Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to provide additional benefits to: (1) teachers with special assignments where their duties and responsibilities are greater than their ordinary duties and responsibilities; (2) teachers in Hawaiian language medium education whose responsibilities are greater or unique and require additional language skills; and (3) teachers at special needs schools. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Allows authorized insurers in the State to offer building and hurricane damage insurance for condominium buildings at a lesser rate than the building's prior surplus lines insurance policy for the same coverage. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN FLAG.

Requires cooperative housing corporations, planned community associations, and condominium associations to allow owners to display the Hawaiian flag within the owner's property. Allows reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions on Hawaiian flag displays to protect a substantial interest of the association or corporation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

RELATING TO MANAGING AGENTS.

Requires managing agents for residential condominium properties over seventy-five feet in height to have commercial property management experience. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Establishes block appropriations and increases fiscal flexibility for the University of Hawaii. Establishes a University of Hawaii Budget Stabilization Fund, authorizes limited procurement and fiscal exemptions, and implements performance‑based funding metrics. Requires annual fiscal and performance reporting to the Legislature and provides a transition framework for the move to block budgeting. Effective July 1, 3000. (HD2)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Requires the University of Hawaii to develop a facilities and student housing master plan. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO HELMETS.

Increases the age of an individual who is required to wear a helmet for electric foot scooters and bicycles. Prohibits a person from operating any class of electric bicycle or electronic micro-mobility device unless that person wears a helmet. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE HOUSING.

Establishes the Workforce Housing Regulatory Sandbox Program to be administered by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Establishes an advisory council within the Workforce Housing Regulatory Sandbox Program to advise on environmental and cultural practices within specific developments. Requires reports to the Legislature. Establishes a position. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO AIR MEDICAL SERVICES.

Establishes the Statewide Air Medical Services Program within the Department of Health, Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention Systems Branch to coordinate and strengthen air medical services. Establishes an air medical director, an air medical program manager, and an air medical coordinator. Specifies that annual licensure and accreditation fees are to be deposited into the Emergency Medical Services Special Fund for costs of the program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Requires operators of conversational artificial intelligence services in the State to issue certain disclosures to account holders and users. Requires operators to develop protocols to respond to prompts or content associated with, and prevent the production of, suicidal ideations in account holders and users. Establishes protections for minor account holders of conversational artificial intelligence services. Beginning 1/1/2027, requires operators to submit annual reports to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Allows the Department of the Attorney General to bring a civil action against operators who violate certain requirements and establishes statutory penalties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

Establishes factors under which officers may arrest and detain persons without a warrant for petty misdemeanors and violations, and requires officers to document the justification for the arrests. Amends the circumstances under which officers may issue citations in lieu of arrest. Requires officers to issue citations in lieu of arrest for certain petty misdemeanors and violations, unless public safety or flight risks are present or the alleged offense involves operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant or the abuse of family or household members. Requires the Judiciary to promulgate a standardized citation form and updates the required information for citations. Requires citations be visible on an offender's criminal record. Requires the Criminal Justice Research Institute to submit reports. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.

Clarifies that the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and the counties, including officers, employees, and authorized agents of the Department and counties, shall not be liable for costs relating to the entering of private property to control or eradicate pests. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish a working group that comprises signatories of the biosecurity government-industry agreements for joint-decision making. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT.

Establishes the procedure that a circuit court shall follow upon the reversal or vacation of an individual's judgment of conviction on grounds consistent with innocence, and where the charges were dismissed. Requires the State to pay advance compensation to any petitioner who was convicted in a court of the State, imprisoned for at least one year, and whose judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated, or was pardoned, on grounds consistent with innocence. Requires the Comptroller to issue a warrant for payment of advance compensation to a petitioner. Requires the Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, to contract with a community-based agency to assign a case manager to a petitioner upon the petitioner's release. Requires the State to provide medical coverage to a person for a certain duration upon the reversal or vacation of the person's judgment of conviction on grounds consistent with innocence and where the charges were dismissed. Provides that the Judiciary and Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall retain jurisdiction over the person for the purposes of effectuating this process. Authorizes the State to seek reimbursement from the applicable county for any losses incurred by the State pursuant to this process. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to submit an annual report to the Legislature. Clarifies eligibility to seek compensation for individuals whose judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated, or who were pardoned, on grounds consistent with innocence, and where the charges were dismissed. Shifts the burden of proof to the State to prove by a preponderance of evidence that the reversal or vacation of the judgment of conviction for a petitioner, or the pardoning of the petitioner, was inconsistent with innocence. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO COASTAL RESILIENCE.

Establishes a five-year Coastal Resilience Pilot Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the preservation of Mantokuji Bay. Allows the pilot program to be exempt from certain regulatory requirements. Requires the State Historic Preservation Division to conduct a streamlined historic preservation review. Establishes certain procedures for the discovery of Native Hawaiian skeletal remains. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DISABILITY AND COMMUNICATION ACCESS BOARD.

Requires the Disability and Communication Access Board to study the health care communication needs of patients who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or deaf-blind. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Dee MorikawaDemocrat

RELATING TO SOLAR ENERGY.

Defines and provides requirements for the use of a portable solar generation device. Provides that electric utility companies are not liable for any damage or injury caused by a portable solar generation device. Requires each portable solar generation device to be registered with the Public Utilities Commission. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish and maintain an online system for registration of portable solar generation devices, at no cost to the customer. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

Protects emergency responders from liability during periods of evacuation. Provides that individuals who wilfully fail to comply with predictive evacuation orders assume the risk and waive liability. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.

Establishes the Community Resilience Hubs Pilot Program within the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Requires a report. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO DRUGS FOR WEIGHT LOSS.

Requires the Department of Human Services to provide Medicaid prescription drug program recipients with coverage of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs for weight loss. Appropriates funds. (HD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL.

Requires the Department of Transportation to administer the Safe Routes to School Program. Amends the purposes for which funds of the Safe Routes to School Special Fund may be used for. Establishes deadlines for when funds from Safe Routes to School Special Fund that are allocated to the counties should be obligated or expended by. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION.

Establishes the offense of prohibited acts of female genital mutilation of a minor and civil remedies for victims of acts punishable under that offense. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WAGE AND HOUR LAW.

Authorizes the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a Community Wage Theft Enforcement Partnership Program and enter into contracts or memoranda of agreements with community-based organizations to enhance outreach, referral, and recovery of stolen wages. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Increases the income eligibility limit and credit amount per exemption claimed for the income tax credit for low-income household renters. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT SAFETY.

Requires the Department of Education to develop, adopt, and implement a standardized emergency response plan governing immigration enforcement activity at or within one thousand feet of public schools and adopt policies and procedures to address immigration enforcement activity at certain school-related location and events. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO PARKING FOR DISABLED PERSONS.

Beginning 7/1/27, increases the number of required accessible and van-accessible parking spaces in parking facilities with more than twenty-five parking spaces that are covered by title II or III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, with an exception for qualifying public entities managing large parking inventories that are otherwise compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

Appropriates funds for the Department of Human Services to collaborate with contracted community-based organizations to address the need for social services in the State. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTS EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts for the Artists in the Schools Program. Effective 1/1/3000. (SD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII CULTURAL TRUST.

Establishes the Hawaii Cultural Trust within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Establishes an income tax credit for contributions made to both the Hawaii Cultural Trust and at least one qualified Hawaii cultural organization, under certain conditions. Establishes a special number plate for motor vehicles to support the Hawaii Cultural Trust. Applies the income tax credit to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTS INTEGRATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Establishes within the Department of Education arts integration coordinator or specialist positions to support fine arts education and arts integration in public schools statewide. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.

Requires that priority be given to the language of a law that aligns with the intent of the Legislature if there is a difference between the English and Hawaiian versions of the law that is material to its interpretation. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS.

Requires a seller of real property adjacent to the shoreline, and the seller's agent, to disclose and include in all advertisements certain information about shoreline erosion control structures on the parcel. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS YOUTH.

Entitles unaccompanied homeless youth, including runaway youth, with the rights, as provided by the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, to immediate enrollment in school, full participation in school activities, and access to comparable school and educational services provided to other students. Establishes a student-centered, safety-first protocol for unaccompanied homeless youth enrolling in or attending school. Permits unaccompanied homeless youth to provisionally enroll in school without providing immunization records. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE PARKS.

Authorizes and appropriates funds for the expansion of Wailuku River State Park. Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to exercise the power of eminent domain for the expansion of Wailuku River State Park. Effective 6/30/2864. (SD1)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Exempts any agricultural enterprise practicing diversified agriculture on lands formerly used for commercial sugarcane production within the conservation district from any permitting and site plan approval requirements established for lands in a conservation district. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND USE.

Between 7/1/2026 and 12/31/2028, authorizes each county planning agency to petition the Land Use Commission for a district boundary amendment to reclassify certain lands within the agricultural district to the rural district through the district boundary amendment process. Repeals 12/31/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO A MARITIME YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP PATHWAY PROGRAM.

Directs the University of Hawaii Community College System, in partnership with state agencies and maritime employers, to conduct a study and develop a plan for a statewide Maritime Youth Apprenticeship Pathway Program for individuals ages 16 to 24. Requires a report to the Legislature with recommendations on program structure, resource needs, proposed legislation and implementation options. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Transportation to install pedestrian safety improvements at sites abutting school properties, with consideration for other sites. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM.

Establishes and appropriates funds into and out of the Hawaii Employer-Led Sector Partnerships Special Fund. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to coordinate its sector partnership activities with the Workforce Development Council. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO PRETRIAL REFORM.

Requires release on recognizance for defendants charged with violations, traffic offenses, nonviolent petty misdemeanors, nonviolent misdemeanors, and nonviolent class C felonies, subject to conditions. Establishes exclusions for specified offenses, threats to public safety, and certain other circumstances. Requires findings when bail or detention is imposed, ongoing review of continued detention or conditions, and a prompt hearing if bail cannot be posted. Requires prosecutors to notify victims of pretrial decisions. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to support certain programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS.

Changes the name of entities organized under chapter 421C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, from consumer cooperative associations to cooperative associations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Appropriates funds for Department of Hawaiian Home Lands projects eligible for general fund revenues that are generated by increases in transient accommodations tax collections and intended to be expended equally across projects related to natural resources, climate resilience, and destination management. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.

Transfers school impact fees from the Kalihi-Ala Moana school impact district to the School Impact Fees subaccount of the School Facilities Special Fund for the acquisition and renovation of one or more buildings, or the acquisition of land and construction of a new building, in the 96813 zip code to develop and expand pre-kindergarten and charter school capacity. Provides that the funds appropriated and expended shall be used to serve students residing within the Kalihi-Ala Moana school impact district, with certain exceptions. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER CARRIERS.

Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to establish automatic adjustment mechanisms by rules that include specified criteria. Grants Governor veto-authority over the rules. Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to waive or exempt any water carrier from any requirement under the Hawaii Water Carrier Act. Repeals 7/1/2032. (SD2)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WORKFORCE PELL GRANT PROGRAM.

Establishes a statewide framework for the implementation of the federal Workforce Pell Grant Program to provide financial aid for certain short-term workforce education and training programs. Establishes a Workforce Pell Grant Program Approval Committee within the Workforce Development Council. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS.

Establishes a Teacher National Board Certification Incentive Program to incentivize public charter school teachers who achieve national board certification under the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Requires that incentives paid to public charter school teachers under the Teacher National Board Certification Incentive Program established for public charter school teachers and other teacher differentials be paid from funds appropriated to the State Public Charter School Commission, instead of the per-pupil allocation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

RELATING TO TOWING PRACTICES.

Establishes a Uniform Towing Practices for Public Parking Facilities Working Group within the Department of Transportation to examine existing state and county laws, ordinances, rules, and administrative practices relating to towing from public parking facilities and develop recommendations for uniform standards applicable to towing from state and county parking facilities. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Authorizes the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, to establish the Shade and Fruit Tree Program to support educational activities and encourage propagation of native shade trees and fruit trees for planting in Department of Education schools. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO ASSISTED COMMUNITY TREATMENT.

Authorizes registered nurses and qualified state-licensed health care professionals who are participating in a community paramedicine program approved by the Department of Health who are licensed by the State to administer medication as part of an assisted community treatment order's treatment plan to the subject of the order, under certain circumstances. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO PURCHASE OF SERVICE CONTRACTS BY THE JUDICIARY.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires contracts for services awarded to community-based organizations by the Judiciary in support of fulfilling the Judiciary's statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State to include certain protections against inflation. Appropriates funds to the Judiciary to increase the contract price in existing contracts for services provided by community-based organizations in support of fulfilling the Judiciary's statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat