Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO NATIVE HAWAIIAN BUSINESS MARKETING.

Appropriates funds for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to convene a working group regarding program design, implementation, and long-term viability of a Native Hawaiian Marketing Program to promote and support the success of businesses owned by Hawaiians through marketing and technical assistance. Effective 7/1/3000.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

Increases the number of voter service centers in the State. Requiring all voter services centers to operate during the same days and hours statewide. Clarifies that during each day of operation, during all hours of operation, each voter service center is to provide in-person voter registration, receive absentee and election-by-mail ballots, allow voters to vote in person, and provide voting machine services for persons with disabilities. Appropriates moneys to the counties for the administrative costs of voter service centers.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO JUVENILE JUSTICE.

Requires and appropriates moneys for the Department of Human Services' Office of Youth Services to develop and implement a program offering individualized service and support teams to assist at-risk and court-involved youth.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO THE MEDICAL USE OF CANNABIS.

Repeals registration requirements relating to qualifying outofstate medical cannabis patients who are validly registered in other states, United States territories, or the District of Columbia. Repeals language requiring an initial inperson consultation before physicians and advanced practice registered nurses may make medical cannabis treatment recommendations via telehealth. Prohibits the Department of Health from imposing fees for patients' medical cannabis registration certificates.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO SCHOOL SAFETY.

Requires the Department of Education to assign school resource officers to department public schools and charter schools. Encourages the employment of qualified retirees from the local police departments and department of law enforcement. Appropriates funds for these positions.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Prohibits the imposition of cost-sharing requirements for certain diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Short form bill relating to energy.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO RECORDINGS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.

Establishes the right of a person to record law enforcement activities. Establishes a private right of action for any violation of the right to record law enforcement activities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO HOTELS.

Requires hotelkeepers to provide adequate notice of service disruptions to guests and third-party vendors under certain conditions. Allows for recovery of damages by injured consumers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT THE INHERENT AND INALIENABLE RIGHT OF THE 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 present and 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.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO MANAGING AGENTS.

Requires managing agents for residential condominium properties over seventy-five feet in height to have commercial property management experience.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE THIRTY-FIRST REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the thirty-first representative district.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO TREATMENT FOR MENTAL ILLNESS.

Establishes a pilot program in the Department of Health to provide intensive mobile treatment-type services, e.g., "street psychiatry", to chronically houseless adult individuals suffering from serious brain disorders like schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the Department of Transportation to identify any roadways other than Makakilo Drive that may be used as emergency egress routes in Makakilo. Requires the Department of Transportation to plan for, design, and construct an emergency egress route in Makakilo under certain circumstances. Appropriates moneys.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO DISABLED VETERANS.

Exempts qualifying disabled veterans from county vehicle registration fees, highway beautification fees, and vehicle weight taxes.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Amends the misdemeanor offense of criminal property damage in the third degree to include intentionally or knowingly damaging the property of another, if the property is used in a business operation.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO INJURIOUS MATERIALS.

Prohibits placing, dropping, or leaving injurious materials on highways, lanes, roads, streets, and alleys.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Converts certain fireworks-related offenses from misdemeanors to class C felonies.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII'S SPACE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING INITIATIVE.

Appropriates funds for salaries and fringe benefits of positions for the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy's Space Science and Engineering Initiative Workforce Development Program, Maunakea Scholars Program, and Internship Program. Appropriates funds for office equipment and supplies, operational costs, and stipends for high school and college students. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII PROMISE PROGRAM.

Expands the Hawaii promise program to provide scholarships for the unmet needs of qualified students at any four-year university of Hawaii campus who meet certain criteria. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.

Increases penalties for a third or subsequent offense within five years of excessive speeding to a misdemeanor. Increases penalties for a second offense within five years of excessive speeding. Authorizes the court, as part of the person's sentencing for the third or subsequent offense, to order that the vehicle used by the person in the commission of the offense be subject to forfeiture. Requires individuals convicted of excessive speeding to be subject to identification processing procedures. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Lisa KitagawaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Short form bill relating to the University of Hawaii.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Prohibits the legislative body of a county from making modifications to housing development proposals that would increase the cost of the project.

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL LEASEHOLDS.

Exempts state and county lands leased after July 1, 2025, for an initial period of no less than ninety-nine years from state law governing residential leaseholds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Clarifies that dwelling units eligible under 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 no less than ninety-nine years. Increases the time the sale price under the program must remain fixed from five years to ten years. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO WAGES.

Caps the minimum wage at $15 per hour. Adjusts the schedule for the tip credit increase.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO COUNTY PERMITS.

Requires county permitting agencies to establish and fill positions exclusively to process permit applications submitted for state projects. Appropriates funds.

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO THEFT.

Provides that a person who commits theft of property or services the value of which does not exceed $750, commits theft in the second degree if the person was convicted two or more times for any theft offenses in the five years prior to the current offense.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO OFFICE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

Establishes the Office of Entrepreneurship. Creates a program in partnership with the Hawaii film and creative industries development special fund. Appropriates moneys to establish the Office of Entrepreneurship.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Establishes a general excise tax holiday on the first Saturday of each month for small businesses within the State.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Excludes from state income taxes the gross income, adjusted gross income, and taxable income derived from tips received by employees.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

Short form bill relating to higher education.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE IX OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII RELATING TO RECREATIONAL CANNABIS.

Proposes a constitutional amendment that would legalize the possession and use of recreational cannabis by adults who are at least 21 years of age, as provided by law.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Repeals the requirement imposed on the counties to allow for the construction of at least two accessory dwelling units on all residentially zoned lots. Establishes the accessory dwelling unit housing development program with the Hawaii Community Development Authority to award subsidies to individuals who build accessory dwelling units. Exempts those accessory dwelling units from general excise tax for the first 3 years of rental.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT.

Prohibits licensed attorneys from representing clients in small claims court.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO RESTORING RESPECT AND DIGNITY TO AMERICA'S ONLY ROYAL PALACE IN THE NATION.

Prohibits parking of motor vehicles on the grounds of Iolani Palace. Requires DAGS to remove the blacktop, parking area, and paid parking adjacent to Iolani Palace. Requires DLNR to develop and maintain a pedestrian area adjacent to Iolani Palace. Requires DAGS and DLNR to report on cost analysis.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Categorizes electric bicycles into three classes based on speed and operation. Establishes regulations for electric bicycles. Requires electric bicycle manufacturers and distributors to apply a label to each electric bicycle specifying the classification number, top assisted speed, and motor wattage of the electric bicycle. Imposes licensure and insurance requirements for class three electric bicycles.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Expands the existing renewable energy technologies tax credit to cover claims made after 2025 for solar energy systems integrating battery storage or existing systems that are retrofitted to include battery storage.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO OCEAN RECREATION MANAGEMENT.

Establishes a standard of state waters within three thousand feet seaward of the base line of the territorial sea as ocean recreation management areas. Prohibits commercial activity in ocean recreation management areas, except by a commercial use permit.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO WIND ENERGY.

Creates an offshore wind energy working group to generate a roadmap to define standards to consider in the developmental process for offshore wind energy. Requires the working group to submit a report to the legislature prior to the 2027 regular session.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE.

No later than January 1, 2026, requires the Department of Accounting and General Services to install and maintain automated external defibrillators in all state buildings, including all public schools. Requires DAGS to establish a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan and work with the counties to implement the plan into the counties' emergency service provider protocols. Requires DAGS to provide trainings on the use of automated external defibrillators and the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation for state employees and security staff of certain state agencies. Makes appropriations.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

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. Limits the duration of a water shortage declaration to ninety days. Limits water usage restrictions imposed on a permittee or owner and operator to twenty per cent of the permittee's or owner and operator's last reported monthly use. Requires CWRM to maintain a list of names and postal or email addresses of persons who request notification of a water shortage declaration and send them a copy of a notice of a water shortage declaration whenever water shortage is declared. Effective 7/1/2040. (SD2)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES.

Adds a minimum penalty and amends the maximum penalty per violation of the State Water Code, expands the types of potential violations of the State Water Code, and makes each day that a violation exists or continues to exist a separate offense. Requires the Commission on Water Resource Management to consider certain factors when imposing penalties.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.

Amends the transient accommodations tax rate beginning on 1/1/2027. Beginning 1/1/2027, requires collection of a monthly tax of $20 per passenger per port entry or any commercial passenger vessel at any port facility under the jurisdiction of the department of taxation. Establishes a Transient Accommodation Tax Enforcement Working Group. Requires the transfer of all agricultural leases under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture. Appropriates funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for certain environmental stewardship projects. Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Tourism Authority for its operating budget request. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

Appropriates funds for the cesspool compliance pilot grant project.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Extends the sunset date of Act 67, SLH 2023, to 6/30/2030. Appropriates funds for the illegal fireworks task force. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Establishes the Agricultural Enforcement Program within the Department of Law Enforcement. Establishes the Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII FIRST RESPONDERS MEMORIAL.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Accounting and General Services to hire a consultant to evaluate potential locations and designs for the Hawaii First Responders Memorial. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND USE.

Temporarily allows each county, by resolution of its county council, to petition for the redistricting of land from an agricultural district to a rural district through the Land Use Commission's declaratory ruling process. Effective 7/1/3000. Sunsets 6/30/2029. (HD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE GOVERNMENT.

Authorizes boards and commissions to make employment decisions related to its officers and employees without the approval of the head of the department to which the board or commission is administratively attached.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat