Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO THE COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE PROGRAM.

Establishes short-term management initiatives for the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response Program. Establishes standards for the usage of grants awarded pursuant to the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Response Program. Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii for activities and positions related to coconut rhinoceros beetle infestation control. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO AN INCOME TAX CREDIT.

Establishes a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for expenses paid to retrofit a residence with wind resistive devices. Requires the Department of Taxation to prepare forms. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to pre-certify claims. Appropriates funds. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. Sunsets 1/1/2028. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes an income tax credit for the purchase of electric garbage trucks by qualified taxpayers. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2024.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO PROTECTIVE ORDERS.

Establishes the Hawaii Hope Card Program within the Department of the Attorney General to issue hope cards upon request to those holding a long-term protective order, with specified relevant information about the protective orders and all covered parties. Establishes the Hawaii Hope Card Special Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO VETERANS.

Establishes provisions governing any person who receives compensation for advising, assisting, or consulting another person with veterans benefits. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO VETERANS RIGHTS AND BENEFITS.

Regulates persons receiving compensation for providing advice or assistance regarding veterans benefits. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO RENT TO BUILD EQUITY.

Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to conduct a study on rent-to-build equity for existing and future state-financed housing. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO ALCOHOL.

Defines "low alcohol by volume spirits beverage". Establishes a tax on low alcohol by volume spirits beverages at a rate of $0.85 per wine gallon. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Requires all health insurance policies, contracts, plans, and agreements issued or renewed after 12/31/2025, to provide optional coverage for standard fertility preservation services for persons undergoing medically necessary cancer-related treatments that may cause iatrogenic infertility. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD2)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER CONSERVATION.

Incentivizes the installation and use of gray water recycling systems and atmospheric water generators in the State by establishing an income tax credit to be administered by the Department of Taxation. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish a rebate program. Requires the State Building Code Council to adopt certain standards on gray water recycling systems and atmospheric water generators in the State. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Establishes a Plant Nursery Registry Program to regulate the sale of nursery stock. Requires certain plant nurseries to register with the Department of Agriculture. Establishes penalties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish a streamlined grid-ready homes interconnection process, including vehicle-to-grid compliance requirements, by 1/1/2026. Authorizes the use of the Hawaii electricity reliability surcharge for cost recovery of certain expenses of the Hawaii Electricity Reliability Administrator associated with the grid-ready homes interconnection process. Requires a report to the PUC on the grid-ready homes interconnection process. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DOG BREEDERS.

Defines a "dog breeder" as any person who owns, possesses, controls, or otherwise has charge or custody of more than ten dogs over the age of twelve months with intact sexual organs, and who sells, barters, or otherwise transfers more than three litters and more than twenty-five dogs per calendar year. Requires dog breeders to meet minimum standards of care and not place certain types of dogs in the same enclosure to ensure the proper treatment and care of dogs and the dogs' offspring. Prohibits any person from owning or having custody of more than thirty dogs over one year with intact sexual organs. Requires dog breeders to maintain specific written records for each dog for a specified period. Authorizes each county to assess, implement, and enforce its own licensing system. Establishes civil and criminal penalties for violations. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes the Accessory Dwelling Unit Financing and Deed Restriction Program to be administered by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to allocate funds to the counties for the purchase of equity for eligible homeowners or homebuyers to finance construction costs, development costs, and non-reoccurring closing costs associated with the construction of an accessory dwelling unit and purchase deed restrictions on such property. Exempts the conveyance tax for certain properties for taxable years beginning on 1/1/2026. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Authorizes each county that has established a surcharge on state tax before 7/1/2015 to extend the surcharge until 12/31/2045, at the same rates, if the county does so before 1/1/2028. Provides that no county surcharge on state tax authorized for a county that has not established a surcharge on state tax before 7/1/2015, shall be levied before 1/1/2019, or after 12/31/2045. Repeals certain conditions on the use of surcharges for housing infrastructure costs. Effective 5/13/2040. (SD1)

Herbert M. "Tim" Richards IIIDemocrat

RELATING TO VETERINARIANS.

Establishes the Veterinarian Workforce Development Special Fund. Establishes the Veterinarian Workforce Development Fee to support recruitment and retention of veterinarians in the State. Establishes the Veterinarian Workforce Development Loan Repayment and Scholarship Program to support qualified veterinarians committed to or currently working in veterinary medicine in the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Herbert M. "Tim" Richards IIIDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes a Local Agriculture Transportation Cost Reimbursement Program within the Department of Agriculture to reimburse eligible ranchers and farmers a portion of their costs to transport livestock, livestock products, agricultural commodities, and certain supplies, under certain conditions. Establishes a position to administer the Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Herbert M. "Tim" Richards IIIDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL BIOSECURITY.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to establish and administer a Biosecurity Fencing Cost-Sharing Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Herbert M. "Tim" Richards IIIDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

Clarifies the process by which the Hawaii Community Development Authority may approve residential development on certain parcels of Kakaako Makai. Raises the building height limit and the maximum floor area ratio on certain parcels in the area. Requires a certain percentage of the residential units developed on certain parcels to be allocated to households at or below a certain income level in perpetuity, with priority given to certain essential workforce in the area. Limits the sale of residential units developed in certain residential developments to prospective owner-occupants. Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to determine a Kakaako Makai association fee to be collected from residents, tenants, and lessees of certain parcels to be deposited into a special account in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Special Fund to fund various services and projects in the Kakaako Makai area. (SD1)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO FEES.

Requires the Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt rules to impose user fees that apply solely to nonresidents visiting state parks and trails, as selected by the Board. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes the Future Career and Technical Education Teacher Scholarship Program to be administered by the Department of Education to facilitate the recruitment and retention of career and technical education teachers in Hawaii public schools. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.

Allows a retirant to be employed without reenrollment in the Employees' Retirement System and without loss or interruption of benefits if the retirant is employed in a position identified for succession planning purposes. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Medicaid buy-in program for workers with disabilities. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO THE RENTAL MOTOR VEHICLE SURCHARGE TAX.

Requires the rental motor vehicle surcharge tax to be pro-rated if the vehicle is rented or leased for a portion of the day. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.

Decreases the exempted light transmittance for motor vehicle sun screening devices on front side wing vents and windows from thirty-five per cent to twenty per cent plus or minus six per cent. Exempts the light transmittance for motor vehicle sun screening devices for side windows that are to the rear of the driver and rear windows in sedans. Repeals the requirement that a front number plate be affixed to the front of a motor vehicle. Makes conforming amendments. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO VICTIM RESTITUTION.

Requires, when a defendant is convicted of negligent homicide in the first degree for causing the death of another while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, that victim restitution shall include financial support to raise the decedent's surviving minor children until each child reaches the age of eighteen, or until the age of twenty-three for any child who enrolls full-time in a college, university, vocational school, or trade school, in an amount to be determined by the court and to be paid to the person responsible for raising the children. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO SERVICE ANIMALS.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to be responsible for all neighbor island inspection permit fees for service animals that are located in the State and are being transported for release at Kona, Kahului, or Lihue airports. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Establishes prohibitions on assault rifles, assault shotguns, and .50 caliber firearms. Expands the ban on high-capacity detachable magazines. Allows possession of an assault rifle, assault shotgun, or detachable magazine with a capacity greater than ten rounds when certain conditions are met. Effective 1/1/2026. (CD2)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO COPYING FEES.

Prohibits the cost of reproducing government records in a digital format from exceeding 5 cents per digital record that has already been digitized. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Prohibits rental agreements from prohibiting tenants from keeping pet animals in dwelling units, subject to certain conditions. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Requires each motor vehicle insurance policy to cover the replacement cost of a child passenger restraint system that was damaged or in use by a child during a motor vehicle accident for which liability coverage under the policy is applicable. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

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. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Authorizes the Department of Education to award a high school diploma to qualified persons who did not receive a high school diploma as a result of compulsory or voluntary induction into the armed services of the United States or whose high school education was interrupted due to wartime practices during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Requires the Department of Taxation to provide refunds to taxpayers at the same interest rate as the federal government. Effective 7/1/2025. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes an income tax credit for capital infrastructure costs incurred in the conversion of a dairy farm to a hog farm. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

For taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025, temporarily reinstates the Technology Infrastructure Renovation Tax Credit and expands the definition of "technology-enabled infrastructure" to include data servers. Requires the Department of Taxation to submit a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

AQUINO

RELATING TO PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

Requires five days of paid family leave annually for certain state and county employees. Ensures the protection of wage, seniority, and other employment benefits of employees who take paid family leave. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

AQUINO

RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCING.

Increases the amount of partial public campaign financing available for all elective offices. Adjusts the minimum amount of qualifying contributions certain candidates must receive to participate in the program. Increases the matching fund payments for excess qualifying contributions. Appropriates funds for the program and staff. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.

Requires defendants convicted of causing the death or disability of a parent or legal guardian of a minor child by the operation of a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant to make restitution in the form of financial support to each child of the victim. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX CREDITS.

Establishes a nonrefundable income tax credit for taxpayers who construct or install improvements to their residence that increase the residence's fire safety rating as calculated by the taxpayer's homeowner's insurance policy. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO DOGS.

Establishes an additional penalty for a dog owner whose dog destroys property while on land zoned for agricultural use. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Amends the definition of "cultural". Prohibits the use of consumer fireworks except for cultural use by permit. Repeals the wording of section 132D-3(1), HRS, that generally allows the use of consumer fireworks without a permit on New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, and the Fourth of July. Makes it unlawful to offer, display for sale, sell, or furnish consumer fireworks to any person except for cultural use by permit, with a cap of not more than five permits per person. Prohibits the sale of fireworks to a person more than 5 calendar days before a permitted cultural use. Imposes a fee of $25 per permit for the purchase and cultural use of consumer fireworks. Imposes a statewide limitation on consumer fireworks, except by permit for cultural use. Effective 7/1/2025. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO A WEALTH ASSET TAX.

Beginning January 1, 2030, establishes a wealth asset tax of one per cent of the state net worth of each individual taxpayer who holds $20,000,000 or more in assets in the State. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO MARIJUANA.

Changes from 1 ounce to 30 grams the minimum amount of marijuana that constitutes the offense of promoting a detrimental drug in the second degree. Increases from 3 grams or less to 15 grams or less the amount of marijuana that constitutes the offense of promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO THE GENERAL FUND.

Provides a tax credit to taxpayers and makes deposits to the emergency and budget reserve fund and other post-employment benefits trust fund pursuant to article VII, section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO INTERNSHIPS.

Permits the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to enter into contracts with eligible employers or registered apprenticeship programs in the private sector to provide on-the-job training to eligible interns. Provides that the State shall be the responsible employer for purposes of workers' compensation coverage for students or recent graduates in the on-the-job-training work experience program, subject to certain limitations. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Creates an income tax credit for qualified transportation costs incurred by certain taxpayers who ship agricultural products and inputs between counties. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Clarifies that the importation of any pest or material infested or infected with an insect or other animal, disease, or pest is prohibited. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to administratively inspect any article imported or moved into the State from the continental United States or between the Hawaiian Islands. Prohibits the sale, barter, or donation of items or material that is a pest, is infested or infected with a pest, or prohibited from being sold. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to compel the quarantine, treatment, or destruction of certain materials. Clarifies penalties for various quarantine and import law violations, based in part on whether violations were knowingly committed. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat