Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE.

Prohibits claims for refunds, reimbursements, or other payments, authorization for which is sought from the Legislature that exceed the time limitations of section 40-68, Hawaii Revised Statutes, from being claimed. Requires the Attorney General to include in the Attorney General's annual report of claims recommended for approval a total dollar amount of possible judgments against the State that have not yet settled. Requires the Attorney General's report to the Legislature describing the claims against the State to include additional information. Requires the Attorney General to submit a report every five years to the Legislature containing further incidents that occurred in an agency that led to a claim.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEES.

Requires the Attorney General to establish a confidential process for persons to anonymously file complaints against public employees. Requires the Attorney General to review and forward the complaints to the department, board, commission, or agency deemed appropriate by the Attorney General. Requires the departments, boards, commissions, and agencies to process the complaint pursuant to their standard complaint‑processing procedures and report the disposition to the Attorney General. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.

Allows public employers and exclusive representatives of bargaining units to negotiate certain retirement benefits. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO INDEBTEDNESS TO THE STATE.

Amends the amount that a disbursing officer may deduct from an employee's salary, wage, or compensation based on the employee's gross income. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.

Authorizes state departments, divisions, and agencies to elect to assume hiring and recruitment functions from the Department of Human Resources Development for vacant civil service positions within that department, division, or agency under certain conditions. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to adopt rules. Repeals existing law authorizing state departments, divisions, and agencies to conduct minimum qualification review of applicants for their vacant civil service positions.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

Amends the collective bargaining negotiation procedure on the repricing of classes within a bargaining unit for public employees. Establishes an impasse procedure to be applied when an employer fails to initiate the negotiation or the parties fail to reach an agreement within certain timeframes. Repeals existing law that requires a different impasse procedure to apply in those situations. Sunsets 6/30/2029. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

Repeals the prohibition placed on certain employees exempt from Civil Service Law from grieving a suspension or discharge. Allows any employee who is a member of an appropriate bargaining unit to grieve any disciplinary action, unless the collective bargaining agreement specifically provides otherwise. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO COUNTY LABOR STANDARDS.

Authorizes the counties to require contractors to disclose information regarding their employees' wages, benefits, hours, and employment status and deny, revoke, or suspend a building permit application for violating laws relating to wages, benefits, hours, and employment status, under certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO ALLOWANCE ON SERVICE RETIREMENTS.

Includes certain law enforcement administrators and employees of the Department of Law Enforcement as class A members of the pension and retirement systems and provides guidance for the computation of retirement benefits similar to police officers.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO REIMBURSEMENT OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.

Requires the State or a county to reimburse an officer or employee for work-related travel costs that the officer or employee loaned to the State or a county within thirty calendar days of submitting an approved statement of completed travel. Requires the State or a county to pay interest on a loan not reimbursed within thirty calendar days until the loan is fully reimbursed. Obligates an officer or employee to request a complete refund from the travel vendor for travel not taken for good cause. Entitles an officer or employee to reimbursement from the State or a county when a travel vendor offers a partial refund or no refund. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

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

Allows impasses and disputes relating to the amounts of State and county contributions to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) to be resolved by arbitration. Repeals the prohibition against strikes by members of bargaining units on the issue of the amounts of State and county contributions to the EUTF. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE PENAL CODE.

Requires the Department of the Attorney General to submit annual reports to the Legislature pertaining to the offense of terroristic threatening in the first degree. Expands the definition of "terroristic threatening" to include any form of written or electronic communication. Includes additional protected classes that designate the offense of terroristic threatening in the first degree as a class B felony. Amends the offense of obstructing government operations to include obstructing the performance of a governmental function by an educational worker acting in an official capacity. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.

Prohibits, for sales or offers for sale of new motor vehicles, markups in excess of five per cent of the manufacturer's suggested retail price, markups in excess of $0 when specified in a proclamation declaring a state of emergency, and charges added to rates not based on the underwriting risk or credit characteristics of the consumer when dealers directly finance motor vehicle purchases. Requires dealers to retain records for markups for a period of no less than three years.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Requires the Department of Human Services to allow a full earned income disregard for individuals with disabilities who are between the ages of sixteen and sixty-four years when determining eligibility for Medicaid. Takes effect upon approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO LUNG CANCER SCREENING.

Requires the Department of Health to develop by 12/31/2026, standardized educational materials relating to lung cancer screening and language on lung cancer screening information to be included in signage and written notices to be used by retailers of tobacco products. Beginning 1/1/2027, requires retailers engaged in the retail sale of tobacco products to display signage on lung cancer screening at each point of sale and provide written notice on lung cancer screening to each buyer of a tobacco product.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Beginning 1/1/2027, repeals the fourteen years and under age limit for health insurance coverage requirements for the diagnosis and treatment of autism. Repeals the maximum coverage benefit limit of $25,000 for applied behavioral analysis services.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Allows a licensed dental hygienist to place interim therapeutic restorations in public health settings under the general supervision of licensed dentist. 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires the Department of Education to give reasonable consideration to making all or portions of the facilities of a public school available to housing development for certain employees of the Department when closing the public school. Requires the Department of Education to identify unused public school facilities that may be appropriate for employee housing and inventory suitable grounds available upon public school closure for potential development of employee housing.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HEALTHCARE EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.

Formally codifies the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program. Requires a participant in the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program who receives a new award on or after July 1, 2027, to remain and work in the State for a certain number of years based on the amount of financial assistance received. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD2)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO ACCESS TO MOVEMENT DISORDER CARE.

Establishes a temporary Parkinson's Patient Air Transport Feasibility Committee to examine recommendations for improving access to movement disorder care for neighbor island residents, including the feasibility of a state-administered air transport assistance fund. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO 911 SERVICES.

Requires the 911 Board to establish a Statewide Emergency Safety Profile System Pilot Program and convene a working group. Requires report to the Legislature. Repeals on 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Dee MorikawaDemocrat

RELATING TO STREAM MAINTENANCE.

Transfers responsibilities related to the maintenance of channels, streambeds, streambanks, and drainageways from the counties to the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO LIGHT POLLUTION.

Beginning 7/1/2027, establishes outdoor light fixture requirements throughout the State. Provides certain exemptions for Department of Education facilities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE PROGRAMS.

Short form bill relating to state programs.

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Short form bill relating to taxation.

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE FINANCES.

Short form bill relating to state finances.

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.

Short form bill relating to the state budget.

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO NON-GENERAL FUNDS.

Short form bill relating to non-general funds.

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts eligible groceries from the General Excise Tax. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025.

Sam Satoru KongDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITIES.

Clarifies that a community association manager is an individual who is the managing agent responsible for the contracted management and oversight of a cooperative housing corporation, condominium association, or homeowners association. Amends the definition of "managing agent" to include a community association manager.

Sam Satoru KongDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITIES.

Specifies that all condominium associations, boards, and managing agents are required to comply with the declaration, bylaws, and all county ordinances and state and federal laws, rules, and regulations, including mortgage lending requirements.

Sam Satoru KongDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

Establishes the Noise Detection Camera Program in the Department of Transportation for the installation of noise detection cameras for the enforcement of noise control laws. Appropriates moneys. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM.

Establishes the Hawaii Dementia Initiative Business Recognition Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to collaborate with the Executive Office on Aging to implement the program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO VACATION RENTALS.

Part I: Allows counties to use time-stamped screenshots as evidence for the enforcement of transient accommodations. Requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority's plans, practices, and efforts involving destination management to include promotion of use of traditional or lawful transient accommodations. Clarifies that the counties may use revenue from the County Transient Accommodations Tax for the enforcement of transient accommodations. Appropriates funds. Part II: Requires hosting platforms that earn service fees for providing booking services for transient accommodations to register with the Department of Taxation as tax collection agents and report, collect, and remit general excise and transient accommodations taxes on behalf of operators. Part II effective 1/1/2027. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Expands the definitions of "preceptor" and "volunteer‑based supervised clinical training rotation" applicable to the Healthcare Preceptor Tax Credit to improve accessibility for providers to receive income tax credits for acting as preceptors, including removing "primary care" from the criteria to qualify as a preceptor. Adds physician assistants, dietitians, and social workers to the list of preceptors and eligible students. Expands eligibility for the tax credit to include accredited residency programs that require preceptor support. Adds the Director of Health and representatives of residency programs with eligible students to the Preceptor Credit Assurance Committee. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO ASSAULT.

Elevates criminal penalties for assaults committed against educational workers and sports officials, while preserving appropriate judicial discretion at sentencing. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Requires, for any affordable rental housing development project that receives financing or any financial assistance from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, that the Corporation require the housing development lease or occupancy agreement to allow residents to own or otherwise maintain one or more common household pets. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO ANIMAL IMPORTATION.

Requires, as a condition of entry into the State, documentation verifying that any dog or cat imported into the State has been surgically sterilized, subject to certain exemptions. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish a breeder registry and adopt rules.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE LIBRARIAN.

Repeals the salary cap for the state librarian. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT BASIC NEEDS SUPPORT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Establishes a Basic Needs Pilot Program at a single campus of the University of Hawaii system. Authorizes the establishment of a Housing Stability Pilot Project at that campus. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. Sunsets 6/30/2028. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS RESEARCH.

Establishes and appropriates funds for an Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Research Center at the University of Hawaii, to be administratively affiliated with the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, including the establishment of full-time positions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII CLIMATE INSTITUTE.

Establishes the Hawaii Climate Institute at the University of Hawaii to support climate resilience and adaptation initiatives of the University and the State. Requires a percentage of the revenue generated by any increase to the Transient Accommodations Tax rates beginning on January 1, 2026, and by assessment of the Transient Accommodations Tax on gross rental proceeds derived from cruise fares to be allocated to the University of Hawaii annually to support the programs and operations of the Hawaii Climate Institute. Transfers the International Pacific Research Center of the University of Hawaii at Manoa's School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology to the Hawaii Climate Institute. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSFER OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

Requires the State, Legislature, and counties to amend rules and policies to ensure that certain employees can transfer accrued vacation and sick leaves if rehired by the State or a county within one calendar year of separation. Extends the allowable break in service for purposes of determining certain state and county contributions to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund from ninety calendar days to one full year.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO GAMBLING.

Provides that a defendant may not assert social gambling as an affirmative defense if the gambling activity occurred at the defendant's residence and gambling activities have resulted in multiple recent documented noise complaints.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.

Amends the amount and expending agency for a fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriation for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Appropriates funds to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) grant specialist position within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL PARK LEASES.

Repeals the requirement for land covered by an agricultural park lease with a remaining term of fifteen years or less to be located in a county having a population of less than five hundred thousand in order for the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to extend the lease. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat