Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR.

Requires a manufacturer of model year 2022 or later motor vehicles that utilize telematics systems to equip the vehicles with an inter-operable, standardized, and open-access platform across all of the manufacturer's makes and models. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to establish a motor vehicle telematics system notice. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LEGISLATURE.

Establishes a basic housing allowance for legislators whose legal residence is on an island other than the island of Oahu during session. Appropriates funds.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO SOCIAL GAMING.

Authorizes a 10-year renewable license for a social gaming facility in a special district designated for tourism. Allows admission and participation for adults. Non-residents shall be required to apply for guest membership. Establishes the Hawaii social gaming control commission to monitor and measure operational activities as well as collect and distribute tax revenue from social game operations. Imposes a consumption tax on every hand and every contest. Uses revenue for housing developments for currently houseless Native Hawaiian residents.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING RESILIENCY.

Establishes the Strengthen Hawaii Homes Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to administer grants to retrofit residential properties to enhance resilience against disaster impacts and reduce potential insurance liabilities. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RIGHT TO GARDEN.

Authorizes the cultivation of vegetable gardens on properties within planned community associations and condominiums. Prohibits planned community associations and condominiums from prohibiting or restricting the cultivation of vegetable gardens via their association documents.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO LABOR.

Establishes clear criteria for unpaid student internship programs under the state wage laws.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE PUBLIC LAND TRUST WORKING GROUP.

Appropriates moneys to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to facilitate the hiring of necessary staff and the purchase of equipment and professional services on behalf of the public land trust working group. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO FLOOD MITIGATION.

Establishes a grant program for drainage system maintenance and flood mitigation measures in residential areas, to be administered by the Board of Land and Natural Resources. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND REGISTRATION.

Directs the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct a comprehensive review of the existing land registration systems and transition to a single, unified registry system; oversee the digitization of all land records into an online database; and ensure equitable access, establish a fee structure, and conduct public outreach on how to use the new system and access records. Appropriates funds.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO SMALL BUSINESSES.

Establishes and appropriates funds for a small business fee waiver program within the Business Registration Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to waive certain fees for applicants registering a new small business in the State for the first time.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to expand the sewer network and lines within and throughout the Keaukaha homestead. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR.

Authorizes persons to apply for a permit to act as solicitors or representatives of licensed wineries, brewpubs, and small craft producer pubs in any county of the State.

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR LICENSES.

Authorizes liquor sold through a class 10 license to be consumed on or off the premises.

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO A CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to develop and publish a Hawaii climate adaptation and resilience implementation plan and updates to the plan every five years thereafter. Appropriates funds.

LAMOSAO

RELATING TO WATER RESOURCES.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds to the Honolulu Board of Water Supply for the planning, design, and construction of up to six monitoring wells. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

LAMOSAO

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

Amends the composition of the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund board of trustees. Clarifies vacancy procedures. Amends quorum requirements and voting powers.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO ALCOHOL.

Establishes a definition of "low alcohol by volume spirits beverage". Beginning 7/1/2025, establishes a tax on low alcohol by volume spirits beverages at a rate of $1.10 per wine gallon. Takes effect 6/30/2025.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR LICENSES.

Increases the limits on volumes of liquor and other alcoholic beverages that may be manufactured by class 18 small craft producer pub license holders. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO INTOXICATING LIQUOR.

Allows direct shipment of beer and distilled spirits by certain licensees. Requires the Liquor Commission of each county to adopt rules and regulations.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO INTOXICATING LIQUOR.

Defines low alcohol by volume spirits beverages. Establishes lower tax rates for class 18 small craft producer pub licensees, including for low alcohol by volume spirits beverages.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION OF POLLUTION.

Amends the environmental response, energy, and food security tax to address carbon emissions. Incrementally increases the tax rate over time. Establishes a refundable tax credit to mitigate the effect of a carbon emissions tax on taxpayers. Reenacts the agricultural development and food security special fund. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

Requires the Director of Corrections and Rehabilitation to reduce the number of individuals incarcerated in private, out-of-state correctional institutions. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective July 1, 3000. (HD2)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING COOPERATIVES.

Requires the Executive Office on Early Learning to establish parent-staff early learning collectives to combine professional early-learning services with structured parental involvement. Establishes an Early Learning Cooperative Advisory Council. Appropriates funds.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO ARBORISTS.

Requires the State to ensure and enforce that all certified arborists in its employ, including contractors, adhere to best management practices.

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

Establishes a working group for legal services for youth in the child welfare system within the judiciary. Appropriates funds for the working group.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

Appropriates funds for the Department of Human Services to contract with a non-profit specializing in domestic violence to provide training and staff to be housed on-site in Child Welfare Services Branch offices to support all aspects of screening for and addressing domestic violence within a case. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO A FAMILY RESILIENCE PILOT PROGRAM.

Establishes and appropriates funds for a five-year family resilience pilot program within the Office of Wellness and Resilience. Requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience to establish data and referral system tracking needs and protocols and an implementation and evaluation plan by 12/31/2025. Sunsets the pilot program 6/30/2030. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Establishes the Hawaii Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council. Requires an action plan and reports to the Governor and Legislature by certain dates. Establishes positions. Authorizes the hiring of consultants to assist the advisory council. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE FLAG.

Establishes the Hawaii State Flag Redesign Commission to lead the process of designing a new state flag that represents the people, culture, and history of Hawaii.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII ATHLETICS.

Short form bill relating to University of Hawaii athletics.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO THE USE OF INTOXICANTS WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE.

Lowers the blood alcohol concentration threshold for driving while under the influence of an intoxicant. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO RETIRANTS.

Allows a retirant to be employed without reenrollment in the Employees' Retirement System and without loss or interruption of retirement benefits if the retirant is employed as an investigator in a position identified by the Department of Law Enforcement or Department of the Attorney General as a labor shortage or difficult—to-fill position, subject to certain conditions. Requires the director of human resources of the appropriate state jurisdiction to include in the director's annual report to the Legislature, details on the employment of retirants as investigators. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO FERAL ANIMALS.

Appropriates funds to the City and County of Honolulu for the expansion of the feral chicken program and the Vector Control Branch of the Department of Health for a statewide education campaign for the feeding of feral animals. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE MEDICAL USE OF CANNABIS.

Establishes a licensing system for medical cannabis cultivation. Facilitates the transport of medical cannabis. Expands the scope of authorized actions for medical cannabis patients. Provides that qualifying out-of-state patients need not register with the Department of Health. Protects medical cannabis patients and cultivation licensees from undue discrimination.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO CLEAN AND SOBER HOMES.

Requires clean and sober homes with five or more residents to obtain a conditional use permit issued by a county agency. Requires, rather than permits, the Department of Health to establish a clean and sober homes registry and requires the Department to conduct unannounced visits and inspections of homes on the registry.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to revitalize and enhance the agricultural statistics program to collect data on local agricultural interests. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Prohibits hospitals and medical facilities from using mechanical, chemical, or physical restraints or seclusion on minors and vulnerable adult patients, except when necessary.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS.

Requires counties that use neighborhood boards to ensure that: (1) Board member terms do not exceed one year; and (2) Neighborhood residents may vote for members of their corresponding neighborhood board by electronic means and in-person means. Requires certain reports to and from the Office of Elections. Appropriates moneys.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO CUSTODIAL INTERFERENCE.

Includes in the crime of custodial interference in the first degree the taking, enticing, concealing, or detaining of a minor from a person who has a right to custody pursuant to a Voluntary Establishment of Paternity.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO PARENTAL RIGHTS.

Prohibits the State and counties from adopting or ordaining any rules, regulations, or ordinances that infringe upon a parent's right to direct the upbringing, education, care, and welfare of the parent's child, except in certain narrowly tailored circumstances.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO PROPERTY.

Establishes an expedited procedure to remove persons from a property who are not tenants or former tenants. Establishes criminal offenses for persons who illegally occupy and damage property, for making a false statement to detain real property, and for fraudulent sale or lease of residential real property.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO OPIOID ANTAGONISTS.

Requires each Department of Education classroom to be equipped with an opioid antagonist. Requires the Department of Education to train employees on opioid-related drug overdose prevention, recognition, and response and opioid antagonist administration. Appropriates moneys.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT.

Authorizes the Department of the Interior of the United States to adopt certain regulations for the purposes of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. Provides that not less than 5 of the members shall be beneficiaries who are native Hawaiian as defined in section 201(a) of the Act, and that not more than 4 of the members shall be descendants of not less than one-fourth part of the blood of the races inhabiting the Hawaiian Islands previous to 1778.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO THE CHILD PROTECTIVE ACT.

Provides that investigative powers of the Department of Human Services under the Child Protective Act include interviews of adults living in the family home and the alleged perpetrator in the; Requires DHS to record and save adult interviews conducted as part of an investigation of a report of harm, threatened harm, or imminent harm to a child and to include recorded adult interviews in any filed petition for removal.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO CHILDREN.

Ensures the protection and promotion of the health and well-being of all infants born alive in the State. Mandates medically appropriate and reasonable life-saving and life-sustaining medical care and treatment to all born alive infants. Establishes civil and criminal penalties.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO GEOTHERMAL ENERGY EXPLORATION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the exploration and identification of geothermal resources on Hawaii island.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO CESSPOOL CLOSURE.

Appropriates funds for residential sewer connection and cesspool closure subsidy pilot programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat