Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT EARNINGS.

Requires hourly rate or salary ranges to be disclosed on job listings for full-time, part-time, temporary, or seasonal employees. Removes the exemption for employers having fewer than fifty employees. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO RETIRANTS.

Establishes a five-year pilot program allowing retirants to be rehired for exempt service for one-year terms under certain circumstances. Provides that retirants employed under the program are excluded from the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund and will not experience an interruption of pension benefits. Requires an employer of a retirant under the program to contribute to the Employees' Retirement System. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to submit a report to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

By 1/1/2029, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a family and medical leave insurance program and begin collecting payroll contributions to finance payment of benefits. By 1/1/2030, requires the Department to begin receiving claims and paying benefits under the program. Specifies eligibility requirements and employee protections under the program. Excludes paid family and medical leave benefits from income tax. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires the counties to automatically approve permits for hurricane retrofitting under certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO RETIREMENT.

Includes the Chief Investigator and Chief Special Investigator of the Department of Law Enforcement as class A members of the pension and retirement system. Establishes guidance for the computation of retirement benefits for the Adjutant General, Deputy Adjutant General, Fire Marshal, and Deputy Fire Marshal. (HD2)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Prohibits music streaming platforms from hosting, distributing, or otherwise making available in the State music performed or attributed to an artificial intelligence music artist. Makes violations an unfair method of competition and an unfair and deceptive act or practice. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide a certificate of rehabilitation to offenders who have satisfied all sentencing and post-release requirements. Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to work with government and private stakeholders to conduct public education regarding the certificates. Authorizes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to work with state agencies to increase offenders' eligibility for security clearance in post-release employment with the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS.

Requires the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to make certain contact information for newly registered entities available online. Requires the Director to transmit the contact information to the Business Development and Support Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO VEHICLE SAFETY.

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to implement a pilot program to allow for mobile vehicle safety inspections for passenger cars. Establishes a four-year sunset date on the pilot program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.

Requires the School Facilities Authority to establish geographically based capital improvement project districts for the localized management of capital improvement projects. Transfers all capital improvement project functions, funds, and vacant Facilities Development Branch positions from the Department of Education to the School Facilities Authority. Clarifies that general funds shall not be used for operations or management of the Authority. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD2)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to assume responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for highway projects, as well as railroad, public transportation, or multimodal projects within the State, allowing streamlined environmental reviews. Provides a limited waiver of sovereign immunity to comply with federal requirements. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Removes county-specific expenditure restrictions for funds in the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund. Requires unencumbered and unexpended revenues from the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund in excess of a certain amount as of June 30 of each year to lapse to the general fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FEDERAL MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to enter into agreements with the United States Department of Defense for the provision of services at federal military installations, under certain conditions. Authorizes charging an administrative fee. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH LAW.

Repeals the requirement that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations regulate hoisting machines and certify their operators and the Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board, including its rules requiring a separate state crane operator certificate. Allows additional time for the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to complete an investigation of a discharge or discrimination complaint pertaining to employees exercising rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Law without formal extension. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CIVIL SERVICE EXEMPT POSITIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Exempts certain positions within the State Historic Preservation Division and Commission on Water Resource Management within the Department of Land and Natural Resources from the state civil service law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW.

Repeals outdated mail and triplicate form requirements. Clarifies how a physician transmits a treatment plan to an employer. Clarifies the timeframe for when an employer must submit an objection to a vocational rehabilitation plan and when a vocational rehabilitation plan is deemed received by an employer. Requires electronic submission of various reports to the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT.

Updates the Uniform Controlled Substances Act to make it consistent with amendments in the Federal Controlled Substances Act as required under state law. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE FIRE COUNCIL.

Replaces the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations with the Department of Law Enforcement as the department responsible for budgeting administrative staffing for the State Fire Council. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

Authorizes the Department of Health to establish a vacation payout pilot program in which eligible Department of Health employees may defer unused vacation leave credits in favor of a pay out to provide home purchase down payment assistance. Requires reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2029. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO LEAD MATERIALS IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

Amends prohibitions on the use of lead materials in drinking water distribution to align with the Safe Drinking Water Act and related Code of Federal Regulations.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT, 1920, AS AMENDED.

Amends the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, as amended, to increase the State's liability limit for moneys borrowed by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, or loans made to lessees that are guaranteed by the Department, from $100,000,000 to $500,000,000. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO INCOME TAX.

Repeals future adjustments to income tax brackets. For taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026, increases the income tax rates for the three highest income tax brackets by one percentage point each. Increases a taxpayer's applicable percentage of employment-related expenses that is used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit. Establishes certain disallowance periods following a final decision that a claim for the credit was due to fraud and that the claim was disallowed. Extends the sunset for amendments made by Act 163, SLH 2023, to the Household and Dependent Care Services Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit, and Food/Excise Tax Credit. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PHYSICIAN CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires nutrition and metabolic education as part of the physician continuing medical education requirements. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL LICENSURE.

Transfers the licensing authority of private trade, vocational, and technical schools from the Department of Education to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.

Authorizes the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to convert temporary special project positions created for Federal Emergency Management Agency funded disaster recovery operations into permanent positions exempt from civil service, subject to certain limitations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD.

Clarifies that employees of the Hawaii National Guard youth and adult educational programs are excluded from collective bargaining. Renames the "Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Program" to the "Hawaii National Guard Civil-Military Program" and codifies its Hawaiian name, "Nā Kula Alakaʻi". Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PEER SUPPORT COUNSELING.

Includes correctional workers as protected participants in peer support counseling sessions, giving them the same confidentiality protections provided to law enforcement officers and emergency services personnel.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PAROLE ELIGIBILITY.

Expands the types of programs in which a committed person may participate to be eligible for parole. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY ASSISTANCE.

Establishes the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program within the Department of Human Services to assist qualifying 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. Appropriates funds to implement the program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMERGENCY AND BUDGET RESERVE FUND.

Appropriates moneys out of the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 to maintain the levels of programs determined to be essential to education, public health, and public welfare, to provide for counter cyclical economic and employment programs of economic downturn, to restore facilities destroyed or damaged or services disrupted by disaster, and to meet other emergencies declared by the Governor or determined to be urgent by the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

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

Enables the Board of Trustees of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to establish appropriate salaries for the investment office staff of the Trust Fund after conducting a market analysis of commensurate salaries in the private sector. 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 unit (14) 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. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PROTECTIVE ORDERS.

Requires notification to the security forces of each branch of the military when a protective order is issued in a case involving a military-affiliated individual. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

Requires disclosure of the names of compensated officers of state and county contractors and grantees. Prohibits the compensated officers of certain state and county contractors and grantees from making, promising, or soliciting certain campaign contributions for the duration of the contract or grant. Provides that, for contributions received through a third-party payment processor website, whether received by check or directly deposited to the candidate or noncandidate committee, the date the contributor executes the transaction on the third-party payment processor website shall be deemed the date of receipt and the date of acceptance for campaign finance reporting and compliance requirements. Clarifies that monetary contributions and other campaign funds shall be deposited within 14 days of their physical receipt in a depository institution. Requires unlawful contributions to be returned to the contributor within 30 calendar days of receipt or escheat to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. Clarifies that where a violation of the prohibition against contributions and expenditures by lobbyists during legislative session occurs because of the acceptance or agreement to accept a prohibited contribution, and the contribution is by check, the date of violation shall be the date of the receipt of the check and not the date of deposit. Appropriates moneys. (SD3)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TOBACCO ENFORCEMENT.

Clarifies that untaxed tobacco products are subject to forfeiture as contraband, without regard to the procedures set forth in Hawaii's asset forfeiture law in the same manner as untaxed cigarettes. Confirms the authority of the Department of Taxation and the Department of the Attorney General to inspect and seize tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices and e-liquids. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO COURT-ORDERED PAYMENTS.

Requires the Judiciary to contract with a collection agency or licensed attorney to collect delinquent court-ordered fees, fines, sanctions, and court costs. Clarifies the collection and prioritization of court-ordered fees, fines, and restitution. Establishes procedures for proof of compliance hearings and consequences for nonpayment. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CIVIL SERVICE EXEMPT POSITIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES.

Permanently exempts certain positions within the Public Works Division, Special Project Branch, and the Comptroller's Office from state civil service law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC ENERGY.

Requires all electric utilities to provide transparent customer bill impact analyses that are accessible to the public in an electronic format reasonably usable by ratepayers. Establishes requirements for bill impact analyses. Requires electric utilities to submit annual reports to the Public Utilities Commission. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

Clarifies that, for electric utilities, "performance-based incentives" include revenue adjustment mechanisms, cost control mechanisms, rewards for superior performance, and penalties for subpar performance. Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to adopt alternative ratemaking procedures to establish electric utility rates and performance-based incentives. Requires the Commission to apply a presumption in favor of considering historical cost trends and external indices that reflect incentives to control costs if the Commission resets an electric utility's allowed revenues based on consideration of the utility's costs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish a streamlined grid-ready homes interconnection process. Expands reporting requirements of the Hawaii Electricity Reliability Administrator to include reporting on the grid-ready home interconnection process. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXPENSES OF THE LEGISLATURE, THE AUDITOR, THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU, THE OMBUDSMAN, AND THE ETHICS COMMISSION.

Appropriates funds to provide for the expenses of the Legislature, Auditor, Legislative Reference Bureau, Ombudsman, and Ethics Commission. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

Clarifies state and local authority during a state or local state of emergency. Adds a definition of "severe weather warning". Allows the Legislature to terminate a state of emergency and city councils to terminate a local state of emergency. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE MILITARY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the Military and Community Relations Office to strengthen intergovernmental coordination for military and defense activities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO MICROENTERPRISE HOME KITCHENS.

Authorizes microenterprise home kitchens to prepare and sell food directly to consumers without food establishment permits or routine inspections, subject to consumer disclosure and basic food safety requirements. Clarifies that microenterprise home kitchens are not food establishments or food processing establishments. Authorizes the Department of Health to conduct investigations on operators and microenterprise home kitchens in response to complaints, foodborne illness outbreaks, and imminent threats to public health. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.

Permits the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to conduct a review of the effect of a proposed project on lands under its jurisdiction on historical properties and burial sites, subject to certain requirements. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Repeals a provision in Act 4, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, that prohibits the Department of Human Services from taking any action to remove pharmaceutical benefits management from managed care plans that provide health care coverage for Hawaii Medicaid beneficiaries. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO IDENTIFICATION.

Allows applicants for driver's permit, driver's license, or civil identification cards to request a disability notation on their permit, license, or identification card. Requires the Department of Transportation to establish public outreach efforts and coordinate with state and county law enforcement agencies regarding the disability notation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO DISCLOSURE OF ATTORNEY-CLIENT AND ATTORNEY WORK-PRODUCT PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS TO THE OMBUDSMAN.

Specifies that disclosure of communications by an agency to the Ombudsman does not waive any existing attorney-client or attorney work-product privilege pertaining to those communications. Prohibits the Ombudsman from disclosing privileged communications to others. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LOANS.

Authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to package and sell a portion of its agricultural loan portfolio to permitted third parties. Appropriates funds out of the Agricultural Loans Revolving Fund to increase its expenditure ceiling. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat