Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO TAX CREDITS.

Establishes a refundable diaper tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Lisa KitagawaDemocrat

RELATING TO PREDICTION MARKETS.

Amends the definition of "gambling" to include predictive markets involving the purchase, sale, or financial speculation of securities, commodities, or other similar financial products on the outcome or future contingent event related to catastrophe, contests, death, legislation, national security, people, politics, and sports. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO COLLABORATION WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

Allows state and county law enforcement agencies to collaborate with the federal government for immigration purposes in only limited, specific circumstances.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the Department of Transportation to assess a per passenger head infrastructure fee against cruise ships docking in the State's commercial harbors. Establishes the Cruise Ship Special Fund. Repeals existing law imposing the Transient Accommodations Tax on cruise ships, effective retroactive to 1/1/2026. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO PROPERTY.

Specifies a process by which property owners may utilize law enforcement officers to remove unauthorized individuals from dwellings. Establishes the criminal offenses of squatting and fraudulent sale or lease of residential real property. Makes the offense of criminal trespass in the first degree for a person who knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in a dwelling or in or upon the premises of a hotel or apartment building a class C felony, rather than a misdemeanor. Classifies the type of property damage typically inflicted by squatters as a form of criminal property damage in the second degree. Classifies the falsification of documentation typically performed by squatters as a form of unsworn falsification to authorities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO LEI.

Requires and establishes benchmarks for each state executive agency to ensure that a certain percentage of lei purchased by that executive agency consists of lei made entirely of natural objects and plant materials grown, harvested, and assembled in the State. Establishes labeling requirements for lei and lei materials. Requires the disclosure of the geographic origin for the plant materials and natural objects that comprise a lei or lei materials. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.

Clarifies driver's obligations at crosswalks. Requires drivers to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians in crosswalks. Strengthens penalties for traffic violations, particularly in school zones. Creates additional criminal penalties when pedestrians suffer bodily injury. Provides heightened protections for blind and visually impaired pedestrians. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires landlords or landlord's agents to accept comprehensive reusable tenant screening reports, if made available by an applicant, and prohibits application fees in such cases. Establishes remedies for refusing to accept those reports. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO LAWMAKER SAFETY.

Prohibits the public disclosure of legislators' personal contact information in a voter's affidavit of registration, nomination papers, and electronic database for campaign committees. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO SPORTS OFFICIALS.

Authorizes the Department of Education to retain private counsel to represent a sports official in certain civil proceedings to obtain a temporary restraining order in response to incidences where the sports official has been assaulted or threatened in the course of legally discharging their sports official duties. Includes substantial bodily injury of a sports official engaged in the lawful discharge of the sports official's duties in the offense of assault in the first degree. Clarifies that a sports official includes a school administrator, league administrator, or athletics director. Clarifies that a sports official's duties cover sports events at public schools and private schools. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

Beginning 7/1/2027, requires the Judiciary to develop, implement, and administer an automated court appearance reminder system that generates text message or electronic mail notifications for upcoming court appearances in certain types of cases. Requires persons making an arrest or issuing a citation to obtain, to the extent practicable, the offender's mobile telephone number and electronic mail address. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

RELATING TO VOTING BOARDS.

Appropriates funds to implement an electronic voting board system in the chamber of the House of Representatives. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

RELATING TO HOSPITALS.

Requires any hospital licensed by the Department of Health that has an operating room to adopt and implement policies to prevent exposure to surgical smoke. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires, rather than authorizes, the Department of Education to develop and administer a Traffic Safety Education Program. Requires the Department of Education's Traffic Safety Education program to include electric bicycles. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

RELATING TO AMBULANCES.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to purchase one advanced life support ambulance and related equipment to be based in central Maui, fund pay-related personnel costs for state-certified emergency medical services personnel, and increase the predictability and stability of available air ambulance services for all islands in the State. Effective 1/31/2050. (SD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT OF RETIRANTS.

Establishes a five-year pilot program to authorize the Department of Education to rehire retired teachers and educational officers for hard-to-staff positions. Sunsets 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO YOUTH HOMELESSNESS.

Requires the Office of Youth Services to establish a five-year Youth Housing Stability Assistance Pilot Program to enter into contracts with nonprofit organizations or execute memoranda of agreement with government agencies to support eligible youth with financial assistance. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. Sunsets 6/30/2031. (SD1)

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Defines compounded prescription drugs for the purposes of workers' compensation law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PEDESTRIANS.

Requires the driver of a vehicle to stop for a pedestrian who is crossing the roadway within a crosswalk and not to proceed until the pedestrian has completely exited the crosswalk and the driver can safely proceed. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PHARMACY.

Establishes the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Special Fund to support pharmacist workforce assessment and planning efforts. Establishes the pharmacist workforce assessment fee. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes positions and appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to support health care workforce development in the State. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY.

Establishes a framework for the use of intelligent speed assistance technology for habitual speeders. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Statutorily establishes the Agricultural Statistics Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to collect data on local agricultural interests. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO BUILDING MATERIALS.

Specifies that no state or county building code shall prohibit the use of hempcrete as a non-structural building material. Authorizes building officials to approve hempcrete construction that meets applicable safety and performance standards. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ESTATE AND GENERATION-SKIPPING TRANSFER TAX.

Establishes an unrealized gains surcharge on certain property transfers subject to the estate and generation-skipping transfer tax. Except for certain types of properties within estates, lowers the applicable exclusion amount allowed. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO ESSENTIAL PERMITTING POSITIONS.

Establishes a four-year pilot program to improve the speed, accountability, and quality of permit processing through targeted staffing, performance incentives, and interdepartmental competition within participating counties. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to conduct a study on effective treatment methods to reduce populations of the Queensland Longhorn Beetle. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE ENTERPRISE ZONES.

Increases the number of enterprise zones that may be nominated by each county. Authorizes enterprise zone designation for census tracts that contain the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine and the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. Allow businesses not established in an enterprise zone to qualify for enterprise zone benefits; provided that they have entered into a binding collaboration or contract with a business that is established in the census tract that contains the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine or the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes a Hilo-Kona transportation pilot program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study, plan, evaluate, implement, and trial transportation routes and services connecting Hilo and Kona. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO VOTING.

Authorizes state agencies to implement automatic voter registration if designated by the Office of Elections. Requires eligible applicants for instruction permits, provisional licenses, driver's licenses, and identification cards to be automatically registered or preregistered to vote unless the applicant opts out. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.

Appropriates funds for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CIVIC EDUCATION.

Establishes a Civic Education Grant Program to provide support to public middle and intermediate schools in providing civic education to students through department approved programming. Establishes a Civic Education Trust Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTE MANAGEMENT.

Beginning 1/1/2027, prohibits the sale, offer for sale, or distribution for sale of any disposable electronic smoking devices in the State. Establishes penalties. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO TEACHER HOUSING.

Establishes the Teacher Housing Assistance Program to be administered by the Department of Education to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers. Appropriates funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

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

Transfers the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission from the Department of Accounting and General Services to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Transfers certain authority and responsibilities held by the Comptroller regarding the Works of Art Special Fund to the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Appropriates funds for positions within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Effective 1/1/3000. (SD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO COFFEE PEST CONTROL.

Temporarily reestablishes the Coffee Berry Borer and Coffee Leaf Rust Pesticide Subsidy Program and the program manager position, including the position's civil service and collective bargaining laws exemption. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds for the operation and implementation of the Pesticide Subsidy Program. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO GRANTS.

Appropriates funds to the Office of Community Services (OCS) to award grants to certain nonprofit organizations. Establishes an evaluation and selection committee to oversee the awarding of grants. Requires an applicant for a grant to provide certain documentation on activities that qualify for community engagement hours to qualify for the grant. Appropriates funds for positions in OCS and for the Department of the Attorney General to assist OCS in reviewing contracts and monitoring costs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ARTS.

Establishes the Mapping of Arts Data for Education Task Force to conduct a study and develop a comprehensive, publicly available statewide database and geographic information systems map of arts entities and programs engaged in arts and arts education. Requires interim and final reports to the Legislature. Task Force sunsets upon submission of final report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity for the removal of overgrown vegetation from the Kainahola Stream. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to issue supplemental contracts to community-based organizations to address increases in costs related to labor, insurance, utilities, rent, and gas. For any multi-year contracts entered into or renewed beginning in fiscal year 2027-2028, requires the Department of Human Services to issue a Request for Information to determine whether any existing contract remains fiscally sound and thereafter determine, with the consent of the contractor, whether a new request for proposals should be issued. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

Establishes the Hawaii Benefits Hub Working Group to develop a plan for the governance and implementation of the Hawaii Benefits Hub and related referral, tracking, compliance, and coordination systems. Requires reports to the Legislature. Establishes a position within the Office of Enterprise Technology Services. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO STREAM MAINTENANCE.

Requires the counties to remove and dispose of personal property as part of the maintenance of channels, streambeds, streambanks, and drainageways. Clarifies that personal property stored in or near a channel, streambed, streambank, or drainageways for a continuous period of more than twenty-four hours shall be deemed abandoned property which may be disposed of by the State or county. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES.

Expands the scope of persons who are subject to public financial disclosure requirements. Effective 7/1/2027. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO POLITICAL FUNDRAISING BY EXECUTIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES.

Prohibits any Executive Branch employee with procurement authority who is nominated or appointed by the Governor to a compensated position subject to confirmation by the Senate from engaging in certain campaign fundraising activities. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

Clarifies and expands the types of proposed projects for privately-owned residential properties that are subject to historic review. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL AQUARIUM COLLECTION.

Prohibits the harvest of aquatic life for commercial aquarium purposes, regardless of the method of collection, in counties with a population greater than 500,000 and the consideration of rules for the issuance of permits for the harvest of aquatic life for commercial aquarium purposes. Repeals upon promulgation of certain rules by the Department of Land and Natural Resources for counties with a population greater than 500,000. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

Amends the composition of the Land Use Commission to permit more than one member who has substantial experience or expertise in traditional Hawaiian land usage and knowledge of cultural land practices and require at least one member who has substantial experience in water resource management. Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to submit a list of nominees to the Governor for the appointment of a commission member having substantial experience or expertise in traditional Hawaiian land usage and knowledge of cultural land practices. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PETITIONS TO TEMPORARILY RESTRAIN AND ENJOIN HARASSMENT OF AN EMPLOYEE.

Establishes a two-year pilot project to authorize public employers to petition for temporary restraining orders and injunctions against employment-related harassment of certain public employees. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC SERVANTS.

Elevates the offense of harassment as a misdemeanor when committed against certain public servants in connection with their performance of a governmental function. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY.

Amends the offense of negligent injury in the first degree to include injuries negligently inflicted by intoxicated drivers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat