Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Requires the Department of Human Services to allow a full earned income disregard for individuals with disabilities who are between the ages of sixteen and sixty-four years when determining eligibility for Medicaid. Takes effect upon approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE PENAL CODE.

Requires the Department of the Attorney General to submit annual reports to the Legislature pertaining to the offense of terroristic threatening in the first degree. Expands the definition of "terroristic threatening" to include any form of written or electronic communication. Includes additional protected classes that designate the offense of terroristic threatening in the first degree as a class B felony. Amends the offense of obstructing government operations to include obstructing the performance of a governmental function by an educational worker acting in an official capacity. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO COUNTY LABOR STANDARDS.

Authorizes the counties to require contractors to disclose information regarding their employees' wages, benefits, hours, and employment status and deny, revoke, or suspend a building permit application for violating laws relating to wages, benefits, hours, and employment status, under certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEFENSE OF STATE EMPLOYEES.

Requires the State to defend professionally licensed or certified state employees from civil actions or proceedings, under certain circumstances. Clarifies that the employee may employ their own attorney at the employee's own expense. Establishes a process for the Attorney General to transfer or withdraw representation if the Attorney General declines to defend the employee. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

Repeals the prohibition placed on certain employees exempt from Civil Service Law from grieving a suspension or discharge. Allows any employee who is a member of an appropriate bargaining unit to grieve any disciplinary action, unless the collective bargaining agreement specifically provides otherwise. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.

Allows public employers and exclusive representatives of bargaining units to negotiate certain retirement benefits. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.

Requires the Attorney General to establish a confidential process for persons to anonymously file complaints against public employees. Requires the Attorney General to review and forward the complaints to the department, board, commission, or agency deemed appropriate by the Attorney General. Requires the departments, boards, commissions, and agencies to process the complaint pursuant to their standard complaint‑processing procedures and report the disposition to the Attorney General. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS.

Exempts agricultural infrastructure and low-risk green stormwater infrastructure from regulations covering retention ponds. Defines agricultural infrastructure and low-risk green stormwater infrastructure. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII LABOR RELATIONS BOARD.

Authorizes the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to enforce its own orders. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Authorizes health care providers to dispense nonprescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and nonlegend drugs for workers' compensation patients, under certain circumstances. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Prohibits the lease or rental of a high-speed electric device. Prohibits the sale or offer for sale of a high-speed electric device, under certain conditions. Prohibits the operation of a high-speed electric device in certain situations. Establishes penalties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO INDEBTEDNESS TO THE STATE.

Requires disbursing officers to notify employees within sixty days of making a determination that an indebtedness has occurred to the government resulting from salary or wage overpayment. Amends the amount that a disbursing officer may deduct from an employee's salary, wage, or compensation based on the employee's gross income. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO SHOPPING CARTS.

Requires every business establishment that provides a shopping cart to mark each cart with identifying information. Authorizes a county to impound and dispose of a shopping cart and assess impound fees, storage fees, and disposal fees under certain circumstances. Authorizes the counties to establish policies for managing and impounding shopping carts that have been vandalized or no longer display an owner's identifying mark. Requires the counties to establish a buyback program for impounded shopping carts. Authorizes the counties to return a shopping cart, in lieu of impoundment, to the business establishment, subject to certain fines. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO REIMBURSEMENT OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.

Requires the State or a county to reimburse an officer or employee within thirty calendar days after submitting an approved Statement of Completed Travel for work-related travel costs that the officer or employee loaned to the State or county. Requires the State or a county to pay a percentage of interest on the total amount owed to an officer or employee until the loan is fully reimbursed. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO YOUTH PENALTIES.

Prohibits the assessment of any fees, fines, or court costs against a person who was adjudicated for an offense committed during the person's minority, or against the person's parent or guardian, and discharges all related debt obligations assessed before the effective date of the Act. Encourages the use of community service and other programs that employ aina-based principles. Repeals certain penalties imposed on parents, guardians, or other persons associated with unaccompanied children in streets and unmarried minors in dance halls. (SD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes a Conservation Agriculture and Soil Health Incentive Program within the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE.

Excludes from the definition of "development", as it applies to special management areas, the installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of an electric vehicle charging system. Includes the Public Utilities Commission in the development and implementation of plans to meet the long-term goals for zero-emissions transportation in the State. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Reestablishes the Agricultural Development and Food Security Special Fund. Renames the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax, also known as the barrel tax, as the Environmental Response, Energy, Carbon Emissions, and Food Security Tax; gradually increases barrel tax rates; and allocates portions of barrel tax revenues to the Agricultural Development and Food Security Special Fund, Carbon Emissions Tax and Dividend Special Fund, Airport Revenue Fund, and Boating Special Fund. Establishes a refundable Carbon Cashback Tax Credit and appropriates funds to the Department of Taxation to administer the tax credit. Establishes the Carbon Emissions Tax and Dividend Special Fund to be used in the administration of the barrel tax and Carbon Cashback Tax Credit and for public awareness of the Carbon Cashback Tax Credit. Requires the Department of Taxation to submit reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation Revolving Fund for the purpose of financing the State's matching contributions required by federal grants. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Appropriates funds for the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to establish advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity specialist and marketing and branding specialist positions. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes a business competitiveness goal for the State to be nationally ranked in the top thirty states for business climate by 2050, with interim goals. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to submit annual progress reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Beginning 1/1/2027, establishes a yearly reduction in the general excise tax rate on groceries and nonprescription drugs on a tiered schedule until 1/1/2034, when a full general excise tax exemption applies. Beginning 1/1/2027, prohibits the counties from imposing a county surcharge on groceries and nonprescription drugs. Beginning 1/1/2028, provides a general excise tax exemption on the wholesale sale of groceries and nonprescription drugs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

Repeals the prohibition placed on certain employees exempt from civil service law from grieving a suspension or discharge. Allows any employee who is a member of an appropriate bargaining unit and their excluded counterparts to grieve a suspension or discharge. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROCUREMENT.

Permanently establishes the Small Business Procurement Program and Small Business Procurement Coordinator position within the State Procurement Office. Requires purchasing agencies to apply a local preference to Hawaii businesses in evaluating contracts awarded by competitive sealed bidding or competitive sealed proposals. Establishes criteria for a Hawaii business to qualify for a local preference. Establishes procedures for contract awardees who fail to meet or maintain the preference criteria. Establishes a special fund and requires the Small Business Procurement Coordinator to establish rules and policies, effective 1/1/2029, requiring small businesses to commit to contributing 0.2 per cent of state contract awards to the special fund. Repeals the Small Business Assistance Initiative established in Act 168, SLH 2022. Appropriates funds for the Small Business Procurement Coordinator. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST FENIX SPACE, INC.

Authorizes the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds for the planning, design, procurement, and construction of the Fenix launch platform system and Fenix Space Hilo flight operations facility. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Transfers powers, duties, personnel, personal property, and materials of the Aquaculture and Livestock Support Services Branch and Agricultural Development Division of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Agribusiness Development Corporation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Appropriates funds to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) grant specialist position within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL PARK LEASES.

Repeals the requirement for land covered by an agricultural park lease with a remaining term of fifteen years or less to be located in a county having a population of less than five hundred thousand in order for the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to extend the lease. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII CLIMATE INSTITUTE.

Establishes the Hawaii Climate Institute at the University of Hawaii to support climate resilience and adaptation initiatives of the University and the State. Requires a percentage of the revenue generated by any increase to the Transient Accommodations Tax rates beginning on January 1, 2026, and by assessment of the Transient Accommodations Tax on gross rental proceeds derived from cruise fares to be allocated to the University of Hawaii annually to support the programs and operations of the Hawaii Climate Institute. Transfers the International Pacific Research Center of the University of Hawaii at Manoa's School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology to the Hawaii Climate Institute. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Requires, for any affordable rental housing development project that receives financing or any financial assistance from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, that the Corporation require the housing development lease or occupancy agreement to allow residents to own or otherwise maintain one or more common household pets. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

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

Establishes the Hawaii Dementia Initiative Business Recognition Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to collaborate with the Executive Office on Aging to implement the program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO VACATION RENTALS.

Part I: Allows counties to use time-stamped screenshots as evidence for the enforcement of transient accommodations. Requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority's plans, practices, and efforts involving destination management to include promotion of use of traditional or lawful transient accommodations. Clarifies that the counties may use revenue from the County Transient Accommodations Tax for the enforcement of transient accommodations. Appropriates funds. Part II: Requires hosting platforms that earn service fees for providing booking services for transient accommodations to register with the Department of Taxation as tax collection agents and report, collect, and remit general excise and transient accommodations taxes on behalf of operators. Part II effective 1/1/2027. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

Establishes the Noise Detection Camera Program in the Department of Transportation for the installation of noise detection cameras for the enforcement of noise control laws. Appropriates moneys. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO LIGHT POLLUTION.

Beginning 7/1/2027, establishes outdoor light fixture requirements throughout the State. Provides certain exemptions for Department of Education facilities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

Allows striking workers to be eligible for unemployment benefits. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO ACCESS TO MOVEMENT DISORDER CARE.

Establishes a temporary Parkinson's Patient Air Transport Feasibility Committee to examine recommendations for improving access to movement disorder care for neighbor island residents, including the feasibility of a state-administered air transport assistance fund. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO 911 SERVICES.

Requires the 911 Board to establish a Statewide Emergency Safety Profile System Pilot Program and convene a working group. Requires report to the Legislature. Repeals on 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Dee MorikawaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Phases in requirements that all newly manufactured washing machines sold within the State by January 1, 2042, be equipped with a microfiber filtration system. Requires manufacturers of newly manufactured washing machines to provide certification to the Department of Health that the manufacturer is in compliance with microfiber filtration system requirements. Establishes penalties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to transfer the public roads of the Villages of Kapolei to the City and County of Honolulu by 1/1/2026. Authorizes county police officers to enforce the statewide traffic code on all public streets, roadways, and highways within the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

For purposes of registering a condominium project in an agricultural district, (1) lowers the minimum threshold from projects with five units to projects with two units for which a signed statement from a county is required and (2) requires the project applicant to make a presentation on the project to the neighborhood board, if applicable. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Prohibits the Public Utilities Commission from approving costs of infrastructure, operations and maintenance, fuel, or other costs relating to supplying and using liquefied natural gas unless certain conditions are met. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to consider the effect of fossil fuels on renewable energy, stranded investment risks and costs, and costs and risks of reliance on a single fuel supply or monopoly supplier when making determinations of the reasonableness of the costs pertaining to electric or gas utility system capital improvements and operations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH.

Establishes and appropriates funds for a one-year Digital Youth Mental Health Platform Pilot Project that will enable the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division of the Department of Health to develop and make publicly available a digital platform designed to help young people address and manage mental health challenges. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Prohibits a student from using a telecommunication device on school grounds during the instructional day, with certain exceptions. Requires a confiscated telecommunication device to be released only to the student's parent or legal guardian, who has three months to retrieve the device before it is subject to forfeiture. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.

Repeals the law prohibiting drug paraphernalia under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO COMPASSIONATE ACCESS TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

Allows terminally ill patients and qualifying patients over sixty-five years of age with chronic diseases to use medical cannabis within specified health care facilities under certain conditions. Requires enforcement by the Department of Health. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS.

Establishes an income tax credit for automated external defibrillator devices that are installed and placed in service in certain places of public accommodation located in the State, subject to registration requirements. Authorizes the Department of Health to establish a statewide automated external defibrillator registry to collect and maintain certain information. Requires the owner or operator of an automated external defibrillator located in a place of public accommodation to conduct certain maintenance. Requires reporting of certain automated external defibrillator data to the Department of Health. Requires the Department of Health to coordinate with certain entities. Requires the Department of Health to request funds from the 911 Fund for the establishment and maintenance of the automated external defibrillator registry. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Requires the Governor or mayor of a county, during a state of emergency, to provide an American Sign Language interpreter at each live broadcast press conference. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to provide a primary pool feed for any live official announcement that includes an American Sign Language interpreter in a picture-in-picture window, and does not require broadcasters that rebroadcast the official announcement to independently generate or insert this accessibility feature. Requires, to the fullest extent possible, that the American Sign Language interpreter's face, body, arms, and hands are visible. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Sam Satoru KongDemocrat

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VI, SECTION 3, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO INCREASE THE MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE FOR STATE JUSTICES AND JUDGES.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory retirement age for justices and judges from seventy to seventy‑five years of age. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO PEDESTRIANS.

Establishes that fines for pedestrian violations under chapter 291C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall not exceed $25. Requires state and county agencies to revise applicable schedules of fines, rules, and procedures to comply with the monetary limit. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATEWIDE TRAFFIC CODE.

Removes references to countdown timers as it relates to pedestrian-control signals, including the requirement that pedestrians must begin crossing a roadway before a countdown timer begins. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat