Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO DISASTER SERVICES.

Integrates the needs of individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs into emergency planning, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities. Establishes a Disability Integration Specialist position, to be located in the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, who shall provide programming support for disability community projects that promote accessibility, inclusion, and equity in disaster management. Requires the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to develop and implement a statewide public education and communications program to promote household emergency preparedness consistent with the Agency's 14-day essential supplies recommendation. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to provide an American Sign Language interpreter during each official announcement broadcast via television or the Internet during a state of emergency. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to ensure, to the fullest extent possible, that the American Sign Language interpreter's face, body, arms, and hands are visible during the broadcast. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to provide a standardized pool feed that includes the American Sign Language interpreter in a picture‑in‑picture window not less than one quarter the size of the primary video and not blocked or covered by captions, graphics, or other on-screen tax. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Increases the income eligibility limit and credit amount per exemption claimed for the income tax credit for low-income household renters. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT SAFETY.

Requires the Department of Education to develop, adopt, and implement a standardized emergency response plan governing immigration enforcement activity at or within one thousand feet of public schools and adopt policies and procedures to address immigration enforcement activity at certain school-related location and events. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WAGE AND HOUR LAW.

Authorizes the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a Community Wage Theft Enforcement Partnership Program and enter into contracts or memoranda of agreements with community-based organizations to enhance outreach, referral, and recovery of stolen wages. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Amends the duties of the Hawaii Tourism Authority to focus on marketing and branding, rather than destination management and regenerative tourism. Establishes the Tourism Liaison Officer position within the Office of the Governor. Includes destination management and regenerative tourism as responsibilities of the Tourism Liaison Officer. Appropriates funds.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION.

Establishes the offense of prohibited acts of female genital mutilation of a minor and civil remedies for victims of acts punishable under that offense. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY POWERS.

Places limits on emergency management powers of the governor and mayors. Establishes the Emergency Powers Oversight Committee to oversee emergency proclamations. Provides that a state of emergency or local state of emergency terminates automatically after 30 days, rather than 60 days. Limits the total duration of a state of emergency or local state of emergency to 60 days unless approved by a Concurrent Resolution of the Legislature. Requires any proclamation suspending a statute to be narrowly tailored and supported by a written justification.

Elle CochranRepublican

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Requires the Auditor to conduct a financial and performance audit of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, including a review of the Department's use of moneys appropriated by Act 279, SLH 2022.

Elle CochranRepublican

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires each county to implement fare-free access to its public transportation systems. Establishes the Fare-Free Public Transportation Tax and Dividend Special Fund. Increases the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax on petroleum products to fund fare-free public transportation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE BONDS.

Authorizes issuance of general obligation bonds. Makes findings required by Article VII, Section 13, of the Hawaii State Constitution to declare that the issuance of authorized bonds will not cause the debt limit to be exceeded. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Establishes the Ombudsman's Office for Condominium Owners and Associations within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Increases the biennial Condominium Education Trust Fund fee by $2.50 a year to pay for the ongoing costs of the Ombudsman's Office. Appropriates funds from the Condominium Education Trust Fund for establishment of the Ombudsman's Office.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL.

Requires the Department of Transportation to administer the Safe Routes to School Program. Amends the purposes for which funds of the Safe Routes to School Special Fund may be used for. Establishes deadlines for when funds from Safe Routes to School Special Fund that are allocated to the counties should be obligated or expended by. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES.

Requires certain employers to provide administrative leave of absence for victims of workplace violence or threat of workplace violence. Expands the type of certification an employee may provide to an employer if the leave exceeds five days per calendar year. Prohibits retaliation against employees for exercising rights related to domestic violence, sexual violence, or workplace violence or threat of workplace violence. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO DRUGS FOR WEIGHT LOSS.

Requires the Department of Human Services to provide Medicaid prescription drug program recipients with coverage of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs for weight loss. Appropriates funds. (HD1)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.

Establishes the Community Resilience Hubs Pilot Program within the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Requires a report. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO SURVEILLANCE PRICING.

Requires the Office of Consumer Protection of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to conduct a study to determine the extent to which companies operating in the State deploy surveillance pricing practices. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE FOOD AND PRODUCT INNOVATION NETWORK.

Requires the Food and Product Innovation Network to integrate a coordinated food safety and regulatory framework. Requires the Agribusiness Development Corporation to establish performance indicators for the Food and Product Innovation Network, develop a market access strategy, align and harmonize state branding initiatives, and report certain data to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

Establishes a Royal Mausoleum Commission within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop and implement policy for the preservation, operation, and outreach of Mauna ʻAla. Allows the Royal Mausoleum Commission to make rules as necessary, employ staff, and receive private or federal funds. Requires the Royal Mausoleum Commission to report annually to the Legislature. Requires the Legislature to appropriate sufficient funds to support the Royal Mausoleum Commission.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE FOUNDATION ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS.

Increases the ceiling of the works of art special fund. Appropriates funds for the maintenance, upkeep, and preservation of the State's public art and collections. Appropriates funds for a collections manager position within the state foundation on culture and the arts.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Prohibits auto manufacturers and dealers from charging a post-sale subscription fee for hardware that is already installed at the time of purchase. Establishes penalties and fines.

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO CONSUMER PRIVACY.

Establishes the Hawaii Drop and Delete Act to limit the information data brokers collect and sell regarding consumer information. Establishes a deletion mechanism allowing consumers to request data brokers to drop their personal information. Establishes the consumer privacy fund. Establishes a private right of action.

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a family caregiver tax credit for nonpaid family caregivers. Requires the Department of Taxation to submit annual reports to the legislature. Appropriates moneys to the Executive Office on Aging. The tax credit applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2027. Effective 12/31/2026.

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO CRIME.

Allows the charge of unauthorized entry into motor vehicle in the first degree to be brought as a class B felony if property damage of $750 or more occurs or the person has a previous conviction for the same offense within the past five years.

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the department of education to prohibit electronic telecommunication device usage during the instructional day and implement a social media and artificial intelligence literacy education campaign. Creates exemptions for students requiring accommodations, emergency situations, and teacher authorizations. Requires the department of education to submit a report three years after the initial effective date, and then every five years thereafter.

Joe GedeonRepublican

A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATUTORY REVISION: AMENDING OR REPEALING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE HAWAII REVISED STATUTES OR THE SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII FOR THE PURPOSES OF CORRECTING ERRORS AND REFERENCES, CLARIFYING LANGUAGE, OR DELETING OBSOLETE OR UNNECESSARY PROVISIONS.

Amends or repeals various provisions of the HRS or the SLH for the purposes of correcting errors and references, clarifying language, or deleting obsolete or unnecessary provisions.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS.

Amends the private sector On-the-Job Training Work Experience Program to allow the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to contract with employers and trade organizations or apprenticeship program sponsors without regard to chapters 103D and 103F, HRS; establish that an intern may become an apprentice in a registered apprenticeship program under certain conditions; require employers to pay $20 per hour for a maximum of 40 hours per week for all interns; provide, subject to certain limits, for the reimbursement of 100% of an intern's wages for employers, trade organizations, and sponsors having fewer than 50 employees, and 50% of an intern's wages for employers, trade organizations, and sponsors having 50 or more employees; and requires sponsors to pay, supervise, and train interns. Amends the State Internship and Workforce Development Program to require experience gained by interns to be applied towards the experience needed to meet minimum qualifications for civil service positions; require the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and Department of Human Resources Development to develop guidelines for participation in the program; transfer certain program responsibilities from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to the Department of Human Resources Development. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO A REGULAR SESSION REVIEW WORKING GROUP.

Establishes a Regular Session Review Working Group to develop a comprehensive plan and make recommendations to the Legislature on the adoption of an effective year-round legislative session calendar. Establishes a Technical Advisory Committee to advise the Regular Session Review Working Group. Requires reports to the Legislature. Requires report finalization and drafting assistance from the Legislative Reference Bureau. Dissolves the Working Group and Advisory Committee on 6/30/2028. Appropriates funds. Effective 10/18/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FINANCIAL LITERACY.

Requires the Department of Education to implement financial literacy instruction into existing courses in public high schools that have sufficient overlap with financial literacy program standards beginning in the 2027-2028 school year. Requires the Board of Education to provide professional development to teachers. Allows the Board of Education to adopt rules. Appropriates funds.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE.

Establishes the sustainable tourism infrastructure matching grant program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to support one-time capital investments that advance measurable sustainability and climate resilience outcomes within the State's visitor industry. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND STAFF SALARIES.

Authorizes the Board of Trustees of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to establish the salary for the Assistant Administrator. Requires the board to first conduct a market analysis of commensurate salaries in the private sector. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC TRANSIT.

Establishes a two-year Keiki Fare-Free Transit Pilot Program on Oahu and Kauai. Appropriates funds.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Authorizes the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, to establish the Shade and Fruit Tree Program to support educational activities and encourage propagation of native shade trees and fruit trees for planting in Department of Education schools. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO TOWING PRACTICES.

Establishes a Uniform Towing Practices for Public Parking Facilities Working Group within the Department of Transportation to examine existing state and county laws, ordinances, rules, and administrative practices relating to towing from public parking facilities and develop recommendations for uniform standards applicable to towing from state and county parking facilities. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires home schooled students to participate in certain annual in person tests at the public school that the student would otherwise be required to attend.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF NON-AGRICULTURAL PARK LANDS.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to accept the transfer of and manage certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity 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 Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity and an approved feasible and funded action plan before pasture lands are removed for reforestation or other public purposes.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Exempts persons operating wing-in-ground craft from the application of the Hawaii Water Carriers Act. Defines "wing‑in‑ground craft."

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE FRAUD.

Increases the scope of insurance fraud and certain offenses. Augments offenses by contractors and insurers during a declared emergency. Clarifies the penalties for the offense of insurance fraud and the capabilities and operations of the Insurance Fraud Investigations Branch, including the annual report to the Legislature and the protection of sensitive information. Adds protection for insurance fraud whistleblowers. Authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to establish a centralized database for authorized agencies to track insurance fraud data. Appropriates funds.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Prohibits the sale of nonprescription diet pills and dietary supplements for weight loss or muscle building to any person under eighteen years of age. Requires retail establishments and delivery sellers to follow certain protocols regarding certain products to prevent access by minors to the restricted products.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS.

Establishes a Teacher National Board Certification Incentive Program to incentivize public charter school teachers who achieve national board certification under the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Requires that incentives paid to public charter school teachers under the Teacher National Board Certification Incentive Program established for public charter school teachers and other teacher differentials be paid from funds appropriated to the State Public Charter School Commission, instead of the per-pupil allocation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

REYES ODA

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FORTIETH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the 40th representative district.

REYES ODA

RELATING TO THE WORKFORCE PELL GRANT PROGRAM.

Establishes a statewide framework for the implementation of the federal Workforce Pell Grant Program to provide financial aid for certain short-term workforce education and training programs. Establishes a Workforce Pell Grant Program Approval Committee within the Workforce Development Council. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT-ATHLETE COMPENSATION.

Affirms student-athletes' rights to engage in name, image, and likeness activities for compensation. Requires the University of Hawaii to adopt policies governing institutional name, image, and likeness agreements and other aspects of name, image, and likeness activity consistent with federal law, rules by an intercollegiate athletics governing body such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and Title IX. Establishes certain transparency and accountability requirements in the administration of institutional name, image, and likeness activities. Provides protections and educational support for student-athletes who enter into name, image, and likeness agreements. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2030. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to approve and certify general excise tax exemptions for certain housing development projects developed under county housing incentive programs. Sunsets 7/1/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER CARRIERS.

Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to establish automatic adjustment mechanisms by rules that include specified criteria. Grants Governor veto-authority over the rules. Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to waive or exempt any water carrier from any requirement under the Hawaii Water Carrier Act. Repeals 7/1/2032. (SD2)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION MEDICAL BENEFITS.

Expands workers' compensation medical benefits for firefighters to include coverage for adenocarcinoma or mesothelioma of the respiratory system; cancer of the buccal cavity, cervix, colon, esophagus, ovary, pharynx, skin, female reproductive organs, including the uterus, endometrium, and fallopian tubes, and thyroid; and malignant melanoma. Specifies that an employer may deny medical benefits under workers' compensation law only if they prove that the cancer or disease was not associated with firefighting duties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC NOTICE.

Establishes the Electronic Posting Pilot Project for any county with a population between one hundred thousand and 175,000, to be administered by the county clerk of each participating county. Allows county agencies to satisfy county-wide public notice requirements by posting notices on official county websites, while retaining publication as an option. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE FACILITIES.

Requires all state building construction begun on or after 7/1/2026 to provide at least 1 universal changing accommodation in each public restroom designated as a family or assisted-use restroom, where feasible.

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO PENALTIES.

Increases the offense of habitual property crime from a class C felony to a class B felony. Increases the sentencing structure for convictions of habitual property crime.

David Alcos IIIRepublican