Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO FAMILY SAFETY.

Establishes comprehensive reforms to protect children and families from abuse and improve systemic responses. Part I: Establishes the calendar year 2027 as the Year of Resilience, Safety, and Survivor Justice. Part II: Modernizes statutory definitions of harm and child abuse. Part III: Recognizes coercive control as domestic abuse. Part IV: Reforms Family Court procedures to prioritize child safety and prohibit parental alienation theories. Part V: Defines economic abuse and strengthens financial protections, including automatic restraining orders, emergency hearings, forensic accounting authority, and liability for financial institutions. Part VI: Safeguards neurodivergent children and prohibits diagnosis shopping. Part VII: Protects reproductive privacy in custody proceedings. Part VIII: Enhances Child Welfare Services Branch accountability through audits and creation of a Child Welfare Ombudsman. Part IX: Requires automatic protective orders and custody restrictions in cases of severe violence. Part X: Creates a Family Violence Docket with mandatory judicial training and an advisory panel.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO PERFORMING ARTS.

Establishes a performing arts ticket surcharge on the sale of certain performing arts tickets for an event held in the State.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE-FUNDED TRAVEL.

Requires reports on travel taken by certain state agencies and for the reports to be submitted to the money committees of the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires the Department of Health to conduct a study on addictive online activities engaged in by residents of the State and submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE LIBRARIES.

Clarifies the roles and responsibilities for capital improvement projects at the 12 dual-use public and school libraries statewide. Clarifies that, after the Board of Education authorizes the State Librarian to make capital improvements to a public and school library facility, and the Legislature appropriates funding for the project, the Department of Education shall work expeditiously with the State Librarian to ensure timely use of the appropriated moneys.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC TESTIMONY.

Prohibits state and county boards from considering written testimony submitted by an individual member of the public unless the written testimony includes certain information necessary for the board to verify the authenticity of the testimony and communicate with the testifier. Prohibits boards from disclosing any personal information obtained through written public testimony, except the name of the testifier, unless authorized by the testifier. Requires each house of the Legislature to adopt or amend rules to apply the written public testimony verification process to certain hearings conducted by its standing committees. Effective 1/1/2028.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to open a docketed proceeding no later than 9/1/2026, to conduct a comprehensive, objective, and independent analysis of the State's energy pathways. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

Requires the Hawaii Community Development Authority, when planning and developing housing, to plan for complete communities that include various aspects supporting quality of life. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO ECOSYSTEM RIGHTS.

Recognizes watersheds and coral reef ecosystems as legal persons with inherent and inalienable rights to exist, flourish, and naturally evolve. Establishes enforceable ecosystem rights grounded in public trust doctrine and Native Hawaiian customary stewardship. Authorizes citizen enforcement, restorative and injunctive remedies, civil penalties, and continuing duties of ecological repair, including for historic harms. Provides for open representation, community consultation, co-governance, and supremacy over conflicting laws.

Jr. IharaDemocrat

RELATING TO AQUACULTURE.

Requires establishment of a biological aquatic risk-based framework for assessment and approval of aquatic livestock importation and movement. Authorizes the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to adopt rules implementing species risk categorization, tiered biocontainment standards, per-arrival disease testing, and interagency coordination procedures. Establishes an interagency working group. Requires development of species-specific risk matrices, interagency working group coordination with automatic permit approval timelines, and performance accountability. Establishes an implementation timeline. Appropriates moneys.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO HEMP.

Establishes an affirmative defense for a manufactured hemp product retailer that reasonably relies on a third-party age‑verification service to comply with existing age-based sale restrictions for manufactured hemp products.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO RESILIENCY.

Part II: For taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025, establishes an Agroecological and Climate-Smart Farming Practices Tax Credit to be administered by the Department of Taxation. Part III: Establishes the Hawaii Farm to Families Program and requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to submit reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Part IV: Requires the Department of Education to strengthen the State's farm to school meals program initiatives.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SEVENTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the 7th senatorial district.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIVE HAWAIIAN FILM AND MEDIA INDUSTRY.

Establishes and appropriates moneys for a Native Hawaiian film and media development program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Establishes a full-cycle production tax credit for taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. Provides the Department of Taxation with certain duties and responsibilities in administering the tax credit.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO CANNABIS.

Allows applicants or primary caregivers to make a one-time purchase of medical cannabis after the submission of the applicant's certification form while waiting for confirmation of registration from the Department of Health. Requires the Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation to facilitate the temporary authorization. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD2)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO INTERISLAND AIR SERVICE.

Establishes a Hawaii Interisland Air Service Stability and Transformation Program to be administered by the Department of Taxation. Requires a covered interisland air service operator to issue an equity interest to the State as a condition of participation in the Hawaii Interisland Air Service Stability and Transformation Program. Establishes the Interisland Air Service Stability and Transformation Tax Credit. Sunsets 6/30/2036. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO MAUNA KEA.

Extends for 10 years the master lease of Mauna Kea lands that is set to expire on December 31, 2033. Requires that subleases of Mauna Kea lands to astronomical observatories be extended for 10 years.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE SIXTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the 6th senatorial district.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE CONTRACTOR REPAIR ACT.

Expands the required contents of a notice of claim of construction defect served on a contractor. Requires the claimant to provide actual evidence of the nature and cause of the construction defect and extent of necessary repairs along with the notice of claim to the extent the claimant has evidence. Amends the process and time frame for a claimant to accept a contractor's proposal to inspect and authorize the contractor to proceed with repairs. Limits the amount a claimant can recover if the claimant unreasonably rejects a contractor's proposal to inspect or an offer to remedy.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Establishes the Ombudsman's Office for Condominium Owners and Associations within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Increases the biennial Condominium Education Trust Fund fee by $2.50 a year to pay for the ongoing costs of the Ombudsman's Office. Appropriates funds from the Condominium Education Trust Fund for establishment of the Ombudsman's Office.

Jr. IharaDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

Amends the membership and responsibilities of the Public Land Trust Working Group established under Act 226, SLH 2022. Requires the Working Group to submit four reports to the Legislature: by 8/1/2027, a first interim report regarding Act 178, SLH 2006, financial reporting and accounting; by 12/1/2027, a second interim report regarding the public land trust inventory; by 6/1/2028, a third interim report that includes a preliminary draft of findings and recommendations regarding Act 178 financial reporting and accounting and the public land trust inventory; and by 10/1/2028, a final report that includes proposed legislation. Authorizes the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to provide administrative support to the Working Group in coordination with a third-party consultant.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Establishes a universal, single payer health care system to be known as "Hawaii Care", to provide comprehensive health care benefits to all state residents and eventually replace all existing health care plans in the State. Designates the Hawaii Health Authority as the responsible agency for the comprehensive planning, implementation, and administration of Hawaii Care. Requires the Hawaii Health Authority to develop and submit a comprehensive implementation and administration plan to the legislature by a certain date. Establishes the Hawaii Care special fund. Requires the Hawaii Health Authority to adopt rules and submit reports to the Legislature. Requires the Governor to appoint members to the Hawaii Health Authority by 12/31/2026. Requires the Department of Human Services to apply for necessary federal waivers. Takes effect 180 days after the approval of the Hawaii Medicaid State Plan and necessary federal waivers. Appropriates funds.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Prohibits a financial risk-bearing entity from administering Medicaid services. Requires the Department of Human Services to contract with one or more administrative services organizations to perform non-risk administrative functions for the operation of the State's Medicaid program. Requires the Department to establish a Medicaid Care Coordination Program to contract with community-based programs to provide care coordination services. Requires physicians, other independent practitioners, hospitals, and other institutional providers to be paid or reimbursed directly by the State's medicaid agency. Requires the Department to establish regional health hubs in each county to serve as localized oversight bodies. Requires the Department to convene a Medicaid Stakeholder Advisory Group to support continuous improvement throughout the transition period. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriate funds.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Requires the State Auditor to conduct audits of Medicaid health care insurance contractors and the Department of Human Services and its Med-QUEST division at least once every two years, with the first audits to be conducted by 1/1/2027, and the reports to be submitted no later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2027. Requires the Auditor to conduct audits. Appropriates funds.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO SPORTS WAGERING.

Allows for the regulation of sports wagering by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Establishes licensing requirements for sports wagering operators and sports wagering suppliers. Establishes a general excise tax to be levied on sports wagering operator licenses. Establishes the Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Special Fund to be administered and expended by the Department of Health. Specifies that legal sports wagering and fantasy sports contests shall not be considered contests of chance or gambling. Authorizes the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to perform criminal history record checks on applicants and licensees relating to sports wagering.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

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

Renames the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to the Department of Housing, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes the Conservation and Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Pilot Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/28. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT.

Establishes the procedure that a circuit court shall follow upon the reversal or vacation of a person's judgment of conviction on grounds consistent with innocence, and where the charges were dismissed. Requires the State to pay, through a warrant for payment issued by the Comptroller, advance compensation to any petitioner who was convicted in a court of the State, imprisoned for at least one year, and whose judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated, or was pardoned, on grounds consistent with innocence. Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to immediately notify the Department of Human Services so the Department of Human Services may assign a case manager to a petitioner upon the petitioner's release. Requires the State to provide medical coverage to a person for a certain duration upon the reversal or vacation of the person's judgment of conviction on grounds consistent with innocence and where the charges were dismissed. Provides that the Judiciary and Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall retain jurisdiction over the person for the purposes of effectuating this process. Authorizes the State to seek reimbursement from the applicable county for any losses incurred by the State pursuant to this process. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to submit an annual report to the Legislature. Clarifies eligibility to seek compensation for persons whose judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated, or who were pardoned, on grounds consistent with innocence, and where the charges were dismissed. Shifts the burden of proof to the State to prove by a preponderance of evidence that the reversal or vacation of the judgment of conviction for a petitioner, or the pardoning of the petitioner, was inconsistent with innocence. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE HOUSING.

Establishes the Workforce Housing Regulatory Sandbox Program within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Establishes an advisory council within the Workforce Housing Regulatory Sandbox Program to advise on environmental and cultural practices within specific developments. Establishes a position. Requires annual reports to the legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/2050 (SD1)

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION.

Requires at least fifty per cent of treatment works effluent to be R-1 recycled water by January 1, 2045. Requires each county to report to the Department of Health by 1/1/2027 on the feasibility of recycling treatment works effluent that meets certain standards. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WAIKIKI WAR MEMORIAL COMPLEX.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for capital improvement projects to rehabilitate the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium and develop a Waikiki war memorial complex and War memorial center.

Jr. IharaDemocrat

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 THE WORKFORCE PELL GRANT PROGRAM.

Establishes a statewide framework for the implementation of the federal Workforce Pell Grant Program to provide financial aid for certain short-term workforce education and training programs. Establishes a Workforce Pell Grant Program Approval Committee within the Workforce Development Council. Authorizes the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to adopt rules. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to develop and implement a plan to reduce the State's total homeless population by at least twenty-five per cent by 1/1/2028, measured against the 2026 point-in-time count. Requires any funding request by the Office after fiscal year 2026-2027 to be based on the plan. Requires the appointment of the Coordinator on Homelessness to be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services for the funding of the Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons Program under the Ohana Zones Program, and for the expenses of the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions. Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to conduct a survey on statewide homelessness. (SD1)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CANNABIS.

Beginning January 1, 2027, legalizes low-dose and low-potency cannabis for personal adult use by persons over the age of twenty-one, including cultivation of a certain quantity of plants at a private residence. Legalizes cannabis accessories. Requires the Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation to adopt rules to effectuate the legalization of low-dose and low-potency cannabis. (SD1)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO DUE PROCESS FOR ESTABLISHING PERSONAL LIABILITY FOR TAX.

Provides that a determination of personal liability for another person's unpaid general excise taxes is an assessment subject to the due process procedures and appeals available for other assessments.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

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 THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND STAFF SALARIES.

Authorizes the Board of Trustees of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to establish the salary for an assistant administrator of the Trust Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

Requires the Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Office of Wellness and Resilience, to design a 4-year Child Welfare System Diversion and Intervention Pilot Program to support families and children involved or at risk of involvement or reinvolvement with child welfare services. Specifies that the Department of Human Services shall implement and administer the pilot program. Allows the Department to contract with public and private entities to provide necessary services. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO ATHLETE AGENTS.

Prohibits any person from providing advisory, negotiation, or procurement assistance to or on behalf of a student athlete relating to endorsements; promotional or marketing services; appearances; autographs; social media branding; content creation or distribution; licensing of publicity rights; brand development, sponsorship, or promotional arrangements; or agreements related to the name, image, or likeness of the student athlete, without being a registered athlete agent in the State and having a valid agency contract executed in compliance with applicable law. (SD1)

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

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 HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

Establishes a Royal Mausoleum Commission within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop and implement policy for the preservation, operation, and outreach of Mauna ʻAla. Requires the Royal Mausoleum Commission to report annually to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT PROTESTS.

Requires the forfeiture of half of the cash or protest bond for review of procurement-related disputes if the initiating party does not prevail in an administrative proceeding and the Office of Administrative Hearings finds that the appeal was made in bad faith. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO LABELING REQUIREMENTS.

Establishes labeling requirements for ʻōkolehao products. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO HOSPITAL DISCHARGE DATA.

Establishes a statewide system for the collection, audit, and public release of de‑identified hospital discharge data. Requires the State Health Planning and Development Agency to convene a Hospital Discharge Data Working Group. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL.

Designates the Statewide Independent Living Council of Hawaii as the State's statewide independent living council to comply with federal requirements.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO PHARMACISTS.

Mandates reimbursement for services provided by participating registered pharmacists practicing within their scope of practice by private and public health plans in the State beginning January 1, 2026.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.

Appropriates funds for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to increase access to bilingual resources and services for residents with limited English proficiency.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO PROTECTED COMMUNITY LOCATIONS.

Establishes statewide standards for state and county agencies, officers, and employees, and recipients of state funds, to limit participation in civil immigration enforcement in or near protected community locations that provide state-funded services related to education, physical or mental health, social services such as shelter care or food assistance, or access to justice, including schools, health care facilities, libraries, shelters, and places of worship. Requires the Department of Education, State Public Charter School Commission, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Hawaii State Public Library System, and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to adopt and post written policies, provide annual staff training, and maintain data privacy protections. Appropriates funds for implementation by the Attorney General.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS.

Establishes the universal school meals special fund to accept deposits of Medicaid reimbursements received by the Department of Education.

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat