Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Beginning July 1, 2026, bans the sale of all flavored tobacco products and mislabeled e-liquid products. Establishes positions and appropriates funds to enforce the ban. Repeals section 328J-11.5, HRS. Effective July 1, 2025.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Repeals section 328J-11.5, HRS.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO MANUFACTURED HEMP PRODUCTS.

Establishes a minimum age requirement for the sale of manufactured hemp products.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO REGISTRATION TO SELL MANUFACTURED HEMP PRODUCTS.

Requires manufactured hemp product distributors and manufactured hemp product retailers to register with the Department of Health to sell manufactured hemp products; requires the Department of Health to collect application fees and issue certificates of registration.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO MANUFACTURED HEMP PRODUCTS.

Clarifies that the definition of "manufactured hemp products" in section 328G-1, HRS, includes hemp products specified in rules adopted by the Department of Health pursuant to section 328G-4, HRS.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY AEROMEDICAL SERVICES.

Appropriates funds to the counties to increase access to emergency aeromedical services. Appropriates funds into and out of the Emergency Medical Services Special Fund to the Department of Health for the establishment and operating expenses for emergency aeromedical services. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

Amends the quorum requirement for the State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CREDENTIALING OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

Requires the Department of Health to establish a two-year Centralized Health Care Credentialing Pilot Program that reduces duplicative activities required for the credentialing of health care providers by hospitals, universities, clinics, health plans, and independent practice associations; and convene an advisory committee. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAL RECORDS.

Repeals the requirement for the Department of Health to approve a health care provider's arrangement for the retention and preservation of patients' medical records before the provider ceases operations. Clarifies that retention and preservation of medical records must be consistent with federal and state regulations and requires providers to notify patients on how to access or request copies of their medical records. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO SAFE SPACES FOR YOUTH PROGRAM.

Makes the Safe Spaces for Youth Pilot Program permanent within the Office of Youth Services. Requires the program to collaborate with all state and county departments that offer services for youth and young adults to coordinate the identification of youth and young adults who are experiencing homelessness and placement of these youth at a shelter for homeless youth or young adults. Authorizes the Office of Youth Services to contract with nonprofit organizations to provide shelters for homeless youth or young adults. Requires the Office of Youth Services to submit a report twenty days prior to the regular session of the Legislature.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO AMENDING SECTION 323D-54, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES, TO EXEMPT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FROM CERTIFICATE OF NEED REQUIREMENTS.

Exempts health care facilities operated or services provided by the Department of Health, chronic renal dialysis centers, and psychiatric behavioral health services from the State Health Planning and Development Agency's certificate of need requirements. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CRIMES AGAINST PROTECTIVE SERVICES WORKERS.

Specifies that intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury to a protective services worker who is engaged in the performance of the worker's duties is a class C felony. Clarifies that a protective services worker is a public servant for the purposes of section 707-716, HRS, Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

Provides an emergency appropriation for the Department of Human Services to reinvest in the ongoing development of a new eligibility system for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Makes an emergency appropriation for fiscal year 2024-2025. Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 has been exceeded. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO ACT 253, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 2023.

Updates the name of the Neighbor Islands Blind and Visually Impaired Service Pilot Program established by Act 253, SLH 2023, by replacing the term "visually impaired" with the term "low vision" and clarifies the pilot program's implementation timeframes. Sunsets 6/30/2029. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC HOUSING EVICTIONS.

Reduces the time required to store unclaimed personal effects of an evicted tenant.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.

Amends section 356D-6.7, HRS, to include all Hawaii Public Housing Authority parcels as areas that may be closed to the public.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TENANT SELECTION.

Repeals the tenant selection preferences for disabled veterans and the spouses of deceased veterans in the State Low-Income Housing Program.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO SEWER TRANSMISSION LINES.

Requires that all county sewer transmission lines on Hawaiian home lands in compliance or brought into compliance by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, are licensed or dedicated to the respective county within sixty days after the receipt by the appropriate county agency of a completed application for maintenance request.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.

Clarifies the Hawaii Public Housing Authority?s powers relating to housing projects. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO COUNTY USER FEES.

Exempts the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from county user fees, in the amount of $100,000 aggregate per year, and ensures county services to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for Hawaiian Home Lands.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.

Allows the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to assume historic preservation review of the effect of any proposed project for lands under its jurisdiction except for projects affecting properties listed or nominated for inclusion in the Hawaii register of historic places or the national register of historic places.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT.

Clarifies that Act 130, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024, shall take effect on either the date of the Secretary of the Interior's notification letter to the Congressional Committee Chairpersons that this Act meets none of the criteria in title 43 Code of Federal Regulations section 48.20, or on the date that the United States Congress approval becomes law. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Exempts any development of homestead lots or housing for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from general excise and use taxes. Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to submit annual reports to the Legislature over a period of five years. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Increases the tax rates for cigarettes and little cigars beginning 1/1/2026, amends the disposition of tax revenues to certain non-general funds starting from fiscal year 2026-2027, with the excess carrying over to the general fund, and expands the tax disposition of tax revenues to the funds to include all tobacco product taxes. Repeals obsolete historical tax rates.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Reduces the minimum number of years of credited service qualified Tier 2 Employees' Retirement System members must have to be eligible for vested benefit status for service retirement allowance purposes from ten years to five years. Increases employer contributions to offset the resulting liability.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO USE OF INTOXICANTS WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE.

Lowers the blood alcohol content threshold for driving while under the influence of alcohol from .08 to .05 or more grams of alcohol to reduce impaired driving and fatal crashes.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE.

Transfers the Office of Wellness and Resilience to the Department of Human Resources Development on June 29, 2025. Creates a wellness and resilience advisory board. Updates the Office of Wellness and Resilience functions.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Beginning January 1, 2026, prohibits an insurer of property, homeowner's, or renter's insurance from increasing the premium for a policyholder's insurance policy upon renewal unless the insurer submits a report to the policyholder and Insurance Commissioner and receives approval from the Insurance Commissioner. Establishes penalties. Sunsets 1/1/2029.

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO FAMILY RESILIENCE PILOT PROGRAM.

Establishes the Family Resilience Pilot Program within the Office of Wellness and Resilience and appropriates funds to execute the program, including the contracting of services. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. Repeals 6/30/2030. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE FUNDS.

Allocates interest earned on balances within the emergency and budget reserve fund to the general fund in years in which the emergency and budget reserve fund's balance exceeds the State's fund balance objective. For any fiscal year following a fiscal year in which emergency and budget reserve fund interest is deposited into the general fund, requires the Governor to include in the budget or supplemental budget submitted to the Legislature a request that an amount of general funds equal to the amount of interest deposited be expended to advance projects that address climate change impacts. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE.

Directs the Office of Wellness and Resilience to collaborate with the Department of Human Services to, either directly or by contract, design, administer, and implement a program for trauma-informed organizational assessments and a training curriculum for the Child Welfare Services Branch of the Department of Human Services. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE LEGISLATIVE VACANCIES.

Provides the Governor with discretion to not fill a vacant legislative position if the vacancy occurs one hundred twenty days or less from an upcoming primary election until after the results of the primary election are certified.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Amends the law to reduce the amount the Department of Education is required to charge for school meals to all students enrolled in department schools.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE USE OF PUBLIC LANDS.

Requires the School Facilities Authority to consult with the Department of Education and other impacted departments or agencies before the conveyance of ownership rights or lease of lands to the School Facilities Authority. Repeals the requirement that the Department of Education transfer title to lands it holds upon request of the School Facilities Authority. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to implement dyslexia-sensitive universal screenings, provide evidence-based interventions, and offer professional development on dyslexia and structured literacy.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO COMPUTER SCIENCE LEGISLATIVE REPORT.

Changes the due date of the Department of Education's annual computer science legislative report from June 30 to October 31. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THERAPY SERVICES.

Expands the scopes of practice for occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech pathologists to allow those professionals working for or contracted by the Department of Education to diagnose medical conditions that can be treated with their respective services.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Adds the Superintendent of Education and Chairperson of the Board of Education to the School Facilities Authority Board as ex officio, nonvoting members. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Allows newly graduated high school students to be eligible for workers' compensation coverage during the summer following their high school graduation while participating in work-based learning programs established and regulated by the Department of Education.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Authorizes the Department of Education to establish a program to award a high school diploma to qualified persons who did not receive a high school diploma as a result of compulsorily or voluntarily induction into the armed services of the United States and to persons whose high school education was interrupted due to wartime practices.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.

Amends the laws concerning the Office of the State Fire Marshal to best effectuate the recommendations of the "Phase 3" Forward-Looking Report by Fire Safety Research Institute on the August 2023 Maui wildfires. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR SPECIAL FUND.

Requires funds repaid by a stipend recipient of the Early Childhood Educator Stipend Program to be deposited into the Early Learning Special Fund. Repeal the Early Childhood Educator Special Fund. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EARLY LEARNING BOARD.

Amends section 302L-1.6(b), HRS, to add the head start state collaboration office director as an ex officio, non-voting member of the early learning board, and to require the board to invite the president of the Head Start Association of Hawaii, or the president's designee, to serve as an ex officio, non-voting member of the board.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE.

Expands the powers of the Hawaii Property Insurance Association and Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund to help to stabilize the property insurance market in the State. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to conduct a study. Appropriates moneys.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD.

Authorizes the payment of allowances for TRICARE Reserve Select, TRICARE Dental Program, and vision coverage to all officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel of the Hawaii National Guard ordered to active duty for more than 30 days in the service of the State.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STRENGTHEN HAWAII HOMES PROGRAM.

Establishes the Strengthen Hawaii Homes Program to encourage single-family homeowners to retrofit their homes to resist damage by providing for grants to help offset the cost of retrofits. Appropriates funds.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.

Establishes the Community Readiness Centers Program to be implemented and administered by the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Establishes the Community Readiness Centers Special Fund to fund the Community Readiness Centers Program. Renames the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax to the Environmental Response, Energy, Food Security, and Resilience Tax and directs a portion of the tax into the Community Readiness Centers Special Fund. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys to acquire lands for community readiness centers and for an emergency operations center. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY.

Converts the Emergency Management Specialist series positions at level V and higher in the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency from civil service status to exempt status.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION'S OPERATING BUDGET.

Permits condominium associations to borrow from or reallocate their reserve funds provided the loan is repaid within one year. Effective upon approval.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

Makes an emergency appropriation out of the Public Utilities Commission Special Fund for the Public Utilities Commission to procure services by consultants with technical expertise in the efforts to strengthen the resilience and reliability of electric utility services in the State.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat