Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Prohibits the sale of nonprescription diet pills and dietary supplements for weight loss or muscle building to any person under eighteen years of age. Requires retail establishments and delivery sellers to follow certain protocols regarding certain products to prevent access by minors to the restricted products.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Exempts persons operating wing-in-ground craft from the application of the Hawaii Water Carriers Act. Defines "wing‑in‑ground craft."

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF NON-AGRICULTURAL PARK LANDS.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to accept the transfer of and manage certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to request information related to easements prior to any transfer of certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands. Requires approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources and Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity and an approved feasible and funded action plan before pasture lands are removed for reforestation or other public purposes.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC TRANSIT.

Establishes a two-year Keiki Fare-Free Transit Pilot Program on Oahu and Kauai. Appropriates funds.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Prohibits a financial risk-bearing entity from administering Medicaid services. Requires the Department of Human Services to contract with one or more administrative services organizations to perform non-risk administrative functions for the operation of the State's Medicaid program. Requires the Department to establish a Medicaid Care Coordination Program to contract with community-based programs to provide care coordination services. Requires physicians, other independent practitioners, hospitals, and other institutional providers to be paid or reimbursed directly by the State's medicaid agency. Requires the Department to establish regional health hubs in each county to serve as localized oversight bodies. Requires the Department to convene a Medicaid Stakeholder Advisory Group to support continuous improvement throughout the transition period. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriate funds.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE IX OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO WAGE EQUITY.

Proposes an amendment to Article IX of the Hawaii State Constitution to guarantee that every person has the inalienable right, while engaged in employment in the State, to be paid at a wage rate that is at least equal to the state minimum wage rate, as provided by law, without regard to the type or nature of employment, unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO ASSISTED COMMUNITY TREATMENT.

Expands an individual's eligibility to receive assisted community treatment if they are a repeat petty offender.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST.

Requires the office of the legislative analyst to produce fiscal notes on all fiscal bills. Prohibits a committee from making a decision on a fiscal bill without a fiscal note. Mandates that fiscal notes be made available to the public. Appropriates funds.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO ELECTION REFORM.

Requires the Chief Election Officer role to be an elected position by popular vote beginning with the 2030 general election. Amends the appointment process of the elections commission to subject nominations to confirmation by an appointing body. Makes conforming amendments.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO THE STATE PARKS SPECIAL FUND.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to expend the moneys from the State Parks Special Fund for programs aimed at environmental protection.

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO CASH TRANSACTION ROUNDING.

Requires cash transactions to be rounded up or down to the nearest 5 cents. Requires cash transactions that total $0.01 or $0.02 to be rounded up to $0.05. Exempts transactions in which payment is made by demand or negotiable instrument, electronic fund transfer, check, gift card, money order, credit card, or other like instrument or method.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR.

In counties of fewer than 200,000 residents, but more than 100,000 residents, exempts the 3-day temporary liquor licenses for fundraising events, known as class 10 special licenses, from any requirement to obtain fire-related clearances. Allows applications for class 10 special licenses to be submitted electronically and for a single application to apply any fundraising event that spans multiple parcels of land owned by the same entity. Increases the percentage of fines assessed by all county liquor commissions that may be used to fund public liquor-related educational or enforcement programs.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Short form bill relating to the University of Hawaii.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Short form bill relating to taxation.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HOSTING PLATFORMS.

Requires hosting platforms that earn service fees for providing booking services for transient accommodations to register with the Department of Taxation as tax collection agents and report, collect, and remit general excise and transient accommodations taxes on behalf of operators.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE USE OF PUBLIC LANDS.

Defines public uses of public lands as uses by an agency either directly or through disposition, that support the agency's functions including but not limited to the uses described in section 171-10, HRS.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSERVATION BANKS.

Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to approve the operation of conservation banks and amends the Endangered Species Recovery Committee's membership and scope of authority. Effective upon approval.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt, amend, or repeal administrative fee schedules for use of certain lands pursuant to a specified procedure and to exempt parking lot and concessions operations on such lands from the bidding requirements for concessions operated on public property.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO DANGEROUS INTOXICATION.

Establishes the offenses of dangerous intoxication and habitual dangerous intoxication. Provides for civil protective custody and transport for emergency examination under section 334-45, HRS, in lieu of arrest for dangerous intoxication in specified circumstances, and bars prosecution when civil protective custody is used. Requires probation with mandatory treatment for habitual dangerous intoxication, with incarceration only upon probation violation. Makes conforming amendments to chapter 334, HRS.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S AUTHORITY TO REGULATE FOOD, DRUGS, AND COSMETICS.

Removes duplicative food-related statutory material and aligns all food-related provisions under chapter 328, HRS. Ensures adequate statutory authority for permits, fees, inspections, and enforcement.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO INDEPENDENT AUDITS OF DEPOSIT BEVERAGE DISTRIBUTORS.

Limits the independent audit requirement to deposit beverage distributors who distribute 2,000,000 or more deposit beverage containers a year. Identifies frequency of obtaining and submitting independent audits based on quantities of deposit beverage containers imported, manufactured, or distributed. Creates minimum requirements for independent audits.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE INTERSTATE COMPACT ON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR MILITARY CHILDREN.

Updates references to the United States Code in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER.

Changes the position of Insurance Commissioner from an appointed to an elected one, beginning with the 2026 general election.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING.

Raises the ceiling for the prevailing wages exemption on public works construction projects from $2,000 to $5,000 for governmental contracting agencies. Creates exemption to contractors licensing laws for public works construction projects valued up to $5,000 for governmental contracting agencies.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT LICENSURE COMPACT.

Authorizes the Governor to enter the PA Licensure Compact to create a comprehensive process that complements the existing licensing authority of the state medical board and provides a streamlined process that allows a PA to become licensed in multiple states, thereby enhancing the portability of a PA license and ensuring the safety of patients.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE NURSE LICENSURE COMPACT.

Allows the Governor to enter the State into the multistate Nurse Licensure Compact, which will allow a nurse who is licensed by a home state to practice under a multistate licensure privilege in each party state, effective 1/1/2027. Beginning 1/1/2027, allows 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. Appropriates general revenues.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE MOTION PICTURE, DIGITAL MEDIA, AND FILM PRODUCTION INCOME TAX CREDIT.

Increases the qualified production credit from twenty-two per cent to twenty-seven per cent in any county of the State with a population of over seven hundred thousand and twenty-seven per cent to thirty-two per cent in any county of the State with a population of less than seven hundred thousand. Lifts the per production cap of $17,000,000 for productions with qualified expenditures of $60,000,000 per project. Increases the annual cap to $60,000,000 from $50,000,000 for the total amount of the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit allowed under section 235-17, HRS, and extends the sunset date of the tax credit to January 1, 2038. Clarifies and amends the requirement for an independent third-party certification and expands the definition of "qualified production" to include streaming platforms for the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit. Includes a definition of "streaming platform".

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII FILM AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL FUND.

Expands the funding sources of the Hawaii Film and Creative Industries Development Special Fund to include reveneues received by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism from managing the Hawaii Film Studio.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII FILM STUDIO.

Provides an exemption to dispositions of lands set aside for film studio and film studio operation from prior approval of the Board of Land and Natural Resources pursuant to section 171-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, thus streamlining the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's use of the Hawaii film studio for filming activity and other film-related business in order to more efficiently develop Hawaii's film, media, and creative industries.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Adopts the Uniform Health Care Decisions Act (2023), as modified, to replace existing chapters related to advance health care directives and advance mental health care directives.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION.

Requires the Director of Law Enforcement to adopt rules establishing training and certification standards and procedures for crisis intervention officers. Clarifies the scope of treatment allowable under orders for assisted community treatment. Requires the Department of the Attorney general to assist with the preparation, filing, and presentation of any request for a court or administrative order authorizing treatment over the objection of certain patients.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THEFT.

Requires a mandatory twelve-month minimum sentence of incarceration for a conviction of theft in the first degree when the value of the property or services stolen exceeds $250,000, whether imposed as a mandatory minimum sentence for an indeterminate term of imprisonment or as a condition of probation, in addition to any other authorized disposition such as restitution or a fine.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RETENTION OF BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE.

Specifies the types of cases in which evidence must be retained post-conviction and the process by which evidence may be disposed of earlier than the standard period of retention, which includes a procedure for defendants to oppose the disposal of biological evidence by filing an objection with the court.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH AND MORALS.

Clarifies and updates the sex trafficking and promoting prostitution criminal offense statutes by refining the definition of "profits from prostitution," establishing an affirmative defense to these offenses for certain lawful transactions, and making technical and other housekeeping amendments.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Prohibits a procurement officer from disclosing a competing offeror's proposal or evaluation score, except the summary of scores, during a debriefing requested by a non-selected offeror. Authorizes the disclosure of a competing offeror's proposal or evaluation score after a protest is resolved and the contract is executed.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO RECORDS.

Removes outdated requirements and formats for plans filed with the registrar's office. Updates permissible drawing scales used in plans. Clarifies that statutory filing fees are set pursuant to the rules adopted by the Department of Accounting and General Services. Repeals obsolete terms such as "blueprint." Authorizes the Department of Accounting and General Services to approve the format of plans.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATIONS.

Requires board members of a condominium association to complete a board training and education course approved by an accredited third party organization, to be selected by the Real Estate Commission and paid for through funds in the Condominium Education Trust Fund.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS.

Establishes a comprehensive system of public financing for all candidates seeking election to state and county public offices in Hawaii, to begin with the 2028 general election year. Requires the Campaign Spending Commission to submit reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE X OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to decentralize the public education system in the State by establishing county school districts for the establishment, operation, and funding of public schools, and to authorize the boards of those school districts to initiate and carry on any programs, activities, or otherwise act in any manner that is not in conflict with any law.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO CLEAN WATER.

Preserves, as state law, water quality, permitting, and aquatic resource protections that are at least as protective as federal Clean Water Act regulations and standards in effect as of January 1, 2026, and ensures their continued applicability regardless of subsequent federal amendments, repeals, or reductions.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC TRUST RESOURCES.

Establishes a hierarchy of duty for public trust resources to be applicable to the decisions made by the Department of Land and Natural Resources in the management of the State's public natural resources.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action in the name of the people of the State as parens patriae against any responsible party to recover certain costs or obtain certain relief, including costs and losses incurred by the Hawaii Property Insurance Association, Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, or other state entities, resulting from climate attributable harm or costs for risk of future climate attributable harm. Authorizes the Hawaii Property Insurance Association and Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, or any private insurer licensed in the State to bring a civil cause of action against a responsible party to recover its costs and losses resulting from climate attributable harm.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO EVICTION RECORDS.

Limits public access to summary possession records on the Judiciary's publicly accessible electronic databases unless and until a writ of possession is issued.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS.

Increases the matching fund payments to candidates in the partial public financing program for excess qualifying contributions.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Prohibits discrimination against a pharmacy or pharmacist with respect to participation, referral, reimbursement of a covered service, or indemnification. Establishes beneficiary cost sharing and deductible requirements for prescription drugs. Establishes minimum rates for which pharmacy benefit managers are to reimburse pharmacies for dispensing prescription drugs. For prescription drug benefit plans executed, amended, adjusted, or renewed on or after 7/1/2027, requires a pharmacy benefit manager to use pass-through pricing, or may alternatively use spread pricing if any savings realized by the pharmacy benefit manager are passed on.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO CASINO GAMING.

Authorizes limited casino gaming in a single location in the City and County of Honolulu. Establishes the Hawaii Gaming Control Commission. Imposes a wagering tax on the monthly gross receipts received from casino gaming. Establishes the State Gaming Fund. Requires the Hawaii Gaming Commission to create and implement a Compulsive Gamblers Program. Exempts the construction of any casino facility from county special assessments and certain special improvement district requirements. Establishes certain civil service exemptions. Appropriates funds with certain conditions.

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

Requires the Hawaii Community Development Authority to establish a Community Action Center in Chinatown. Expenditure contingent upon the City and County of Honolulu providing matching funds. Appropriation.

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Prohibits a landlord or the landlord's agent from charging an application fee for a criminal background check or credit report if an applicant provides a certified copy of a recent criminal background check or credit report. Prohibits a landlord or the landlord's agent from charging an application fee if a recent comprehensive reusable tenant screening report is available. Requires a landlord or the landlord's agent to provide, upon request, a certified copy of an applicant's criminal background check or credit report.

Daniel HoltDemocrat