Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO COVERED OFFENDER REGISTRATION.

Amends covered offender registration laws to include offenders who, while acting in a professional capacity, commit the offense of sexual assault in the fourth degree against a minor who is at least sixteen years old. Provides that the exception to public access requirements does not apply when the covered offense was committed against a minor.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO SENTENCING.

Prohibits emerging adult defendants from being sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

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.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

Specifies that election ballots issued by the Chief Election Officer or county clerk shall exclude any candidate who is disqualified by a constitutional or statutory provision. Provides for a process for challenging an inclusion or exclusion of a candidate from a ballot. Includes a candidate's disqualification as grounds for an election contest complaint. Specifies that electors of presidential and vice presidential candidates shall not be individuals who are disqualified by a constitutional or statutory provision.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY'S ‘OLELO HAWAI‘I INITIATIVES.

Appropriates funds to support the Olelo Hawaii Initiatives. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO YOUTH AND ADULT CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

Requires the State's youth and adult correctional facilities to provide free and accessible voice communication services for incarcerated persons in state correctional facilities. Prohibits any state agency from deriving revenue or financial benefit from the provision of communication services to persons confined in state correctional facilities. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish service quality standards and rules for the free voice communication services. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires Medicaid and private insurance coverage of ambulance services and community paramedicine services rendered statewide by emergency medical technicians or paramedics. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO PROPERTY RIGHTS.

Establishes a procedure for immediately removing an unlawful occupant of a dwelling or premises with assistance from law enforcement. Provides that an unlawful occupant of a dwelling or premises is civilly liable for unpaid utility bills. Provides that a person who trespasses in or upon a dwelling or premises and intentionally or knowingly damages property in an amount exceeding $999 commits a felony of criminal property damage in the second degree. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to develop, publish, and make available a complaint form to remove unlawful occupants of residential dwellings.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO DYNAMIC PRICING.

Prohibits retailers from using dynamic pricing in the sale of food that is sold, or qualifies to be sold, as part of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Special Supplemental Foods Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Establishes fines.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT RECORDS.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires all government records required to be open to public inspection under the Uniform Information Practices Act to be made available in a disability-accessible format upon request. Requires the Governor, Chief Justice, and Mayor of each county to designate at least one agency within their respective government unit as a converting agency responsible for converting government records into a disability-accessible format. Establishes the process by which government records shall be converted into disability-accessible format upon request. Allows the converting agencies to consult with the Disability Communications Access Board. Requires the Office of Information Practices, Judiciary, and each county to adopt rules, regulations, or ordinances, including a provision that extends the time within which an agency must respond to requests for government records by 5 business days for records in disability-accessible formats, with exceptions for records pertaining to board meetings. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to establish and operate a free statewide mental health warm line to provide mental health support in non-emergency situations. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO GUARDIANSHIP AND CONSERVATORSHIP SERVICES.

Establishes a two-year pilot program in the Probate Court and Family Court of the First Circuit to fund certain guardianship and conservatorship related court resources in situations where the respondent does not have sufficient funds to pay for one or more of the resources and the court has deemed the resource or resources beneficial. Requires the Judiciary to submit reports to the Governor and Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL CAFETERIA MEAL COSTS.

Reduces the amount the Department of Education is authorized to charge for school meals to all students enrolled in department schools to no more than one-quarter of the cost of preparing the meals. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOLS.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a food waste composting pilot project at Nanakuli High and Intermediate School. Appropriates moneys.

Samantha DeCorteRepublican

RELATING TO FOOD DYES.

Prohibits certain food dye additives from being served in school meals of the Department of Education and charter schools.

Samantha DeCorteRepublican

RELATING TO CRIMINAL STREET GANGS.

Establishes the offense of criminal street gang participation, solicitation, recruitment, or retention. Provides for enhanced penalties for crimes committed by a defendant while part of a criminal street gang.

Samantha DeCorteRepublican

RELATING TO HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS.

Requires condominiums and planned community associations to issue monthly damage and repair reports, have a reserve study done every 3 years, have a fully funded reserve, and only spend reserve funds to maintain the property.

Samantha DeCorteRepublican

RELATING TO IMMIGRATION DETENTION FACILITIES.

Prohibits the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Board of Land and Natural Resources from disposing of or approving the use or setting aside of public lands for the establishment of any immigration detention facility. Prohibits state and county agencies from contracting with the federal government for this purpose.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR.

Provides access by owners of motor vehicles and independent repair facilities to motor vehicle manufacturer diagnostic and repair information and diagnostic repair tools otherwise made available to dealers.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE.

Prohibits claims for refunds, reimbursements, or other payments, authorization for which is sought from the Legislature that exceed the time limitations of section 40-68, Hawaii Revised Statutes, from being claimed. Requires the Attorney General to include in the Attorney General's annual report of claims recommended for approval a total dollar amount of possible judgments against the State that have not yet settled. Requires the Attorney General's report to the Legislature describing the claims against the State to include additional information. Requires the Attorney General to submit a report every five years to the Legislature containing further incidents that occurred in an agency that led to a claim. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME.

Requires the Department of Human Services to automatically enroll, or authorize the Social Security Administration to automatically enroll, in the State's Medicaid program any individual in the State who receives federal Supplemental Security Income benefits. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE.

Establishes a Child Welfare Services Branch (CWS) Oversight Commission within the Department of the Attorney General to review and assess case management procedures, training, staffing levels and other support given to CWS and address issues identified in the 2024 Auditor's Report on CWS and make recommendations on actions to reduce child harm and death and for legislation, funding, and other needs for CWS to support the goals of the Commission. Requires annual status reports to the Legislature. Dissolves the Commission on 6/30/2028. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE FREEDOM TO READ.

Requires the Department of Education to select materials for inclusion, circulation, and exclusion in school library collections according to certain criteria. Requires the Department of Education to uphold the freedom to read. Prohibits the Department of Education from excluding books based on certain criteria. Requires the State Librarian to select materials for inclusion, circulation, and exclusion in school library collections according to certain criteria. Requires the State Librarian to uphold the freedom to read. Prohibits the State Librarian from excluding books based on certain criteria.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO REGULATION OF LICENSED OCCUPATIONS.

Requires professional licensees to report any legal claim, action, or administrative complaint to state licensing boards and requires the boards to review the reported complaint. Requires the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to review its procedures and report to the Legislature.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO MANAGING AGENTS.

Requires managing agents for residential condominium properties with more than one hundred units located in a county with a population greater than 500,000 to possess a community association manager credential from a recognized nationwide community association management industry trade group. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Requires insurers to provide advance written notice to policyholders and the Insurance Commissioner, with reasonable explanations and primary factors, of any policy cancellation, non-renewal, or proposed premium increase, if, upon renewal, premiums are scheduled to increase more than 10 per cent. Requires insurers that provide property insurance to file rate schedules and underlying criteria with the Insurance Commissioner. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to conduct periodic reviews of insurance rates and submit annual reports to the Legislature. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to establish a Public Reporting and Dispute Resolution Program to handle complaints and appeals regarding premium increases. Requires insurers to provide premium discounts or credits to policyholders that implement disaster risk mitigation measures. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Requires insurers to provide automatic, advance written premium change notices to common interest community policyholders and the Insurance Commissioner, with reasonable explanations and primary factors, disclosing the causes of any premium increase if, upon renewal, premiums are scheduled to increase more than an unspecified per cent. Requires insurers to automatically issue a loss run report to the policyholder at the end of each policy year. Requires insurers that renewed property insurance policies between 2022 and 2024 for policyholders that were condominium associations, planned community associations, or cooperative housing corporations in the State to provide an explanation for certain premium increases during this period. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to submit a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE FOR HAWAII CONDOMINIUM PROPERTIES.

Requires property insurers to offer discounts on a condominium association's annual insurance premium if the association adopts specific risk mitigation upgrades or develops comprehensive disaster response plans. Requires property insurers of condominiums to base premium increases on actuarial justifications that reflect actual risk reduction resulting from upgraded fire safety improvements installed in conjunction with a building fire and life safety evaluation. Requires property insurers of condominiums to justify premium increases above ten per cent. Requires property insurers of condominiums to publicly report premium increases each year. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM INSURANCE.

Establishes the Hawaii Condominium Mutual Insurance Company to provide property and casualty insurance to high-rise residential condominium associations and the owners of those units. Requires reports to the Governor. Establishes the Condominium Loan Fund to assist associations of apartment owners experiencing increased insurance costs. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Appropriates funds for the agricultural loan program to offer loans with an interest rate cap of four per cent; a line of credit program with a prevailing interest rate; and loans with an interest rate cap of three per cent for new farmers that commit to growing import replacement crops and farm-to-state programs.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.

Permanently increases the state earned income tax credit to fifty per cent of the federal earned income tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2024.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO EXCITED DELIRIUM.

Prohibits excited delirium from being recognized as a valid medical diagnosis or cause of death in the State. Prohibits a local health officer or local agent of the Department of Health from stating on a certificate of death or in any report that the cause of death was excited delirium. Prohibits law enforcement officers from using the term excited delirium to describe an individual in an incident report. Establishes a new rule of evidence that deems evidence that a person experienced or suffered an excited delirium inadmissible in a civil action.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Requires the Hawaii Property Insurance Association to include in its plan of operation insurance coverage for commercial properties twice denied by private insurers. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO LAVA ZONE INSURANCE.

Establishes a Lava Zone Insurance Fund to subsidize the cost of insurance premiums for properties in lava zones 1 and 2. Defines lava zones 1 and 2. Appropriates funds.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY FOR CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS.

Authorizes and appropriates moneys for the Board of Psychology to grant prescriptive authority to clinical psychologists who meet specific education, training, and registration requirements. Requires the Board of Psychology to accept applications for prescriptive authority privilege beginning 7/1/2026. Requires the Board of Psychology to report to the Legislature.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Requires the Director of Law Enforcement to adopt rules establishing training and certification standards and procedures for crisis intervention officers. Requires the Department of Health to approve the content of such training. Clarifies the scope of treatment permitted under assisted community treatment orders. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to assist with the preparation, filing, and presentation of requests for a court order to provide treatment over a patient's objection. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE.

Establishes the Child Welfare Task Force to develop strategies and policy changes to transform and improve the State's child welfare system. Requires support from the Department of Human Services. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTMENTS.

Requires any appointment of a person by the Governor to serve in the Executive Branch in the position of an advisor to be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate if that person's salary is greater than $200,000, and is not paid from the Governor's budget. Requires the Governor to transmit Governor's Messages to the Senate President containing nominations for each gubernatorial appointee who was appointed to their advisor position before the effective date of this Act and whose salary is greater than $200,000, and is not paid from the Governor's budget. Effective 1/1/2491. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO THE PRESCHOOL OPEN DOORS PROGRAM.

Expands the preschool open door program's eligibility criteria. Repeals the requirement that open door program providers be accredited.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to provide health insurance through Medicaid's Children's Health Insurance Program to income-qualified children and pregnant persons regardless of their immigration status.

AQUINO

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to provide Medicaid coverage under the Children's Health Insurance Program for income-qualified pregnant persons and children who are otherwise ineligible due to their immigration status.

AQUINO

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to achieve full funding status, including estimated payment increases, of Medicaid home- and community-based services.

AQUINO

RELATING TO HAWAII EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW.

Expands the circumstances where the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations may waive the requirements for individuals to register to work and report to an employment office to be eligible for unemployment benefits. Authorize the Department to allow individuals to report to a location other than an employment office or other location approved pursuant to its rules. Beginning 4/1/2027, requires notices of determinations and documentation relating to appeals to be sent electronically, unless the election for mail is made. Allows an individual to change an elected withholding status more than once during a benefit year. Amends the statutory definition of "registered for work" or "registration for work". Repeals the requirement for individuals to post their work availability online to be eligible for unemployment benefits. Repeals the statutory provision for joint experience rating. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

AQUINO

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 a suspension or discharge. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

AQUINO

RELATING TO EQUITY.

Requires all places of public accommodation and public entity constructions constructed after 7/31/2026, to provide universal changing accommodations that are equally accessible regardless of gender.

AQUINO

RELATING TO SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES.

Establishes a Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Fee Program to be administered by the Department of Health that, beginning 7/1/2026, imposes a fee on the distribution and sale of sugar-sweetened beverages in the State. Establishes the Healthy Ohana Special Fund into which revenues generated from the sugar-sweetened beverage fee are deposited. Establishes the Healthy Ohana Trust Fund in the private sector to receive revenues from the Healthy Ohana Special Fund to support prevention and control of obesity and chronic diseases. Allows the Department to contract with a third party to administer the program. Requires the Auditor to conduct a management and financial audit of the program and submit reports to the Legislature. Establishes the Healthy Ohana Trust Fund Advisory Committee to advise the Department on the administration of the trust fund. Requires the Department to adopt interim rules no later than 6/30/2026, and final rules no later than 12/31/2027. Establishes civil penalties. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Requires the independent medical examination and permanent impairment rating examination of an injured employee under the Workers' Compensation Law to be conducted by a qualified physician selected by the mutual agreement of the parties and paid for by the employer. In absence of a mutual agreement, requires the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to appoint a duly qualified impartial physician to be paid by the employer.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat