Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO THE STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL.

Establishes one permanent full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent position for the State Building Code Council to support statewide building code coordination, permitting transparency, and modernization initiatives. Requires county reporting on building permitting performance. Requires the State Building Code Council to develop a standardized statewide permitting data system or public dashboard. Requires the development of a state building code modernization and transparency initiative. Requires the State Building Code Council to develop standardized credentials and training requirements for permitting officials. Requires a report. Appropriates funds.

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO A WORKFORCE BUILDER TAX CREDIT.

Establishes an income tax credit for eligible employers who employ qualified interns or apprentices. Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, in coordination with the Department of Taxation, to report to the Legislature on the tax credit. Appropriates funds.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY ENABLEMENT.

Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to assist small businesses, including those related to the tourism sector, with technology enablement, including the adoption of artificial intelligence and advanced digital tools. Requires the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to submit a report to the Legislature.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO PEDESTRIANS.

Specifies that the driver of a vehicle must wait until a pedestrian has crossed half of the crosswalk plus an additional lane of the roadway before the driver can proceed.

Lisa KitagawaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM.

Requires the Board of Regents to grant a waiver on all tuition for qualifying native Hawaiian and Hawaiian students enrolled within the University of Hawaii System.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Requires health insurance carriers to honor a patient's written assignment of benefits to a substance use disorder treatment provider. Prohibits health insurance contracts from including anti-assignment clauses that restrict or invalidate a patient's right to assign benefits. Authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules and take enforcement action to ensure compliance. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to publish an annual summary. Allows providers to bring civil actions to compel payment and obtain injunctive relief, damages, interest, and attorneys' fees for violations. Deems violations to be unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices. Requires insurers to furnish an explanation of benefits to the assigned provider upon request.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Amends the Healthcare Preceptor Tax Credit to remove language limiting access only to those practicing in primary care, to add licensed dietitians, physician assistants, and social workers as eligible preceptors and students, and to include residency and followship programs. Adds the Director of Health and a representative of residency programs with eligible students to the Preceptor Credit Assurance Committee. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY EROSION MITIGATION.

Replaces the current statutory prohibition on private shoreline hardening with a policy directing the minimization of these structures. Establishes a clear, time-limited statutory framework for emergency permits within the conservation district, including defined standards for permit duration and extension.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSERVATION BANKING.

Authorizes the use of conservation banks for compensatory mitigation in a habitat conservation plan and associated incidental take license. Amends the membership and scope of authority for the Endangered Species Recovery Committee.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FORTY-SECOND REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriated funds for capital improvement projects in the 42nd representative district.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO CREATING A LOCAL HOUSING MARKET.

Establishing a Local Housing Market that is tied to Hawaii State resident's incomes and not the global economy. Thus providing housing options that are affordable relative to wages for residents of the State.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Prohibits certain entities from purchasing single-family residences in the State of Hawaii. Requires reports and certifications to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Establishes penalties and enforcement authority.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Protects the right of bodily autonomy in health care decisions.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Repeals the Deposit Beverage Container program on 6/30/26. Allows redemptions to continue until 6/30/27. Establishes the solar panel and electric vehicle battery recycling special fund to assist in the gathering and recycling of solar panels and electric vehicle batteries. Requires the Department of Health to submit proposed legislation establishing a program to gather and recycle solar panels and electric vehicle batteries. Lapses any unencumbered balance remaining in the deposit beverage container deposit special fund when the Deposit Beverage Container program is repealed to the credit of the solar panel and electric vehicle battery recycling special fund.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT HOMELESSNESS SPENDING.

Requires the State Auditor, in collaboration with the Office of the City Auditor for the City and County of Honolulu, to conduct a financial audit of all state and City and County of Honolulu expenditures on homelessness programs within the City and County of Honolulu during the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 fiscal years. Appropriates funds.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO CRIME.

Doubles the fines and terms of imprisonment for illicit drug sellers and distributors who commit their offenses within 100 feet of schools or public parks.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO CRIME.

Doubles the fines and terms of imprisonment for repeat violent offenders and property offenders.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

Provides state and county employees with five days of paid family leave each calendar year.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.

Requires the Department of Transportation to create and maintain an electronic dashboard on its website disclosing the costs, status, and expected timeline for completion of each current construction state project in excess of $1,000,000 involving state roads or highways.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FUNDING.

Requires the Department of Education to submit annual reports to the Legislature, Governor, and Board of Education disclosing the moneys the Department allocated in the prior year to department schools and department administration.

Elijah PierickRepublican

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.

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

RELATING TO LONG-TERM CARE.

Requires the Department of Human Services to conduct a study to recommend legislation to address the issue of long-term care facility closures. Requires reporting.

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

RELATING TO COUNTIES.

Requires a county with a population of 500,000 or more to adopt ordinances to implement park maintenance standard prioritization. Imposes a fine for incompliant parks after three months. Authorizes DLNR to take action and be reimbursed by the county for costs incurred. Appropriates funds.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO ENERGY ASSISTANCE.

Establishes the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program within the Department of Human Services to assist eligible households in paying their energy bills. Requires the Public Utilities Commission Public Benefits Fee Administrator to provide certain information and assistance to recipients of the program. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO FOOD PRICING.

Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study on how other states regulate price gouging of food products.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Repeals the sunset date of Act 163, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO MARIJUANA.

Exempts drug paraphernalia for marijuana from certain penalties under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Lowers the penalties for the possession and transfer without remuneration of certain amounts of marijuana, marijuana concentrate, and marijuana-infused products. Makes smoking marijuana in a public place a violation under the offense of promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Establishes mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment for certain class A felonies involving firearms. Changes from a class B felony to a class A felony the penalty for owning, possessing, or controlling any firearm or ammunition while being prosecuted for or having been convicted of committing a felony, a crime of violence, a criminal offense relating to firearms, or an illegal sale or distribution of any drug. Changes from a misdemeanor to a class A felony the penalty for ownership, possession, control, or transfer of ownership of any firearms or ammunition by a person who a court order has restrained from contacting, threatening, or physically abusing any person. Changes from a misdemeanor to a class A felony the penalty for carrying a firearm while under the influence of a controlled substance. Establishes possession of methamphetamine while carrying a firearm as a class A felony.

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.

Authorizes and appropriates moneys for the Board of Psychology to grant prescriptive authority privilege to clinical psychologists who meet specific education, training, and registration requirements. Requires the Board of Psychology to accept applications for prescriptive authority privilege beginning 7/1/2027. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO IMMUNIZATIONS.

Requires, rather than authorizes, schools to provide an exemption from required immunizations. Specifies that for purposes of the Department of Health's rulemaking authority and authority regarding infectious and communicable diseases, no child shall be subjected to medical examination, vaccination, revaccination, or immunization if a parent or legal guardian objects based on bona fide religious tenets and practices.

Sam Satoru KongDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Requires a condominium association to deposit at least ten per cent of all revenues for each fiscal year, except for estimated replacement reserve assessments, into the total replacement reserves fund of the association. Requires the Real Estate Commission to enforce the minimum deposit requirement and allows unit owners to file complaints with the Commission. Holds board members who fail to comply with the minimum deposit requirement personally liable and subject to a fine.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

Establishes requirements for the clinical review criteria and clinical practical guidelines used to establish step therapy protocols. Provides a process for a patient to request an exception to using step therapy protocols. Establishes insurance coverage requirements relating to the use of step therapy protocols and standards to appeal an adverse step therapy exception determination.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO COMPLEX PATIENT TREATMENT.

Appropriates funds to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division of the Department of Health to contract with community-based organizations for a behavioral health complex patient model. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Disallows the dividends paid deduction for real estate investment trusts.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAL INFORMED CONSENT.

Requires the Hawaii Medical Board to establish standards for health care providers to ensure that a patient's consent to treatment is an informed consent. Requires that informed consent for a proposed medical or surgical treatment or a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure shall be obtained before the day of that treatment or procedure. Specifies that if the treatment or procedure is to occur on the same day it is scheduled, the informed consent shall be obtained at the time the decision is made to schedule that treatment or procedure.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES.

Establishes the sugar-sweetened beverage fee program. Beginning 7/1/2027, imposes a 2 cent per fluid ounce fee on all sugar-sweetened beverages sold in the State and requires all distributors of sugar-sweetened beverages to register with the Department of Health. On or after 6/30/27, prohibits retailers from selling or displaying for sale any sugar-sweetened beverage acquired from a distributor that is not registered with the Department of Health. Requires management and performance audits. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Establishes the Healthy Ohana Advisory Committee. Appropriates funds.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX HAVEN ABUSE.

Part I: Effective 1/1/2027, requires corporations to include in their income the income of all foreign subsidiaries to the State; applies the State's apportionment formula to determine the share of reported profits subject to the appropriate tax, which shall be deposited into the state general fund; and requires corporations to report all profits, losses, revenues, and inter-company transactions made and all taxes paid in other states. Part II: Establishes within DOTAX a Corporate Tax Law Task Force to annually review the State's corporate tax laws and recommend updates to close tax loopholes.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

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.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Establishes a universal, single payer health care system to be known as "Hawaii Care", to provide comprehensive health care benefits to all state residents and eventually replace all existing health care plans in the State. Designates the Hawaii Health Authority as the responsible agency for the comprehensive planning, implementation, and administration of Hawaii Care. Requires the Hawaii Health Authority to develop and submit a comprehensive implementation and administration plan to the legislature by a certain date. Establishes the Hawaii Care special fund. Requires the Hawaii Health Authority to adopt rules and submit reports to the Legislature. Requires the Governor to appoint members to the Hawaii Health Authority by 12/31/2026. Requires the Department of Human Services to apply for necessary federal waivers. Takes effect 180 days after the approval of the Hawaii Medicaid State Plan and necessary federal waivers. Appropriates funds.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE COVERAGE OF PROTON BEAM THERAPY.

Beginning, 1/1/2027, requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for medically necessary proton beam therapy for cancer treatment and prohibits imposing stricter clinical evidence standards on proton beam therapy than on other radiation treatments.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes the Hawaii Farm TEAM Card Program. Establishes penalties for misusage of the Hawaii Farm TEAM Card program. Eliminates the general excise tax for qualifying agricultural materials.

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts gross income from real property leases from the general excise tax when the lessee is a small business. Makes conforming amendments.

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Requires the State Auditor to conduct audits of Medicaid health care insurance contractors and the Department of Human Services and its Med-QUEST division at least once every two years, with the first audits to be conducted by 1/1/2027, and the reports to be submitted no later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2027. Requires the Auditor to conduct audits. Appropriates funds.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE POWERS OF ARTIFICIAL PERSONS.

Makes any state-chartered corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, cooperative, nonprofit, or other association lack the legal capacity to make expenditures or contributions in connection with elections or ballot measures. Deems any election or ballot measure expenditure or contribution to be ultra vires or void as a matter of law, triggering administrative forfeiture of charter privileges, including limited liability and perpetual duration, until reinstatement. Effective 1/1/2027.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Provides that the period of limitations for criminal prosecutions under campaign finance laws commences upon discovery of the offense by the Campaign Spending Commission, rather than being limited to five years from the violation date or report filing date.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT ACTIONS.

Requires any law enforcement officer acting under color of law in a public space or on state or county property to remain visibly identifiable. Prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while performing their duties, with certain exceptions. Requires law enforcement officers to wear apparel and use vehicles that bear conspicuous markings of the applicable law enforcement agency. Requires all civil law enforcement activity that involves participation by state or county law enforcement officers or occurs on state or county property to be conducted in a manner that adheres to specified standards. Deems certain locations to be service-first spaces and requires them to have clear, narrowly tailored procedures with respect to civil immigration actions. Requires all state and county agencies to adopt policies that limit the collection, retention, and sharing of immigration-related personal data. Requires all interagency data exchanges between state agencies, county agencies, or state and county agencies to operate under auditable agreements. Requires all state and county agencies to report annually to the Legislature and Governor regarding the civil-immigration-related requests. Requires every state and county agency to adopt a policy that prohibits immigration-based harassment or threats, including unwarranted verification of an individual's immigration status, with respect to employment or the provision of services to the public. Requires all state and county law enforcement officers to monitor civil immigration enforcement activity by activating body cameras when present in a situation in which United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are interacting with a member of the general public.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

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.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

Appropriates funds to: (1) the counties for more voter service centers for in-person voting; (2) the Office of Elections to print and mail the digital voter information guide to all registered voters; and (3) the Office of Elections to support a public outreach and engagement campaign to encourage greater voter participation.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO BRIBERY.

Establishes the offense of failure to report bribery as a misdemeanor.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO MISCONDUCT BY A PUBLIC SERVANT.

Extends the statute of limitations for offenses based on misconduct in office by a public servant to allow prosecution at any time during the defendant's period of public service and up to ten years thereafter.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat