Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY.

Establishes and appropriates funds for the Neighborhood Security Watch Grant Program to help fund certain activities and rental payments of established neighborhood security watch groups and neighborhood citizen patrol groups that rent government-owned facilities for a fee to carry out their duties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO DIGITAL FINANCIAL ASSET TRANSACTION KIOSKS.

Establishes limits on transactions through digital financial asset transaction kiosks. 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.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Extends the Librarian Pilot Program established by Act 135, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, through 2030. Authorizes the Department of Education to select a second school complex on Oahu to be part of the pilot program if no appropriate school complex on the neighbor islands can be identified. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.

Establishes a statewide Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program at the University of Hawaii. Establishes positions and appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELL-BEING.

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer a Hawaii Rx kids program to improve the economic stability of households with very young children who reside in the State through a one-time payment and several monthly payments.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HOUSEHOLD AND DEPENDENT CARE SERVICES TAX CREDIT.

Increases a taxpayer's applicable percentage of employment-related expenses that is used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit. Establishes certain disallowance periods following a final decision that a claim for the credit was due to fraud and that the claim was disallowed. Extends the sunset date of the temporary increase in maximum employment-related expenses that are used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit, established by Act 163, SLH 2023, to 6/30/2030. Sunsets 6/30/2030. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a new bracket for higher-income earners for taxable years beginning after 12/31/2029.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT.

Establishes a Disability and Caregiver Support Working Group to explore compliant and fiscally responsible approaches that address the longstanding gap affecting parents and guardians with disabilities whose caregiving capacity may be substantially impaired due to disability or serious medical conditions, while preserving federal funding integrity. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a surcharge on taxable income exceeding $1,000,000 to provide funding, if approved by the Legislature, for the State Medicaid Program.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO PET ANIMALS.

Prohibits insurers from refusing to issue or renew, canceling, restricting, otherwise terminating, or charging higher rates for a commercial general liability insurance policy, homeowners insurance policy, renters insurance policy, or dwelling fire policy based on the breed of any dog that is kept on the insured premises.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMUNITY LITERACY LABS.

Establishes and appropriates funds for the Department of Education to establish and implement a two-year Community Literacy Labs Pilot Program. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC HOUSING.

Requires the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to develop and implement a comprehensive safety plan that includes the use of safety technologies for all public housing statewide. Requires the Authority to adopt policies that protect civil liberties and safeguard data and engage with public housing residents regarding the use of safety technologies. Appropriates funds.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish rules allowing the sale and distribution of fine mesh nets, including monofilament netting, in the State to protect plants from the coconut rhinoceros beetle.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO COFFEE LABELING.

Clarifies the labeling and advertising requirements for roasted coffee, instant coffee, and ready-to-drink coffee beverages based on where they were grown and processed. Defines "regional origin". Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM.

Requires the Board of Regents to grant a waiver on all tuition for qualifying native Hawaiian and Hawaiian students enrolled within the University of Hawaii System.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes a nonrefundable income tax credit for certain agricultural investment costs incurred for agricultural activities conducted on Hawaiian home lands. Applies to costs incurred after 12/31/2026. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSERVATION ENFORCEMENT.

Appropriates funds for the purchase of equipment for the Hawaii Island Branch of the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.

Appropriates funds to the Executive Office on Early Learning to administer funding for family-child interaction learning programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWAL OF DRIVER'S LICENSES.

Requires certain applicants for driver's license renewal to complete an educational course that includes a road safety video developed by the Department of Transportation and a written examination. Authorizes the Department to develop and implement a system to randomly require applicants for renewal of a driver's license to complete a written examination. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION.

Specifies that the county annual vehicle registration fee shall not exceed the state annual motor vehicle registration fee for counties with a population of five hundred thousand or more. Specifies that counties with a population of five hundred thousand or more are required to spend a certain portion of the collected revenues from county motor vehicle registration fees and weight tax on roadway repair and maintenance. Specifies that the county annual vehicle weight tax shall not exceed the state annual vehicle weight tax for counties with a population of five hundred thousand or more. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL HOUSING UTILITIES.

Requires county boards of water supply to publicly disclose through their website service connection availability for residential permitting and construction. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO RECYCLING.

Establishes a mattress stewardship working group within the Department of Health to develop a program to ensure the collection, reuse, and recycling of mattresses, box springs, and mattress foundations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO CLIMATE EDUCATION.

Authorizes the Department of Education to establish a climate literacy certificate program to provide students with an advanced understanding of climate change through academic coursework and hands-on learning. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO RED HILL.

Appropriates funds for studies on remediation of substances released from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility; environmental monitoring and testing; research on groundwater modeling and sampling; and independent testing and verification of water data, to be published on a public dashboard. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to seek reimbursement from the United States Department of Defense. Effective 11/20/2121. (SD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE PLANNING ACT.

Establishes green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines for state facility systems, infrastructure, and transit projects in the Hawaii State Planning Act to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. Adds a definition of "green infrastructure". Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to submit a report to the Legislature making recommendations for implementing green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING.

Repeals the Deposit Beverage Container Program and replaces it with the Recycling Refund Producer Responsibility Organization Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.

Establishes a Molokai Biosecurity Advisory Board. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, with the advice of the Advisory Board, to develop a Molokai Biosecurity Plan to prevent the spread of invasive species found elsewhere in the State to the island of Molokai. Appropriates moneys. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Prohibits merchants from imposing credit card processing fees or convenience fees, under certain conditions. Ensures that payment processing costs are reasonable and transparent. Prohibits merchants from imposing surcharges on debit card transactions. Effective 1/1/2027.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes a State Noxious Weed Coordinator position and updates the process for designating and managing noxious weeds. Allows public proposals to add, amend, or remove noxious weed designations. Requires notice and public reporting. Clarifies the authority of the Department and Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Authorizes updates to the noxious weed list to be adopted by order and classifies noxious weeds into three categories. Strengthens enforcement and penalties. Updates departmental duties for noxious weed control and eradication. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT THE INHERENT AND INALIENABLE RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE TO CLEAN WATER AND AIR, A HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE AND HEALTHY NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS AND BEACHES.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure that the inherent and inalienable right of the people, including future generations, to clean water and air, a healthful environment and climate and healthy native ecosystems and beaches, shall be protected and shall not be infringed.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE COUNTIES.

Authorizes the counties to close public lands when necessary to protect public health, ensure public safety, or preserve natural or cultural resources.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO LIBRARIES.

Requires the State Librarian to establish an Imagination Library of Hawaii Program to provide one free book each month to children from birth through five years of age who reside in the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO PERSONAL INFORMATION.

Requires every government agency that maintains, uses, collects or processes the home address of a covered public servant or candidate, to ensure that their home address is not publicly accessible. Requires every government agency to redact or otherwise remove home addresses from certain websites, databases, and printed documents or publications. Authorizes an individual to request disclosure of the home address, under certain circumstances. Allows a covered public servant or candidate to object to the disclosure of their home address.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE BOATING FACILITIES.

Establishes the State Boating Facility Management Lease Program within the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to lease management of the entire Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. Repeals provisions relating to the leasing of certain fast and submerged lands of Ala Wai Boat Harbor. Requires annual reports to the Legislature.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXES.

Excludes the sale of a motor vehicle to a lessor of rental motor vehicles for use as a rental motor vehicle as a sale at wholesale. Imposes the maximum allowable excise tax on the use of tangible personal property in the State for the importation or purchase of a motor vehicle by a lessor of rental motor vehicles for use as a rental motor vehicle. Establishes a Teacher Temporary Hazard Pay Special Fund to pay a temporary hazard pay bonus to certain eligible teachers. Beginning 7/1/2026 until 7/1/2030, deposits the additional tax revenue generated by this Act into the Teacher Temporary Hazard Pay Special Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. Sunsets 7/1/2030. (HD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Prohibits the use of fireworks in the presence of a minor under the age of sixteen unless the person has a valid permit and complies with safety requirements.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Amends the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit (film tax credit) by providing additional credits to qualified productions that have a workforce of at least eighty per cent local hires in the first taxable year or second consecutive taxable year and meet other specific requirements, then increasing the local workforce threshold to eighty-two per cent in the third or fourth consecutive taxable year and eighty-five per cent in the fifth consecutive taxable year, that the additional credit is claimed; requiring independent third-party certification of qualified production costs for all film productions claiming the film tax credit; authorizing DBEDT to waive the credit cap per qualified production for one qualified production each fiscal year; and requiring the Hawaii Film Office to submit an annual report to the Legislature. Sunsets 1/1/2033. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATIONS.

Requires a condominium association to make available on an internet site the association's general ledgers, project information form (RR-105C), and statement of accounts at no cost to a unit owner or the unit owner's authorized agent. Reduces the reasonable fee a condominium association may charge to provide copies of association documents from $1 per page to 75 cents per page.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Amends the requirements for productions to qualify for the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax to include completing at least fifteen per cent of the production's principal photography within the same taxable year the production is qualifying for the film tax credit and completing or committing to complete fifteen per cent of the production's post-production in the State within the same taxable year the production is qualifying for the film tax credit or later taxable years. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Repeals 1/1/2033. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a 100th Infantry Battalion history curricula plan beginning with the 2027-2028 school year. Establishes a one-year 100th Infantry Battalion history curriculum pilot program within certain public high schools during the 2026-2027 school year. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Expands the purposes of the establishment and operation of out-of-state offices to include collaboration with tourism agencies and stakeholders to execute tourism strategies. Requires, and appropriates funds for, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish out‑of-state offices in Seoul, Republic of Korea and Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Republic of the Philippines. Appropriates funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's Beijing and Taipei offices to promote "Made in Hawaii" branded products and increase the export of Hawaii products. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Establishes and designates the Corporation for the Stewardship of Hawaii Tourism, a nonprofit organization, as the official destination stewardship organization for the State. Repeals the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO GAMING.

Beginning 8/1/2027, authorizes gaming on cruise ships while a cruise ship is traveling within any state waters or for specified times while docked at a state harbor. Imposes a twenty per cent wagering tax on the adjusted gross receipts derived from gaming on cruise ships. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to report to the Legislature.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Repeals the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Establishes the Office of Tourism within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS.

Prohibits lodging establishments from providing personal care products in small plastic containers within sleeping room accommodations, any space within sleeping room accommodations, or bathrooms used by the public or guests. Establishes civil penalties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO THE GREEN FEE.

Establishes the Green Fee Transparency and Accountability Program and Green Fee Resiliency Impact Dashboard, to be administered by the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO THE TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TAX.

Establishes the State-led Marketing and Branding Special Fund and requires that a portion of all transient accommodations tax revenues that would otherwise be deposited into the general fund be deposited into the special fund, to be used for state-led marketing, branding, and tourism management. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop and submit an annual comprehensive marketing, branding, and tourism management plan to the Legislature for approval. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat