Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF FIREWORKS LAWS.

Appropriates moneys to the county police departments to enforce applicable fireworks laws, subject to certain conditions.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO SEXUAL OFFENSES.

Provides for a sentence of death or life imprisonment without possibility of parole upon a conviction for sex trafficking. Requires a separate sentencing proceeding by a jury, except if waived by the defendant, for a conviction for sex trafficking. Makes commercial sexual exploitation a class A felony. Makes conforming amendments.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO GEOGRAPHICAL RESTRICTIONS.

Establishes limitations on geographical restrictions provided as a condition of probation. (HD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO MARIJUANA.

Decriminalizes the possession of drug paraphernalia relating to marijuana; possession of a certain amount of marijuana concentrate; and the possession of a certain amount of marijuana and smoking of marijuana in a public place. Lowers the criminal penalty for the possession of a certain amount of marijuana concentrate from a misdemeanor to a petty misdemeanor.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Establishes prohibitions on assault rifles, assault shotguns, and .50 caliber rifles. Expands the ban on high-capacity detachable magazines. (HD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATIONS.

Establishes the Ombudsman's Office for Condominium Associations within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Updates the Condominium Property Act to integrate the role and functions of the ombudsman's office for condominium associations. Appropriates funds for establishment of the Ombudsman's Office for Condominium Associations.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TAX.

Provides Hawaii taxpayers with a refundable transient accommodations tax credit.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO TEACHER HOUSING.

Establishes the Teacher Home Assistance Program to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers. Appropriates funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAFFIC.

Provides that if a law enforcement officer lawfully stops a motor vehicle and the operator is cited for driving without a valid license, the officer shall not permit the operator to resume the use of the motor vehicle. Requires the motor vehicle to be moved by a licensed driver or towed at the owner's expense. Provides that the cited operator is responsible for arranging the operator's transportation from the scene of the stop.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO PREVAILING WAGES.

Requires prevailing wages for human services providers.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO CARE CENTERS.

Requires that new and newly renovated state buildings with a budget of $5,000,000 or more include dedicated space for a child care center or an adult day care center.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

Requires the Hawaii emergency management agency to inventory all designated emergency shelters and their ability to withstand a category one hurricane or higher. Requires Hawaii emergency management agency to publish a publicly available list of shelters and their respective hurricane ratings. Appropriates funds for a hurricane shelter retrofit program and director.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Establishes a program that requires property insurers to offer discounts to condominium associations that make certain upgrades or take other specific actions to increase the building's resilience or reduce the association's risk profile. Requires the insurance commissioner to adopt rules to implement the program.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LANDS.

Prohibits certain foreign parties or their agents, trustees, and fiduciaries from owning, purchasing, or acquiring an interest in agricultural lands. Establishes an Office of Agricultural Intelligence within the Department of Agriculture to investigate claims that land is unlawfully owned by a prohibited foreign party. Requires the Attorney General to undertake enforcement activities. Appropriates moneys.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES.

Establishes and implements the Catastrophic Wildfire Securitization Act, to allow public utilities to securitize rates in order to raise capital that can be used to pay for costs and expenses arising out of catastrophic wildfires.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO EARLY CHILD INTERVENTION.

Appropriates funds for the establishment of new positions within the Early Childhood Services Unit. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Lisa KitagawaDemocrat

RELATING TO INCOME TAX CREDITS.

Amends the amount of total income tax credits available. Increases the annual per production and aggregate caps. Provides the State with alternative marketing opportunities in lieu of a shared-card, end-title screen credit.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO STUDENT ATHLETES.

Requires the Department of Education to establish and administer a three-year student athlete travel pilot program to provide funding for intra-county travel expenses for student athletes of counties with a population of less than 500,000. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/28. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO ENCAMPMENTS.

Prohibits the erection, placement, construction, or maintenance of an encampment within one hundred feet from the property line of a pre-K-12 public or private school or school facility on public or private property. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO LANDFILLS.

Extends the landfill buffer zone from one-half mile to one mile. Requires the landfill buffer zone to apply to lands in the state conservation district and lands designated as national conservation areas. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTHCARE PRECEPTORS.

Adds psychology, physician assistant, marriage and family therapist, mental health counselor, clinical social worker, rehabilitation counselor, and school counselor students to the definition of "eligible student" under the qualifications for the healthcare preceptor tax credit. Amends the definition of "preceptor" by adding psychologists, physician assistants, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, clinical social workers, rehabilitation counselors, and school counselors to the list of preceptors eligible to receive the tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025.

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO PESTICIDE BUFFER ZONES.

Increases the buffer zone for restricted use pesticides around schools to one-half mile. Allows the use of restricted use pesticides within the buffer zone as part of invasive species control conducted by the Department of Agriculture or invasive species committees organized under the University of Hawaii Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Appropriates funds for a State Capitol tour guide position within the Public Access Room.

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires public schools to provide free breakfast and lunch to all enrolled students. Appropriates funds.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Authorizes health care practitioners to make undesignated prescriptions of single-use epinephrine for the purpose of stocking a supply at various types of businesses and state and county government offices, including public schools. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Directs the Department of Human Services to adopt rules to expand Medicaid eligibility to all children in the State from birth to age 5 years without regard to household income. Appropriates moneys.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

Expands eligibility for scholarships under the Hawaii Community College Promise Program to all qualified students. Appropriates funds.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.

Beginning on 6/30/2030, requires all new playgrounds constructed on Department of Education school grounds to include accessible recreational playground equipment as part of the recreational apparatuses. Establishes the Accessible Recreational Playground Equipment Special Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO DISABILITIES.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to evaluate its facilities for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and compile a list of non-compliant facilities. Requires report to the Legislature.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Requires the Department of Health to coordinate the stockpiling of no less than a one-year supply of mifepristone. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Allows newly graduated high school students to be eligible for workers' compensation coverage during the summer following their high school graduation while participating in Department of Education-sponsored work-based learning programs. Requires an annual report. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires the Department of Education to include the teaching of financial literacy in kindergarten through grade twelve. Requires students in grades nine through twelve to complete a one-half credit in financial literacy before graduation. Requires the Board of Education to provide professional development to teachers who are teaching financial literacy courses.

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for teacher-requested classroom supplies. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Designates student transportation as critical infrastructure and a critical service for Hawaii's public education system. Requires all school bus contracts between the State and the contractor to include certain standards, performance metrics, and accountability requirements to prevent service disruptions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes an agricultural crime prevention program within the Department of Agriculture to provide grants, education, administrative enforcement, and other services for the benefit of the State's agricultural industry. Clarifies, creates, and strengthens laws regarding crimes and violations related to agriculture or agricultural lands and hunting on private agricultural lands. Establishes clear distinctions between administrative and criminal penalties. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Appropriates moneys to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for the establishment of full-time equivalent permanent Makai Watch Coordinator positions. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

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 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Requires all accident and health or sickness insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations operating in the State to adopt policies, procedures, and criteria for approving or denying requests for prior authorization that are the equivalent to the guidelines for prior authorization established by Medicare.

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OF COMMITTED PERSONS.

Appropriates $500,000, for each year of the fiscal biennium to the department of corrections and rehabilitation to procure a new software for electronic record keeping of medical records. Requires a report to the legislature.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO THE COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES.

Appropriates funds for eight full-time agricultural technician, and four full-time coordinator positions at University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Provides that a living beneficiary's place on the Department of Hawaiian Home Land's waitlist for any residential, agricultural or pastoral tract may be designated for transfer to a successor if the living beneficiary dies before receiving an offer for a tract; provided that the successor shall be at least twenty-five per cent native Hawaiian.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO SERVICE CHARGES.

Prohibits restaurants from imposing a mandatory gratuity service charge for the sale of food or beverage services unless the party includes ten or more customers, the service charge does not exceed eighteen per cent, and the customer is notified of the service charge.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO SELF DEFENSE.

Clarifies that a person who uses deadly force in self-defense does not have a duty to retreat if they are in their dwelling or on their property unless they are the initial aggressor. Repeals statutory language that permits a person to use deadly force at their place of work.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a refundable Family Caregiver Tax Credit for nonpaid family caregivers. Requires the department of taxation to report to the legislature before the convening of each regular session.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO THE LAND CONSERVATION FUND.

Sets the amount of conveyance tax revenues to be paid into the Land Conservation Fund to a certain per cent or monetary cap, whichever is less, of conveyance taxes collected each fiscal year. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Clarifies that the terms of a loan must first be sent to unit owners and approved by a majority of unit owners' consent to the loan. Requires a majority of unit owners to vote in favor of or provide written consent to maintenance fee increases before they take effect. Requires a forensic audit of an association's financial records no less frequently than once every three years, with the first forensic audit to be completed by 6/30/2026.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Clarifies an association board's authority with respect to calling electronic meetings, electronic voting, and mail voting. Clarifies that, in condominium elections, cumulative voting rights apply to all candidates regardless of whether they are nominated. Clarifies that individual votes are used in cumulative voting. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAII RETIREMENT SAVINGS ACT.

Clarifies the definition of "covered employer" under the Hawaii Retirement Savings Act. Requires covered employers to automatically enroll covered employees into the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program unless the employee chooses to opt out. Repeals the limit on the total fees and expenses that can be spent for the Program each year. Appropriates funds to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for the development and operation of the Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND CONTRIBUTIONS.

Sets the amount of the employer contribution to the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund as a fixed percentage of the health benefits plan or life insurance plan premium cost. Makes conforming amendments.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CONTRACTORS.

Raises the threshold exemption under the contractor licensing law's handyman exemption from $1,500 to $2,500.

Diamond GarciaRepublican