Bills & Legislation

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Appropriates funds as a grant-in-aid to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu for the Victim Witness Assistance Program. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Repeals the sunset provision in Act 45, SLH 2024, related to the counties' authorization to develop, construct, finance, refinance, or otherwise provide mixed-use developments.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO LOBBYING.

Establishes certain presumptions regarding testimony when provided by a lobbyist. Makes certain contracts voidable when entered into in violation of the state lobbying law. Expands the definition of "lobbying" in the state lobbying law to include certain communications with high-level government officials regarding procurement decisions.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO LOBBYIST CONTRIBUTIONS.

Clarifies administrative oversight of statutory restrictions relating to prohibited lobbyist contributions. Clarifies that the regular or special sessions in which lobbyist contributions are prohibited are periods during which both houses of the legislature are in session.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

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.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

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.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

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.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

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.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

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)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.

Appropriates funds for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO STATE LEGISLATIVE VACANCIES.

Establishes unspecified deadlines for the governor to appoint, and for political parties to nominate, individuals to fill certain state senatorial vacancies. Provides that if the Governor fails to appoint an individual to fill a state legislative vacancy by an applicable statutory deadline, the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall make the appointment within an unspecified number of calendar days after the deadline.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO DOGS.

Establishes an additional penalty for a dog owner whose dog destroys property while on land zoned for agricultural use. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Amends the definition of "cultural". Prohibits the use of consumer fireworks except for cultural use by permit. Repeals the wording of section 132D-3(1), HRS, that generally allows the use of consumer fireworks without a permit on New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, and the Fourth of July. Makes it unlawful to offer, display for sale, sell, or furnish consumer fireworks to any person except for cultural use by permit, with a cap of not more than five permits per person. Prohibits the sale of fireworks to a person more than 5 calendar days before a permitted cultural use. Imposes a fee of $25 per permit for the purchase and cultural use of consumer fireworks. Imposes a statewide limitation on consumer fireworks, except by permit for cultural use. Effective 7/1/2025. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Amends the sunset date of Act 83, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, to repeal section 46-19.8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, on June 29, 2025.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAL RECORDS.

Establishes fees that medical providers may charge for requests for a patient's medical records from the patient's family member, caregiver, or representative. Requires medical providers to respond to requests in a timely manner. Establishes penalties.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Prohibits a landlord from recovering possession of a dwelling unit from a tenant if the habitability of the premises is significantly impaired. Caps a tenant's liability for rent if the habitability of the premises is significantly impaired. Provides remedies for retaliatory evictions.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO RECORDINGS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.

Establishes the right of a person to record law enforcement activities. Establishes a private right of action for any violation of the right to record law enforcement activities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Expands the ban on pistols with a detachable magazine with over a ten-round capacity to any firearm with a detachable magazine with over a thirty-round capacity. Exempts detachable ammunition magazines with a capacity in excess of thirty rounds that are designed for or capable of use with any firearm other than a pistol obtained before 1/1/2026. Effective 1/1/2026. (SD2)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO BUILDING INSPECTIONS.

Requires periodic inspections of certain walls and appurtenances of buildings five or more stories in height. Establishes procedures for inspections, preparing inspection reports, and responding to report findings.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Authorizes a county with a pre-existing surcharge to continue the surcharge after December 31, 2030, at a lower rate of one-fourth per cent. Authorizes counties that have not adopted a surcharge ordinance on state tax to adopt a surcharge ordinance at the current rate of one-half of one per cent through December 31, 2030, and at a rate of one-fourth of one per cent after December 31, 2030. Expands the authorized use of surcharge revenues to more than capital costs of a locally preferred alternative for a mass transit project for counties with a population greater than five hundred thousand.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION REGARDING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

Proposes an amendment to the Hawaii State Constitution to provide that freedom of speech protected under the Hawaii State Constitution does not include the expenditure of money to influence elections. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO AUDIBLE VEHICLE REVERSE WARNING SYSTEMS.

Prohibits a state- or county-owned vehicle purchased on or after 1/1/2028, from using an audible reverse warning system that emits a warning sound other than one using broadband technology. Authorizes the Director of Transportation to grant exemptions under certain circumstances. Requires the Director of Transportation to maintain an updated record of all exemptions granted and a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO A WEALTH ASSET TAX.

Beginning January 1, 2030, 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. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX HAVEN ABUSE.

Requires corporations to include the income of all foreign subsidiaries to the State. Applies the State's apportionment formula to determine the share of reported profits subject to the appropriate tax. Effective 1/1/2026.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO FERAL PIGS.

Creates an expedited permitting process to authorize the destruction or control of feral pigs on privately owned land, if the feral pigs have caused or are likely to cause substantial damage to agricultural or aquacultural crops, indigenous plants or wildlife, or pose a threat to human health and safety.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE IN HOUSING SUBDIVISIONS.

Requires lot owners in subdivisions that are not planned communities to pay for the repair and maintenance of subdivision roads. Authorizes counties to assess and collect fees for repair and maintenance of subdivision roads if no courtappointed or deeddesignated entity is authorized to do so. Requires counties to provide certain services to associations. Restricts provisions to counties having a population greater than 200,000 but less than 500,000. Extends the reporting date and sunset date for the working group established pursuant to Act 200, SLH 2022. Appropriates moneys.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO LACTATION CONSULTANTS.

Establishes the Board of Lactation Consultants of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and requires that lactation consultants be licensed by the board.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO GENETIC INFORMATION.

Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules establishing privacy requirements for direct-to-consumer genetic testing in the State. Requires the Department's rules to specify whether consumers' genetic information may be used for purposes of investigative genetic genealogy.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO MARIJUANA.

Changes from 1 ounce to 30 grams the minimum amount of marijuana that constitutes the offense of promoting a detrimental drug in the second degree. Increases from 3 grams or less to 15 grams or less the amount of marijuana that constitutes the offense of promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO PROPERTY FORFEITURE.

Restricts civil asset forfeiture to cases involving the commission of a felony offense where the property owner has been convicted of an underlying felony offense. Directs forfeiture proceeds to the general fund. Amends the allowable expenses for moneys in the criminal forfeiture fund. Requires the Attorney General to adopt rules necessary to carry out the purpose of the Hawaii Omnibus Criminal Forfeiture Act. Amends the deadline for the Attorney General to report to the Legislature on the use of the Hawaii Omnibus Criminal Forfeiture Act. Limits the transfer of certain forfeiture property to federal agencies. Establishes records requirements.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to achieve the full funding, including estimated payment increases, of Medicaid home- and community-based services. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Authorizes a person intoxicated by alcohol, under the influence of drugs, or incapacitated by substances, including a minor, to voluntarily admit themself to a psychiatric facility or a behavioral health crisis center for an emergency evaluation to determine need for treatment.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO PHARMACISTS.

Mandates reimbursement for services provided by participating registered pharmacists practicing within their scope of practice by private and public health plans in the State beginning January 1, 2026.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO THE GENERAL FUND.

Provides a tax credit to taxpayers and makes deposits to the emergency and budget reserve fund and other post-employment benefits trust fund pursuant to article VII, section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO INTERNSHIPS.

Permits the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to enter into contracts with eligible employers or registered apprenticeship programs in the private sector to provide on-the-job training to eligible interns. Provides that the State shall be the responsible employer for purposes of workers' compensation coverage for students or recent graduates in the on-the-job-training work experience program, subject to certain limitations. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO FARM DWELLINGS.

Prohibits residing on agricultural park lots unless within a farm dwelling permitted by the Board of Agriculture. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to conduct inspections of agricultural park lots for unpermitted farm dwellings during fiscal year 2025-2026. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Authorizes the Director of Transportation to designate as a toll road, and impose toll charges for the use of, any existing state highway. Requires the Director of Transportation to designate as a toll road a certain portion of Hana Highway. Requires the Department of Transportation to develop a plan to exempt resident vehicle operators from the imposition of toll charges for the use of Hana Highway.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Replaces the Hawaii Tourism Authority with the Corporation for the Stewardship of Hawaii Tourism, a nonprofit entity to guide Hawaii's visitor economy in collaboration with public, private, nonprofit, and community stakeholders in achieving beneficial outcomes from tourism based on the principles of destination stewardship and regenerative tourism.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO INTER-ISLAND FERRY SERVICE.

Clarifies that harbor use fees shall not be waived for vessels engaging in inter-island ferry service within Maui county.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION FINANCING.

Authorizes a county that has adopted a surcharge to state tax to extend the surcharge to 12/31/2056. Extends the end date of the one percent Transient Accommodation Tax increase to 12/31/2056. Requires the State Auditor to conduct an audit and annual review of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation until 12/31/2056. Requires the Comptroller to certify the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation's invoices for capital costs until 12/31/2056.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the Department of Education to provide free breakfast and lunch to students enrolled in a public school who meet certain requirements. Appropriates funds.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATED TO DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.

Requires defendants convicted of causing the death of a parent or legal guardian of a minor child by the operation of a vehicle in a negligent manner while under the influence of drugs or alcohol to make restitution in the form of financial support to each surviving child of the victim.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

Establishes requirements for the clinical review criteria and clinical practical guidelines used to establish step therapy protocols. Provides a process for a patient to request an exception to using step therapy protocols. Establishes insurance coverage requirements relating to the use of step therapy protocols and standards to appeal an adverse step therapy exception determination.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Establishes the Illegal Fireworks Enforcement Division within the Department of Law Enforcement. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO EXCITED DELIRIUM.

Prohibits excited delirium from being recognized as a valid medical diagnosis or cause of death in the State. Prohibits a medical examiner, coroner, or health care provider 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 Hawaii Rule of Evidence that deems evidence that a person experienced or suffered an excited delirium inadmissible in a civil action. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FARM TO SCHOOL PROCUREMENT.

Requires the Department of Education to establish rules for the procurement of goods and services related to the administration of food programs at public schools that incorporate a geographic preference for unprocessed locally grown and locally raised food products.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

Requires that if parking is to be included in any new state building construction, the design provide that at least twenty-five per cent of parking stalls be electric vehicle charger-ready. Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office, in consultation with the Department of Accounting and General Services and the Department of Transportation, to conduct a survey and identify certain high-priority state facilities. Establishes a goal of the State to retrofit state facilities to be electric vehicle charger-ready. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Mike GabbardDemocrat