Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Establishes a payment rate not to exceed cost plus forty per cent for nonprescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or nonlegend drugs for workers' compensation purposes, subject to certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE HOLIDAYS.

Designates La Hoihoi Ea, Sovereignty Restoration Day, as a state holiday in place of Statehood Day. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE AHA MOKU ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

Amends the process for the hiring of the Executive Director of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee. Specifies that the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources is responsible for the appointment, oversight, and administrative authority over the Executive Director of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee. Requires any formal position, recommendation, or advisory action of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee to be adopted at a duly noticed public meeting at which a quorum is present. Amends the reporting requirements of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY.

Expands programming and training for the comprehensive offender reentry program under the department of corrections and rehabilitation to reduce the rate of recidivism and increase inmate marketability. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Establishes the Administrative Hearings Division within the Department of Transportation and transfers certain administrative hearing powers to the Division, including matters related to transportation network company permit appeals, automated red light camera and speed enforcement traffic citations, and commercial driver's license appeals. Specifies that a person aggrieved by an administrative decision related to red light camera and speed enforcement traffic citations may petition for judicial review. Allows authorized employees of the Department of Law Enforcement to review images produced by the automated red light camera and speed enforcement systems. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

PART I: Requires motor vehicles to have front number plate mounting brackets or devices and for sellers, licensed dealers, or owners to securely affix number plates to the vehicles. PART II: Amends the Traffic Code relating to street racing. PART III: Expands the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program to high-risk locations of state or county highways as determined by the Department of Transportation, under certain conditions. Appropriates moneys. PART IV: Authorizes the installation of a school bus infraction detection system on the exterior of a school bus. Establishes strict liability and the process for issuing summons or citations for drivers shown by the system to be in violation of certain school bus laws. Clarifies the liability of drivers near a school bus that is actively monitored by a school bus infraction detection system. Appropriates moneys. PART V: Specifies that the Department of Transportation's Motor Vehicle Safety Office shall administer the Photo Red Light Imaging Detector Systems Program Special Fund and Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund. PART VI: Clarifies language relating to photo red light enforcement, automated speed enforcement, and penalty provisions. PART VII: Requires the Director of Transportation to adopt rules allowing for mobile vehicle safety inspections of passenger cars. Effective 7/1/3000; provided that part IV, except the rule-making directive and appropriation, effective 7/1/2028. (SD2)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION AFFORDABILITY.

Requires the Department of Transportation to establish a clean vehicle rebate program to provide rebates for the purchase or lease of new and used zero-emission vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Establishes the clean vehicle special fund. Beginning 1/1/2027, establishes a transportation affordability and energy security tax. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO LABOR DAY.

Establishes a nonrefundable tax credit for employers who provide a paid Labor Day holiday to construction workers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Restricts motor vehicles that tow a motor vehicle or trailer from the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes going in the same direction, with exemptions. Specifies penalties for restricted motor vehicles who drive in the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes moving in the same direction. Applies restrictions and penalties to a county with a population of 500,000 or more. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Prohibits vehicles from driving on the shoulder of a roadway, except in certain circumstances. Authorizes the Department of Transportation, law enforcement officers, and other approved persons to impound vehicles with expired registrations of three years or more, under certain conditions. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Increases the fine amount for owners of out-of-state motor vehicles who fail to register the vehicle in the State. Establishes minimum and maximum statutory penalties for violations relating to the use of high occupancy vehicle lanes. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION.

Specifies that the county annual vehicle registration fee shall not exceed the state annual motor vehicle registration fee for counties with a population of five hundred thousand or more. Specifies that counties with a population of five hundred thousand or more are required to spend a certain portion of the collected revenues from county motor vehicle registration fees and weight tax on roadway repair and maintenance. Specifies that the county annual vehicle weight tax shall not exceed the state annual vehicle weight tax for counties with a population of five hundred thousand or more. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.

Appropriates funds to the Executive Office on Early Learning to administer funding for family-child interaction learning programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWAL OF DRIVER'S LICENSES.

Requires certain applicants for driver's license renewal to complete an educational course that includes a road safety video developed by the Department of Transportation and a written examination. Authorizes the Department to develop and implement a system to randomly require applicants for renewal of a driver's license to complete a written examination. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO COFFEE LABELING.

Clarifies the labeling and advertising requirements for roasted coffee, instant coffee, and ready-to-drink coffee beverages based on where they were grown and processed. Defines "regional origin". Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL.

Appropriates funds to supplement the salary of the State Fire Marshal. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Extends the Librarian Pilot Program established by Act 135, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, through 2030. Authorizes the Department of Education to select a second school complex on Oahu to be part of the pilot program if no appropriate school complex on the neighbor islands can be identified. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.

Establishes a statewide Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program at the University of Hawaii. Establishes positions and appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY.

Establishes and appropriates funds for the Neighborhood Security Watch Grant Program to help fund certain activities and rental payments of established neighborhood security watch groups and neighborhood citizen patrol groups that rent government-owned facilities for a fee to carry out their duties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RIGHT TO REPAIR.

Establishes a right to repair for wheelchairs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO LAVA ZONE INSURANCE.

Requires the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to conduct a study on the homeowners insurance market for lava zones 1 and 2. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO HEARING AIDS.

Exempts from the general excise tax, gross receipts from the sale of hearing aids received by a hospital, infirmary, medical clinic, health care facility, pharmacy, or a practitioner licensed to administer drugs to an individual. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

Authorizes the inclusion of provisions addressing individualized accommodations and supports during emergency situations and evacuations in individualized education programs and section 504 plans for students with disabilities. Requires support and guidance from the Department of Education. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO DEAF INDIVIDUALS.

Authorizes deaf motor vehicle owners to register their vehicle as being owned by a deaf individual so that a deafness designation appears when a law enforcement officer accesses the motor vehicle's information. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LIQUOR TAX.

Replaces the defined liquor categories subject to the liquor tax with alcohol-by-volume categories, but with a separate rate for beer manufactured by a small craft producer pub licensee. Adjusts the liquor tax rates for inflation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY.

Establishes penalties, including fines and liens, for an owner of residential real property's failure to remediate zoning violations. Requires, under certain conditions, county planning or permitting agencies to record the notice of violation as a lien on the property with the Bureau of Conveyances. Requires referral to the applicable county corporation counsel for foreclosure, subject to certain conditions, if the owner fails to satisfy certain conditions. Requires the applicable district or circuit court to hold a de novo review of penalties assessed for unaddressed residential real property zoning violations, including foreclosure, upon appeal by the affected residential real property owner. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.

Includes any parcels owned by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority as areas that may be closed to the public. Specifies required signage. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO A CLEAN FUEL STANDARD.

Requires the Department of Transportation to adopt rules by 1/1/2028 governing a clean fuel standard for alternative fuels in the State. Requires reporting and public informational session requirements. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

PART II: Allows certain extensions of the deadline for cesspool conversions. Establishes a goal for the Department of Health to prioritize the upgrade, conversion, or connection of cesspools that pose the highest risk to human health or the environment. PART III: Authorizes and appropriates funds to the Department of Health to retain qualified consultants as necessary to identify necessary public outreach and education resources and tools and develop a comprehensive public outreach strategy and website to educate property owners and wastewater industry professionals about information and resources regarding the State's cesspool upgrade, conversion, and connection requirements and deadlines. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

By 7/1/2027, requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to establish a self‑certification process for certain behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build solar distributed energy resource systems immediately. Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to develop guidance for determining specific conditions when a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for certain geothermal resource exploration and development activities and the hiring of consultants. Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to engage in consultation with beneficiaries of Hawaiian home lands regarding activities funded and to comply with the environmental impact statements law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

Establishes a goal of the State to retrofit state facilities to be electric vehicle charger-ready. Requires the design of all new state building construction where parking is to be included to provide that at least twenty-five per cent of parking stalls be electric vehicle charger-ready. Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office, in consultation with all state agencies that have parking facilities, to conduct a survey and identify certain high-priority state facilities. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

Shortens the period during which certain judicial proceedings involving environmental assessments and environmental impact statements on actions that propose the use of land for, or construction of, affordable housing or clean energy projects must be initiated. Specifies that appeals from environmental courts that involve actions that propose the use of land for, or construction of, affordable housing or clean energy projects meet one of the grounds for transfer to the Supreme Court. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires the Department of Health to procure a Maternal and Infant Health Information Mobile Application by 1/1/2027 to provide qualified individuals with information on federal and state programs and resources for prenatal, pregnant, and postpartum individuals and their families. Requires DOH to issue a request for proposals. Authorizes DOH to procure or otherwise contract for an existing mobile pregnancy application. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WEST HAWAII REGIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

Appropriates funds for the planning, design, site work, and construction of a new outpatient care center in North Kona. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING.

Repeals the sunset for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna. Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna and for two positions to support the program. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SPECIAL FUND.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services Special Fund by authorizing the deposit of revenues from billable emergency medical services. Amends the composition and allowable uses of the special fund. Establishes a cap on the unencumbered and unexpended balance in the special fund. Exempts expenditures from the special fund from chapters 103D and 103F, HRS. Discontinues the allocation of cigarette tax revenues to the special fund beginning 1/1/2027. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO PERMITTING.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, in collaboration with a county selected by the Department, to develop an artificial intelligence-assisted pre-compliance intake pilot platform, subject to a matching funds requirement for the county. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop a policy or metric to measure the success of the pilot platform. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO PRIMARY CARE.

Establishes the Primary Care Providers Working Group within the State Health Planning and Development Agency to address issues relating to, and develop recommendations for the stabilization of, primary care services in Hawaii. Requires the Working Group to make a report to the Legislature. Sunsets the Working Group on 6/30/2027. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL.

Implements certain recommendations of the SPEED Task Force. Requires the State Building Code Council to provide annual training to state and county permitting agency employees. Appropriates funds for the training, subject to a matching requirement from the counties. Effective 7/1/2055. (SD1)

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO IMAGE-BASED SEXUAL ABUSE.

Establishes the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate or private images as a criminal offense. Amends the criteria for an extended term of imprisonment to include an offender whose act of attempting to commit or committing the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images or private images against a minor or vulnerable adult was the proximate cause of the victim's death. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO SAFE ENTRYWAYS.

Establishes, for a county with a population greater than three hundred thousand, enforcement procedures to prevent people or personal property from blocking or otherwise impeding ingress or egress to private doorways and entranceways. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Establishes, for a county with a population greater than three hundred thousand, enforcement procedures to prevent domiciling or storing of personal property on public property within a bus stop area, if a person does not intend to use the public transportation services. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO FRESHWATER WATERWAYS.

Prohibits residing in, on, or within fifty feet of a freshwater waterway. Authorizes law enforcement officers to enforce the prohibition. Specifies that violation is a civil violation, not a criminal offense. Establishes procedures for the removal, inventory, storage, and disposal of unattended personal property. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.

Requires the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience to establish a Center on Biosecurity Research, Education, and Extension to develop and implement innovative solutions for detecting, monitoring, eradicating, and managing invasive species. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO THE TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TAX.

Establishes the State-led Marketing and Branding Special Fund and requires that a portion of all transient accommodations tax revenues that would otherwise be deposited into the general fund be deposited into the special fund, to be used for state-led marketing, branding, and tourism management. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop and submit an annual comprehensive marketing, branding, and tourism management plan to the Legislature for approval. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO THE GREEN FEE.

Establishes the Green Fee Transparency and Accountability Program and Green Fee Resiliency Impact Dashboard, to be administered by the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS.

Prohibits lodging establishments from providing personal care products in small plastic containers within sleeping room accommodations, any space within sleeping room accommodations, or bathrooms used by the public or guests. Establishes civil penalties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat