Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL GRANT ADMINISTRATION.

Establishes the Agricultural Grant Program and Agricultural Grant Revolving Fund for the purposes of grant application, execution, reporting, and auditing to be administered by the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Appropriates funds out of the Agricultural Grant Revolving Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE, ITS OFFICERS, OR ITS EMPLOYEES.

Makes appropriations and approves payments for claims against the State, its officers, and its employees. (SD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DOWNPAYMENT LOAN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Amends the Downpayment Loan Assistance Program by: removing the prohibition on combined loan-to-value ratios; clarifying the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation's authority to establish interest rates and allow payment waivers and interest forgiveness; authorizing financial institutions, mortgage lenders, and other loan originators to originate downpayment loans; and reducing the borrower's required personal contribution toward the downpayment. Authorizes borrowers to use a portion of a downpayment loan to pay for closing costs, prepaids, and reserves for the purchase of the residential property for which the downpayment loan is provided. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Makes emergency appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of bargaining units (1) and (10) and their excluded counterparts to resolve issues related to temporary hazard pay for fiscal year 2025-2026. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Makes emergency appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of bargaining unit (11) and their excluded counterparts, including the cost of salary adjustments negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal biennium 2025-2027. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FUNDING ADJUSTMENTS FOR STATE PROGRAMS.

Appropriates general funds to various programs due to anticipated operating shortfalls because of the lack of authority to transfer funds between programs. Appropriates moneys to certain programs for operations in FY26-27. Lapses moneys from the State Risk Management Revolving Fund to the general fund. Appropriates moneys into and out of the major disaster fund to address flood disaster recovery and response costs. (SD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO EXPUNGEMENT ORDERS.

Amends the expungement orders law to reflect that a person who is arrested for or charged with a crime but convicted of a violation is eligible for an expungement of their arrest record for that incident. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires insurers to provide explanation of premium increases upon request; clarifies grounds for denial, suspension, and revocation of an adjuster and bill reviewer license; clarifies procedures for denying, suspending, and revoking an insurance producer license; and amends the notice requirements for cancellation or nonrenewal of a property insurance policy. Clarifies the date on which purchase groups are required to pay an annual service fee. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EXPENDITURE CEILING ON THE AUTOMATED VICTIM INFORMATION AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM SPECIAL FUND.

Increases from $600,000 to $1,000,000 the annual expenditure ceiling on the Automated Victim Information and Notification System Special Fund to address rising program costs and growing victim service demands. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HARM TO STUDENTS REGISTRY.

Clarifies the scope of the Department of Education's harm to students registry by excluding K-12 students and by providing that contractors and volunteers are included only if their roles involves interaction with students. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Updates Hawaii's statutory framework for adult and community education programs to ensure alignment with federal funding requirements and current best practices in those programs. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROCUREMENT.

Adjusts the applicability of Act 134, SLH 2025, to clarify the threshold for Department of Education procurement of local edible produce and packaged food products. Prohibits the artificial division and parceling of DOE procurements of local edible produce and packaged food products. Sunsets 6/30/2028. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT, 1920.

Amends the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, as amended, to include sibling's children as qualifying relatives of lessees for the purposes of lease transfer and lease successorship, in the same manner currently allowed for spouses, children, grandchildren, and siblings. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

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. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SYSTEMS OF CARE.

Modernizes Hawaii's emergency medical services laws to align with current best practices. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE HEALTH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY.

Amends the functions and responsibilities of the State Health Planning and Development Agency. Adds a new definition of "health care" for chapter 323D, HRS. Amends the exemption threshold for bed changes to up to thirty per cent of existing licensed bed types. Exempts the Department of Health from certificate of need requirements. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CONFORMITY TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.

Conforms Hawaii income and estate and generation-skipping transfer tax laws to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended as of December 31, 2025. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes that certain participants in state-funded internship and workforce development programs are eligible for internal recruitment. Authorizes any state department, division, or agency to make certain determinations regarding an applicant's minimum qualifications in conducting a minimum qualification review. Repeals the requirement that a state department, division, or agency shall submit to the Department of Human Resources Development the applications for individuals who have met the minimum qualifications for a vacant position. Repeals the requirement that DHRD shall complete certain necessary tasks to facilitate the hiring of applications. Authorizes the director or head of a state department, division, or agency to directly hire an individual who meets the minimum qualifications for a civil service position. (SD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROMISE PROGRAM.

Addresses the change in federal law regarding Pell Grants by amending the Hawaii Community College Promise Program (Hawaii Promise) to provide scholarships for ninety-five percent of a student's unmet direct cost need and exclude grants, scholarships, and other funding sources from the calculation of Hawaii Promise awards, thereby allowing students to apply such funds toward indirect costs, including housing, food, and other living expenses, to reduce financial barriers and support student success. Changes Hawaii Promise from being a last-dollar award. Authorizes Hawaii Promise to coordinate with federal student aid programs to maximize total financial assistance available to students. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII REVENUE BONDS.

Authorizes the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii to issue revenue bonds for the purpose of financing qualifying priority capital improvement projects. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO VETERANS.

Repeals the 6/30/2027 deadline by which the Maui State Veterans Home must be assimilated into a state agency having a Maui affiliation and instead requires the assimilation to be completed as soon as practicable. (SD1)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.

Establishes a temporary, independent Public School Realignment and Closure Commission to develop and recommend a comprehensive package of school consolidations, realignments, and closures based on the federal Base Realignment and Closure model. Requires reports to the Legislature. Requires an expedited approval process by the Governor and Legislature. Appropriates moneys. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD2)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE KANEOHE BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to provide administrative support to the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council. Requires the chairperson of the Council to be selected by the voting members from among all voting and nonvoting members on an annual and rotating basis. Requires the Council to meet quarterly. Effective 1/1/3000. (SD1)

Lisa KitagawaDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to approve and certify general excise tax exemptions for certain housing development projects developed under county housing incentive programs. Sunsets 7/1/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE TAKING OF MARINE DEPOSITS.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to approve permits for research, education, management, or propagation purposes that include the taking of marine deposits seaward of the shoreline, as long as the resources will be returned to the beach if possible and that the taking poses no more than a minimal or negligible risk to the environment. Effective 1/1/3000. (SD1)

Lisa KitagawaDemocrat

RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSE REVOCATION.

Clarifies administrative driver's license revocation procedures by specifying the effect of the notice of administrative revocation and conforming related administrative review and hearing provisions. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO BIODIESEL.

Requires the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to implement a requirement that, no later than January 1, 2028, diesel fuel sold in certain counties for use in on-highway diesel-powered motor vehicles contains no less than five per cent biodiesel by volume, except in circumstances where the supply of biodiesel is insufficient. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to submit a report to the Legislature, including a comprehensive rollout plan. Requires the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to consult with the Department of Transportation during the development and implementation of the biodiesel requirements and present DBEDT's comprehensive rollout plan to the public. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX EXPENDITURE EVALUATION.

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study the effectiveness of tax expenditures and prepare summary descriptive statistics. Requires annual reports. Authorizes Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism staff to access certain information on tax returns for the purpose of studying the effectiveness of tax expenditures. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD2)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO DISASTER SERVICES.

Integrates the needs of individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs into emergency planning, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities. Establishes a Disability Integration Specialist position, to be located in the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, who shall provide programming support for disability community projects that promote accessibility, inclusion, and equity in disaster management. Requires the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to develop and implement a statewide public education and communications program to promote household emergency preparedness consistent with the Agency's 14-day essential supplies recommendation. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to provide an American Sign Language interpreter during each official announcement broadcast via television or the Internet during a state of emergency. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to ensure, to the fullest extent possible, that the American Sign Language interpreter's face, body, arms, and hands are visible during the broadcast. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to provide a standardized pool feed that includes the American Sign Language interpreter in a picture‑in‑picture window not less than one quarter the size of the primary video and not blocked or covered by captions, graphics, or other on-screen tax. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE BONDS.

Authorizes issuance of general obligation bonds. Makes findings required by Article VII, Section 13, of the Hawaii State Constitution to declare that the issuance of authorized bonds will not cause the debt limit to be exceeded. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS.

Amends the private sector On-the-Job Training Work Experience Program to allow the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to contract with employers and trade organizations or apprenticeship program sponsors without regard to chapters 103D and 103F, HRS; establish that an intern may become an apprentice in a registered apprenticeship program under certain conditions; require employers to pay $20 per hour for a maximum of 40 hours per week for all interns; provide, subject to certain limits, for the reimbursement of 100% of an intern's wages for employers, trade organizations, and sponsors having fewer than 50 employees, and 50% of an intern's wages for employers, trade organizations, and sponsors having 50 or more employees; and requires sponsors to pay, supervise, and train interns. Amends the State Internship and Workforce Development Program to require experience gained by interns to be applied towards the experience needed to meet minimum qualifications for civil service positions; require the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and Department of Human Resources Development to develop guidelines for participation in the program; transfer certain program responsibilities from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to the Department of Human Resources Development. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND STAFF SALARIES.

Authorizes the Board of Trustees of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to establish the salary for the Assistant Administrator. Requires the board to first conduct a market analysis of commensurate salaries in the private sector. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.

Authorizes the State to enter into nonbinding international cooperative agreements with foreign national governments, foreign subnational jurisdictions, and regional intergovernmental partners, under certain conditions. Clarifies the scope and process for sister-state relationships. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO LABELING REQUIREMENTS.

Establishes labeling requirements for ʻōkolehao products. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO CARE HOMES.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to establish a Central Oahu Care Home Community Resilience Pilot Program to assist eligible care home facilities to implement structural and operational resilience improvements. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2055. Sunsets on 6/30/2031. (SD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Authorizes civil asset forfeiture related to fireworks offenses that constitute felonies. Amends the definition of "aerial device". Clarifies that the offense of sending or receiving fireworks or articles pyrotechnic by air delivery applies regardless of whether the offender accompanies the air delivery. Effective 7/1/2055. (SD2)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO ASSISTED COMMUNITY TREATMENT.

Clarifies that community mental health outpatient programs that have agreed to provide mental health services to a defendant as part of an assisted community treatment order may prepare a certificate for assisted community treatment and provide the certificate to a defendant and may file an assisted community treatment petition with the Family Court. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX CREDIT FOR RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.

Amends the tax credit for research activities by: allowing qualifying taxpayers to claim the credit for all qualified research expenses without regard to the amount of expenses for previous years; amending from March 31 to March 1 the deadline for qualified high technology businesses to submit to the Department of Business, Economic development, and Tourism written, certified statements identifying qualified expenditures and the tax amount of tax credits claimed in the previous taxable year; for any taxable year the annual aggregate cap is reached, requiring the credit to be divided between all qualified high technology businesses in proportion to the amount of qualified research expenses claimed; and requiring DBEDT to establish an annual application period and notify each qualified high technology business applicant of the credit amount certified. Applies to costs incurred beginning after 12/31/2025. Repeals the credit on 1/1/2029. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CORPORATE BONDS.

Authorizes the Director of Finance to invest certain state moneys in short-term investment grade corporate bonds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Appropriates funds for the Area-Wide Fruit Fly Suppression Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO BACKGROUND CHECKS.

Clarifies and streamlines background check requirements for healthcare facility applicants, operators, and direct patient access employees. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD2)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

Clarifies the types of events that constitute disasters and emergencies for the purposes of emergency management. Establishes the Hawaii Community Resilience Hub Program within the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to support the development of community-based resilience hubs across the State and leverage federal, philanthropic, and private-sector funding for disaster preparedness and climate resilience. Requires the Agency to identify locations on each island that can be used as state disaster response and mitigation hubs when a state of emergency is declared. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys. Effective 7/1/2055. (SD2)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes the Hawaii Micro-Lending Credit Enhancement Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to expand micro-lending capacity by providing state‑funded loan loss reserves or other credit enhancement that absorbs first losses on qualified micro-loans made by participating lenders to Hawaii small businesses. Allows borrower fees and state matching contributions to capitalize lender-held loan loss reserve accounts. Establishes the Hawaii Micro-Lending Credit Enhancement Special Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO SOCIAL MEDIA.

Requires certain social media platforms to provide an accessible mechanism for users to delete their accounts on the platform and permanently erase all personal information and sensitive personal information associated with deleted accounts. Prohibits certain deceptive practices by social media platforms that obstruct the deletion of user accounts. Authorizes the Attorney General to pursue civil actions and seek injunctive relief and penalties for violations. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO IMMIGRATION.

Prohibits any law enforcement agency or law enforcement official from entering into an agreement under federal law that permits state or county agencies to engage in immigration enforcement. Prohibits law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officials from engaging in certain immigration-related actions, except under limited circumstances. Effective 7/1/2055. (SD2)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT TRANSPORTATION.

Authorizes the Superintendent to hire a new contractor if a contractor under a student transportation contract fails to provide service on a contracted service capacity or designated service segment for five or more consecutive instructional days. Authorizes the Department of Education to assess a penalty if a contractor fails to provide service on a designated service segment without an approved justification. Authorizes the use of the School Bus Fare Revolving Fund to offset costs associated with procuring replacement services. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.

Adjusts and requests appropriations for fiscal biennium 2025‑2027 funding requirements for operations and capital improvement projects of Executive Branch agencies and programs. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

Appropriates funds for the Department of Human Services to contract with one or more organizations specializing in domestic violence to provide training and on-site staff in Child Welfare Services Branch offices to support all aspects of screening for and addressing domestic violence within a case. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSERVATION MITIGATION BANKS.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources and certain public or private entities to operate conservation banks, subject to approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources, for situations where a person or entity is required to provide compensatory mitigation to offset adverse impacts to threatened, endangered, candidate, or proposed species as part of an approved incidental take license and habitat conservation plan. Adds the associate director of the United States Geological Survey, Ecosystem Mission Area, to the membership of the Endangered Species Recovery Committee. Requires the Endangered Species Recovery Committee to review applications and proposals for conservation banks and conduct subsequent reviews and oversight. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO LONG-TERM CARE FINANCING.

Requires the Executive Office on Aging to develop the framework and scope of work for a proposed study that examines the feasibility, impacts, and costs of different public and private financing options for long-term care services and supports. Authorizes the Executive Office on Aging to contract with the University of Hawaii. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Lisa MartenDemocrat