Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

Permits, under certain circumstances, a previously permitted or authorized activity challenged as being subject to environmental review to continue while the applicable agency or applicant conducts an environmental assessment, prepares an environmental impact statement, or determines whether the activity is exempt. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

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. Moves the Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission from the Office of the Attorney General to the Department of Law Enforcement. Replaces the Attorney General with the Director of Law Enforcement as Chair of the Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission and includes the Attorney General as a commission member. Establishes the Gun Violence Prevention Special Fund and appropriates funds into and out of the special fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD2)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

Short form bill relating to human services.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

Short form bill relating to human services.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

Short form bill relating to human services.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS.

Prohibits the distribution, sale, or use of single-use plastic food ware containing plastic with regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances by businesses beginning on 1/1/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO HOMELESS YOUTH.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to provide emergency shelter and services to unaccompanied homeless youth.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

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. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Beginning 1/1/2026, requires health insurers and mutual benefit societies to provide coverage for traditional native Hawaiian healing and cultural practices offered through a Federally Qualified Health Center or a Native Hawaiian Health Care System.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE.

Requires the Office of the Ombudsman to publish an annual report on its website that identifies the number and nature of complaints that it receives regarding the Child Welfare Services Branch of the Department of Human Services. Requires the Child Welfare Services Branch to provide notification to certain parties that complaints can also be filed with the Office of the Ombudsman. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE RULES.

Requires all state agencies proposing, adopting, amending, or repealing a rule to make the full text of the rules of the agency available on the website of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor in a digitally accessible and searchable format. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Requires corporations, organizations, or individuals engaging to commercial transactions or trade practices to clearly and conspicuously notify consumers when the consumer is interacting with an artificial intelligence chatbot or other technology capable of mimicking human behaviors, with certain exemptions. Requires developers that sell, offer for sale, advertise, or make available artificial intelligence chatbots to disclose that their chatbots use artificial intelligence. Authorizes private rights of action. Establishes statutory penalties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Prohibits a landlord or the landlord's agent from charging an application fee for a criminal background check or credit report if an applicant provides a certified copy of a criminal background check or credit report. Prohibits a landlord or the landlord's agent from charging an application fee if a comprehensive reusable tenant screening report is available. Requires a landlord or the landlord's agent to provide, upon request, a certified copy of an applicant's criminal background check or credit report.

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC BICYCLES.

Increases the minimum age for use of low-speed electric bicycles. Prohibits the selling or offering for sale of bicycles equipped with motors except low-speed electric bicycles. Requires sellers of low-speed electric bicycles to provide purchasers with educational materials.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to implement dyslexia-sensitive universal screenings and evidence-based interventions, offer professional development on structured literacy and evidenced-based interventions, and support pre-teacher programs in training candidates in structured literary instruction. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.

Establishes a school capital improvement project modernization initiative in the School Facilities Authority to create a planning database for school facilities. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Allows tenants who prevail in a lawsuit for a violation of the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code to be awarded damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and costs of the suit.

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Prohibits a condominium association or its board of directors from enforcing de minimis violation of association bylaws, rules, or regulations. Defines "de minimis violations". Requires condominium associations to provide persons accused of violations the right to appeal to the board of directors. Requires a condominium to disclose this right of appeal to alleged violators.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Prohibits fireworks. Imposes penalties.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO DANGEROUS DOGS.

Increase penalties for bodily injuries to humans caused by unprovoked dangerous bog bites resulting from dog owner negligence.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, requires each public, private, and charter school in the State to establish a program within the health education curriculum for high school students to provide instruction in CPR. Specifies instruction requirements. Waives liability for instruction under certain circumstances.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITIES.

Provides for the administrative dissolution of any planned community association or condominium association in existence as of 7/1/2027. Provides the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs the powers currently provided to planned community associations and condominium associations under chapters 421J and 514B, HRS, and each planned community's or condominium's bylaws and other governing documents. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to submit a report and proposed legislation to the Legislature with recommendations to administer planned communities and condominiums.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO COMMON INTEREST COMMUNITIES.

Prohibits condominium associations and planned community associations from requiring a unit owner to pay a filing fee, application fee, or other similar fee, when applying to improve, alter, repair, or renovate a portion of the unit owner's unit or other real property, including an exterior portion of the unit.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO SCHOOL SAFETY.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for positions to implement and maintain school safety measures. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Authorizes the Department of Education to establish a program to award high school diplomas to persons who did not receive a diploma as a result of compulsory or voluntary induction into the armed services and persons whose high school education was interrupted due to wartime practices during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO THERAPY SERVICES.

Expands the scopes of practice for occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech pathologists employed by or contracted with the Department of Education to diagnose students with a medical condition in an educational setting and treat the students. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS.

Creates a School Psychologists Working Group within the Department of Education to recommend actionable steps or propose legislation for an immediate pathway to licensure for school psychologists that can be acted upon in 2026. Requires a report to the Legislature. Takes effect 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes a nationally certified school psychologist incentive program. Appropriates funds for the incentive program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for the Department's Hoʻākea Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Board of Education to adopt a policy that bans the use of phones and related devices by students during school hours.

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes braille literacy as a policy of the State. Requires literacy assessments for eligible low vision and blind students to include braille instruction and the use of braille. Authorizes the Department of Education to adopt administrative rules. Establishes the Braille Literacy Resource Center. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTHCARE FACILITY NURSE STAFFING.

Implements various nurse-to-patient ratios at hospitals and care homes. Requires the Department of Health to audit healthcare facility compliance.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires and appropriates funds to pay salary differentials to English language educators as an incentive to attract and retain these educators. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Board of Education to adopt and enact a policy by the 2026-2027 school year directing Department of Education public schools to incorporate financial literacy education in the school's curriculum. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO HAZARD PAY BONUS.

Appropriates funds for a one-time hazard pay bonus to state officers and employees in bargaining units 5, 6, and 7, and their excluded counterparts under certain conditions.

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO THE SAFETY OF EDUCATIONAL WORKERS.

Requires the Department of Education and public charter schools to take certain steps to report incidents of harassment and implement procedures for handling harassment of educational workers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO NURSING.

Appropriates funds to establish the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at the University of Hawaii Maui College. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO ASSISTED REPRODUCTION.

Establishes a streamlined procedure for determining parentage in cases of assisted reproduction.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Expands the protections established under Act 2, SLH 2023, to include gender-affirming health care services. Clarifies jurisdiction under the Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act for cases involving children who obtain gender-affirming health care services.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO HATE CRIMES.

Defines "reported hate crime". Requires reporting of all possible reported hate crimes to appropriate authorities, including consistent documentation and analysis of such incidents. Requires law enforcement officers to receive annual training to identify, investigate, and document hate crimes and possible hate crimes. Requires the Attorney General to establish or update guidelines, protocols, and training materials for the reporting and investigation of hate crimes and possible hate crimes.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Prohibits physicians and surgeons from performing certain procedures on individuals born with variations in their physical sex characteristics who are under one year of age, unless the procedure is a surgery required to address an immediate risk of physical harm.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO COLD CASE INVESTIGATIONS.

Establishes and appropriates funds for a Cold Case Investigation Unit within the Department of the Attorney General. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO SEX TRAFFICKING.

Requires the posting of informational placards on sex trafficking and resources available to victims, in public buildings and at other specified locations. Requires the Department of Human Services to develop and make available a model placard. Requires the Department of Education to train teachers, school administrators, and other school personnel on the dynamics of sex trafficking and strategies for prevention and response. Requires and appropriates moneys for the Department of the Attorney General to develop and implement public education and outreach events on the dynamics of sex trafficking and the importance of community involvement in prevention and response efforts.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Establishes the shipping container inspection program and shipping container inspection program special fund. Amends the definitions of "aerial devices" and "fireworks" within state fireworks law. Requires reports to the Legislature on implementation of the shipping container inspection program. Appropriates moneys.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO CORONERS.

Requires the mayor of each county to appoint, and the county council or city council to confirm, a county medical examiner. Provides that the medical examiner for each county shall serve as the county's coroner. Makes conforming amendments. Appropriates moneys to the counties of Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai, for the establishment of county medical examiner positions.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOMELANDS.

Appropriates funds to be used by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for mercantile projects, as well as lump sum repair and maintenance, in fiscal year 2025-2026. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

Allows the Hawaii Community Development Authority to approve residential development on certain parcels of land in the Kakaako Makai area. Raises the building height limit on certain parcels in the area. Requires a certain percentage of the residential units developed on certain parcels to be allocated to households at or below a certain income level, with priority given to certain essential workforce in the area. Limits the sale of residential units developed in certain residential developments to prospective owner-occupants. Requires the Hawaii Community Development Authority to determine a Kakaako Makai Association Fee to be collected from all residential developments on certain parcels to be deposited into a special account in the Hawaii Community Development Revolving Fund to fund various services and projects in the Kakaako Makai area.

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Establishes the Class A felony-level offense of serious bodily injury or death resulting from fireworks.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

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 licenses from undue discrimination.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO TAX REVENUES.

Beginning on 1/1/2026, increases transient accommodations tax rates by 1 percentage point. Deposits the increased revenues into the Hawaiian Home General Loan Fund established under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920, as amended. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Daniel HoltDemocrat