Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to increase the funding of certain Medicaid home- and community-based services, including adult day programs and residential services offered in community care foster family homes and expanded adult residential care homes. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

Applies the campaign finance laws to candidates for the neighborhood boards. Requires candidate committees for neighborhood board elections to file an organizational report with the Campaign Spending Commission regarding campaign contributions used for printing and mailing campaign material.

Jr. IharaDemocrat

RELATING TO VEGETATION MANAGEMENT.

Establishes vegetation management requirements to prevent wildfires caused by electric utilities. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to enforce the provisions.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO TREES.

Establishes base selection criteria for 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 six 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.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Appropriates funds to offset the debt for the Waiahole Water System. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST ALOUN KAUAI FARMING, AN AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE, IN THE FINANCE, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF A PROJECT TO REVITALIZE THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Authorizes the Department of Budget and Finance to issue special purpose revenue bonds to assist Aloun Kauai Farming LLC, in the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of an integrated dairy. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.

Prohibits the feeding of feral non-native animals on state land within one-half mile of the ocean or a stream. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to enforce certain penalties for violations. Requires the counties to adopt or amend ordinances to prohibit the feeding of feral non-native animals on county land within one-half mile of the ocean or a stream and impose certain penalties for violations. Establishes an annual reporting requirement to the Legislature.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.

Provides for the transfer of certain parcels in the Liliha Civic Center area and Iwilei Fire Station area from various state agencies to the City and County of Honolulu. Provides for the transfer of the parcel of land on which Alii Place is sited from the City and County of Honolulu to the State. Repeals the sunset provision of Act 4, SLH 2024. Requires the City and County of Honolulu to accept the properties transferred in satisfaction of all amounts owed by Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation under the Kapolei roadways, drainage, and sewer settlement. Exempts the land transferred from the definition of public lands for purposes of chapter 171, HRS.

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO NATIVE HAWAIIANS.

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to identify all legislative districts in the State in which a majority of the population consists of Native Hawaiians. Designates these districts as Native Hawaiian majority districts.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO CIGARETTE TAXES.

Beginning 1/1/2026, increases the cigarette tax from sixteen cents to eighteen cents and amends the disposition of cigarette tax revenues by allocating the increase in the cigarette tax amount to the Hawaii Cancer Research Special Fund. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO TEACHER EDUCATION.

Requires the Board of Regents to grant a waiver on all tuition and mandatory fees to a resident student enrolled in the College of Education at the University of Hawaii at Manoa for the semester or term that the student enrolls in a State-Approved Teacher Education Program.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the Department of Transportation or appropriate county department when disposing of a deceased cat or dog from a public roadway to scan the animal for a microchip, record certain information, and report that information to the appropriate county animal services or animal service contractors. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION.

Establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for prior authorization process in the State, including disclosure and notice requirements for utilization review entities regarding their prior authorization requirements and restrictions; qualifications and criteria for prior authorization review and appeals personnel; prior authorization process for non-urgent and urgent health care services, including the time frame by which utilization review entities must render a decision; adverse determination and appeal processes; prohibition of prior authorization for emergency health care services and medication for opioid use disorder; payments to health care providers; length and duration of prior authorizations; and exemptions for certain health care providers. Requires health insurers to utilize NCPDP SCRIPT Standard electronic prior authorization transactions by 1/1/2026. Requires utilization review entities to submit annual reports to the Insurance Commissioner each year. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules by 1/1/2026.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR CARRIERS.

Exempts non-profit community-based organizations providing transportation services from motor carrier regulations under certain circumstances.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO FAMILY.

Establishes an exemption from mediation in paternity proceedings where there are allegations of domestic abuse. Clarifies the exemption from mediation in divorce proceedings as it relates to domestic abuse. (HD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

Makes an emergency appropriation out of the State Highway Fund to provide funds for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the Department of Transportation to enforce the Motor Carrier Law.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII REVENUE BONDS.

Authorizes the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii to issue revenue bonds for the purpose of financing qualifying priority capital improvement projects. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CIVIL RIGHTS.

Makes it an unlawful discriminatory practice for places of public accommodation to deny a person with a disability full and equal enjoyment of, or information related to, their goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations using information and communication technology intended for use by the general public as applicants, participants, customers, clients, or visitors. Establishes exceptions. Clarifies that a facility is considered a place of public accommodation regardless of whether its presence in the State is physical or digital. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO AUTOMATED SPEED ENFORCEMENT SYSTEMS PROGRAM.

Appropriates funds out of the State Highway Fund for deposit into the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund and apporitates funds out of the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund for fiscal year 2025-2026.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSING.

Amends section 286-236, HRS, to meet current federal regulations to allow the State to issue a limited-term non-domiciled commercial learner's permit and non-domiciled commercial driver's license for applicants who are unable to provide proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HIGHWAYS.

Authorizes the counties to sell or dispose of property bordering the ocean when the Department of Transportation requests the acquisition of the property for state highway purposes.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREFIGHTING AT COMMERCIAL HARBORS.

Limits civil liability of individuals who render firefighting services at any of the State's commercial harbors or roadsteads, any commercial harbor or waterfront improvement belonging to or controlled by the State, or any vessel within a commercial harbor or roadstead to only damages resulting from an individual's gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PUPIL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY.

Amends sections 286-102 and 286-181, HRS, to allow exemptions to include use of motorcoaches, small buses, and vans, which may not meet school bus regulations for school bus services, but which shall otherwise meet vehicle requirements and qualifications set forth in chapter 19-143, Hawaii Administrative Rules, to the extent required by the Department of Transportation and the Department of Education, when adult staff chaperone escorts of students are provided while students are being transported between designated locations off-campus and designated locations on-campus.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Authorizes for a county to impose a mileage-based road usage charge. Provides for disposition of funds of county mileage-based road usage charge. Clarifies the disposition of funds of state mileage-based road usage charge. Repeals the maximum amount a driver will pay in a state mileage-based road usage charge on June 30, 2028. Establishes a default state mileage-based road usage charge rate when missing, incomplete, or incorrect odometer reading information that will prevent the state mileage-based road usage charge from being calculated. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL ADVANCEMENT CONTRACTS.

Amends section 266-19.5(d), HRS, for the purpose of increasing the cap for the contract value of any one capital advancement contract (CAC) and the cap for the total aggregate value of CACs in a fiscal year entered into by the Department of Transportation with private parties for harbor improvements. Adds reporting requirements for the department.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Exempts from the Hawaii Public Procurement Code contracts by government bodies to procure certain construction projects.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO SPECIAL FACILITY REVENUE BONDS.

Increases the total principal amount of special facility revenue bonds that may be issued by the Department of Transportation for harbor improvements. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX ADMINISTRATION.

Permanently exempts the software developer supervisor in the Department of Taxation and the data privacy officer and tax business analysts in the Director's office of the Department from civil service.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CENTRAL SERVICES ASSESSMENT.

Amends the transfer of funds for central service expenses from the State Highway Fund, Airport Revenue Fund, and Harbor Special Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO FUNDING ADJUSTMENTS FOR STATE PROGRAMS.

Authorizes supplemental allotments and transfer of unrequired balances for capital improvement program projects and establishes a protocol fund for each state principal department. Effective upon approval.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT IN THE STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM.

Amend sections 6E-3 and 76-16(b), HRS, to allow the Department of Land and Natural Resources to employ both civil service and non-civil service professional and technical staff in its State Historic Preservation Program.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO A STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION INCOME TAX CREDIT.

Reenacts the Historic Preservation Income Tax Credit. Establishes an annual cap amount on the tax credit of $1,000,000. Effective 7/1/3000. Sunsets 12/31/2030. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PASS-THROUGH ENTITY TAXATION.

For taxable years beginning after 12/31/2024, requires all qualified members claiming a credit for pass-through entity taxation to adjust their income to include the qualified member's share of taxes paid by an electing pass-through entity. Effective July 1, 3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO UPDATING PUBLIC LAND LEASES ISSUED PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 171, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES.

Requires that lease extensions approved by the Board of Land and Natural Resources be drafted on forms that reflect contemporary leasing practices and policies of the Board, and which shall control over conflicting or inconsistent provisions in the lease being extended.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS ON DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES LANDS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Land and Natural

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

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.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO OCEAN USER SAFETY.

Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to issue interim rules regarding commercial and recreational use of water sports equipment.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO RESTORATION OF BEACH LANDS.

Amends the definition of "beach restoration" to include activities undertaken to maintain and improve eroded beaches and degraded dune systems through the management of sand and native vegetation, place sand on an eroded beach, and remove abandoned remnant materials that pose a risk to public and ecosystem health. Appropriates funds for a Kahana Bay beach restoration pilot project and a sand restoration and dune replenishment pilot project on the island of Maui. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP FEES.

Establishes within the Department of Land and Natural Resources the environmental stewardship fee program to collect a fee from visitors through an environmental stewardship license and allocate the revenue to protect, restore, and manage natural and cultural resources through grants to nonprofit organizations. Establishes the environmental stewardship fee special fund. Establishes the Environmental Stewardship Commission to make recommendations to the Board of Land and Natural Resources regarding the use of revenues in the special fund. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct rulemaking. Requires a report to the legislature, including an environmental stewardship fee strategic plan. Creates civil or administrative penalties to be imposed after July 1, 2030. Appropriates funds.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.

Allows a retirant to be employed without reenrollment in the Employees' Retirement System and without loss or interruption of retirement benefits if the retirant is employed as an investigator in a position identified by the Department of the Attorney General or the Department of Law Enforcement as a labor shortage or difficult—to-fill position, subject to certain conditions. Requires the director of human resources of the appropriate state jurisdiction or the human resources management chief executive of each county to include in their annual reports to the Legislature, details on the employment of retirants as investigators.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAII RETIREMENT SAVINGS ACT.

Clarifies the definition of "covered employer" under the Hawaii Retirement Savings Act. Requires covered employers to automatically enroll covered employees into the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program unless the covered employee chooses to opt out. Effective upon approval.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

Enhances sharing of critical infrastructure information between infrastructure owners and operators and the state government. Defines and protects "critical infrastructure information" that is crucial for direct support of the security and resilience of the State. Provides homeland security partners with reassurance that their proprietary information provided to the state government will be protected from disclosure. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO AN INTENSIVE MOBILE TEAM PILOT PROGRAM FOR HOUSELESS INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM SERIOUS BRAIN DISORDERS.

Establishes a three-year Intensive Mobile Team Pilot Program in the Department of Health to provide intensive mobile treatment-type services, including "street psychiatry", to chronically houseless individuals suffering from serious brain disorders, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Requires the Adult Mental Health Division of the Department of Health to submit reports to the Legislature. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

Requires utilization review entities to submit data relating to the prior authorization of health care services to the State Health Planning and Development Agency. Establishes the Health Care Appropriateness and Necessity Working Group within the State Health Planning and Development Agency. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PARKING FOR DISABLED PERSONS.

Authorizes each county to enact ordinances to enforce the design and construction requirements for the provision of accessible parking spaces, including the establishment of penalties for failure to comply with the ordinances.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM CIVIL SERVICE FOR CERTAIN POSITIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

Exempts certain positions in the Department of Health, including the Hawaii State Hospital, from civil service. Requires a report to the Legislature. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Authorizes general excise tax exemptions for residential care services provided by certain licensed health care facilities pursuant to a contract with the Adult Mental Health Division of the Department of Health. Effective 1/1/26. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH.

Establishes a two-year digital youth mental health platform pilot project under which the child and adolescent mental health division of the department of health shall develop and make publicly available a digital platform providing tools and resources designed to help young people address and manage mental health challenges. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO NUISANCES.

Clarifies that the Department of Health has the legal authority and obligation to prevent and address nuisances that affect environmental health or public health, or both. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO NON-MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS TO IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS.

Repeals the non-medical exemption from immunization requirements.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat