Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO HEMP.

Establishes a Green Building Tax Credit for costs related to the construction of a primary structure made with at least thirty per cent Hawaii-grown hemp material. Allows any hemp processor with a permit from the Department of Health to sell an edible or beverage cannabinoid product that contains a tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 2.5 milligrams per serving and not more than twenty-five servings per package. Prohibits the sale of an edible or beverage cannabinoid product to any person less than twenty-one years of age. Establishes child-resistant packaging requirements for edible cannabinoid products. Clarifies the tetrahydrocannabinol concentration limit for a non-edible legacy cannabinoid product or manufactured hemp product shall be subject only to federal restrictions. Amends the definition of "hemp biomass" to include stalks and foliage material. Requires the Department of Health to establish a dedicated hemp program to regulate hemp that is separate from the regulatory process for cannabinoid products with a high concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, to establish a comprehensive action plan under the "Yes In My Back Yard" Working Group to establish a local housing market in Hawaii. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Jr. IharaDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Increases the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit for qualified productions that utilize qualified production facilities located within the State. Changes the cap amount and aggregate cap amount of the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit to unspecified amounts. Exempts from the general excise tax reimbursement to a motion picture project employer for employee wages, salaries, payroll taxes, insurance premiums, and employment benefits. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO HUMAN REMAINS.

Requires any funeral establishment, mortuary, cemetery, crematory, or hydrolysis facility to dispose of the remains of a dead human body no later than sixty days from the date a burialtransit permit has been issued or from the date of an affidavit for amendment of the permit has been submitted. Specifies that the Department of Health is not required to include specific disposition dates on the permit.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ALOHA SPIRIT, CIVICS, AND DEMOCRACY.

Establishes the Hawaii Civics Collaborative within the Department of Accounting and General Services to promote civics engagement and perpetuate the Aloha Spirit. Requires the Department of Education, University of Hawaii Matsunaga Institute for Peace, Public Access Room, and other community organizations to facilitate civic engagement education statewide. Establishes two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) civic education specialist positions within the Department of Education. Appropriates funds.

Jr. IharaDemocrat

RELATING TO SOCIAL SERVICES.

Clarifies that the monthly needs allowance afforded to individuals living in certain long-term care facilities is not intended to replace or affect funds received as a state supplemental payment for domiciliary care and shall be supplemental to any funds provided to a recipient as a state supplemental payment for domiciliary care. Appropriates funds.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.

Appropriates funds for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Health to establish a homeless triage and treatment center program to serve homeless individuals and individuals at risk of homelessness with substance abuse issues or mental illness.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS.

Adopts a uniform standard for landscape architecture licensure developed by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Requires individual managing agents and employees of entity managing agents to be licensed and imposes certain duties on these individuals.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Requires the Board of Regents to expend funds appropriated to renew, improve, or modernize existing University of Hawaii facilities for only those purposes and not for current, ongoing, or anticipated capital improvement projects. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO NAIL TECHNICIANS.

Exempts nail technicians from licensing requirements. (SD1)

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO THE COSMETOLOGY LICENSURE COMPACT.

Authorizes the Governor to enter into a Cosmetology Licensure Compact on behalf of the State to provide a streamlined process that allows cosmetologists to obtain a multistate license enabling them to practice cosmetology in another state without obtaining a separate license under the laws of that state. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules to implement and administer the Compact. Authorizes the Governor to enter into the Compact. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Establishes and appropriates funds to establish the Aloha Intelligence Institute within the University of Hawaii to develop, support, and advance artificial intelligence initiatives statewide. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO JOURNALISM.

Establishes a Journalistic Ethics Commission within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Establishes a Journalistic Code of Ethics. Requires news media outlets to provide training in the ethics of journalism to journalists and editors in their employ. Establishes a Journalistic Ethics Review Board to be administratively attached to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Requires the Journalistic Ethics Review Board to handle complaints and appeals regarding violations of the Journalistic Code of Ethics. Requires the Journalistic Ethics Commission to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Establishes penalties for violations. Requires the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii to conduct an analysis of the journalism program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Social Sciences. Requires the Board of Regents to report to the Legislature.

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO CARE CENTERS.

Requires the Department of Accounting and General Services to conduct a feasibility study on establishing dedicated child care centers in state buildings. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 1/1/2491. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC MEETINGS.

Prohibits boards from beginning or continuing meetings after 9:00 p.m., excluding county council meetings.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO CANNABIS.

Establishes the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to regulate all aspects of the cannabis plant. Beginning 1/1/2026, legalizes the personal adult use of cannabis. Establishes taxes on the retail sale of adult-use cannabis and the sale of medical cannabis. Adds new traffic offenses relating to the consumption or possession of marijuana or marijuana concentrate. Makes conforming amendments related to the legalization of personal adult use of cannabis. Beginning 1/1/2026, decriminalizes certain drug offenses related to marijuana and marijuana concentrate. Transfers the personnel and assets of the Department of Health and assets of the Department of Agriculture relating to cannabis to the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office. Establishes various positions within state entities to regulate the personal adult use of cannabis. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes what constitutes transit-oriented development and incentivizes development in county-designated transit-oriented development areas or zones. Prioritizes the allocation of a minimum percentage of the Rental Housing Revolving Fund for certain mixed-income rental housing projects or units. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Requires the Department Education, in coordination with the Department of Health, to develop a fireworks education and marketing program for implementation in public schools, including charter schools, and distribution to private schools.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO FITNESS TO PROCEED.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in partnership with the Department of Health, to establish and implement a five-year Fitness to Proceed Pilot Program in one county of the State. Requires an interim report and final report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO OHANA ZONES.

Establishes the Ohana Zones Program as a program within the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions. Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to exempt ohana zones projects from general excise taxes. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT POSITIONS.

Requires a person appointed to serve as the Governor's Senior Advisor for Mental Health and the Justice System, Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness, or another position that serves as a Senior Advisor to the Governor to obtain the advice and consent of the Senate. Effective 1/1/2491. (SD1)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL SAFETY.

Requires the Department of Education to assign school resource officers to department public schools and charter schools. Encourages the employment of qualified retirees from the local police departments and department of law enforcement. Appropriates funds for these positions.

Samantha DeCorteRepublican

RELATING TO GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF JUSTIFICATION.

For the purposes of state justifiable-use-of-force law: (1) Amends the definition of "dwelling" to include agricultural land used as a residence or place of lodging; and (2) Creates a definition of "place of work" that includes agricultural land.

Samantha DeCorteRepublican

RELATING TO CHILD CARE.

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and implement an Early Learning Services Contracts Program to make available a designated number of seats at licensed infant and toddler child care centers and group child care centers that meet certain criteria. Requires the Department of Human Services to submit reports to the Legislature. Sunsets the pilot program on 6/30/2028. Effective 12/31/2050. (HD1)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii for the development of faculty, staff, teacher, and workforce housing at the Kauai Community College. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE CHILD PROTECTIVE ACT.

Provides that investigative powers of the Department of Human Services under the Child Protective Act include interviews of adults living in the family home and the alleged perpetrator in the; Requires DHS to record and save adult interviews conducted as part of an investigation of a report of harm, threatened harm, or imminent harm to a child and to include recorded adult interviews in any filed petition for removal.

Samantha DeCorteRepublican

RELATING TO PROPERTY.

Imposes an increased penalty upon any person who trespasses upon certain state or county lands when the person trespasses again by returning, within 30 days after the initial offense, to the same land at which the person committed the initial offense.

Samantha DeCorteRepublican

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE THIRD SENATORIAL DISTRICT.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the 3rd senatorial district.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE PUBLIC LAND TRUST WORKING GROUP.

Appropriates funds to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to hire necessary staff, purchase equipment, and retain professional services on behalf of the Public Land Trust Working Group.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Establishes within the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority the Condominium Loan Program to provide qualified condominium associations with low-cost financing or refinancing on previously obtained loans for maintenance or repair projects. Limits loan terms to 20 years and prohibits any new loans after 6/30/2047. Establishes the Condominium Loan Loss Reserves Program to incentivize community development financial institutions into providing loans at competitive rates and terms to condominium associations for the purpose of allowing condominium associations to make necessary maintenance or repairs. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds into and out of the Condominium Loan Revolving Fund. Effective 7/1/2050. Repeals 06/30/2047. (SD2)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.

Requires the Director of Human Resources Development to abolish vacant positions within state departments and agencies under its jurisdiction that have been vacant for more than five years. Requires a list of positions abolished to be included in the Director's annual report to the Legislature. Requires funds for abolished positions to immediately lapse to the credit of the general fund.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS.

Increases the valuation threshold of development subject to a special management area minor permit or a special management area use permit from $500,000 to $750,000.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO ADAPTATION PATHWAYS PLANNING.

Requires the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to develop adaptation pathways plans to modify and relocate development and associated infrastructure away from critically vulnerable areas to locations outside of sea level rise and coastal flooding exposure area. Appropriates funds.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE III, SECTION 4, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH LEGISLATIVE TERM LIMITS.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the number of years members may serve in the Legislature to a maximum of sixteen years.

Brenton AwaRepublican

RELATING TO THE MEDICAL USE OF CANNABIS.

Repeals registration requirements relating to qualifying outofstate medical cannabis patients who are validly registered in other states, United States territories, or the District of Columbia. Repeals language requiring an initial inperson consultation before physicians and advanced practice registered nurses may make medical cannabis treatment recommendations via telehealth. Prohibits the Department of Health from imposing fees for patients' medical cannabis registration certificates.

Brenton AwaRepublican

RELATING TO NURSING.

Requires the State Board of Nursing to identify one facility in each of the counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui that has the capability to establish a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center as a test site to administer a National Council Licensure Examination for nurses; equip each facility identified with the technical and facility requirements necessary for a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center; and submit an application for each facility to Pearson Education, Inc. to be authorized and contracted as a Pearson VUE Authorized Test Center. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO AVIAN INFLUENZA.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health and Department of Agriculture to prevent, monitor, and respond to avian influenza in Hawaii. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE INSURANCE AFFORDABILITY ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM.

Establishes the Insurance Affordability Assistance Pilot Program within the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to assist eligible homeowners with sudden increases in property insurance premiums. Sunsets 6/30/2028.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STADIUM DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL FUND.

Requires gifts or grants from a private source deposited into the Stadium Development Special Fund to be used only for infrastructure related to the stadium and costs associated with the development of the stadium. Requires any unexpended and unencumbered funds in the Stadium Development Special Fund to immediately lapse to the general fund if the NASED project is terminated. Appropriates funds out of the Stadium Development Special Fund with certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes and implements evidence-based performance metrics for the P-20 Partnerships for Education to allow better evidence-based assessments of the P-20 Partnerships for Education advisory council's workforce and pathway development programs. Requires reports to the Legislature. Authorizes the expenditure of Perkins V federal funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO THE COCONUT TREE.

Recognizes the coconut palm as a culturally significant plant and sustainable staple food source in the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Brenton AwaRepublican

RELATING TO FLAGS.

Requires the honor and remember flag and pride flag to be flown with the United States and Hawaiian flags on specified days.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE FOUNDATION ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS.

Establishes the Performing Arts Grants Program to support performing arts in the State. Clarifies the scope of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts' responsibilities to include the coordination, planning, promotion, marketing, and execution of performing arts events. Allows the use of moneys from the Works of Art Special Fund for performing arts. Appropriates funds to provide grants under the Performing Arts Grants Program.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO SPORTS WAGERING.

Allows for the regulation of sports wagering by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Establishes licensing requirements for sports wagering operators and sports wagering suppliers. Specifies that sports wagering shall not be considered games of chance or gambling. Establishes the Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Special Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF NON-AGRICULTURAL PARK LANDS.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to accept the transfer of and manage certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands. Allows the Department of Agriculture to request information related to easements prior to any transfer of certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands. Requires approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Board of Agriculture before removing pasture lands for reforestation, or other public purposes.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO PREVAILING WAGES.

Requires prevailing wages for human services providers.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO ACUPUNCTURE.

Recognizes individuals practicing acupuncture as essential health care providers who are subject to regulation and control.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO A HAWAII TEACHER REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

Establishes the Hawaii Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program, to be administered by the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board. Appropriates funds.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat