Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO PEDESTRIANS.

Specifies that the driver of a vehicle must wait until a pedestrian has crossed half of the crosswalk plus an additional lane of the roadway before the driver can proceed.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO LIGHT POLLUTION.

Beginning 7/1/2027, establishes outdoor light fixture requirements throughout the State. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO PALI LANES.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to acquire by eminent domain the fee simple interest in the Pali Lanes property. Appropriates funds for the just compensation of the acquisition of the fee simple interest in the Pali Lanes property by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

Authorizes the Land Use Commission to amend, revise, or modify a decision and order granting a district boundary amendment, or fine a petitioner, upon finding that a petitioner or its successors or assigns have not adhered to the conditions imposed by the Commission, regardless of whether there has been substantial commencement of use of the land. Defines "substantial commencement". Effective 3/22/2075. (SD2)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND GRANTS.

Prohibits the acquisition of state land involving moneys from the Land Conservation Fund by a nonprofit organization without prior approval of the Legislature.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMUNITY CO-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources and community-based organizations to enter into community co-management agreements concerning state lands by direct negotiation without recourse to public auction. Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to dispose of state land through community co-management agreements. Establishes qualifications for community-based organizations that may enter into community co-management agreements. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Prohibits foreign nationals, foreign corporations, and foreign-influenced business entities from making contributions, expenditures, electioneering communications, or donations for election purposes. Requires every for-profit business entity that contributes or expends funds in a state election to certify that the entity was not a foreign corporation or foreign-influenced business entity when the contribution or expenditure was made. Specifies that if the conditions that determine whether a business entity qualifies as a foreign‑influenced business entity are held unconstitutional by a final judgment, including all appeals, the Campaign Spending Commission is required to establish revised conditions that are constitutional. Requires noncandidate committees making only independent expenditures to obtain a statement of certification from each top contributor required to be listed in an advertisement avowing that no funds were derived from foreign nationals, foreign corporations, or foreign-influenced business entities. Exempts entities engaged in transporting cargo and subject to section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND USE.

Beginning 7/1/2027, prohibits counties from imposing minimum parking mandates for certain developments. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO MARINE LIFE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to close all or portions of any marine life conservation district for various periods of time and to adopt rules for the regulation of commercial activity within a marine life conservation district; provided that the marine life conservation district is located on or adjacent to the shores of Oahu. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

Appropriates funds to be expended by the Department of Human Services to increase funding for Medicaid in-home services. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FISHING.

Requires the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to begin the rulemaking process no later than 7/1/2026 to regulate or ban jug line fishing and jug rig variant fishing methods. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER STANDARDS.

By 1/1/2040, requires all municipal wastewater treatment facilities owned by a State or county agency to meet state R-1 water standards. Requires the Department of Health to adopt five-year benchmarks to ensure compliance with state R-1 water standards. Requires the Legislature to appropriate sufficient funds. Appropriates funds.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO OAHU CORAL REEF RESTORATION.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources to begin the Holomua Marine Initiative process no later than 7/1/2027 to address coral reef restoration on Oahu. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Chris LeeDemocrat

PROPOSING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM.

Amends the Hawaii State Constitution to prohibit the State from denying or interfering with an individual's reproductive freedom, including the right to choose to obtain an abortion and to obtain or use contraceptives.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.

Repeals the $10,000 value threshold for certain prohibited contracts involving legislators or employees. Prohibits state agencies from contracting to procure or dispose of goods or services, or for construction, with businesses owned, operated, or controlled by relatives or household members of department heads or deputy directors. Requires department heads, acting department heads, and deputy directors of principal state departments to ensure compliance with the Code of Ethics provision governing contracts and provides for liability for violations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Establishes consumer protection requirements for the use of artificial intelligence systems in consumer interactions and consequential decisions, including disclosures, documentation, and a right to correction, appeal, and human review. Makes certain violations an unfair or deceptive act or practice. Requires risk management and impact assessments for high-risk artificial intelligence systems. Requires incident reports to the Executive Director of the Office of Consumer Protection and the Attorney General.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT.

Requires hotelkeepers to supply and provide annual training on the proper use and limitations of a panic button to certain workers no later than 1/1/2027. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE.

Establishes a minimum time frame of twenty-four months following loss due to declared state of emergency for the policyholder to submit documentation to recover full replacement cost value of covered dwelling or structure. Allows extensions for good cause. Establishes a minimum time frame of twelve months from completion of covered dwelling or structure for the policyholder to submit documentation to recover full replacement cost value of covered personal property. Requires homeowners insurers to give timely notice to policyholders to explain the time frames and extensions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO MINORS.

Authorizes a physician, upon consultation with a minor patient who indicates that the minor was the victim of a sexual offense, with the consent of the minor patient, to perform customary and necessary examinations to obtain evidence of the sexual offense and may prescribe for and treat the patient for any immediate condition caused by the sexual offense. Provides that the consent of the parent, parents, or legal guardian of a minor offender who has been committed to the Hawaii youth correctional facilities is not necessary in order to authorize hospital, medical, mental health, dental, emergency health, or emergency surgical care.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires certain insurers to notify policyholders of rate changes at least 60 days before the effective date of the rate change. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HONOAPIILANI HIGHWAY COASTAL MITIGATION PROJECT.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates moneys to finance capital improvements for the Honoapiilani Highway coastal mitigation project. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE PROCEEDS.

Requires mortgage servicers to comply with certain requirements regarding the disbursement of insurance proceeds for residential real estate that has been destroyed or damaged.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE FRAUD.

Prohibits certain solicitation and inducement practices relating to insurance claims. Establishes disaster-related insurance fraud offenses. Broadens the scope of the offense of insurance fraud and the acts that constitute insurance fraud. Clarifies the penalties for the offense of insurance fraud and the capabilities and operations of the Insurance Fraud Investigations Branch, including the annual report to the Legislature and the use of fraud analytics. Reiterates protections for insurance fraud whistleblowers. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Authorizes captive insurance companies to underwrite, reinsure, or otherwise assume catastrophic property and casualty risks, subject to the approval and continuing supervision of the Insurance Commissioner. Allows the Commissioner to set certain minimum standards for captive insurance companies underwriting catastrophic property and casualty risk. Requires captive insurance companies underwriting catastrophic property and casualty risk to provide certain information in reports to the Commissioner. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO FORECLOSURES.

Specifies that a judicial foreclosure sale is not final until the earliest of either fifteen days after the public sale, unless an eligible bidder submits a subsequent bid or written notice of intent to submit a subsequent bid, or forty-five days after the public sale. Requires subsequent successful bidders to make a downpayment.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSERVATION.

Requires the Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt rules that implement wildlife viewing guidelines that substantially conform to the wildlife viewing guidelines issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Requires annual reports to the Legislature until rules are adopted. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Authorizes condominium associations to inspect high-risk components in a unit upon the replacement or repair of the component by the owner.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO VEGETATION MANAGEMENT.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish and enforce vegetation management requirements to prevent wildfires caused by electric utilities.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish rules allowing the sale and distribution of fine mesh nets, including monofilament netting, in the State to protect plants from the coconut rhinoceros beetle.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO SOLAR ENERGY.

Defines and provides requirements for the use of a portable solar generation device. Requires each portable solar generation device to be registered with the Public Utilities Commission. Provides that electric utility companies are not liable for any damage or injury caused by a portable solar generation device. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish and maintain an online system for registering a portable solar generation device, at no cost to the customer.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Appropriates funds to support educational training programs to expand the State's health care workforce. Allocates funds to the Department of Education for health care certificate programs and classroom renovations for health care training in public high schools. Allocates funds to the University of Hawaii for education programs that support certified nurse assistants in becoming licensed practical nurses.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY PROJECTS.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to hold not less than two community meetings before approving a major energy project that would be hosted in the affected community.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.

Establishes the Search and Rescue Card Program and Search and Rescue Special Fund to reimburse state and county agencies and volunteer organizations for search and rescue operations. Establishes reimbursement procedures for search and rescue operations.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTIONS.

Establishes a general excise tax exemption for the gross proceeds or income from feminine hygiene products. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO PARKING FOR DISABLED PERSONS.

Beginning 7/1/27, increases the number of required accessible and van accessible parking spaces in parking lots with more than twenty-five parking spaces that are covered by title II or III of the Americans with Disabilities Act with certain expectations. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE COSTS.

Establishes the Prescription Drug Affordability Board within the Department of Health to conduct affordability reviews on high-cost prescription drugs and establish upper payment limits under certain circumstances. Establishes out-of-pocket maximums for prescribed insulin, asthma inhalers, and epinephrine auto-injectors. Prohibits copayment adjustment programs. Requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to comply with certain affordability measures. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Requires adoption of rules by the Affordability Board and Insurance Commissioner. Appropriates funds.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO LONG-TERM CARE.

Establishes the Hawaii CARES Fund Long-term Services and Supports Trust Program within the Department of Human Services to be implemented in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and the Insurance Commissioner, provide eligible beneficiaries with a lifetime benefit for approved long-term services and supports funded through payroll-based premium assessed on wages, with exemptions and optional participation for self-employed persons and certain out‑of‑state participants. Establishes a trust fund commission and council. Establishes premium assessment and collection requirements. Provides cancellation procedures under certain circumstances. Establishes a supplemental private coverage framework and consumer education requirements. Establishes the Hawaii CARES trust fund and investment requirements. Requires DHS, DLIR, and the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS.

Requires a seller or its agent in a residential real property transaction to disclose that the United States Postal Service cannot deliver mail or packages to the residential real property being offered for sale.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Establishes the Small Business Procurement Program and Small Business Procurement Coordinator position permanently in the State Procurement Office. Repeals the Small Business Assistance Initiative established in Act 168, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, effective 1/1/2525. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC NOTICE.

Authorizes government agencies to satisfy public notice requirements by electronic posting on official state or county websites or electronic calendars, while preserving traditional publication as an option. Directs the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, in consultation with the Access Hawaii Committee, to adopt rules governing the implementation of electronic notice before the electronic notice authorization takes legal effect. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO COCONUT TREES.

Establishes an income tax credit for qualified costs to implement natural management of coconut rhinoceros beetles that result in consumable coconut trees. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

PART II: Allows certain extensions of the deadline for cesspool conversions. PART III: Authorizes and appropriates funds to the Department of Health to retain qualified consultants as necessary to identify necessary public outreach and education resources and tools and develop a comprehensive public outreach strategy and website to educate homeowners and wastewater industry professionals about information and resources regarding the State's cesspool upgrade, conversion, and connection requirements and deadlines.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Prohibits a procurement officer from disclosing a competing offeror's proposal or evaluation score, except the summary of scores, to a non-selected offeror until after any protest is resolved and the contract is executed. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Amends and repeals certain exemptions under the general excise tax and use tax laws.

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Establishes the Office of Artificial Intelligence Safety and Regulation within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to regulate the development, deployment, and use of artificial intelligence technologies in the State. Prohibits the deployment of artificial intelligence products in the State unless affirmative proof establishing the product's safety is submitted to the Office. Appropriates funds.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS.

Clarifies that cooperative associations organized under chapter 421C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, may include multi-stakeholder cooperatives, producer cooperatives, workers cooperatives, and consumer cooperatives. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD2)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO ASSISTED COMMUNITY TREATMENT.

Requires community health outpatient programs to prepare a certificate for assisted community treatment and provide the certificate to a defendant. Requires a petition for assisted community treatment to be heard within five days after the petition is filed.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO CANCER.

Repeals the requirement that a certain amount received from the cigarette tax on the wholesale price of each article or item of certain tobacco products deposited into the Hawaii Cancer Research Special Fund must be used for debt service of capital expenditures and building maintenance. Appropriates funds for the University of Hawaii Cancer Center.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR LICENSES.

Authorizes an increase in the volume of manufactured alcoholic beverages permissible under a small craft producer pub license. Increases the amount of alcohol manufactured on small craft producer pub licensees' premises that may be sold in recyclable containers.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO LAWMAKER SAFETY.

Prohibits the public disclosure of legislators' personal contact information in a voter's affidavit of registration, nomination papers, and electronic database for campaign committees.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat