Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Beginning 7/1/2027, requires the Office of Consumer Protection to publish an accessible, multilingual notice of tenant rights online. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes the Tenant Protection Working Group within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to address certain tenant protection issues in the State. Requires the Tenant Protection Working Group to report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL MODERNIZATION.

Requires the School Facilities Authority to establish a school modernization initiative through a capital improvement project planning database for school facilities statewide. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Expands free school meal coverage, beginning with the 2029-2030 school year, to all public school students, including public charter school students, regardless of whether the student participates in a federal school meals program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO STUDENT TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a student bus fare rate system that includes free school bus passes for students who meet certain statutory requirements. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a Numeracy Coaching Program to provide numeracy coaches in certain Department of Education elementary schools, middle schools, and intermediate schools to support teachers, improve instruction, and ensure that students develop a strong foundation in mathematics. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE PROTECTION OF MINORS.

Establishes safeguards, protections, oversight, and penalties for interactions between minors and artificial intelligence companion systems or conversational artificial intelligence services. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD2)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITIES.

Requires the School Facilities Authority to establish a pilot program to develop three new public schools in areas based on demonstrated need through public-private partnerships. Amends the powers of the School Facilities Authority. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning no later than the 2028-2029 school year, requires the Department of Education to administer a dyslexia-sensitive universal screening to all students in kindergarten through grade three. Beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, requires certain employees of public schools to have an opportunity to participate in training on literacy instruction. Requires a report to the Legislature and Board of Education before the 2031-2032 school year. Appropriates funds.

LA CHICA

RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.

Requires the Department of Education to make available all public school outdoor facilities and grounds on Saturdays and Sundays for public and community use without the need for any license, permit, or deposit of fees, under certain conditions. Requires reports to the Legislature. Repeals on 6/30/2030.

LA CHICA

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Establishes restrictions on the use of artificial intelligence, algorithms, or other software tools for purposes of decision-making in health insurance utilization reviews. Requires a licensed health care provider to review all adverse actions by the health carrier.

LA CHICA

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO ESTABLISH ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.

Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to establish access to affordable health care as a fundamental right, subject to limitations balancing other essential public services.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Establishes a Health Care for All Hawaii Board to design and recommend the Health Care for All Hawaii plan that is publicly funded and available to every resident of the State. Establishes values and principles for the board in developing its plan, designates the scope of the plan, requires the board to establish an advisory committee to provide consumer perspective input, and requires the board to submit the plan to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2027.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO POLICING.

Establishes the Hawaii Center for Policing and Criminal Justice Research within the Social Science Research Institute, College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa to house the Hawaii Crime Lab. Requires law enforcement agencies and law enforcement oversight agencies to collect and report certain data regarding law enforcement stops, uses of force, and complaints to the Hawaii Crime Lab. Requires the Hawaii Crime Lab to collect and publish incident-level information and an annual report on the data collected. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to adopt rules, in coordination with the Hawaii Crime Lab, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and any community advisory boards. Appropriates funds for the establishment and operation of the Hawaii Center for Policing and Criminal Justice Research within the Social Science Research Institute, College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa to support implementation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO WAREHOUSE WORKERS.

Establishes the Warehouse Worker Protection Act. Requires certain warehouse employers to provide written descriptions of quotas to employees and maintain records of quotas and employee work speed data. Protects employees from quotas that would prevent compliance with meal or rest periods or the use of bathroom facilities. Allows employees to request a written description of their quota and employee work speed data. Requires the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to adopt rules to implement the provisions of the Act.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Short form bill relating to housing.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Short form bill relating to housing.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Short form bill relating to housing.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Short form bill relating to housing.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Short form bill relating to housing.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES.

Requires an automated vehicle used by a motor carrier to transport passengers commercially to have a human supervisor present in the vehicle. Establishes an income tax credit to incentivize the training of supervisors for autonomous vehicles. Sunsets 12/31/2036. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO PROPERTY DAMAGE OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES.

Establishes the class C felony offense of criminal property damage to critical infrastructure facilities. Expands the term "critical infrastructure" to include broadband, wireless, and cable networks. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO THE COUNTIES.

Expands on a county's experimental and demonstration housing project authority to include the development of commercial projects. Sunsets on an unspecified date. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT HEAT EXPOSURE.

Requires the Board of Education to adopt a heat acclimatization and practice policy based on the Hawaii Athletic Trainers Association's Hawaii High School Athletic Association Heat Acclimatization and Practice Policy of 2017 for students in grades kindergarten to twelve in Department of Education schools and public charter schools statewide for certain physical activities. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE.

Establishes an independent Office of the Child Advocate within the Department of the Attorney General to oversee and evaluate the delivery of services to children and their families by various state agencies and entities, receive and investigate complaints, and make recommendations for improvement. Requires annual reports to the Governor, Legislature, and public. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM GOVERNANCE.

Allows funds from the Condominium Education Trust Fund to be used for education and resources for condominium unit owners as primary stakeholders in condominium governance. Requires the Real Estate Commission to ensure that condominium unit owners are recognized and included as stakeholders in educational programs, consultations, advisory committees, task forces, and police development activities.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a high-earners surtax on taxable income for certain taxpayers.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE THIRTY-THIRD REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the thirty-third representative district.

Sam Satoru KongDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF RETIRANTS.

Authorizes the State and counties to temporarily rehire retired public employees to fill positions identified as unique and critical to government operations.

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATOR STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT.

Establishes the Educator Student Loan Repayment Program to provide for the repayment of qualified student loans for certain educators in the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes a 5-year Hawaii Builds Pilot Program within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and designates projects that meet specific requirements as Hawaii Builds Pilot Projects. Authorizes the Corporation to deploy moneys from the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund for predevelopment activities or as active construction equity. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Amends and repeals certain exemptions under the general excise tax and use tax laws. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO VEGETATION MANAGEMENT.

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

KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY

RELATING TO CESSPOOL CONVERSIONS.

Increases the maximum grant amount for the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project. Appropriates funds.

Lisa KitagawaDemocrat

RELATING TO PROTECTING HAWAII'S FISHERIES.

Requires the Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt rules no later than June 30, 2030, establishing a statewide daily bag limit for ʻamaʻama during the open season; provided that the rules shall apply only to areas without management plans as of the effective date of the rules. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa KitagawaDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Short form bill relating to public safety.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO CORRECTIONS.

Short form bill relating to corrections.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS.

Short form bill relating to military affairs.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO VETERANS.

Short form bill relating to veterans.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCIES.

Short form bill relating to emergencies.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND.

Specifies the conditions upon which the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation may transfer moneys from within the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to a subaccount and between subaccounts of the revolving fund. Authorizes the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to be used to provide any and all forms of financing. Expands the funding priorities of, and appropriates funds into and out of, the Mixed-Income Subaccount. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Makes the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund Equity Pilot Program permanent, with modifications that include changing the method for computation of interest for purchasers of certain real property. Expands the use of proceeds in the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund to include purchasing equity in for-sale housing development projects and interim primary or secondary financing. Exempts disbursements from the Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund from appropriation and allotment requirements. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO BUILDING CODES.

Part I: Fixes the applicable building codes, standards, and county amendments for the life of a building permit, subject to certain exceptions and rules. Part II: Specifies the applicability of the International Residential Code. Authorizes a county to adopt amendments to the Hawaii state building code, under certain circumstances, and repeals the counties' existing authority to amend or adopt the buildings code without council approval. Changes the adoption of the Hawaii state building code from a two-year cycle to a six-year cycle. Part III: Appropriates funds for the State Building Code Council for staffing and necessary consultant services. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, in collaboration with other state and county agencies, to study options for and coordinate the development of a shared statewide housing and infrastructure data platform to inform agency decision-making and state housing and infrastructure investments. Includes the development of a model that assesses the fiscal impacts of development and regional infrastructure investments. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND.

Authorizes the Rental Housing Revolving Fund (RURF) to be used to provide any and all forms of financing for the development, pre-development, construction, acquisition, preservation, and substantial rehabilitation of rental housing units. Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) to give preference to certain projects with perpetual affordability commitments and to applicants with a demonstrated history of early repayment to the RHRF. Authorizes HHFDC, with the approval of the Director of Finance, to transfer moneys between the RHRF and its subaccounts without further legislative authorization. Requires certain RHRF loans applied for or awarded after 12/31/2026 to be subject to review and renegotiation when any mortgage debt to which the loan is subordinate is refinanced or retired. Authorizes HHFDC to use reserved but unencumbered funds for short‑term projects with certain conditions. Authorizes HHFDC to secure lines of credit, standby bond purchase agreements, or other credit enhancement facilities to provide liquidity for the RHRF in certain circumstances. Authorizes the Director of Finance to transfer moneys from the RHRF to its Mixed-Income Subaccount for FY 2026‑2027. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Disallows the home mortgage interest deduction for second homes under state income tax law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTEWATER SYSTEMS.

Establishes a Cesspool Conversion Implementation Working Group to assist the Department of Health in a review of the Department's administrative rules and practices regarding wastewater systems and cesspools and in the development of proposed changes to make cesspool conversions more affordable. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds for positions and hiring of a consultant to assist the Cesspool Conversion Implementation Working Group. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat