Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Prohibits the Hawaii National Guard from deploying to assist federal troops, federal law enforcement, or the national guard of any other state operating in Hawaii when the Governor has objected to the deployments. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO RIGHT TO REPAIR.

Requires original smartphone manufacturers to make documentation, parts, and tools available to independent repair providers and owners for the purposes of diagnosis, maintenance, and repair on fair and reasonable terms.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Prohibits law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officers from using biometric surveillance technology in the State unless certain conditions are met.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO THE COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.

Adds the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, or the chairperson's designee, to the Commission on Water Resource Management.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS.

Requires an owner or operator of an underground storage tank or tank system with a confirmed release to meet certain standards for the restoration of the environment. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Exempts a dormant captive insurance company that has been issued a certificate of dormancy from certain taxes and the requirement that its governing body hold at least one meeting each year in the State. Effective 1/1/3000. (SD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY.

Establishes a working group to recommend the implementation of specific reforms to effectively eliminate the Land Court. Requires a report to the Legislature, including proposed legislation drafted with assistance from the Legislative Reference Bureau. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Reduces the unimpaired minimum capital and surplus that class 4 sponsored captive insurance companies are required to maintain. Effective 1/1/3000. (SD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

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

Proposes an amendment to Article I, Section 4, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to provide that the participation of non-natural persons in election activities and campaign finance activities may be regulated, restricted, or prohibited as provided by law.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICATION LABELING.

Authorizes certain pregnant persons to receive abortion medication with a label that does not bear their name and other identifying information.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

Prohibits certain business entities from engaging in election and campaign finance activities.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES.

Adds a minimum penalty and amends the maximum penalty per violation of the State Water Code, expands the types of potential violations of the State Water Code, and makes each day that a violation exists or continues to exist a separate offense. Requires the Commission on Water Resource Management to consider certain factors when imposing penalties. Makes the setting, charging, and collecting of administrative fines by the Commission on Water Resource Management mandatory, rather than discretionary.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Prohibits surveillance pricing, or differential pricing based on information collected with electronic surveillance technology. Deems surveillance pricing an unfair and deceptive practice. Provides certain exemptions.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Authorizes condominium associations and managing agents to charge reasonable costs for administrative services related to providing documentation not already in existence or preparing forms to facilitate a private sales transaction.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITIES.

Clarifies that a member can distribute each vote they are entitled to among any or all of the candidates for a planned community association or condominium association board election conducted by cumulative voting. Defines "candidate".

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish a streamlined grid-ready homes interconnection process. Authorizes the use of the Hawaii electricity reliability surcharge for cost recovery of certain expenses of the Hawaii Electricity Reliability Administrator associated with the grid-ready homes interconnection process. Requires a report to the PUC on the grid-ready homes interconnection process. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO CORRECTIONS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for purchasing body cameras for adult correctional officers to wear while on duty at state correctional facilities, beginning on or after 7/1/2027.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Requires purchase, lease, and power purchase agreements for residential solar energy devices to include a cover page with certain required disclosures. Requires any person or entity that markets, sells, leases, or solicits a residential solar energy device or markets, sells, or solicits power purchase agreements to comply with consumer protection laws. Prohibits any person or entity from installing, marketing, offering financing, or engaging in customer acquisition for a residential solar energy device without holding a contractor's license or having a contractual affiliation with a licensed contractor. Allows for rescission or cancellation of the agreement. Specifies that agreements in violation of the law are voidable. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO THE AQUACULTURE INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT.

For taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026, establishes a 5-year aquaculture investment tax credit for taxpayers that incur qualifying investment costs relating to qualified aquaculture businesses.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

Establishes the eighth day of August of each year as "Hawaii Disaster Drill Day". Requires the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with all state departments and agencies, to conduct drills and perform other activities for that day.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO CRIME.

Establishes a special intergovernmental task force to eradicate illegal gambling and drug activities and to establish community safe zones across the State. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Increases the filing thresholds for the General Excise Tax and Transient Accommodations Tax.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO JURY DUTY.

Allows actively practicing advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants employed in Federally Qualified Health Centers to claim exemption from service as a juror. (SD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO SEARCH AND RESCUE.

Clarifies that a person or entity shall be liable for all or a portion of search and rescue expenses when the search and rescue results from the person or entity's violation of applicable laws. Requires the State Fire Council to adopt rules, and the counties to adopt ordinances, as necessary to pursue reimbursements.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES.

Adds a minimum penalty and maximum penalty per violation of the State Water Code. Authorizes the Commission on Water Resource Management to consider each day that a violation exists or continues to exist a separate offense. Establishes factors the CWRM must consider when determining the amount of the penalty. Increases maximum fines every 5 years from 2031 to 2046. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Appropriates moneys to the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy's Space Science and Engineering Initiative Workforce Development Program.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

Transfers the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development for administrative purposes. Removes the manager of the Coastal Zone Management Program from the Commission. Adds a representative from the University of Hawaii to the Commission.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTHY WORKPLACES.

Prohibits any employer or employee from subjecting an employee to abusive conduct. Requires employers and certain employees to take all reasonable preventative and responsive measures to ensure a safe work environment free of abusive conduct. Prohibits employers and certain employees from taking retaliatory actions against employees who engage in certain protected acts. Establishes a penalty, private cause of action, and remedies. Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to adopt rules.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Requires electric utilities to compensate customer-generators for excess electricity credits. (SD1)

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE VACANCIES.

Establishes that if the death or permanent incapacitation of the prior incumbent leaves a legislative seat vacant before a primary election, but after the close of filing for candidacy in that election, and the prior incumbent's name was the only name on any ballot for that seat for that election, the Governor's appointment of a replacement shall be valid for both the unexpired term and the succeeding term.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE REIMBURSEMENT OF DEBT SERVICE ON THE PORTION OF THE TURTLE BAY REIMBURSABLE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FINANCED BY THE LAND CONSERVATION FUND.

Reduces reimbursement of debt service on the Turtle Bay reimbursable general obligation bonds from the land conservation fund to approximately one-half of the total repayment amount and reduces, accordingly, the amount due per fiscal year for the remainder of the bond amortization schedule.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND USE.

Temporarily allows each county, by resolution of its county council, to petition for the redistricting of land from an agricultural district to a rural district through the Land Use Commission's declaratory ruling process. Effective 7/1/2027. Sunsets 6/30/2030.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE COUNTIES.

Requires each county to adopt display standards requiring visible and readable street addresses and to require owners of residential and commercial buildings to post street addresses in accordance with the county's display standards.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT OUT-OF-SERVICE-AREA ATTENDANCE.

Prohibits the Department of Education from mandating that any student attend a school outside the student's service area. Establishes a 5 year phaseout period. Requires the DOE to submit annual progress reports.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Repeals the cap amount on conveyance tax revenues allocated to the land conservation fund.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.

Part I: Establishes requirements for transferors and transferees of used motor vehicles. Requires new number plates and tags or emblems for used motor vehicles transferred between private individuals. Requires each county Director of Finance to notify all applicable state and local agencies upon receipt of official notification of a vehicle transfer from a transferor. Requires each county Director of Finance to establish a centralized notification system for applicable agencies for every vehicle transfer by 7/1/2028. Part II: Imposes a restriction on a person's ability to obtain or renew a driver's license or to register, renew the registration of, or transfer or receive title to a motor vehicle, as a consequence of unpaid monetary obligations, under certain circumstances. Repeals provisions that would have allowed any person prevented from obtaining or renewing a driver's license or motor vehicle registration solely due to failure to pay any monetary assessment to petition the court for a driver's license or motor vehicle clearance. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO FARM EMPLOYEE HOUSING.

Clarifies that a "farm dwelling" permitted in an agricultural district includes a single-family farm dwelling with an accessory employee housing structure, subject to certain restrictions. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD2)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO STATEWIDE TRAFFIC CODE.

Establishes 55 miles per hour as the maximum speed limit on all parts of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO OUTDOOR ADVERTISING.

Increases the penalties for any person who violates the State's laws relating to the display of billboards or any outdoor advertising device. Effective 1/1/3000. (SD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSERVATION BANKING.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources and certain public or private entities to operate conservation banks, subject to approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources, for situations where a person or entity is required to provide compensatory mitigation to offset adverse impacts to threatened, endangered, candidate, or proposed species as part of an approved incidental take license and habitat conservation plan. Adds the Associate Director of the United States Geological Survey, Ecosystems Mission Area, to the membership of the Endangered Species Recovery Committee. Requires the Endangered Species Recovery Committee to review applications and proposals for conservation banks and conduct subsequent reviews and oversight. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER.

Establishes within the Department of Land and Natural Resources a working group to evaluate and make recommendations regarding the governance and structure of the Commission on Water Resource Management to ensure that it effectively fulfills its constitutional public trust responsibilities while maintaining operational efficiency and implementation capacity. Sunsets the working group on 1/1/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.

Provides for the repeal of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority and reversion of management authority over Mauna Kea lands to the University of Hawaii if the timelines specified in Act 255, SLH 2022, are not met. Establishes a deadline of 7/1/2030 for the transfer of appropriations, records, equipment, and other property to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority. Authorizes the Authority to extend existing leases and subleases for up to an additional 10-year term. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO SPEEDY TRIALS.

Creates a statutory right of victims and witnesses of sexual offenses under part V of chapter 707, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to a speedy trial in criminal cases involving adult defendants. Requires the court and the prosecution to take appropriate action to ensure a prompt trial to minimize the length of time a child abuse victim or minor witness must endure the stress of the proceedings.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO THE GREEN JOBS YOUTH CORPS.

Makes appropriations to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to continue the Green Jobs Youth Corps program.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC NOTICE.

Establishes enhanced public notice requirements for changes in land use by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Department of Land and Natural Resources, or University of Hawaii and boundary changes by the Land Use Commission. Requires approval of the project by the community through a referendum of nearby adult residents except for projects within the Mauna Kea science reserve, which require a referendum by all adult residents of the country in which the Mauna Kea science reserve is located. Appropriates moneys.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO TREES.

Establishes a two-year Fruit Tree Harvest Pilot Program. Requires state agencies, to the extent practicable, to plant fruit trees in new or renovated landscaping that includes trees within the boundaries of the program. Authorizes persons to harvest fruit from those fruit trees. Provides that the State is not liable for any injuries or illnesses resulting from the harvesting or ingesting of fruit, including food-borne illness. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 1/1/2491. (SD1)

Brenton AwaRepublican

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN CULTURE.

Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to establish and maintain Native Hawaiian cultural centers within the State. Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to construct one cultural center on Oahu by 2040. Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to submit reports to the Legislature regarding the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' compliance with this Act. Appropriates funds for the planning and design of the first Native Hawaiian cultural center. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS.

Prohibits the State from leasing public lands to or extending the lease of the US Department of Defense or any branch of the US military if the department or branch is noncompliant with any environmental order, consent decree, or memoranda of agreement, or any law, rule, or order on a matter affecting residents' health and safety. Requires Department of Land and Natural Resources to request that the military agree to remediation of existing leased lands prior to the end of the lease term.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires each public or public charter school to have staff trained in the administration of, and authorized to administer, epinephrine. Requires signs to be displayed in school buildings stating the symptoms of anaphylaxis and the proper method for administering epinephrine. Appropriates moneys.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTIONS.

Establishes general excise tax exemptions for food, medical services, and feminine hygiene products.

Kurt FevellaRepublican