Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires developers developing an affordable housing project under the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to assist certain tenants who are subject to displacement or eviction by the proposed project by: granting those tenants the right of first refusal of a comparable unit in the housing project or establishing a fund to provide relocation benefits and offer assistance; providing information, either directly or through a contracted service, on how to obtain assistance and exercise the right of first refusal; and establishing procedures to track and maintain communication with those tenants. Establishes consequences for a developer's noncompliance. Takes effect 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO TEACHER EDUCATION.

Authorizes the Department of Education to subsidize all tuition and mandatory fees for a resident student enrolled in a 4-year college campus of the University of Hawaii System with an education program or that offers an education degree for the semester or term that the student enrolls in a State-Approved Teacher Education Program under certain conditions. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD2)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement negotiated for Bargaining Unit (5) and subject to the availability of funds, provides annual salary step increases for public school teachers who have completed a year's satisfactory service and comply with specified requirements. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to authorize Medicaid coverage through the Children's Health Insurance Program to income-qualified pregnant persons and children regardless of immigration status. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT.

Requires the Department of Human Resources Development, in collaboration with various state and county agencies, to establish a Transportation Demand Management Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO TEACHER COMPENSATION.

Recognizes prior teaching experience at an equal salary rating for teachers entering or reentering into the service of the Department of Education. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

REYES ODA

RELATING TO CANNABIS.

Establishes the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to regulate all aspects of the cannabis plant. Beginning 1/1/2026, legalizes the personal adult use of cannabis. Establishes taxes on the retail sale of adult-use cannabis and the sale of medical cannabis. Adds new traffic offenses relating to the consumption or possession of marijuana or marijuana concentrate. Makes conforming amendments related to the legalization of personal adult use of cannabis. Beginning 1/1/2026, decriminalizes certain drug offenses related to marijuana and marijuana concentrate. Transfers the personnel and assets of the Department of Health and assets of the Department of Agriculture relating to cannabis to the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office. Establishes various positions within state entities to regulate the personal adult use of cannabis. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO A STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION INCOME TAX CREDIT.

Reestablishes the Historic Preservation Income Tax Credit. Establishes a cap of the tax credit for each taxable year from 2025 to 2030. Sunsets 12/31/2030. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CONFORMITY TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.

Conforms Hawaii income and estate and generation-skipping transfer tax laws to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended as of December 31, 2024. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.

Clarifies that nonresidents who claim the state refundable earned income tax credit are required to adjust the amount claimed using the ratio of their Hawaii adjusted gross income to federal adjusted gross income. Eliminates the unlimited carryforward on nonrefundable earned income tax credits claimed for tax year 2022. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTIONS.

Repeals the general excise tax exemption for amounts received by independent sugar cane farmers. Repeals the general excise tax exemption for amounts received by contractors of the Patient-Centered Community Care program that is established by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to title 38 United States Code section 8153. Effective 1/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Beginning 7/1/2028, authorizes a county to impose a mileage-based road usage charge on electric vehicles. Provides and requires a county to establish the rate of the road usage charge. Repeals the requirement for the Department of Transportation to establish county subaccounts within the State Highway Fund. Clarifies the disposition of funds for state mileage-based road usage charge. Clarifies the rate and calculation of the state mileage-based road usage charge. Specifies that rental motor vehicle companies may visibly pass the costs of the mileage-based road usage charges to the consumer. Expands allowable uses of the State Highway and Highway Funds. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HIGHWAYS.

Authorizes the counties to sell or dispose of property bordering the ocean when the Department of Transportation requests the acquisition of the property for state highway purposes. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE PROCEDURE FOR PAYMENT UNDER PROTEST LAWSUITS.

Allows for the interest earned on payments under protest in the litigated claims fund to be paid in nontaxation cases if the claimant prevails. Establishes a procedure for the disposition of moneys and refiling of actions when a payment under protest suit is filed prematurely. (SD1)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

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. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO TEACHER WORKFORCE HOUSING.

Establishes a Teacher Workforce Housing Stipend Program to support teacher retention at public and charter schools classified as hard-to-staff. Requires reports to the Legislature. Amends the purpose and uses of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Exempts any development of homestead lots or housing for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from general excise and use taxes. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL IMPACT FEES.

Exempts housing developed by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from school impact fees. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.

Allows the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to sell, donate, or dispose of property abandoned or seized in federal public housing projects. Requires the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to notify the known owner of the abandoned or seized property. Creates procedures for persons entitled to the abandoned or seized property. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TENANT SELECTION.

Repeals the tenant selection preferences for disabled veterans and the spouses of deceased veterans in the State Low-Income Housing Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Amends statutory language to conform the requirements of beginning dates and automatic cashout requirements with the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO INTEREST ON INSURANCE PROCEEDS RELATED TO A MORTGAGE LOAN.

Requires Hawaii financial institutions, during a declared state of emergency, and mortgage servicers to determine whether insurance proceeds are to be applied to a mortgage or be placed into an interest-bearing escrow account. Prohibits charging a fee for the maintenance or disbursement of the interest earned from the interest-bearing escrow account. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO INSTALLMENT LOANS.

Replaces the term "consumer loan" with the defined term "installment loan" for consistency throughout the installment loan chapter. Clarifies who is subject to the installment loan chapter. Requires loan maintenance fees to be prorated daily. Allows lenders to charge a convenience fee of up to $5 for debit card payments. Requires paper receipts only for in-person or cash payments and removes consumer names from receipts. Repeals the requirement for lenders to wait three days after a consumer fully repays a loan before issuing a new installment loan. Sunsets 6/30/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION'S OPERATING BUDGET.

Permits condominium associations to borrow from or reallocate their reserve funds; provided that the loan is repaid within one year. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

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. 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. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Reduces the amount the Department of Education is authorized to charge for school meals to all students enrolled in department schools to no more than one-quarter of the cost of preparing the meals. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Increases the transient accommodations tax and allocates a portion of the tax to the general fund for projects that address climate change impacts and advance economic development and revitalization. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DWELLING UNIT REVOLVING FUND.

Makes the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund Equity Pilot Program permanent. Allows partial or full repayment of Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund interim loans in the form of unit equity through the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund Equity Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT.

Clarifies that a partner or member that is a partnership or limited liability company that has been allocated a low-income housing tax credit may either further allocate the credit or transfer, sell, or assign all or a portion of the credit to any person. Extends the sunset date of Act 129, SLH 2016, relating to the low-income housing tax credit, from 12/31/2027 to 12/31/2032. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO IMPACT FEES.

Authorizes condominium associations and planned community associations located in a zoning district that allows for transient vacation rentals to impose an impact fee on owners or members who use their units as transient vacation rentals. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Requires the Department of Budget and Finance to enter into step-in agreements for payment obligations arising under certain power purchase agreements. Establishes the Power Purchase Costs Trust Fund. Establishes that money collected from on-bill charges for power purchase agreements and money received from a surcharge supporting a reserve account that are deposited in the Trust Fund shall be held in trust by the State, and that independent power producers shall hold a beneficial interest in the moneys to the extent of the amounts owed under the covered power purchase agreements. Appoints, authorizes, and empowers an electric utility to serve as the billing, collection, and payment agent of the Department of Budget and Finance in the service of performing step-in agreements. (SD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO CARBON SEQUESTRATION INCENTIVES.

Codifies and makes permanent the Hawaii Carbon Smart Land Management Assistance Program under the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE FUEL.

Amends the renewable fuels production tax credit by: increasing the tax credit rate; specifying that the credit may be claimed for fuels that meet certain lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions and product transportation emissions thresholds; adding credit values for low lifecycle emissions renewable fuels and sustainable aviation fuels produced; allowing a taxpayer who previously claimed a credit to claim another credit for taxable years beginning after 12/31/2024; amending the credit period to be for a maximum period of ten consecutive years beginning from the effective date of this Act; and amending the required information in the certified statement. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY FINANCING.

Authorizes the Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund to be used to provide financial assistance to underserved ratepayers, in addition to other eligible borrowers. Appropriates funds into and out of the Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO ATTORNEYS' FEES.

Limits the accrued attorneys' fees and costs in matters relating to, or actions brought as a result of, construction defects to twenty-five per cent of the recovery amount. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO PLANS.

Removes outdated requirements for plans filed with the registrar's office. Updates the permissible drawing scales used in plans. Clarifies statutory fees are pursuant to rules adopted by the Department of Accounting and General Services. Authorizes the Department of Accounting and General Services to approve the format of plans. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER CARRIERS.

Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to establish automatic adjustment mechanisms. Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to grant exemptions to any water carrier from any requirement under the Hawaii Water Carrier Act. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT.

Allows tax credits claimed under the State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program to be used to offset taxes imposed by the state transient accommodations tax law. Specifies that tax credit amounts applied to state transient accommodations taxes be limited to state transient accommodations taxes imposed in the same county in which the qualified low-income building is located. Makes permanent Act 129, SLH 2016. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2027. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX REDUCTIONS.

Reduces the general excise tax rate on the gross proceeds or gross income from the sale of groceries that are eligible under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), regardless of the means of purchase and the program eligibility of the purchaser. Reduces the general excise tax rate on the gross proceeds or income from the sale of nonprescription drugs. Requires DBEDT to conduct an economic cost-benefit analysis on the general excise tax reductions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO ALCOHOL.

Defines "low alcohol by volume spirits beverage". Establishes a tax on low alcohol by volume spirits beverages at a rate of $0.93 per wine gallon. Increases small craft producer production limits. Sunsets 12/31/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO TEACHERS.

Increases the bonus for teachers who achieve and maintain a current national board certification from $5,000 to $10,000. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

REYES ODA

RELATING TO RETIRED TEACHERS.

Amends the break in service requirement for retirants to six months before they can be rehired as teachers or administrators in teacher shortage areas or in hard-to-fill positions. Prohibits rehired retirants from receiving additional employment benefits. Directs the Department of Education to adopt rules to identify teacher shortage areas and hard-to-fill positions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

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 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 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)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Establishes an installation goal for customer-sited distributed energy resources in the State. Ensures that fair compensation is provided to distributed energy resources exports as part of grid service programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Reduces the minimum number of years of credited service from ten years to five years qualified Tier 2 employee's retirement system members must have to be eligible for vested benefit status for service retirement allowance purposes. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION MEDICAL BENEFITS.

Expands workers' compensation medical benefits for firefighters to include coverage for adenocarcinoma or mesothelioma of the respiratory system; cancer of the buccal cavity, colon, pharynx, and thyroid; and malignant melanoma. Specifies that an employer may prove that the cancer or disease was not associated with the firefighting duties to deny medical benefits under workers' compensation law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat