Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, health maintenance organizations, and health plans under the State's Medicaid managed care program to provide coverage for biomarker testing.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Provides annual salary step increases for public schools and public charter school teachers who have completed one year's satisfactory service and comply with specified requirements, if negotiated into a collective bargaining agreement pursuant to section 89-9, HRS, and subject to funds appropriated by the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.

Requires certain state buildings, including public school buildings, for which construction is anticipated to commence on or after 7/1/2026 to be designed to withstand category five hurricanes and be used as shelters in the event of an emergency. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO WAREHOUSE WORKERS.

Establishes the Warehouse Worker Protection Act. Requires certain warehouse employers to provide written descriptions of quotas to employees and maintain records of quotas and employee work speed data. Protects employees from quotas that would prevent compliance with meal or rest periods or the use of bathroom facilities. Allows employees to request a written description of their quota and employee work speed data. Requires the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to adopt rules to implement the provisions of the Act.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.

Allows public employers and exclusive representatives of bargaining units to negotiate certain retirement benefits.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT EARNINGS.

Clarifies that the requirement to disclose hourly rates or salary ranges on job listings applies to full-time, part-time, temporary, or seasonal employment. Repeals the exemption for employers having fewer than fifty employees from the disclosure requirement. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO DIGITAL FINANCIAL ASSET TRANSACTION KIOSKS.

Establishes limits on transactions through digital financial asset transaction kiosks. Prohibits (1) the exchanging of United States currency, in an amount greater than $100, from new customers for digital financial assets; (2) any two customers from transacting to the same digital financial asset wallet address; and (3) beginning 1/1/2030, the exchange of United States currency from customers for digital financial assets. Requires operators of digital financial asset transaction kiosks to use blockchain analytics and tracing software to prevent fraud; make certain disclosures; provide receipts to customers; provide full refunds under certain circumstances; and provide live customer service and a dedicated communications line for the Attorney General, Office of Consumer Protection, Department of Law Enforcement, and county police departments. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO DISASTER SERVICES.

Amends the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency's functions to include ensuring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and related federal and state disability access laws by integrating the needs of individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs into emergency planning, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities. Appropriates funds to establish a Disability Integration Specialist and for programming support for disability community projects.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Establishes the Kupaa Retention Bonus Program to be administered by the Department of Law Enforcement to provide $15,000 retention bonuses to eligible sworn law enforcement officers that have worked a minimum of two thousand hours during the preceding fiscal year, subject to collective bargaining negotiations. Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to report to the Legislature on the effectiveness of the Kupaa Retention Bonus Program. Appropriates funds for the Kupaa Retention Bonus Program. Sunsets 6/30/2028. (SD1)

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to provide $15,000 retention bonuses to all eligible sworn law enforcement officers who meet specified requirements. Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to verify eligibility. Appropriates funds for the payment of retention bonuses.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Beginning 1/1/2027, prohibits the sale of flavored nicotine products and nicotine product flavor enhancers and the mislabeling of e-liquids as nicotine free. Establishes penalties for violations. Authorizes the Department of Health to appoint, commission, or contract for services of inspectors. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO THE CONVEYANCE TAX.

Allocates twenty per cent of conveyance tax revenues to the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund. Repeals the annual cap amount on the allocation of conveyance tax revenues to the Rental Housing Revolving Fund.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO CORRECTIONS.

Extends the effective date of restrictions on the use of restrictive housing in correctional facilities to 7/1/2027. Extends the establishment of the Restrictive Housing Legislative Working Group to 8/1/2026. Extends the date that the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation may implement recommendations of the working group to 12/1/2028. Amends procedures for restrictive housing. Amends circumstances under which restrictive housing may be used. Repeals requirements for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to post quarterly reports on the Department's website, update its policy and procedures manual in compliance with the restrictive housing restrictions, and report to the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission. Repeals requirements for the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission to review and monitor housing placements. Repeals the requirement that the Restrictive Housing Working Group make recommendations to the Legislature by 1/1/2027.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH A CONTINUOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

Establishes a continuous Legislature beginning in January 2031. Defines each regular session to be two calendar years. Requires the Legislature to convene on the first and third weeks of each month except for two months before a general or primary election. Repeals language regarding special sessions, adjournment, and recesses. Establishes procedures for the carry-over of bills from the first to the second year of a regular session. Establishes deadlines for certain bills to be submitted for gubernatorial consideration. Standardizes the number of days that the Governor must approve or veto a bill submitted for consideration. Repeals the Governor's ability to appoint an interim position if a vacancy occurs while the Senate is not in session. Establishes salaries of the members of the Legislature pursuant to recommendations by the Commission on Salaries submitted during the 2030 regular session, unless those recommendations are amended by law.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Clarifies insurance requirements for single-family and multi-family housing projects to obtain expedited permitting from county agencies. Clarifies that state or county inspectors shall inspect all projects with expedited permits. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RENEWABLE FUELS PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT.

Expands the provisions of the renewable fuels production tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO PROPERTY DAMAGE OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES.

Establishes the offense of criminal property damage to critical infrastructure facilities as a class C felony. Expands the term "critical infrastructure" to include broadband, wireless, and cable networks. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL TAX CREDIT.

Establishes a tax credit for sustainable aviation fuel distribution in Hawaii to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Provides $1 per gallon, increasing by 2 cents per additional 1 per cent emissions reduction, up to $2 per gallon. Caps total credits at $20,000,000 annually, with carryover provisions. Requires reporting to ensure transparency and compliance. Applies to taxable years after December 31, 2025, and sunsets on December 31, 2035.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO TREES.

Establishes base selection criteria for designating exceptional trees. Establishes the significant tree designation, selection criteria, and related processes. Establishes the State Arborist Advisory Committee within the Department of Land and Natural Resources for administrative purposes. Requires County Arborist Advisory Committees to have at least five members, adopt new exceptional tree selection criteria, and designate significant trees. Directs the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the University of Hawaii to cooperate with State and County Arborist Advisory Committees to carry out the Exceptional Trees Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO A BLUE ECONOMY.

Establishes the Blue Economy Working Group to study how to develop and support marine-based economic activities that align with the State's decarbonization and restorative food production goals. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

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. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRIVOLTAICS.

Requires a landowner leasing agricultural sub-parcels on property used for agrivoltaics to prioritize lease offers for beginning farmers. Requires a landowner leasing agricultural sub-parcels on property used for agrivoltaics to submit an annual agrivoltaics compliance report to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Authorizes DAB to penalize any landowner that fails to meet agrivoltaics requirements. Authorizes the development of solar energy facilities on agricultural lands with productivity ratings of B, C, or D under certain conditions. Authorizes a county planning commission to issue special permits for agrivoltaics requirements before the approval of the Land Use Commission under certain conditions. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Before January 1, 2028, requires every renewable energy source with measurable carbon dioxide emissions that is regulated by the Clean Air Branch of the Department of Health to operate an in-stack carbon dioxide continuous emissions monitoring system in each smokestack. Establishes carbon dioxide emissions rate standards for renewable energy sources for compliance with renewable portfolio standards.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO PLANNED COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS.

Allows members of a planned community association to terminate the association with the approval of a plan of dissolution by 67% of the members of the association, a court of competent jurisdiction, and all holders of liens on association property. Enables the association board or other termination trustee to wind up the affairs of the association in accordance with the plan of dissolution.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMUNITY-BASED CARE.

Requires the Department of Health to adopt rules mandating that each primary caregiver and substitute caregiver in a Community Care Foster Family Home be a licensed nurse or certified nurse aide. Makes the requirements for primary and substitute caregivers applicable to all Community Care Foster Family Homes, regardless of the number of clients in the home.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study the impacts of disallowing the dividends paid deduction for real estate investment trusts. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO HOME CARE AGENCIES.

Prohibits a home care agency or person with a financial interest in the home care agency from providing home care services to a client if the home care agency or person owns or leases the client's residence.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE COUNTIES.

Authorizes the counties to close or restrict public lands under the county's jurisdiction when necessary to protect public health, ensure public safety, or preserve natural or cultural resources. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS.

Prohibits the sale and distribution of single-use plastic service ware by food and beverage service businesses.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.

Requires government entities to seek reimbursement for all or a portion of search or rescue expenses for persons who require rescue after leaving a hiking trail to enter an area closed to the public or hiking on a trail closed to the public, and there is a sign giving notice of the closure.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

Part II: Requires certain priority level 1 cesspools to be upgraded, converted, or connected before 1/1/2035, and priority level 2 cesspools to be upgraded, converted, or connected before 1/1/2040, rather than before 1/1/2050. Part III: Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to implement the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project established pursuant to Act 153, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022. Part IV: Establishes an income tax credit for the cost of upgrading or converting a qualified cesspool to a Director of Health-approved wastewater system or connecting to a sewerage system, and requires the Auditor to periodically review the tax credit.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO REGISTRATION OF TIME SHARES.

Provides that applications for registration renewal required by section 514E-10, HRS, shall be deemed approved upon delivery. Provides that any amendment to a required time share plan registration shall be deemed approved by operation of law on the sixtieth day after the amendment is submitted to the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, unless the Director issues a deficiency letter within that period. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO TIP CREDIT.

Beginning 1/1/2027, increases the tip credit amount to equal twenty-five per cent of the minimum wage. Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to annually calculate the adjusted tip credit amount.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO OUTDOOR SIGNAGE.

Allows the display of outdoor advertising devices, including digital outdoor signage devices, within the Stadium Development District with the authorization of the Stadium Authority and subject to certain conditions. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to conduct a study on the impacts of light pollution associated with the devices and report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD2)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS.

Requires the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to make certain contact information for newly registered entities available online. Requires the Director to transmit the contact information to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's Business Development and Support Division. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE PARKS SPECIAL FUND.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to expend the moneys from the State Parks Special Fund for programs aimed at environmental protection.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO CARDIOVASCULAR SCREENING.

Requires cardiovascular screening for students, including student athletes. Requires the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health, to distribute educational and informational materials regarding sudden cardiac arrest. Requires the Department of Education to implement policies, programs, training, and continuing education that increase health care provider knowledge of cardiovascular screening guidelines.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Requires the Department of Education to authorize and facilitate complex areas or individual department schools to form their own farm to school meal programs through partnerships to meet the local farm to school meal goal of thirty per cent of food served in the school to consist of locally sourced products by 2030. Allows the Department of Education to establish a plant-based meal program no later than the 2026-2027 school year.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to: (1) Establish a four-year Restorative Aquaculture Development Program to reduce aquaculture permit processing time, support aquaculture infrastructure expansion, increase the aquaculture workforce, and pursue federal aquaculture grants; (2) Establish three pilot demonstration sites for restorative aquaculture; and (3) Convene a Restorative Aquaculture Advisory Council. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES.

Beginning July 1, 2027, requires certain sugar-sweetened beverages to contain an excessive sugars warning label. Establishes civil penalties. Requires the Department of Health to adopt rules.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO AIRPORTS.

Requires the Department of Transportation to transition all motor vehicles used within airport grounds to zero emission vehicles to meet the State's zero emissions clean economy target.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Requires the Office of Consumer Protection to periodically publish an accessible, multilingual notice of tenant rights. Requires the notice to be included in the informational handbook on the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code maintained by the Office. Requires a landlord to provide a tenant with a copy of the most recent notice of tenant rights in the tenant's preferred language, if available, and subjects the landlord to a fine for failure to do so. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes, and appropriates funds for, a working group to make recommendations to revise the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation's Qualified Allocation Plan and propose revisions to the prioritization of the Rental Housing Revolving Fund and the terms of loans made from the Rental Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LEGISLATURE.

Establishes a Regular Session Review Working Group to determine the essential timing and effective framework for a lengthened legislative session calendar for election and non-election years. Requires the Working Group to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature before the convening of the Regular Session of 2028. Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to assist the Working Group in finalizing its report and drafting any proposed legislation. Appropriates fund. Effective 7/1/2525. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to compile, maintain, and publish on its website a public inventory of underutilized public properties suitable for affordable rental housing development. Requires the HHFDC to provide legal and administrative assistance to requesting county agencies and eligible developers to accelerate the development of affordable rental housing projects. Establishes eligibility requirements for developers and rental housing projects seeking interim financing from the HHFDC. Establishes the Affordable Rental Supply Revolving Fund to be administered by the HHFDC to provide interim financing for eligible developers of approved rental housing projects. Establishes the Affordable Homeownership Program within the HHFDC to provide second mortgages to homebuyers under certain conditions. Establishes eligibility requirements for a homebuyer seeking a second mortgage from the HHFDC. Establishes the Affordable Homeownership Assistance Revolving Fund to be administered by the HHFDC. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes a Plant-Based Building Materials Working Group to study how best to grow plants, develop plant-based building materials in Hawaii, and provide economic development and green jobs while sequestering greenhouse gases to help achieve the State's climate target. Requires a report to the legislature.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

Authorizes SHPD to conduct a phased review of a proposed project on private property under certain circumstances. Amends the process and deadlines by which SHPD must provide written concurrence or non-concurrence for a proposed project on private property or other project that requires entitlement for use, after which concurrence may be assumed and the project may proceed.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a Numeracy Coaching Program to provide numeracy coaches in certain Department of Education elementary schools, middle schools, and intermediate schools to support teachers, improve instruction, and ensure that students develop a strong foundation in mathematics. Appropriates funds.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat