Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROGRAM.

Clarifies that the Public Utilities Commission, under the Universal Service Program, may use funds from the Universal Service Fund to provide free telecommunications access to time-sensitive information for individuals with print disabilities. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.

Clarifies the Hawaii Public Housing Authorityꞌs powers relating to housing projects. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Expands the offense of false labeling of Hawaii-grown coffee to include roasted coffee. Imposes a mandatory minimum fine of $7,500 for each separate offense of false labeling of Hawaii-grown coffee. (CD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO PASS-THROUGH ENTITY TAXATION.

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 for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FUNDING ADJUSTMENTS FOR STATE PROGRAMS.

Authorizes supplemental allotments and transfers of unrequired balances for capital improvement program projects and establishes a protocol fund with a cap of $7,000 for each state principal department. Makes emergency appropriations and commensurate reductions to pay for anticipated operating shortfalls in the 4th quarter due to the limited ability to transfer funds between programs. Authorizes the Governor to use program savings and available funds for the purpose of temporarily maintaining critical federally funded state programs and positions. Authorizes the transfer of an amount in excess of the requirements of the State Educational Facilities Improvement Special Fund to the general fund. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Beginning 1/1/2026, requires rental vessels to be registered and numbered with the Department of Land and Natural Resources before being rented or leased, or offered for rent or lease, by the public for transiting the navigable waters of a state park. Requires registration fees to be deposited into the State Parks Special Fund. (CD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Makes emergency appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of Bargaining Units (1), (2), (3), (4), (8), (9), (10), (13), and (14) and their excluded counterparts, including the cost of salary adjustments negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal year 2024-2025. Declares the expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 is exceeded. (CD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO RURAL EMERGENCY HOSPITALS.

Creates a framework for the licensure of rural emergency hospitals at the state level by the Department of Health. Clarify Medicaid reimbursement policies for hospitals transitioning from a critical access hospital designation to a rural emergency hospital designation. (CD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Provides appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of Bargaining Unit (7) and their excluded counterparts, including the cost of salary adjustments negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal biennium 2025-2027. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII RELIEF FUNDING.

Allows the Board of Regents to use moneys in the University of Hawaii tuition and fees special fund for student aid in direct response to an emergency or disaster, as declared by the Governor. Requires a report. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII RESIDENT TUITION FEE.

Requires the University of Hawaii to grant the resident tuition fee for enrollment at any University of Hawaii campus to individuals who have graduated from a Hawaii high school and are enrolling in an undergraduate degree program, under certain conditions. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Provides appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of Bargaining Unit (9) and their excluded counterparts, including the cost of salary adjustments negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal biennium 2025-2027. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Provides appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of Bargaining Unit (8) and their excluded counterparts, including the cost of salary adjustments negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal biennium 2025-2027. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Provides appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of Bargaining Unit (6) and their excluded counterparts, including the cost of salary adjustments negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal biennium 2025-2027. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

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. Conditions revenue bond proceeds appropriation on room and board assistance to students with financial need. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL COSTS.

Makes emergency appropriations for fiscal year 2024-2025 to the Department of Accounting and General Services and the Judiciary for payroll and fringe benefits of affected Department of Law Enforcement personnel. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS RELATED TO THE MAUI WILDFIRES.

Establishes the Maui Wildfires Settlement Trust Fund to be administered by the Attorney General. Appropriates funds to fund the settlement of claims related to the 2023 Maui wildfires. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY.

Establish a safe routes to school program vehicle registration surcharge on certain motor vehicle registrations to be imposed and collected no later than 12/31/2025. Prohibits the use of facial recognition software in the operation of any photo red light imaging detector systems or automated speed enforcement systems. Clarifies the citations and summons procedures for the Automated Speed Enforcement Detector Systems Program. (CD1)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO THE GREENHOUSE GAS SEQUESTRATION TASK FORCE.

Repeals the Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL HARBORS.

Establishes a Commercial Harbors Emergency Evacuation Working Group. Requires a report to the Legislature. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Provides appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of Bargaining Unit (5) and their excluded counterparts negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal biennium 2025-2027. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Requires retail sellers or transferers of firearms to provide purchasers with notice regarding the law on firearms storage. Expands the requirements for the secure storage of firearms. Clarifies the offense of criminally negligent storage of a firearm. (HD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Allows campaign funds to be used for a candidate’s child care and vital household dependent care costs under certain conditions.

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS REPORTING.

Amends the annual reporting requirements imposed on the Department of the Attorney General and the chief of police of each county regarding licenses to carry firearms.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.

Includes any parcels owned by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority as areas that may be closed to the public. Specifies required signage.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD.

Allows the Commander of the Hawaii Air National Guard to hold the rank authorized by the Department of the Air Force, which is currently Major General. Provides the Adjutant General with the flexibility to assign either the Chief of Staff or the Assistant Adjutant General to lead the Hawaii Air National Guard. Authorizes the pay and allowances for the Chief of Staff of the Hawaii Air National Guard to be determined according to the pay tables of the Regular Air Force of the United States. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

Establishes maximum rates of payment for medical care for patients of the Hawaii State Hospital or of another psychiatric facility who are under the custody of the Director of Health. Authorizes the Department of Health to establish long-term care payment rates for certain patients discharged to a long-term care facility from the Hawaii State Hospital or another psychiatric facility. Exempts the Department of Health from the Hawaii Public Procurement Code for the procurement of medical care and long-term care for certain patients. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

Provides an emergency appropriation for fifty per cent of the penalty assessed by the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service to be reinvested in the continued development of a new eligibility system that will assist in reducing the State's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payment error rate, which, if successful, may result in the State not being required to pay the remaining fifty per cent of the penalty. Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

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 to assist with the efforts to strengthen the resilience and reliability of electric utility services in the State. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR SPECIAL FUND.

Retroactively requires stipend funds repaid after July 1, 2023, by a stipend recipient under the Hawaii Early Childhood Educator Stipend Program to be deposited into the Early Learning Special Fund. Repeals the Hawaii Early Childhood Educator Special Fund. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR CONSTRUCTION DEFECT REMEDIATION AT THE HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL.

Makes an emergency appropriation to the Department of Health to fund construction defect remediation of the Hale Hoʻola Building at the Hawaii State Hospital, including the payment of legal fees and costs for special deputy attorneys general. Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 has been exceeded. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID THIRD PARTY LIABILITY.

Clarifies third-party liability provisions for medical assistance program claims for payment as required under the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND BASE COMPOSITE MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION.

Effective 1/1/2026, increases the employer base composite monthly contribution to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund by 5.2 percent of the 2025 employer base composite monthly contribution. Effective 1/1/2027, requires that the employer base composite monthly contribution be calculated based on the change in Medicare Part B premiums from 2025 to 2026 and at a two-year lag thereafter. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HOME CARE AGENCIES.

Prohibits home care agencies from providing services outside the scope of their facility license. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH BOARDS.

Defines community outreach board to mean a board established to serve in a community advisory capacity under a county commission or a county department. Includes community outreach boards in existing provisions of the Sunshine Law relating to neighborhood boards. Authorizes neighborhood board and community outreach board members to attend meetings or presentations related to official board business statewide. (HD1)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO LOBBYIST CONTRIBUTIONS.

Clarifies administrative oversight of statutory restrictions relating to prohibited lobbyist contributions. Clarifies that the regular or special sessions in which lobbyist contributions are prohibited are periods during which both houses of the legislature are in session. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO LOBBYING.

Establishes certain presumptions regarding lobbying on behalf of private clients. Makes certain contracts voidable when entered into in violation of the state lobbying law under certain conditions. Expands the definition of "lobbying" in the state lobbying law to include certain communications with certain government officials regarding procurement decisions. Effective 1/1/2027. (SD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

Allows a patient who has been seen in person by a health care provider who is in the same medical group as the prescribing provider authorized pursuant to section 329-33, HRS, to be prescribed an opiate prescription for a three-day supply or less via telehealth. (SD1)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO TITLE 24, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES.

Amends net solvency report filing requirements for mutual benefit societies, dental insurers, and health maintenance organizations. Effective 10/1/2025. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT.

Clarifies that the prohibition against discharging wastewater or raw sewage into state waters after 12/31/2026 includes treatment plants. Repeals the exemption from the prohibition for treatment plants that utilize sewage to produce clean energy. (HD3)

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO INTERCEPTION OF WIRE, ORAL, OR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION.

Requires the Department of the Attorney General to provide a written memorandum recommending approval or disapproval of an order authorizing or approving the interception of a wire, oral, or electronic communication to the prosecuting attorney within twenty-four hours of the prosecuting attorney's request to the Department. Establishes a process for emergency applications for emergency orders authorizing or approving the interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

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

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

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. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE SHRIMP.

Establishes the ‘ōpae ‘ula as the state shrimp to protect anchialine pool ecosystems throughout Hawaii. (CD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY REVIEW BOARD.

Amends the quorum requirements to do business and validate acts of the Small Business Regulatory Review Board. (CD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD MEETINGS.

Allows neighborhood boards to discuss and receive information on matters raised by third-party reports from any government official not included in a publicly noticed agenda. Requires neighborhood boards to make decisions on matters raised by third-party reports from any government official at a later meeting where the agenda gives notice of decision-making on the matter. (CD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST HAWAII ISLAND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER.

Authorizes the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds to assist Hawaii Island Community Health Center to purchase or lease land on the island of Hawaii and develop primary care health care facilities. (CD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Appropriates funds to support the efforts of the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources in the removal of the majano anemone from Kaneohe Bay. (CD1)

Mike LeeDemocrat