Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO LIQUOR LICENSES.

Increases the liquor manufacturing limits for Class 18 small craft producer pub license holders.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT THE INHERENT AND INALIENABLE RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE TO CLEAN WATER AND AIR, A HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE, HEALTHY NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS, AND BEACHES.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure that the inherent and inalienable right of the people, including future generations, to clean water and air, a healthful environment and climate, healthy native ecosystems, and beaches, shall be protected and shall not be infringed.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY FOR CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS.

Authorizes and appropriates moneys for the Board of Psychology to grant prescriptive authority to clinical psychologists who meet specific education, training, and registration requirements. Requires the Board of Psychology to accept applications for prescriptive authority privilege beginning 7/1/2026. Requires the Board of Psychology to report to the Legislature.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO EQUITY.

Requires all places of public accommodation and public entity constructions constructed after 7/31/2026, to provide universal changing accommodations that are equally accessible regardless of gender.

AQUINO

RELATING TO SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES.

Establishes a Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Fee Program to be administered by the Department of Health that, beginning 7/1/2026, imposes a fee on the distribution and sale of sugar-sweetened beverages in the State. Establishes the Healthy Ohana Special Fund into which revenues generated from the sugar-sweetened beverage fee are deposited. Establishes the Healthy Ohana Trust Fund in the private sector to receive revenues from the Healthy Ohana Special Fund to support prevention and control of obesity and chronic diseases. Allows the Department to contract with a third party to administer the program. Requires the Auditor to conduct a management and financial audit of the program and submit reports to the Legislature. Establishes the Healthy Ohana Trust Fund Advisory Committee to advise the Department on the administration of the trust fund. Requires the Department to adopt interim rules no later than 6/30/2026, and final rules no later than 12/31/2027. Establishes civil penalties. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Requires the independent medical examination and permanent impairment rating examination of an injured employee under the Workers' Compensation Law to be conducted by a qualified physician selected by the mutual agreement of the parties and paid for by the employer. In absence of a mutual agreement, requires the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to appoint a duly qualified impartial physician to be paid by the employer.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE.

Requires insurers to notify the Insurance Commissioner of all existing motor vehicle insurance policies and whenever the insurer issues, cancels, terminates, or does not renew a motor vehicle insurance policy. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to use the insurance policy information to create an electronic database to provide law enforcement and the courts with instant insurance verification. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS POSSESSION.

Requires individuals denied a firearm permit or otherwise disqualified from possessing firearms and certain defendants to provide a sworn statement that the individual has disposed of any firearms and ammunition in the individual's possession. Requires the applicable chief of police to search firearm permit and registration records for those individuals before serving a protective order or restraining order involving firearms or ammunition, and to seize any firearms or ammunition that were not disposed of. Requires police to seize firearms and ammunition in domestic abuse cases that are in plain view of the officer or discovered by consensual search.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO BICYCLES.

Requires bike owners to pay an annual registration fee each year.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

Establishes the Office of Gun Violence Prevention to conduct community outreach on gun violence prevention, develop and administer a grant program for gun violence prevention, and develop and administer a gun violence resource bank. Establishes the Gun Violence Prevention Special Fund and appropriates funds into and out of the special fund. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies to collaborate with the federal government for immigration purposes except for in limited, specific circumstances.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO SUPPORTED DECISION-MAKING AGREEMENTS.

Allows qualified adults, including adults with a disability, mentally ill adults, and adults sixty-five years of age or older, to enter into supported decision-making agreements with one or members of a supportive community. Specifies the terms of a supported decision-making agreement, including access to personal information and agreement requirements.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO COVERED OFFENDER REGISTRATION.

Amends covered offender registration laws to include offenders who, while acting in a professional capacity, commit the offense of sexual assault in the fourth degree against a minor who is at least sixteen years old. Provides that the exception to public access requirements does not apply when the covered offense was committed against a minor.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO REGULATION OF LICENSED OCCUPATIONS.

Requires professional licensees to report any legal claim, action, or administrative complaint to state licensing boards and requires the boards to review the reported complaint. Requires the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to review its procedures and report to the Legislature.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO PUPIL TRANSPORTATION.

Authorizes individuals who possess a commercial driver's license with a passenger "P" endorsement to provide pupil transportation student services without also possessing a school bus "S" endorsement in certain circumstances.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.

Establishes an Early Learning Cooperative Program within the Department of Human Services. Establishes an Advisory Council to advise on the goals of the Early Learning Cooperative Program. Requires the Department of Human Services to secure federal funding through the Child Care and Development Block Grant for the administration of the Early Learning Cooperative Program. Requires the Department of Human Services to adopt administrative rules. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE REVENUE BONDS TO ASSIST HAWAII ISLAND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER.

Authorizes the issuance of special purpose revenue bonds to assist Hawaii Island Community Health Center to purchase or lease land on the island of Hawaii and develop primary care health care facilities.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO PROPERTY FORFEITURE.

Prohibits civil asset forfeiture unless the covered offense is a felony for which the property owner has been convicted. Excludes the forfeiture proceedings for an animal pending criminal charges. Requires the Attorney General to deposit the net proceeds of the forfeited property to the credit of the state general fund.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME.

Requires the Department of Human Services to automatically enroll, or authorize the Social Security Administration to automatically enroll, in the State's Medicaid program any individual in the State who receives federal Supplemental Security Income benefits. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMERCE.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Appropriates funds for the agricultural loan program to offer loans with an interest rate cap of four per cent; a line of credit program with a prevailing interest rate; and loans with an interest rate cap of three per cent for new farmers that commit to growing import replacement crops and farm-to-state programs.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.

Permanently increases the state earned income tax credit to fifty per cent of the federal earned income tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2024.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO EXCITED DELIRIUM.

Prohibits excited delirium from being recognized as a valid medical diagnosis or cause of death in the State. Prohibits a local health officer or local agent of the Department of Health from stating on a certificate of death or in any report that the cause of death was excited delirium. Prohibits law enforcement officers from using the term excited delirium to describe an individual in an incident report. Establishes a new rule of evidence that deems evidence that a person experienced or suffered an excited delirium inadmissible in a civil action.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO LAVA ZONE INSURANCE.

Establishes a Lava Zone Insurance Fund to subsidize the cost of insurance premiums for properties in lava zones 1 and 2. Defines lava zones 1 and 2. Appropriates funds.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO THE KOHALA DITCH.

Makes the Agribusiness Development Corporation responsible for the maintenance of the Kohala Ditch. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Herbert M. "Tim" Richards IIIDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to provide health insurance through Medicaid's Children's Health Insurance Program to income-qualified children and pregnant persons regardless of their immigration status.

AQUINO

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to provide Medicaid coverage under the Children's Health Insurance Program for income-qualified pregnant persons and children who are otherwise ineligible due to their immigration status.

AQUINO

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to achieve full funding status, including estimated payment increases, of Medicaid home- and community-based services.

AQUINO

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Authorizes large landowners to petition the Land Use Commission to allow the development of elderly housing on portions of agricultural lands.

Herbert M. "Tim" Richards IIIDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Provides that a tax credit for low-income housing that exceeds the taxpayer's income tax liability for a taxable year may be used as a credit against the taxpayer's income tax liability in subsequent taxable years, but not after the tenth subsequent taxable year.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Establishes the DLNRTip application as the official electronic platform for persons to report natural resource violations to the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement. Creates statutory requirements regarding the design and maintenance of the DLNRTip application. Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to ensure that all information submitted through the DLNRTip application is continuously monitored to facilitate timely enforcement responses. Requires annual reports. Authorizes 1.0 full-time equivalent position. Appropriates moneys.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE ARCHIVES.

Establishes the State Archives Relocation Task Force to make recommendations on a new location for the state archives building.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO CRIME.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO IMMIGRATION.

Prohibits certain covered educational entities and Hawaii Health Systems Corporation facilities from collecting information regarding citizenship or immigration status or allowing officers of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enter certain facilities, except under specific circumstances.

AQUINO

RELATING TO COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for community schools and a program manager position.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO LABOR.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO FORECLOSURES.

Prohibit sellers of foreclosed homes from bundling properties at a public sale and requires each foreclosed home to be sold separately. Specifies that the sale of a foreclosed property is not final until either fifteen days after the public sale or forty-five days if an eligible bidder submits a subsequent bid or written notice of intent to submit a subsequent bid.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to implement SolarAPP+ or a functionally equivalent online automated permitting platform that verifies code compliance and issues permits to licensed contractors for solar distributed energy resource systems in real-time by 1/1/2026. Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits in areas served by an investor-owned electric utility to adopt a self-certification process for solar distributed energy resource systems that are not SolarAPP+ compatible.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.

Appropriates funds for the Office of the Governor, in collaboration with the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, to oversee and administer grants to low-income residents, and condominium associations on behalf of low-income condominium owners, to fortify residential real property against hurricanes.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects per the agricultural infrastructure of the State, a food and product innovation network, and outstanding debt on the Waiahole water system.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO FOOD SECURITY.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture for the continued administration of the Hawaii Healthy Food Incentive Program and to provide matching funds to beneficiaries who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO ANIMAL FUR PRODUCTS.

Prohibits the sale, offer, possession with intent to sell, display, distribution, or trade of fur products in the State, with certain exceptions. Establishes civil penalties for violations. Effective 6/30/2025.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

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.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURER PRIOR AUTHORIZATION.

Requires health plan insurers to align their prior authorization processes with Medicare policies.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to conduct a study to identify the most cost-effective investments for clean energy alternatives to combustible fuels. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Repeals biomass from the renewable portfolio standard definition of "renewable energy".

Mike GabbardDemocrat