Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Requires the Department of Taxation to establish a pilot program that would grant participating landlords a certain general excise tax exemption for each unit they rent to a long-term tenant with a pet. Requires the Department of Taxation to submit reports to the Legislature.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX CREDITS.

Establishes a Recycled or Waste Inputs Tax Credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/25.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTALS.

Establishes the Hawaii Community Housing and Rental Oversight Agency within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to establish and oversee a process for receiving and addressing complaints relating to short-term vacation rentals, in coordination with the county planning departments. Establishes penalties for noncompliance. Prohibits persons with interests in short-term vacation rentals from serving on governing boards of planned communities and condominiums. Appropriates moneys.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO THE EMERGENCY AND BUDGET RESERVE FUND.

Adds, as an allowable use of the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund, economic payments to certain residents who have incurred losses in a disaster for which the Governor has declared a state of emergency.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTE MANAGEMENT.

Establishes an Extended Producer Responsibility Program. Requires certain producers of fast-moving consumer goods to register with the Department of Health and pay an annual fee based on the amount of packaging volume the covered producer places on the market each calendar year. Provides for the deposit of fees into an Extended Producer Responsibility Special Fund. Provides for the expenditure of moneys from the Extended Producer Responsibility Special Fund for the creation of a countywide needs assessment of resources needed to reduce the volume of packaging waste sent to landfills or power plants that burn municipal solid waste as a fuel by fifty per cent and eighty per cent by a date to be determined by rule. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 7/1/2032.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a tax credit for landlords who charge below-market rent and assesses an additional privilege tax on landowners who charge above-market rent, under certain conditions. Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to determine median market rent for rental units by geographic area for the purposes of the below-market rent tax credit and above-market rent tax.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO AIR POLLUTION.

Requires owners or operators of waste combustion facilities to develop a plan to implement continuous monitoring and sampling technologies at each combustion unit to monitor and sample for certain air contaminants. Requires a publicly available website hosted by the Department of Health to track and display the data collected on the air contaminants. Requires the Department of Health to adjust permit limits for air contaminants based on the data collected. Requires annual reports to the Legislature.

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Authorizes the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to establish a two-year Hawaii Office of Naval Research Grant Program to provide fifty per cent matching grants to Hawaii awardees of alternative energy research grants from the United States Department of Defense Office of Naval Research. Establishes and appropriates funds into and out of the Alternative Energy Research and Development Revolving Fund. Sunsets the grant program on 6/30/2027.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

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

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

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO PERMITS.

Establishes specific deadlines within the facilitated application process and requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish certain resources and processes to help streamline permit applications. Appropriates funds.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO SOLICITATION OF FUNDS FROM THE PUBLIC.

Amends Act 205, SLH 2024, by: reducing undue burdens on charitable fundraising platforms and platform charities, including requirements related to good standing, reporting complaints, waivers of certain requirements, solicitation campaign records, and contracts; and extending its effective date until 6/30/2026. Effective 7/1/2026.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO PROBATION.

Establishes the Hawaii Opportunity Probation with Enforcement Program to be administered by the Judiciary.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a refundable income tax credit to offset the increase in real property insurance premiums for certain properties.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO THE STATE CAPITOL.

Requires DAGS and DPS, in consultation with the legislature and other entities, to plan and implement security improvements at the state capitol. Requires DAGS to remove all parking meters from the capitol parking facility and reallocate parking in the capitol district. Appropriates funds.

Gene WardRepublican

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

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriated funds for capital improvement projects in the 18th representative district.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.

Requires each public school to develop a disaster and attack preparedness plan by 1/1/2026 that includes shelter-in-place drills. Requires each school to maintain emergency goods sufficient for at least 48 hours in its facilities.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO A VAPING STORE REGISTRY.

Requires, beginning 1/1/2026, vaping stores to register with the Department of Health and be subject to inspections for compliance with federal and state laws.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO LABOR STANDARDS AT HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.

Establishes certain minimum registered nurse-to-patient staffing requirements for hospitals. No later than 9/1/2025, requires hospitals to create hospital registered nurse staffing committees. Beginning 7/1/2026, requires hospitals to implement registered nurse staffing plans. Appropriates funds.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO ADAPTATION PATHWAYS PLANNING.

Expands the authority of the State and counties to develop adaptation pathways plans to modify and relocate infrastructure away from critically threatened areas to locations outside sea level rise and coastal flooding exposure areas. Appropriates funds.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYORS.

Establishes a ten year statute of repose for land surveyors, after which time a complaint for a civil action cannot be made.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO MANELE SMALL BOAT HARBOR.

Appropriates moneys for a structural engineering analysis; the planning, design, and construction of repairs and improvements to the water line system; and the reopening of a roadway related to Manele Small Boat Harbor.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

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

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriated funds for capital improvement projects in the 42nd representative district.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO A WEALTH ASSET TAX.

Establishes a wealth asset tax of one per cent of the state net worth of each individual taxpayer who holds $20,000,000 or more in assets in the State.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEES.

Repeals staff of the legislative branch of the State from the list of individuals not included in any appropriate bargaining unit. Specifies that the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each have one vote if they have employees in a particular bargaining unit for the purposes of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS.

Prohibits counties from permitting or allowing retention and detention ponds to be constructed except under certain conditions. Requires the Department of Health to inspect retention and detention ponds statewide. Establishes certain safety requirements. Appropriates funds.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS.

Clarifies the level of environmental restoration that owners and operators of underground storage tanks or tank systems must satisfy in the event of a confirmed release of jet fuel. Specifies the restoration condition and quality acceptable by the Department of Health shall include the complete removal of all jet fuel, including jet fuel additives and all compounds resulting from the degradation of jet fuel or jet fuel additives, or the reaction of jet fuel or jet fuel additives with water or other chemicals. Establishes a rebuttable presumption that any detection of these contaminants in the vicinity of an underground storage tank or a tank system after a confirmed release is a result of the confirmed release.

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO FISHERIES.

Exempts actions involving the operation and management of fisheries in the State from environmental review requirements.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO FOSTER CARE.

Prohibits the Department of Human Services from using any social security income payments, including supplemental income payments it receives on behalf of a child under foster custody of the Department to cover the cost of foster care services. Requires the Department of Human Services to deposit all social security income payments received on behalf of a child under foster custody of the Department into a savings account that shall be made accessible to the child when the child leaves foster care custody.

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO FAMILY LEAVE.

Establishes a paid family leave program for state and county employees. Authorizes a qualifying employee to take up to twelve weeks of paid leave for the birth or placement of a child or to care for a family member who has a serious health condition.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO SOLID WASTE.

Prohibits the construction, modification, or expansion of waste or disposal facilities that are near or above a significant aquifer. Allows counties to apply for exemptions to state siting standards if they meet certain criteria.

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Categorizes electric bicycles into three classes based on speed and operation. Requires electric bicycle manufacturers and distributors to apply a label to each electric bicycle. Authorizes county police to confiscate bicycles for certain offenses. Increases penalty fee paid upon redemption. Imposes a requirement that counties inform individuals of the applicable traffic code, safety information, and penalties for violations at the time of registering a bicycle.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Amends the definition of "dangerous to self". Defines the terms "gravely disabled" and "psychiatric deterioration". Broadens the term of "imminently dangerous to self and others". Increases the maximum period of emergency hospitalization.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the department of education to prohibit cell phone use during the instructional day, prohibit student access to social media through the school's internet, and implement a social media education campaign. Creates exemptions for students requiring accommodations, emergency situations, and teacher authorizations.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

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

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriated funds for capital improvement projects in the 38th representative district.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY.

Short form bill relating to technology.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

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

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

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO NUISANCE ABATEMENT.

Offers rights and protections to citizens who bring civil nuisance abatement suits related to illegal gambling. Imposes a mandatory fine of $5,000 for violating nuisance abatement laws related to gambling offenses.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Establishes and appropriates moneys for a return-to-home program within the Department of Human Services to provide travel expenses and relocation assistance for eligible persons who wish to return to their home states. Requires the Department to develop and implement a public information campaign related to the State's residency requirements and return-to-home program.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO CLEAN AND SOBER HOMES.

Requires a county conditional use permit for clean and sober homes with 5 or more residents. Requires registration of all clean and sober homes on registry maintained by the Department of Health. Requires DOH to conduct unannounced inspections of clean and sober homes on at least an annual basis.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

PROPOSING TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII REGARDING STATE JUSTICES AND JUDGES.

Proposes to amend the state constitution to:(1) require the election of state justices and judges, as provided by law; authorize the governor and chief justice to make interim appointments for vacancies in the offices of the chief justice, supreme court, intermediate appellate court, and circuit courts, or district courts, respectively; and (3) repeal provisions pertaining to the judicial selection commission.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTION.

Exempts from the general excise tax, amounts received by a contractor for contracting work performed in a county having a population of more than one hundred twenty-five thousand but less than one hundred eighty-five thousand.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a landlord resident tenant tax credit.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY.

Short form bill relating to technology.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Imposes a conveyance tax rate of 300% on sales of residential real property to persons who have not filed a Hawaii state income tax return within the preceding 4-year period.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO THE CONVEYANCE TAX.

Establishes the Homeless Services Special Fund. Allows counties to apply for matching funds from the Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund for certain housing projects. Increases the conveyance tax rates for certain properties. Establishes conveyance tax rates for multifamily residential properties. Establishes new exemptions to the conveyance tax. Allocates collected conveyance taxes to the Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund, Homeless Services Fund, and Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund. Amends allocations to the Land Conservation Fund and Rental Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/1/2026.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

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

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

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Appropriates funds for faculty positions, student programs, and facilities at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and University of Hawaii, West Oahu for workforce development in the defense sector.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Appropriates funds for the workforce development council to incorporate and implement a framework for the workforce diversification and expansion of the defense-related workforce in fields such as information technology, cybersecurity, intelligence, data science, and advanced manufacturing.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

Allows primary caregivers to be responsible for the care of more than one qualifying patient for medical cannabis at any given time. Repeals 6/30/2030.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE IMMERSION EDUCATION.

Appropriate moneys to the Department of Education to establish a Hawaiian language immersion school, open to students in grades kindergarten through 12, that is located in the Leeward area of the island of Oahu.

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican