of marijuana and smoking of marijuana in a public place. Lowers the criminal penalty for the possession of a certain amount of marijuana concentrate from a misdemeanor to a petty misdemeanor.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATIONS.

Establishes the Ombudsman's Office for Condominium Associations within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Updates the Condominium Property Act to integrate the role and functions of the ombudsman's office for condominium associations. Appropriates funds for establishment of the Ombudsman's Office for Condominium Associations.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTHCARE PRECEPTORS.

Adds psychology, physician assistant, marriage and family therapist, mental health counselor, clinical social worker, rehabilitation counselor, and school counselor students to the definition of "eligible student" under the qualifications for the healthcare preceptor tax credit. Amends the definition of "preceptor" by adding psychologists, physician assistants, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, clinical social workers, rehabilitation counselors, and school counselors to the list of preceptors eligible to receive the tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025.

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO PESTICIDE BUFFER ZONES.

Increases the buffer zone for restricted use pesticides around schools to one-half mile. Allows the use of restricted use pesticides within the buffer zone as part of invasive species control conducted by the Department of Agriculture or invasive species committees organized under the University of Hawaii Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires the Department of Education to include the teaching of financial literacy in kindergarten through grade twelve. Requires students in grades nine through twelve to complete a one-half credit in financial literacy before graduation. Requires the Board of Education to provide professional development to teachers who are teaching financial literacy courses.

LA CHICA

RELATING TO CARE CENTERS.

Requires that new and newly renovated state buildings with a budget of $5,000,000 or more include dedicated space for a child care center or an adult day care center.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Requires all accident and health or sickness insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations operating in the State to adopt policies, procedures, and criteria for approving or denying requests for prior authorization that are the equivalent to the guidelines for prior authorization established by Medicare.

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Clarifies that the terms of a loan must first be sent to unit owners and approved by a majority of unit owners' consent to the loan. Requires a majority of unit owners to vote in favor of or provide written consent to maintenance fee increases before they take effect. Requires a forensic audit of an association's financial records no less frequently than once every three years, with the first forensic audit to be completed by 6/30/2026.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CONTRACTORS.

Raises the threshold exemption under the contractor licensing law's handyman exemption from $1,500 to $2,500.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LANDS.

Prohibits certain foreign parties from owning, purchasing, or acquiring an interest in agricultural lands. Establishes an Office of Agricultural Intelligence within the Department of Agriculture to investigate claims that land is unlawfully owned by a prohibited foreign party. Requires the Attorney General to undertake enforcement activities. Appropriates moneys.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO THE PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL COMPACT.

Adopts the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact to allow a person authorized to practice psychology in a compact state in which the person is not licensed.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS.

Establishes an ombudsman's office for homeowner associations within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Establishes an ombudsman's office special fund. Requires board members of condominium associations, cooperative housing corporations, and planned community associations to meet certain educational requirements through classes offered by the ombudsman. Updates statutes relating to condominium associations, cooperative housing corporations, and planned community associations to integrate the role and functions of the ombudsman's office for homeowner associations. Appropriates funds for establishment of the ombudsman's office. Declares that the appropriation exceeds the state general fund expenditure ceiling for 2024-2025.

REYES ODA

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Imposes a less deferential standard of negligence on officers and directors of condominium associations incorporated under HRS 414D. Ensures that officers and directors of condominium associations are held accountable by imposing a reasonable person standard of negligence.

REYES ODA

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Categorizes electric bicycles into three classes based on speed and operation. Requires electric bicycle manufacturers and distributors to apply a label to each electric bicycle. Imposes a requirement that counties inform individuals of the applicable traffic code, safety information, and penalties for violations at the time of registering a bicycle.

REYES ODA

RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY LEASES.

Prohibits the resetting of lease rents for long-term commercial leases above a level that is economic for the lessee's actual use of the property. Requires that a lessee whose long-term commercial lease has been terminated be compensated for the value of buildings, infrastructure, and businesses created by the lessee that will be retained by the lessor. Allows a lessee the right to purchase the property at fair market value.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO PENALTIES.

Mandates courts to impose an enhanced sentence for theft and burglary offenses over a certain property value threshold. Increases penalties for habitual property crime perpetrators. Targets fencing operations and imposes enhanced sentencing to those who knowingly receive stolen property or resell such property.

REYES ODA

RELATING TO ANTITRUST.

Prohibits the use of algorithmic price-setting in Hawaii's rental market. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to develop and undertake a public education program regarding the prohibition.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO INTOXICATING LIQUOR.

Provides that leaders of nonprofit organizations shall be exempt from county liquor commission criminal history check requirements for license applicants.

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO PLANT-BASED FOOD AND DRINKS.

Requires state agencies to establish a Plant-Based-By-Default Program for food and drinks offered at state-operated prisons, state-licensed hospitals, and government-sponsored events. Requires the Director of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Comptroller, and Director of Health to submit annual reports to the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Effective 7/1/2026.

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT.

Requires certain employers in the State to offer reproductive loss leave for employees.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the City and County of Honolulu to transfer to the State the City and County of Honolulu's authority to construct a Makakilo Drive extension. Appropriates moneys.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Requires all health insurers in the State, including Medicaid managed care programs, to cover the cost of continuous glucose monitors and related supplies under certain conditions. Applies to insurance policies, contracts, plans, or agreements issued or renewed in the State after 12/31/2025.

KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY