Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education's existing Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) working group to create a state plan to make completion of the FAFSA or an opt-out waiver a statewide graduation requirement by the 2027-2028 school year. Requires a report to the 2026 legislature.

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO FISHING.

Establishes within the Department of Land and Natural Resources a permitting system for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the taking of aquatic life. Repeals prohibition on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the taking of aquatic life. Provides a timeline for implementation of the permitting system.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Establishes tax credits for insurers providing full property coverage to owners and associations of condominiums in the amount equal to twenty per cent of the insurance premium. Provides additional ten per cent tax credits to insurers incorporated in the State.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY PROGRAMS.

Expands programming and training for the comprehensive offender re-entry program under the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to reduce the rate of recidivism and increase inmate marketability and workforce readiness. Appropriates funds.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Establishes a 2-year homelessness sanctuary pilot program, to be administered by the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness in coordination with the Department of Human Services and the City and County of Honolulu. Directs the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness to designate a specific location on state or county land for the pilot program, which shall serve as a safe location for homeless individuals and families to reside and access services. Requires the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness and the coordinator's partner agencies to provide certain facilities and services at the designated location. Requires reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 12/31/2027. Appropriates moneys.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO CRIMES AGAINST ELDERS.

Establishes strict liability for crimes against elders with respect to the attendant circumstance that the victim was sixty years of age or older.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts food and groceries from the general excise tax. Expands a 2024 session law exempting certain medical and dental services to include all medical and dental services.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

Amends the prohibition against contributions to a candidate committee or noncandidate committee by state and county contractors to include state and county grantees and the owners, officers, consultants, and joint account holders of a state or county contractor or state or county grantee.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a general excise tax exemption for the gross proceeds or income from the manufacture, production, packaging, and sale of diapers. Establishes a surcharge on the general excise tax and use tax for the sale or use of luxury cars.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAII BEACH DAY.

Establishes Hawaii Beach Day. Requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority, in collaboration with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, to organize and support events and activities to celebrate and observe Hawaii Beach Day. Appropriates funds.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO ACUPUNCTURE.

Recognizes individuals practicing acupuncture as essential health care providers who are subject to regulation and control.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMUNITIES.

Requires any state or county department pursuing any major plan or work effort that is likely to significantly affect members of any community to: (1) Conduct a public hearing on the issue, and post notices on the department's website; and (2) Send direct notices of the public hearing to state and county elected officials who have constituents in the community.

Elle CochranRepublican

RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.

Changes the name and expands the functions and duties of the Office of International Relations. Establishes the Matsunaga Aloha Pacific Academy within the Office of International Relations.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO FEES.

Provides that any Hawaii-born or Native Hawaiian individual shall qualify for resident fees at state parks, regardless of where the individual currently resides; provided that the individual first presents to the Department of Land and Natural Resources certain documentation.

Elle CochranRepublican

RELATING TO MIDWIVES.

Continues a licensing scheme for licensed certified midwives and licensed certified professional midwives, to be overseen by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Reestablishes the home birth task force to provide recommendations on issues related to home births. Dissolves the task force on 6/30/2026. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Elle CochranRepublican

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FOURTEENTH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the fourteenth representative district.

Elle CochranRepublican

RELATING TO THE STATE PLAN.

Establishes green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines for state facility systems, infrastructure, transit projects, and other areas in the Hawaii State Planning Act to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. Adds definition of "green infrastructure". Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, in partnership with the Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force, to submit a report to the Legislature making recommendations for implementing the green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines. Establishes full-time equivalent ( .0 FTE) policy analyst positions within the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development. Appropriates funds.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO PARLIAMENTARIANS.

Requires all parliamentarians doing business in the State to be licensed with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and complete mandatory training courses.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO BOARD MEMBERS.

Requires board members of a condominium association to certify the receipt and review of certain documents and complete a board training and education course approved by an accredited third party organization, to be selected by the Real Estate Commission.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO ASSOCIATION MANAGERS.

Creates regulation requirements for association managers who oversee the daily operations of a condominium unit owners' association. Beginning 7/1/2027, requires licensure of association managers by the Real Estate Commission.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Office of the Governor to provide profiles of Filipino immigrants related to demographic, education, and vocation data. Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with certain agricultural entities in the Philippines. Requires and appropriates funds for the Departments of Labor and Industrial Relations and Human Resources Development to develop a program that brings agricultural workers from the Philippines to Hawaii, under certain conditions. Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Agriculture to establish a hydroponics pilot program.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM PROXY VOTING.

Removes from the standard condominium proxy form the option of giving a proxy vote to the board of directors of a condominium association as a whole or to those directors present at an association meeting.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND TRANSFERS.

Authorizes the transfer of certain lands under the jurisdiction of certain state agencies to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes the Kupuna Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Program under the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Requires the Department Education, in coordination with the Department of Health, to develop a fireworks education and marketing program for implementation in public schools, including charter schools, and distribution to private schools.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN SCHOOLS.

Requires each public school to implement a policy to prohibit students from using cellular phones and other wireless communication devices during school hours, subject to exceptions for education, health, and emergencies.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WORKS OF ART SPECIAL FUND.

Specifies that the works of art special fund's one per cent transfer requirement shall apply only to capital improvement appropriations for the original construction of state buildings. Amends the authority for funds from the works of art special fund to be used only for costs related to the acquisition of works of art. Appropriates funds.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Establishes notice requirements for employers under Hawaii's Workers' Compensation Law. Requires employers who deny the compensability of an employee's injury to submit a written report supporting the denial to the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations within a specified period. Requires employers to furnish to the injured employee up to $10,000 for medical care, services, and supplies for the period immediately following the injury and so long as reasonably needed or until the employer files a written report with the Director denying the compensability of the injury, whichever is earlier. Clarifies that failure to give an employer notice of an employee's injury does not bar a claim for compensation if any person having authority in the interest of the employer had knowledge of the injury.

Sam Satoru KongDemocrat

RELATING TO LABOR.

Establishes a Portable Benefits Program under the administration of a board of trustees to provide portable benefits to gig workers. Expands the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program to gig workers. Appropriates funds.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENTAL EFFICIENCY.

Authorizes Executive and Administrative Departments and Agencies to enter into intergovernmental and partnership agreements with private sector entities, nonprofit organizations, and other governmental bodies. Requires annual report to the Legislature.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires electronic smoking device and e-liquid manufacturers to submit certifications with the Department of Taxation annually, stating that the manufacturer's products comply with federal regulations. Requires the Department of Taxation to maintain a directory of manufacturers of electronic smoking devices and e-liquids whose certifications the Department approved. Imposes penalties.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO RARE DISEASES.

Establishes a Rare Disease Advisory Council within the Department of Health to advise the State on the needs of rare disease patients.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

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

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

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PESTICIDES.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to use consistent units of measurement in its summary to the public on the amounts of restricted use pesticides used. Establishes a one-half mile buffer zone for pesticides around schools and state and county public parks.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

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 to develop an online reporting tool for restricted use pesticides.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

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

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

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

Requires the State Fire Marshal to convene an electric vehicle fires working group to examine the impact of electric vehicle fires in residential, commercial, and business properties that have confined parking structures.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Establish a medical education liaison position within the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine to support programs that utilize a team of medical specialists to support primary care providers and other health care professionals through mentorship and guidance. Appropriates funds.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO STREAM MAINTENANCE.

Establishes a two-year stream maintenance pilot program to be implemented by the City and County of Honolulu Department of Facility Maintenance. Appropriates funds.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Establishes a schedule of late fees to be added to the original unpaid claim amount if a health insurer, mutual benefit society, or health maintenance organization fails to pay a provider within the required time.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE AUDITOR.

Requires the State Auditor to conduct management and financial audits of Medicaid health care insurance contractors at least once every two years, with the first audit report to be submitted no later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2027. Appropriates funds.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION OF REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS.

Disallows the dividends-paid deduction for real estate investment trusts. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ELEVENTH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the eleventh representative district.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO ACCESSIBILITY.

Beginning 7/1/26, requires any public or private entity that operates a public lot, including a business lot, that provides more than 25 parking spaces to increase the number of federally mandated parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities by a minimum of one or fifty per cent, whichever is greater.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO A HAWAII TEACHER REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

Establishes the Hawaii Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program, to be administered by the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board. Appropriates funds.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAIL ACCESSIBILITY.

Establishes the Accessible Wilderness and State Parks Trails Program within the Division of State Parks of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Establishes the Accessible Wilderness and State Parks Trails Program Special Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO FAMILY LEAVE.

Allows family leave to also apply to an employee's domestic partner or the child of an employee's domestic partner.

Terez AmatoDemocrat