Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO WATER CARRIER RATE REGULATION.

Establishes the Hawaii Water Carrier Rates Board to review, evaluate, and set rates, fees, and charges for water carriers under chapter 271G, HRS. Transfers water carrier rate setting functions, powers, duties, records, personnel and cases from the Public Utilities Commission to the Hawaii Water Carrier Rates Board. Establishes the Hawaii Water Carrier Rates Board special fund. Requires annual reports to legislature and a sunset review in the last year. Sunsets 6/30/2032.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO DECENTRALIZATION OF DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FARM TO SCHOOL.

Provides that complex area superintendents have the authority to implement the farm to school and farm to school meals programs. Requires certain school cafeteria supervisors to report directly to complex area superintendents. Establishes school cafeteria supervisor positions. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to conduct a compensation review of school cafeteria supervisor positions. Appropriates funds.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Replaces the Hawaii Tourism Authority with the Corporation for the Stewardship of Hawaii Tourism, a nonprofit entity to guide Hawaii's visitor economy in collaboration with public, private, nonprofit, and community stakeholders in achieving beneficial outcomes from tourism based on the principles of destination stewardship and regenerative tourism.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

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

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the twenty-second representative district.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Increases fines that may be assessed against certain fireworksrelated violations. Effective 7/1/2025.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO HARASSMENT BY STALKING.

Makes harassment by stalking a class C felony.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO CARE HOMES.

Prohibits the licensing of an adult residential care home, expanded adult residential care home, or developmental disabilities domiciliary home that is financed, managed, operated, supervised, directed, or owned in whole or in part by a person convicted of a gambling offense.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Implements the Condominium Property Regime Task Force recommendations.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE INDIVIDUAL HOUSING ACCOUNT PROGRAM.

For taxable years beginning 1/1/2027, increases the maximum annual deduction for contributions to, and maximum account levels for, individual housing accounts.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE COUNTY OF HAWAII.

Appropriates funds as a grant-in-aid to the County of Hawaii to provide grants for the contracting of a private water company for the facilitation and installation of fire hydrants.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LANDS.

For purposes of permissible uses in agricultural districts, establishes minimum requirements for income received from agricultural activity for a family occupying a farm dwelling. Provides that the definition of a "farm dwelling" includes agricultural activity that is considered a farming operation under section 165-2, HRS, and is conducted on more than 50 per cent of the entire lot.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO MARINE AFFAIRS.

Declares that the State is an ocean cluster. Establishes the Office of Marine Affairs under the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation for administrative purposes only. Establishes the Marine Affairs Coordinator position. Requires the Marine Affairs Coordinator to submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature. Transfers the employees and functions of the Governor's Advisory Committee on Marine Affairs to the Office of Marine Affairs. Appropriates funds for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Marine Affairs Coordinator position.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.

Authorizes each qualifying individual taxpayer to claim an additional credit if the taxpayer claims any dependent under the age of eighteen.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS.

Short form bill relating to military affairs.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO VETERANS.

Short form bill relating to veterans.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO CESSPOOL CONVERSIONS.

Increases the maximum grant amount for the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project. Appropriates funds.

Lisa KitagawaDemocrat

RELATING TO CORRECTIONS.

Short form bill relating to corrections.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.

Permanently increases the state earned income tax credit to fifty per cent of the federal earned income tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2024.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Short form bill relating to public safety.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM GOVERNANCE.

Allows funds from the Condominium Education Trust Fund to be used for education and resources for condominium unit owners as primary stakeholders in condominium governance. Requires the Real Estate Commission to ensure that condominium unit owners are recognized and included as stakeholders in educational programs, consultations, advisory committees, task forces, and police development activities.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDIA.

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to fix the payment of royalties to the State for the filming of scenic shots of iconic locations in the State that are subsequently featured in media for production purposes. Exempts state and county productions.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF RETIRANTS.

Authorizes the State and counties to temporarily rehire retired public employees to fill positions identified as unique and critical to government operations.

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE THIRTY-THIRD REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the thirty-third representative district.

Sam Satoru KongDemocrat

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTIONS.

Exempts the tax collected on the sale of groceries that are eligible under the supplemental nutrition assistance program or special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children, regardless of the means of purchase and the program eligibility of the purchaser.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Short form bill relating to tourism.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO INCOME TAX.

Makes permanent the amendments made by Act 163, SLH 2023, to the state earned income tax credit and refundable food/excise tax credit. Amends the income thresholds and credit amounts for the low-income household renters tax credit and refundable food/excise tax credit. Amends the state earned income tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2024.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO ESTABLISH ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.

Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to establish access to affordable health care as a fundamental right, subject to limitations balancing other essential public services.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.

Requires the Department of Education to make available all public school outdoor facilities and grounds on Saturdays and Sundays for public and community use without the need for any license, permit, or deposit of fees, under certain conditions. Requires reports to the Legislature. Repeals on 6/30/2030.

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Appropriates funds to establish a state tea agent at UH Manoa CTAHR.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO PARKING FOR DISABLED PERSONS.

Requires the Disability and Communication Access Board to issue a disability travel placard to an applicant who has a valid removeable windshield placard and provides proof of travel.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO FORECLOSURES.

Specifies that a judicial foreclosure sale is not final until the earliest of either fifteen days after the public sale, unless an eligible bidder submits a subsequent bid or written notice of intent to submit a subsequent bid, or forty-five days after the public sale. Requires subsequent successful bidders to make a downpayment.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Establishes the Small Business Procurement Program and Small Business Procurement Coordinator position permanently in the State Procurement Office. Repeals the Small Business Assistance Initiative established in Act 168, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022. Appropriates funds.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO OPIOID ANTAGONISTS.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations that issue policies, contracts, plans, or agreements that provide prescription drug coverage to provide coverage for at least one generic opioid antagonist and device.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO PESTICIDES.

Requires quarterly rather than annual reporting of all use of restricted use pesticides. Amends the contents of reports to include specific geospatial data and information and increased detail on the amount of restricted use pesticides used. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to develop an online reporting tool for restricted use pesticides. Appropriates funds.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO PENALTIES.

Establishes heightened penalties for the offense of bribery under certain circumstances. Increases the penalty for official misconduct from a class C to a class A felony.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE RULEMAKING.

Establishes a cost-benefit analysis requirement that defines a specific financial impact threshold for administrative rules. Requires legislative action through concurrent resolution to approve an agency’s major rule change above the threshold of one million dollars.

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

RELATING TO ELECTION REFORM.

Amends various election provisions to increase public access to in-person voting, increase public confidence in elections, and impose accountability in the election certification process. Key features include increased access to voter service centers open on election day, abolition of ranked choice voting, public access to election records, signature verification in the presence of official observers, reform of the mandatory recount process, the use of physical ballots during election audits, and subjecting the chief election officer position to election instead of appointment.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO DOMESTIC ABUSE PROTECTIVE ORDERS.

Increases the penalties imposed on individuals convicted for violation of a temporary restraining order and order for protection. Clarifies that the court shall not sentence a defendant to pay a fine for violating a temporary restraining order or order for protection if, after conducting a financial review, the court determines the defendant is or will be unable to pay the fine. Specifies that the court may suspend certain jail sentence for violation of a temporary restraining order or order for protection upon condition that the defendant remain alcohol- and drug-free, conviction-free, and complete court-ordered assessments or intervention.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

Requires the Department of Human Services to request and implement waivers or waiver extensions from the federal government to make sugary drinks and candy ineligible foods for purchase with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Requires annual reports to the legislature on waiver status, ineligible foods, and implementation impacts.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO MEDICAL EDUCATION.

Requires the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to establish a nutrition and metabolic health curriculum for medical students at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO THE HAWAII CLEAN ENERGY INITIATIVE.

Replaces the State's renewable portfolio standard of 100 per cent renewable energy generation by 2045 with the original mandate for 70 per cent by 12/31/2045.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO FORENSIC IDENTIFICATION.

Establishes within the Honolulu Police Department a rapid DNA investigative lead program. Appropriates moneys.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE.

Requires the Department of Human Services to amend the Hawaii Medicaid State Plan or request approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for an amendment under the Medicaid State Plan to include naturopathic medicine.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO LABOR.

Short form bill relating to labor.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

Short form bill relating to collective bargaining.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS.

Clarifies that a county employee's code compliance review of plans for construction applicable to the specific engineering field is considered lawful experience in engineering work for purposes of professional engineering licensure.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE WORKERS.

Short form bill relating to state workers.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT HEALTH.

Authorizes a school to maintain a stock supply of over-the-counter oral antihistamines to be administered under certain conditions. Authorizes school personnel to administer the over-the-counter oral antihistamine medication, under certain conditions.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO LABOR.

Short form bill relating to labor.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO LABOR.

Short form bill relating to labor.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat