Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes the position of Ka Papahana Kaiapuni Program Complex Area Superintendent. Requires that at least one at-large member of the Board of Education be a proficient Hawaiian speaking educator, practitioner, or scholar of Hawaiian studies or the Hawaiian language, to be selected from a list of three nominees submitted by the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Clarifies the purpose and objective of the Hawaiian Language Medium Education Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE KEAUHOU AQUIFER SYSTEM.

Establishes and appropriates funds for the Keauhou Aquifer System Monitoring Pilot Project within the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Appropriates funds for the installation of two monitoring wells in the Keauhou Aquifer System. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC ORDER.

Makes it a disorderly conduct offense to remain or loiter within twenty feet of a bus stop with no intent to utilize any bus service. Authorizes law enforcement officers to immediately remove any person committing a disorderly conduct offense of remaining or loitering within twenty feet of a bus stop with no intent to utilize any bus service and confiscate any of their personal property. Authorizes law enforcement officers to determine if the confiscated property is to be saved or discarded. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes the Transit-Oriented Community Improvement Partnership within the Department of Transportation. Establishes the Community Improvement Revolving Fund. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Imposes an additional fee for a certificate of registration for motor vehicles, to be deposited into the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

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 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 TAX INCREMENT FINANCING.

Authorizes the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to apply to the counties for tax increment financing. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Establishes the Affordable Housing Land Inventory Task Force within the Hawaii Community Development Authority to update the Affordable Rental Housing Report and Ten-Year Plan maps, tier tables, and inventories of state lands suitable and available for affordable housing development. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO PLANT CARE COMPONENTS.

Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to adopt rules related to the Plant Care Component Program. Prohibits distributing plant care components that originated outside the State unless it was subjected to treatment before arrival. Establishes administrative penalties to enforce the Plant Care Component Program. Appropriates funds and establishes positions for purposes of the Plant Care Component Program. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO OFFICE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

Establishes the Office of Entrepreneurship. Authorizes the use of the Hawaii Film and Creative Industries Development Special Fund to fund a program in partnership with the Office that creates opportunities in film, media, electronic sports, and creative industries for new businesses. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTIONS.

Establishes a general excise tax exemption on the gross proceeds or gross income received from sales of commodities or services that benefit nonprofit schools. Effective 1/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO EVICTION MEDIATION.

Beginning 2/5/2026, extends the period for a notice of termination of a rental agreement; requires landlords to engage in mediation and delay filing an action for summary possession if a tenant schedules mediation; and requires landlords to provide specific information in the 10‑calendar-day notice to tenants. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. Repeals 2/4/2027. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO ORAL HEALTH.

Establishes an Oral Health Task Force to review the status of oral health in the State and make recommendations to improve the State's oral health infrastructure. Establishes temporary full-time equivalent program specialist V positions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Adds loan funds administered by Nonprofit Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) for certain for-sale affordable housing projects to list of loan priorities for the Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund. Expands use of funds in the revolving fund to allow financing as matching funds for CDFIs to mobilize other funding sources. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Appropriates funds for the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to allocate to housing counseling agencies certified by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide housing counseling services. Requires a report to the Legislature regarding services provided by the housing counseling agencies. Takes effect 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO RED HILL.

Establishes a Water Alliance Initiative Policy Coordinator for coordination of Red Hill WAI initiatives. Creates the Red Hill Remediation Special Fund. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Authorizes the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to utilize funds in the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund as collateral when DHHL is an eligible borrower of a loan guaranteed by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development pursuant to the Housing and Community Development Act, as amended, subject to approval of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Establishes a permitted interaction group within the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Appropriates funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to continue geophysical data collection, investigation, exploration, and identification of geothermal resources on Hawaiian home lands. Authorizes DHHL to hire consultants. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO CHIROPRACTIC.

Beginning 7/1/2027, allows chiropractic students enrolled in a qualified chiropractic college to engage in clinical practice as part of their college instruction if directly supervised by a qualified licensed chiropractor. Requires the Hawaii Board of Chiropractic to adopt rules. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO DECLARATION OF WATER SHORTAGE AND EMERGENCY.

Amends the conditions, manner, and areas in which the Commission on Water Resource Management can declare and provide notice of water shortages and emergencies.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Establishes processes and requirements for associations to impose fines against unit owners, tenants, and guests for violations of the declaration, bylaws, or house rules. Prohibits associations from charging attorneys' fees with respect to any fines that are not deemed collectable. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

Establishes the eighth day of August of each year as "Hawaii Disaster Drill Day". Requires the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with all state departments and agencies, to conduct drills and perform other activities for that day. (SD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Allows an insured to authorize the insurer to electronically remit claim proceeds to the insured's mortgagee when a homeowners insurance policy that covers a mortgaged property allows for the payment of proceeds by issuing a check. Requires a mortgagee in receipt of electronic delivery of claim proceeds to deliver the proceeds of the claim to the insured in accordance with the mortgage agreement and the insurance policy. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO ANTITRUST.

Prohibits the use of algorithmic price-setting in Hawaii's rental market. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to develop and undertake a public education program regarding the prohibition. Establishes fines and penalties. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a nonrefundable income tax credit for taxpayers that incur costs related to the design, materials, installation, and construction of hurricane-resistant safe rooms. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Authorizes state facilities to wheel electricity produced by their own facility from renewable energy sources to other state facilities pursuant to administrative rules or orders established by the Public Utilities Commission. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to submit a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO ATTACHMENT AND EXECUTION OF REAL PROPERTY.

Increases the real property exemption amount for attachment or execution. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES.

Establishes a two-year Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling and Reuse Working Group within the Hawaii State Energy Office. Requires the working group to examine how to maximize the recycling and reuse of electric vehicle batteries and recommend electric vehicle battery management practices. Requires a report to the Legislature. (SD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Clarifies that the dwelling units eligible for the Rent-to-Own Program shall be units that are for sale in fee simple or leasehold on state or county land under a lease with an initial term of not less than ninety-nine years. Increases the time period that the sales price of dwelling units under the Rent-to-Own Program shall remain fixed from five years to ten years after the rental agreement is executed. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes a working group to revise the State's Qualified Allocation Plan, the prioritization of the Rental Housing Revolving Fund, and the terms of loans made from the RHRF. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPOSITS OF PUBLIC FUNDS.

Requires the Director of Finance to consider, before the selection of a depository for the state treasury, the beneficial effects to the State of using depositories within the State, including but not limited to lending at favorable terms for the creation of certain affordable housing units. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires eligible applicants of the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to be either governmental agencies or organizations that are required to use all financial surplus, excluding fees, to develop additional housing in the State. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

Allows the Department of Human Services to administer and provide public assistance to eligible residents of the State during a Governor-declared state of emergency. Allows the Department of Human Services to expend funds from the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund to provide public assistance to eligible residents during a Governor-declared state of emergency. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCING FOR CANDIDATES TO ELECTED OFFICE.

Establishes a comprehensive system of public financing for all candidates seeking election to state and county public offices in the State of Hawaii, to begin with the 2028 general election year. Requires the Campaign Spending Commission to submit reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Establishes as a deceptive practice advertising, displaying, or offering a price for goods or services that does not include all mandatory fees or charges, subject to certain exceptions. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO TERMINAL ILLNESSES.

Authorizes manufacturers of investigational drugs or biological products that are pending approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration to make the drugs or products available to terminally ill patients under certain conditions. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE FINANCES.

Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to utilize revenue bonds when securing a line of credit or other instrument of indebtedness for the Bond Volume Cap Recycling Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND.

Establishes the Housing Efficiency and Innovation Subaccount within the Rental Housing Revolving Fund. Specifies permissible uses of funding and priorities. Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to transfer moneys between the Housing Efficiency and Innovation Subaccount and the RHRF without legislative approval. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LEGISLATURE.

Establishes a temporary working group to study the feasibility of transitioning the Hawaii State Legislature's Regular Session from one that meets for three and a half months from mid-January to early May, to one that meets on a year-round basis. Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to provide administrative support to the working group. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HANALEI BAY.

Prohibits vessels longer than seventy-five feet from entering Hanalei Bay except for vessels operated by a federal, state, or county agency. Requires the Board of Land and Natural Resources to define boundaries of Hanalei Bay by rule. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FINANCING.

Establishes and appropriates funds for a cesspool conversion on-bill financing program to be administered by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority to provide low-interest loans to eligible homeowners for the upgrade, conversion, or connection of cesspools. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FARMS.

Creates an exclusion from income tax for the first $50,000 of gross income earned by farmers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO HOUSING PREFERENCE.

Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to allow projects to grant preferences in the sale or lease of housing units to applicants who live or work within five miles of the project. Takes effect 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Allows the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to utilize the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund as collateral when the Department acts as an eligible borrower for a loan agreement under section 184A of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, as amended. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

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

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish a Chamber of Commerce Competitive Grant Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO PERMITS.

Establishes specific deadlines within the facilitated application process to obtain a permit and requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish certain resources and processes to help streamline permit applications. Establishes and appropriates funds for positions within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat