Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS.

Clarifies the grounds for an appeal of non-renewal or revocation of a charter contract. Authorizes public charters schools to appeal directly to the Board of Education on matters regarding the schools' operations, governance, or funding, with certain exceptions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO GEOGRAPHICAL RESTRICTIONS.

Establishes limitations on geographical restrictions provided as a condition of probation. (HD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Establishes prohibitions on assault rifles, assault shotguns, and .50 caliber rifles. Expands the ban on high-capacity detachable magazines. (HD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO TEACHER HOUSING.

Establishes the Teacher Home Assistance Program to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers. Appropriates funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO EARLY CHILD INTERVENTION.

Appropriates funds for the establishment of new positions within the Early Childhood Services Unit. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Lisa KitagawaDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT ATHLETES.

Requires the Department of Education to establish and administer a three-year student athlete travel pilot program to provide funding for intra-county travel expenses for student athletes of counties with a population of less than 500,000. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/28. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO ENCAMPMENTS.

Prohibits the erection, placement, construction, or maintenance of an encampment within one hundred feet from the property line of a pre-K-12 public or private school or school facility on public or private property. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO LANDFILLS.

Extends the landfill buffer zone from one-half mile to one mile. Requires the landfill buffer zone to apply to lands in the state conservation district and lands designated as national conservation areas. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Authorizes health care practitioners to make undesignated prescriptions of single-use epinephrine for the purpose of stocking a supply at various types of businesses and state and county government offices, including public schools. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

Beginning on 6/30/2030, requires all new playgrounds constructed on Department of Education school grounds to include accessible recreational playground equipment as part of the recreational apparatuses. Establishes the Accessible Recreational Playground Equipment Special Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Requires the Department of Health to coordinate the stockpiling of no less than a one-year supply of mifepristone. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Terez AmatoDemocrat

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 Department of Education-sponsored work-based learning programs. Requires an annual report. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for teacher-requested classroom supplies. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Designates student transportation as critical infrastructure and a critical service for Hawaii's public education system. Requires all school bus contracts between the State and the contractor to include certain standards, performance metrics, and accountability requirements to prevent service disruptions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes an agricultural crime prevention program within the Department of Agriculture to provide grants, education, administrative enforcement, and other services for the benefit of the State's agricultural industry. Clarifies, creates, and strengthens laws regarding crimes and violations related to agriculture or agricultural lands and hunting on private agricultural lands. Establishes clear distinctions between administrative and criminal penalties. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Appropriates moneys to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for the establishment of full-time equivalent permanent Makai Watch Coordinator positions. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to revitalize and enhance the Agricultural Statistics Program to collect data on local agricultural interests. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LAND CONSERVATION FUND.

Sets the amount of conveyance tax revenues to be paid into the Land Conservation Fund to a certain per cent or monetary cap, whichever is less, of conveyance taxes collected each fiscal year. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Clarifies an association board's authority with respect to calling electronic meetings, electronic voting, and mail voting. Clarifies that, in condominium elections, cumulative voting rights apply to all candidates regardless of whether they are nominated. Clarifies that individual votes are used in cumulative voting. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAII RETIREMENT SAVINGS ACT.

Clarifies the definition of "covered employer" under the Hawaii Retirement Savings Act. Requires covered employers to automatically enroll covered employees into the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program unless the employee chooses to opt out. Repeals the limit on the total fees and expenses that can be spent for the Program each year. Appropriates funds to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for the development and operation of the Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESILIENCE.

Appropriates funds for critical repairs, maintenance, demolition, design, and construction for facilities of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Establishes and appropriates funds for positions within the University of Hawaii for the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO RETIRED TEACHERS.

Amends the break in service requirement for retirants to six months before they can be rehired as teachers or administrators in teacher shortage areas or in hard-to-fill positions. Prohibits rehired retirants from receiving additional employment benefits. Directs the Department of Education to adopt rules to identify teacher shortage areas and hard-to-fill positions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii at Manoa to establish additional permanent mental health practitioner positions within the Division of Student Success' Counseling and Student Development Center. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII ATHLETICS.

Appropriates funds to athletics departments of the University of Hawaii. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO TEACHERS.

Increases the bonus for teachers who achieve and maintain a current national board certification from $5,000 to $10,000. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

RELATING TO COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS.

Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to establish a five-year Community Land Trust Equity Pilot Program to provide community land trusts with a line of credit to fund the acquisition, rehabilitation, renovation, or construction of housing for certain households. Requires reports to the Legislature regarding the pilot program. Appropriates funds from the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund for establishment of the pilot program. Sunsets the pilot program on 6/30/2030. Takes effect 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION MEDICAL BENEFITS.

Expands workers' compensation medical benefits for firefighters to include coverage for adenocarcinoma or mesothelioma of the respiratory system; cancer of the buccal cavity, colon, pharynx, and thyroid; and malignant melanoma. Specifies that an employer may prove that the cancer or disease was not associated with the firefighting duties to deny medical benefits under workers' compensation law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Authorizes a county planning commission, by special permit, to permit land uses exclusively providing residential housing for purposes of agricultural workforce housing, long-term rental, or workforce fee simple ownership in an agricultural district, under certain conditions. Repeals 6/30/2035. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WAIAKEA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

Establishes the Waiakea Peninsula Community Development District and the Waiakea Peninsula Community Development District Special Fund. Specifies the powers and duties of the Hawaii Community Development Authority as it relates to the new development district. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

Authorizes licensed paramedics in a county with a population of 100,000 or less to administer buprenorphine after administration of an opioid antagonist in cases of opioid overdoses, under certain conditions. Requires the Department of Health to implement a two-year phased pilot program beginning in one county with a population of 100,000 or less and authorizes expansion of the program statewide as additional treatment resources become available. Requires a report to the Legislature evaluating program outcomes. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2028. (SD1)

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO CANNABIS.

Appropriates funds for the Department of Health to develop and implement a public health and informational campaign and contract with community-based organizations to prevent substance misuse and treat substance use disorder among youth. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Reduces the minimum number of years of credited service from ten years to five years qualified Tier 2 employee's retirement system members must have to be eligible for vested benefit status for service retirement allowance purposes. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Authorizes a contract for the purchase of local produce having a value of more than $25,000 to be for a term of at least five years, under certain conditions. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO NOISE POLLUTION.

Establishes a private right of action for any person aggrieved by a violation of the Federal Aviation Act and existing federal laws to bring a civil action against the owner or operator of the helicopter in violation and collect damages and litigation costs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Establishes the Condominium Loan Program to provide condominium associations with low-cost financing, or refinancing for previously obtained loans, for maintenance or repair projects. Establishes the Condominium Loan Loss Reserves Program to incentivize lenders to provide loans at competitive rates and terms to condominium associations for the purpose of allowing condominium associations to make necessary maintenance or repairs. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT.

Clarifies the exemptions to the prohibition on discharging any wastewater or raw sewage into state waters after December 31, 2026, including an exemption for treatment plants having a treatment capacity of less than a certain number of gallons per day. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT SERVICES.

Clarifies the Office of the Legislative Analyst. Effective 1/1/2491. (SD1)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Establishes an installation goal for customer-sited distributed energy resources in the State. Ensures that fair compensation is provided to distributed energy resources exports as part of grid service programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO DECARBONIZATION.

Requires the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to study the feasibility of implementing a "buy clean" decarbonization policy and program in Hawaii. Requires administrative and substantive support from the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Makes an appropriation for the operation of an additional ambulance for the island of Hawaii to be based in Makalei. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING.

Allows the Department of Health to use money in the Deposit Beverage Container Deposit Special Fund to deploy reverse vending machines. Repeals certain exemptions for beverage dealers from the requirement to operate redemption centers. Allows for the establishment of regional centers for the redemption of refillable beverage containers but not as substitutes for dealers' means to receive deposit beverage containers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO IRRIGATION.

Authorizes the Director of Finance to issue general obligation bonds and appropriates funds to finance capital improvement projects for irrigation systems in the State. Converts the means of financing from the Irrigation System Revolving Fund to the general fund for certain positions in the Department of Agriculture. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WAIAHOLE WATER SYSTEM.

Appropriates funds for the Waiahole Water System for bond debt service and tunnel repair. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes within the Department of Agriculture a working group to review and make recommendations on amending or repealing unnecessary or obsolete laws pertaining to agriculture. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT.

Establishes within the Department of Agriculture the Hawaii Agricultural Transportation Assistance Program, to consist of a reimbursement program and grant program, to assist certain farmers and livestock producers with transportation costs for agricultural products, inputs, supplies, and production and distribution of agricultural commodities. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL BIOSECURITY.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture for various programs and permanent positions in agricultural biosecurity established by Act 231, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Appropriates funds to establish grant specialist positions to assist farmers and ranchers in meeting the requirements to receive grants offered by the United States Department of Agriculture, State, counties, or private entities. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat