Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Short form bill relating to energy.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Appropriates funds to establish a permanent Educational Support Associate position within the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources' Kona Cooperative Extension.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL CRIMES.

Establishes the Hawaii Agricultural Crimes Council. Expands the duties of the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with and support the Council. Establishes the Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS.

Transfers the Hawaii Child Nutrition Programs Agency from the Department of Education to the Department of Agriculture and codifies its establishment. Establishes a grant program to be administered by the Agency to support the funding of certain initiatives for the State's public schools. Appropriates funds for grants. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO RESILIENCY.

Establishes the Food and Beverage Supply Chain Resiliency Income Tax Credit to be administered by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Department of Taxation. Requires DBEDT to establish expedited permitting processes for food and beverage supply chain activities. Applicable to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO OPEN MEETINGS.

Repeals the Legislature's exemption under the State's open meetings law.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO ETHICS.

For purposes of the state ethics laws, subjects legislators to all ethics laws applicable to employees by including legislators within the definition of "employees". Repeals references to legislators under the state ethics laws made redundant by the inclusion.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE III, SECTION 4, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH LEGISLATIVE TERM LIMITS.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the number of years members may serve in the Legislature to a maximum of sixteen years.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

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.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND LEASES.

Prohibits the State from leasing any public lands, or extending the lease of any public lands, to any individual, corporation, or federal agency that is in arrears in the payment of certain moneys to the State, is noncompliant with a consent decree or memoranda of agreement with the State that requires environmental maintenance or remediation with regard to the subject public lands, or has been found to be in violation of federal or state laws aimed at protecting the environment. Requires certification by the Office of the Governor before the issuance or extension of any federal lease that the individual, corporation, or federal agency is in good standing with the State. Provides that, if any existing lessee of public lands is found not to be in good standing with the State as of the effective date of this Act, the lessee shall have three years, or until the end of the lease term, whichever is sooner, to correct the violation or the lease shall be terminated. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Requires the Insurance Commissioner to study the feasibility of the mutual insurance model for condominium associations and submit a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO WILDLIFE.

Bans the keeping or breeding of cetaceans in captivity except in certain circumstances.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION TO PROMOTE ACCOUNTABILITY IN ELECTED OFFICIALS.

Proposes to amend the state constitution to suspend or bar criminally charged or convicted elected officials from office and impose term limit requirements on elected officials.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO VACANT HOMES.

Establishes a Vacant Homes Special Fund under the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation for rental assistance programs. Establishes a general excise tax surcharge on an owner that allows a residential real property to remain vacant for 180 days or more a year. Requires persons who own residential real property, but do not live there, to obtain a general excise tax license. Requires the counties to disclose to the Department of Taxation a list of properties classified as not being occupied by an owner of that property. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to calculate average annual rental value for the basis for the surcharge amount.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Prohibits the removal of a manufacturer- or factory-installed speed limiting device from an electric bicycle. Requires the Department of Transportation to develop a traffic safety education program and a public awareness campaign. Appropriate funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes a Department of Education statewide policy for cell phone use in all department schools to ensure clear and enforceable guidelines and foster an environment conducive to learning.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY.

Appropriate funds to the legislative reference bureau to procure artificial intelligence software and analytic services to streamline state law and regulations. Requires a report to the legislature.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO ILLEGAL CAMPING.

Clarifies petty misdemeanor penalties for the offense of criminal trespass onto public parks and recreational grounds. Provides for seizure of abandoned or unattended personal property. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a homeless outreach and case management program. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to identify and restore vacated homeless encampment areas in the State and report to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO HAWAII COVERT OPERATIONS.

Establishes the Hawaii Covert Operations Against Smuggling and Transnational Threats program with the Department of Law Enforcement to combat smuggling of drugs and weapons and human trafficking.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO TRANSITIONAL HOMES.

Establishes the Hawaii Efficient Transitional Homes Commission to provide recommendations for the efficient, effective, and transparent management of transitional homes. Requires annual reports to the Legislature.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Authorizes an attending physician to request a functional capacity examination and refer an injured employee for the examination without first obtaining permission from the employee's employer. Allows licensed occupational and physical therapists to be deemed qualified to perform functional capacity examinations. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO COFFEE LABELING.

Clarifies the labeling and advertising requirements for coffee that is grown and processed in the State. Defines "regional origin". Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to issue a certificate of suitability for employment. Requires the Department to collaborate with state and federal agencies and private employers to educate stakeholders on the certification. Appropriate funds.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT.

Amends the definition of "employer" in state law that governs payment of wages and other compensation to include the State and counties when a provision in that law has no comparable provision in state law that governs public officers and employees.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL GAINS TAX.

Amends the capital gains tax rate for individuals, estates, and trusts. Amends the alternative capital gains tax for corporations. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE TIP CREDIT.

Beginning 1/1/2026, increases the tip credit to be twenty per cent of the minimum wage and requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to annually calculate an adjusted tip credit amount.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMON INTEREST OWNERSHIP COMMUNITIES.

Creates regulation requirements for managers of homeowners' associations, planned community associations, cooperative housing corporations, and condominium unit owners' associations in the State. Requires licensure of association managers beginning 7/1/2027. Establishes an Association Manager Licensing Board within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO VOTER REGISTRATION.

Establishes a process, beginning on January 1, 2026, for automatically preregistering or registering public, charter, and private school-enrolled students who are at least 16 years old to vote.

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO NOISE.

Beginning 7/1/2028, prohibits the sale of any leaf blower, string trimmer, or weed whacker that does not meet the ANSI B-175.2 class 1 rating. Increases fines for violations of leaf blower, string trimmer, and weed whacker restrictions. Beginning 7/1/2028, prohibits government entities from purchasing leaf blowers, string trimmers, or weed whackers that do not meet the ANSI B-175.2 class 1 rating. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Board of Education to establish a Korean language program. Appropriates funds.

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO AQUACULTURE.

Authorizes the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture to adopt, amend, and repeal rules to develop an assessment and approval process to import and move aquatic livestock in the State. Requires the Aquaculture Program to develop a risk-based framework and biocontainment standards for the aquatic livestock assessment and approval process. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the Civil Rights Commission to receive and investigate complaints related to acts of discrimination committed by transportation network company drivers against riders with service animals and report the results of its investigation to the Department of Transportation, which shall issue penalties to transportation network companies. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO FORECLOSURES.

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

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO EVICTIONS.

Prohibits landlords from terminating certain tenancies without cause. Establishes criteria under which landlords can undertake a no-fault eviction. Requires landlords, when proceeding with a no-fault eviction, to offer relocation assistance to the tenant or waiver of the final month's rent. Effective 1/1/3000. (HD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO DYNAMIC PRICING.

Prohibits retailers from using dynamic pricing in the sale of food that is sold, or qualifies to be sold, as part of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Special Supplemental Foods Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Establishes fines.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires, for tenancies greater than 90 days, a landlord to notify a tenant of any intent to raise the rent for any subsequent rental agreement or any intent to terminate a rental agreement 60 days before the expiration of the original rental agreement. Requires 90 day's notice for a landlord or tenant to terminate tenancies of three years or more and 60 days' notice to terminate tenancies of less than three years, with certain exceptions. Increases the amount of notice required to terminate tenancies that are less than month-to-month. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO AN INTERSTATE COMPACT TO PHASE OUT CORPORATE WELFARE.

Adopts the Interstate Compact to Phase Out Corporate Welfare.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMUTING.

Requires the Director of Human Resources Development, in consultation with the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Hawaii State Energy Office, and Department of Accounting and General Services, to develop and implement a comprehensive Commuting Choice Benefit Program for all state employees regardless of mode of transportation. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DWELLING UNIT REVOLVING FUND.

Establishes the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund Equity Program. Repeals the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund Equity Pilot Program. Clarifies that the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation may utilize funds in the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund for the purchase of equity in for-sale housing development projects and interim primary or secondary financing.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO REGULATED INDUSTRIES.

Short form bill relating to regulated industries.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS.

Requires state and local law enforcement agencies to notify an individual of their rights when in law enforcement agency custody before any interview with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on certain matters regarding immigration violations. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO BROTHER JOSEPH DUTTON DAY.

Designates April 27 of every year as Brother Joseph Dutton Day. Effective 4/27/2843. (SD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO COUNTY PERMITS.

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

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO RAW MILK.

Authorizes and decriminalizes the sale of raw milk, raw milk products, and raw milk dairy products directly from producers to consumers for human consumption, subject to certain restrictions. Authorizes the direct sale of raw goat milk for pet consumption. Establishes labeling requirements. Requires the Board of Agriculture and Department of Health to adopt rules no later than 7/1/2026.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Establishes state goals related to economic diversification. Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Technology and Development Corporation to meet those goals. Requires the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to submit annual reports over three years to the legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO SMALL BUSINESS LOANS.

Appropriates moneys to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the contracting of services for start-up business financing and support. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS.

Requires the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to make all business registration applications available online. Requires all applications to contain certain contact information.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes the Aerospace and Aeronautics Development Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Appropriates funds.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO MEAT PROCESSING.

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop and implement a grant program to expand the meat processing capacity in the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Short form bill relating to insurance.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat