Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO STATE FUNDS.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Requires the Department of Taxation to submit an annual report to the Legislature detailing an organizational chart and staffing plan and requirements for the Information Technology Services Office. (SD1)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

Expands the scope of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative Program to include the design, implementation, and administration of pathways for supporting renewable energy and conservation projects that align carbon sequestration with marine ecosystem restoration and opportunities for strengthening carbon accounting methodologies to assist in the quantification and reduction of direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Establishes the School Meals Option Pilot Program within the Department of Education to provide healthy meal options to students. Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires at least one high school in each school complex area to offer a meal in accordance with the School Meals Option Pilot Program every other week. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires at least one high school in each school complex area to offer a meal in accordance with the School Meals Option Pilot Program every week. Requires each individual high school to develop guidelines to implement the School Meals Option Pilot Program, subject to Department of Education approval. Requires reports to the Legislature. Repeals 6/30/2029.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO GREEN BONDS.

Establishes a Green Bonds Working Group within the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, to determine the feasibility of a green bond financing program for the State.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO RENTAL APPLICATIONS.

Prohibits a landlord from rejecting a rental application solely due to an applicant's inability to provide a recent paycheck. Authorizes the landlord to require the applicant to provide evidence dated within ninety days of the application demonstrating the applicant has sufficient unearned income or liquid assets to cover the rental costs. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires the Department of Health to adopt by rules, a mandate that the primary caregiver caring for two or three clients in community care foster family homes to be a certified nurse aide or licensed nurse who has completed a state-approved training program and other training as required by the Department and holds a current certified nurse aid certificate or nursing license.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT.

Clarifies that a partner or member that is a partnership or limited liability company that has been allocated a low-income housing tax credit may either further allocate the credit or transfer, sell, or assign all or a portion of the credit to any taxpayer. Extends the sunset date of Act 129, SLH 2016, relating to the low-income housing tax credit, until 12/31/2032. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO DOULAS.

Requires any person providing doula services for compensation or representing or advertising themselves as a certified doula to register with the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Establishes certain rights for certified doulas, including being present during delivery and in any recovery rooms, if requested by the client. Requires the Director to maintain a link to the registry on the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' website. Effective 1/1/2026.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO BIRTH CERTIFICATES.

Expands the types of health care providers who can submit an affidavit for a new certificate of birth for certain birth registrants.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION.

Makes the members of the Elections Commission subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND COURT.

Establishes a working group to reform or eliminate the land court in Hawaii.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE.

Requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience to design, implement, and administer trauma-informed organizational assessments and a training curriculum for Child Welfare Services to support the development of a trauma-informed child welfare system in the State. Allows the office to contract with public and private entities to provide necessary services. Appropriates funds.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

Requires the Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Office of Wellness and Resilience, to design a five-year Child Welfare System Diversion and Intervention Pilot Program to support families and children involved, at risk of involvement, or at risk of 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 reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO HOSPITALS.

Establishes the State's Hospital Price Transparency Act. Prohibits hospitals from taking certain debt collection actions against a patient if the hospital is not in compliance with hospital price transparency laws. Allows patients and patient guarantors to file suit against hospitals in violation. Requires hospitals to make public and post their Medicare reimbursement rates no later than 10/1/25 and deems violations as an unfair and deceptive act or practice. Requires the Department of Health to conduct performance assessments of hospitals for adherence to federal transparency rules annually and make a list of hospitals with poor performance available on its website no later than 2/1/2026. Requires the Department of Health to adopt rules.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO A RATE STUDY FOR HOME HEALTH SERVICES.

Appropriates funding for the Department of Human Services to conduct a rate study for Medicaid home health services in Hawaii.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO FITNESS TO PROCEED.

Clarifies who may serve as a qualified examiner in a fitness-to-proceed examination. Clarifies the term of commitment for a defendant being held at a hospital or mental health facility for a fitness-to-proceed examination. Reduces the number of qualified examiners required for a fitness-to-proceed examination in a felony case from 3 to 1. Establishes a reduced penalty, except in certain circumstances, for a person who commits the offense of escape in the second degree while in the custody of the Director of Health. Sunsets the amendments related to fitness-to-proceed examinations on 12/31/26. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

Allows a patient seen in-person by another health care provider in the same medical group as the prescribing physician to be prescribed an opiate prescription for a three-day supply or less via telehealth.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO OVERDOSE PREVENTION.

Establishes and provides criteria for overdose prevention centers, including standards for the Department of Health to designate certain facilities as overdose prevention centers. Establishes an Overdose Prevention Center Oversight Committee. Provides immunity from state criminal prosecution for certain offenses for persons using a designated overdose prevention center and persons operating a designated overdose prevention center. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health for the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project. Establishes three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) positions. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Establishes the Health Infrastructure Grant Program within the Department of Health, to be administered by the State Health Planning and Development Agency, to support health information technology infrastructure and the implementation of interoperable health information technologies in federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, Ryan White HIV/AIDs program centers, and Native Hawaiian health centers. Appropriates funds for the grant program.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Requires the Department of Human Services to adjust the minimum certification periods for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits households, participate in the Elderly Simplified Application Project, and report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO RAW MILK.

Authorizes and decriminalizes the sale of raw milk, raw milk products, and raw milk dairy products directly from producers to consumers for human consumption, subject to certain restrictions. Authorizes the direct sale of raw goat milk for pet consumption. Establishes labeling requirements. Requires the Board of Agriculture and Department of Health to adopt rules no later than 7/1/2026.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Requires the Department of Human Services to: (1) Prorate or exclude certain income from household members who are ineligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in determining SNAP household eligibility and benefit levels; (2) Establish a standardized medical expense deduction option for elderly or disabled household members who incur medical expenses above the federal minimum threshold; (3) Establish a pre-release SNAP application process for individuals who are incarcerated and scheduled for release; and submit annual reports to the Legislature. Specifies that the restriction under federal law prohibiting individuals convicted of certain drug-related felonies from receiving SNAP benefits and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits does not apply in Hawaii. Repeals treatment compliance requirements for TANF benefits. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO WASTE-TO-ENERGY.

Authorizes the Hawaii State Energy Office to establish a publicprivate partnership to develop a waste-to-energy generating facility in each county having a population below 800,000. (SD1)

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO TOWING.

In addition to the current requirement that towing companies allow individuals to pay by cash, credit card, or debit card, requires towing companies to have an on-site automatic teller machine. Specifies that a towing company cannot charge for tows if noncompliant.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.

Requires the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the counties of the State, to establish a 1-year unregistered motor vehicle amnesty pilot program to encourage motor vehicle registration and mandate the surrender or impoundment of unregistered motor vehicles after the expiration of the program. Appropriates moneys.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires Medicaid and private insurance coverage for intravenous ketamine therapy to treat depression. Appropriates moneys.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO TEACHER LOANS.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a teacher loan forgiveness program to assist in the payment of loans for teachers who commit to teaching in the Hawaii public school system. Appropriates funds.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO SHOPLIFTING.

Increases penalties for the offense of theft by means of shoplifting.

AQUINO

RELATING TO EXPUNGEMENT.

Authorizes the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center to transmit all expungement orders to the Judiciary to effectuate the purposes of Act 159, SLH 2023.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Requires retail sellers of firearms to provide purchasers with notice regarding the law on firearms storage. Expands the requirements for the secure storage of firearms. Clarifies the offense of criminally negligent storage of a firearm.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO FEES FOR PUBLIC RECORDS UNDER CHAPTER 92F.

Imposes a cap on charges for searching for, reviewing, and segregating government records under the Uniform Information Practices Act. Provides for a waiver of fees in certain circumstances when the public interest is served by a government record's disclosure.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT TRANSPORTATION.

Establishes and appropriates funds for student transportation coordinators positions within the Department of Education to strengthen student transportation services across the State.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

Requires the Department of Health to establish and implement a program to improve and increase support for emergency medical services in the State. Requires the Department of Health to submit reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Establishes a working group within the Office of the Governor for administrative purposes to ascertain the State's available water resources and water system source capacity and to streamline well permit approval processes to further plan for the development of affordable housing. Requires the working group to inventory all available water resources statewide and identify sources of aquifer replenishment in relation to affordable housing development. Requires an interim and final report to the Legislature. (SD2)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER CERTIFICATION SUBSIDY PILOT PROGRAM.

Establishes a one-year School Bus Driver Certification Subsidy Pilot Program within the Department of Education for the 20252026 school year. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates fund.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATION.

Requires the Comptroller and State Librarian to identify state office buildings, including state libraries, that can provide equitable telecommunication access to allow certain residents, including residents with disabilities, to participate remotely in legislative hearings and estimate the costs and resources, including additional staffing, to effectuate this purpose. Allows the Comptroller and State Librarian to partner with the University of Hawaii in performing these tasks. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO ARSON.

Authorizes periods of imprisonment for individuals with previous arson convictions. Authorizes additional penalties for arson crimes that endanger vulnerable areas. Requires restitution for victims of arson who experienced property damage. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD1)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Allows newly graduated high school students to be eligible for workers' compensation coverage during the summer following their high school graduation while participating in Department of Education-sponsored work-based learning programs.

AQUINO

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Prohibits physicians and surgeons from performing certain procedures on individuals born with variations in their physical sex characteristics who are under one year of age, unless the procedure is a surgery required to address an immediate risk of physical harm.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO VETERINARY MEDICINE.

Requires veterinarians to provide a written prescription, upon the request of a client, for any animal patient of a client with whom the veterinarian has established an existing veterinarian-client-patient relationship, to be filled at the pharmacy of the client's choosing. Allows pharmacies licensed in the State to dispense medications prescribed by veterinarians. Specifies that violators may be subject to disciplinary action by the Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine, which may include fines or suspension or revocation of a license. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX REDUCTIONS.

Reduces the general excise tax rate on the gross proceeds or income from the sale of groceries that are eligible under the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) or special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC), regardless of the means of purchase and the program eligibility of the purchaser. Reduces the general excise tax rate on the gross proceeds or income from the sale of nonprescription drugs. Requires DBEDT to conduct an economic cost-benefit analysis on the GET reductions.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a Korean Language Program. Appropriates funds.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

Appropriates funds to increase the funding for Medicaid in-home services, conditioned on the Department of Human Services obtaining the maximum federal matching funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING.

Extends the sunset date for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna to 6/30/2028.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a refundable Family Caregiver Tax Credit for nonpaid family caregivers. Requires the Department of Taxation to report to the Legislature before the convening of each Regular Session.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat