Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO THE HOUSING LOAN AND MORTGAGE PROGRAM.

Increases the Hula Mae Multifamily Revenue Bond authorization ceiling amount to continue financing affordable rental housing statewide. Clarifies that revenue bonds treated as refunding bonds do not count against the authorized aggregate principal amount of the bond. Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to submit a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO ZONING.

Prohibits the counties from imposing certain lot requirements and dwelling specifications for parcels of land zoned for residential uses located within the urban district for purposes of subdivision, development, or the issuance of a building permit, with certain exemptions. Allows the counties to establish a petition process for neighborhoods, subdivisions, or other geographically contiguous areas to establish or retain certain requirements or specifications. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Exempts predator control and trapping for the purpose of protecting property or native biodiversity from the offense of cruelty to animals in the first degree.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO ANIMAL CONTROL.

Establishes the Spay and Neuter Special Fund to reduce pet overpopulation, including the free-roaming cat population, and authorizes an income tax designation to provide revenues into the special fund. Requires cats over five months of age to be surgically sterilized unless covered by an intact cat declaration, and conditions the importation of intact cats on state and county declaration requirements, with certain exceptions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND USE DECISION-MAKING.

Authorizes counties to amend district boundaries involving land areas of greater than fifteen but no more than twenty-five acres for purposes of residential housing, agricultural workforce housing, long-term rental housing, or workforce fee simple ownership. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.

Requires the development of transit-supportive densities to be allowed in any county-designated transit-oriented development area. Prohibits the counties from enacting an ordinance, rule, regulation, development standard, zoning provision, or other land use control that restricts the development of transit-supportive densities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Part I: Authorizes the construction and occupation of self-contained relocatable housing units, with certain restrictions. Part II: Specifies that a manufactured home is considered real property, requiring its transfer, conveyance, and mortgage to follow the same recording and enforcement requirements as other real property. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO THE OWNER-BUILDER EXEMPTION.

Repeals the leasing restriction on owner-builders who obtain an owner-builder exemption to act as their own contractor and who build or improve residential or farm buildings or structures on property they own or lease and do not offer the buildings or structures for sale. Requires an owner or lessee to provide signed written notice that a residential structure offered for lease or sublease was built or improved by an individual who is not a licensed contractor. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE.

Requires the Department of Human Services to amend the Hawaii Medicaid State Plan or request approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for an amendment under the Medicaid State Plan to include naturopathic medicine.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO THE HAWAII CLEAN ENERGY INITIATIVE.

Replaces the State's renewable portfolio standard of 100 per cent renewable energy generation by 2045 with the original mandate for 70 per cent by 12/31/2045.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO FORENSIC IDENTIFICATION.

Establishes within the Honolulu Police Department a rapid DNA investigative lead program. Appropriates moneys.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

Requires the Department of Human Services to request and implement waivers or waiver extensions from the federal government to make sugary drinks and candy ineligible foods for purchase with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Requires annual reports to the legislature on waiver status, ineligible foods, and implementation impacts.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO MEDICAL EDUCATION.

Requires the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to establish a nutrition and metabolic health curriculum for medical students at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires sellers to provide buyers with a cesspool disclosure form before the execution of a real estate purchase contract. Establishes standards for the cesspool disclosure form by 11/1/2026. Establishes penalties. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO OAHU CORAL REEF RESTORATION.

Temporarily prohibits the taking by spearing of uhu or kala in state marine waters around the island of Oahu, and prohibits the commercial sale of uhu and kala so taken, until the Division of Aquatic Resources' Holomua Marine Initiative process adopts applicable regulations.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD STATE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Authorizes the Adjutant General to expand the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program to include graduate degrees at the University of Hawaii for qualified personnel in the Hawaii National Guard. Effective 1/1/3000. (HD1)

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts food and groceries from the general excise tax. Expands the general excise tax exemption implemented in 2024 for certain medical and dental services to include all medical and dental services.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO INCOME TAX.

Eliminates the state individual income tax.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO THE INDIVIDUAL HOUSING ACCOUNT PROGRAM.

For taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026, increases the maximum annual deduction for contributions to, and maximum account levels for, individual housing accounts. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOMELANDS LEASES.

Requires leases used in the conveyance of available lands as defined by section 203 of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, as amended, to conform to the requirements for securitization by federally insured lending programs.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO ELDER CRIME VICTIMS.

Removes state of mind requirement pertaining to a victim's age for felony assaults aggravated by the victim's age.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO THEFT.

Creates the offense of organized retail theft. Provides penalties for organized retail theft which are increased based on value of property and leadership roles. Creates an organized retail theft task force. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO MENTAL ILLNESS.

Amends the definition of "dangerous to self". Defines the terms "gravely disabled" and "psychiatric deterioration". Broadens the term of "imminently dangerous to self and others". Increases the maximum period of emergency hospitalization.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO ELECTION REFORM.

Amends various election provisions to increase public access to in-person voting, increase public confidence in elections, and impose accountability in the election certification process. Key features include increased access to voter service centers open on election day, abolition of ranked choice voting, public access to election records, signature verification in the presence of official observers, reform of the mandatory recount process, the use of physical ballots during election audits, and subjecting the chief election officer position to election instead of appointment.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE RULEMAKING.

Establishes a cost-benefit analysis requirement that defines a specific financial impact threshold for administrative rules. Requires legislative action through concurrent resolution to approve an agency’s major rule change above the threshold of one million dollars.

REYES ODA

RELATING TO PENALTIES.

Establishes heightened penalties for the offense of bribery under certain circumstances. Increases the penalty for official misconduct from a class C to a class A felony.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO THE MUSIC ACCESSIBILITY PILOT PROGRAM.

Establishes the Music Accessibility Pilot Program within the Hawaii State Public Library System to expand access to public concerts and musical education throughout the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO SPEARFISHING SAFETY.

Establishes safety-warning requirements regarding spearfishing. Requires safety warning to be displayed beginning 7/1/2027. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO PESTICIDES.

Requires quarterly rather than annual reporting of all use of restricted use pesticides. Amends the contents of reports to include specific geospatial data and information and increased detail on the amount of restricted use pesticides used. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to develop an online reporting tool for restricted use pesticides. Appropriates funds.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO OPIOID ANTAGONISTS.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations that issue policies, contracts, plans, or agreements that provide prescription drug coverage to provide coverage for at least one generic opioid antagonist and device.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO IMMIGRATION.

Prohibits any law enforcement agency or law enforcement official from entering into an agreement under federal law that permits state or county agencies to engage in immigration enforcement. Prohibits law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officials from engaging in certain immigration-related actions, except under limited circumstances. Effective 7/1/2055. (SD2)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

Requires the Director of Corrections and Rehabilitation to incrementally return committed felons incarcerated in private, out-of-state correctional institutions to in-state correctional facilities. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a School Bus Driver Recruitment Grant Program. Establishes a School Bus Driver Recruitment Special Fund. Establishes a Repayment Signing Bonus Program. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO CARBON OFFSETS.

Requires the Department of Transportation to assist and enable a person to voluntarily purchase a verified carbon offset for greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the person's air travel to or from an airport in the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Establishes the Small Business Procurement Program and Small Business Procurement Coordinator position permanently in the State Procurement Office. Repeals the Small Business Assistance Initiative established in Act 168, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022. Appropriates funds.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO LANDFILL UNITS.

Repeals the prohibition on the construction, modification, or expansion of a landfill unit, or any component of a landfill unit, inland of an underground injection control line in a county with a population greater than five hundred thousand. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT.

Extends child care subsidies to disabled parents or guardians, regardless of their employment status. Requires the Department of Human Services to evaluate caregiver capacity and dependent-care responsibilities when determining eligibility for medicaid home- and community-based services. Requires the Department of Human Services to update its evaluation form and functional assessment protocols related to level of care and at-risk needs determinations. Appropriates funds.

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE ETHICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

Establishes the Office of Legislative Ethics and Accountability as an independent, nonpartisan entity to receive and investigate complaints alleging ethical violations or misconduct by current members or current employees of the state legislature. Appropriates moneys.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Establishes an Artificial Intelligence in Education Task Force to develop guidelines and recommendations for the use of artificial intelligence in state public education. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

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

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

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Clarifies an association board's authority with respect to calling and authorizing electronic meetings, electronic voting at electronic meetings, electronic voting without a meeting, and mail voting without a meeting. Clarifies that proxies are only to be used for any voting conducted at a meeting. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO VEHICLE TRANSFERS.

Requires each county Director of Finance to notify all applicable state and local agencies upon receipt of official notification of a vehicle transfer from a transferor. Requires each county Director of Finance to establish a centralized notification system to applicable agencies for every vehicle transfer by 7/1/2027. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PRIVACY.

Establishes the offense of nonconsensual distribution of an intimate image.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ARTS.

Short form bill relating to the arts.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ARTS.

Short form bill relating to the arts.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ARTS.

Short form bill relating to the arts.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO CULTURE.

Short form bill relating to culture.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO CULTURE.

Short form bill relating to culture.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat