Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO THE STATE OF HAWAII FILM COMMISSION.

Establishes the State of Hawaii Film Commission within the Creative Industries Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to support the State's film and media industries. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO SPORTS FACILITIES.

Requires conditions placed on appropriations to the Stadium Development Special Fund to be met before expenditure. Restricts private donations to the Stadium Authority to use on stadium infrastructure and stadium development costs. Appropriates funds out of the Stadium Development Special Fund, subject to the completion of specific project readiness conditions. Requires certain moneys expended to be from private sources. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

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 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 AGRICULTURE.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Agriculture to develop an online reporting tool on restricted use pesticide usage. Appropriates funds to convert an unspecified number of temporary Environmental Health Specialist III positions into permanent positions. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Increases the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit for qualified productions that utilize qualified production facilities located within the State. Changes the cap amount and aggregate cap amount of the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit to unspecified amounts. Imposes the manufacturing GET rate on motion picture, digital media, and film productions and repeals the provision in the definition of "qualified production costs" that applied the term to mean costs incurred that are subject to the highest GET rate. Exempts from the GET amounts received by a motion picture project employer from a client equal to amounts that are disbursed by the motion picture project employer for employee wages, salaries, payroll taxes, insurance premiums, and employment benefits and payments to loan-out companies. (HD1)

LAMOSAO

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Expands the Department of Education's authority to allow more trained staff to volunteer to assist students with the administration of medication. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Repeals the authority of the Department of Education to set the price for school meals, except to provide a lower rate or free meals through rules. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO TREES.

Establishes base selection criteria for exceptional trees. Establishes the significant tree designation, selection criteria, and related processes. Establishes the State Arborist Advisory Committee within the Department of Land and Natural Resources for administrative purposes. Requires County Arborist Advisory Committees to have at least six members, adopt new exceptional tree selection criteria, and designate significant trees. Directs the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the University of Hawaii to cooperate with State and County Arborist Advisory Committees to carry out the Exceptional Trees Program.

Elle CochranRepublican

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Establishes requirements for property and casualty insurers and policies for pre- and post-disaster protections. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Elle CochranRepublican

RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.

Excludes from the definition of "development" for purposes of coastal zone management restrictions, the reconstruction, under certain circumstances, of structures destroyed in the August 8, 2023, wildfires in Lahaina, Maui.

Elle CochranRepublican

RELATING TO ANTITRUST.

Short form bill relating to antitrust.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Short form bill relating to consumer protection.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO NONPROFITS.

Short form bill relating to nonprofits.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Short form bill relating to consumer protection.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMERCE.

Short form bill relating to commerce.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Repeals the authorization of a physician to transmit a treatment plan by mail or facsimile to an address or facsimile number provided by the employer. Requires employers denying a treatment plan to file a written denial with the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations within seven days of receipt. Places the burden of proof on the employer to establish by a preponderance of medical evidence that the denial of the treatment plan is justified. Establishes a presumption that a denial of a treatment plan not supported by a medical opinion or relevant medical records existing at the time of denial shall be without reasonable grounds. Clarifies that a treatment plan is deemed accepted if an employer fails to file a written denial within the seven-day period. Requires employers to pay the appropriate health care provider for any medical care set forth in a treatment plan that is accepted or deemed accepted. Establishes penalties for employers whom the Director found to have denied a treatment plan without reasonable grounds, frivolously, or primarily for purposes of delay, or to have failed to pay for an injured employee's medical care under an accepted treatment plan. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES.

Conditions the issuance of a certificate of inspection upon a vehicle not being equipped with any cover or shield installed over the license plate. Amends the penalty for obstruction of a license plate. Allows state or county parking enforcement officers and persons authorized by a state or county law enforcement agency to issue citations for vehicles with a cover or shield obstructing the license plate. Repeals the requirement that a cover or shield be intended to alter or interfere with the visibility, legibility, or identification of a license plate by law enforcement or traffic enforcement systems. Effective 1/1/2027. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Prohibits entities from distributing unsolicited mail or electronic mail that employs high pressure tactics or is reasonably likely to cause a consumer to believe that the sender is affiliated with another entity that the sender is not actually affiliated with and the entity is asking the recipient to pay for goods, services, or forms of legal authorization, unless certain disclosures are met. Makes contracts that fail to meet disclosure requirements voidable at the option of the consumer. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Beginning 1/1/2027, prohibits the sale of flavored nicotine products and nicotine product flavor enhancers and the mislabeling of e-liquids as nicotine free. Establishes penalties for violations. Authorizes the Department of Health to appoint, commission, or contract for services of inspectors. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Authorizes the issuance of reimbursable general obligation bonds in four tranches to provide the necessary funds for the Condominium Loan Program. Appropriates funds from the Hurricane Reserve Trust Fund to provide initial coverage of the bond payments. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Clarifies the process for selecting a certified provider of vocational rehabilitation services. Requires certified providers to automatically approve vocational rehabilitation services for an injured employee if those services will likely be required for suitable gainful employment and the initial evaluation report finds the injured employee feasible to participate. Requires providers to file an employee's vocational rehabilitation plan no later than one hundred twenty days after submitting an initial evaluation report, unless extended by the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations. Clarifies the process for an employer to object to a vocational rehabilitation plan. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

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 in order to assess the employee's ability to return to work. Allows licensed occupational and physical therapists to be deemed qualified to perform functional capacity examinations. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO PRETRIAL RELEASE.

Requires certain factors to be considered when determining a defendant's financial ability to afford bail. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO SENTENCING REVIEW.

Establishes a procedure for incarcerated individuals who have served at least ten years of their sentence to petition the court for a sentence reduction. Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to report to the Legislature Hawaii Paroling Authority, and Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

By 2/28/27, requires the Department of Human Services, upon obtaining a federal waiver, to establish a pre-release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) application process for inmates nearing release. Allows all individuals convicted of an offense involving the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance to apply for SNAP benefits, regardless of treatment status. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

Requires disclosure of the names of compensated officers of state and county contractors and grantees. Prohibits the compensated officers of certain state and county contractors and grantees from making, promising, or soliciting certain campaign contributions for the duration of the contract or grant. Provides that, for contributions received through a third-party payment processor website, whether received by check or directly deposited to the candidate or noncandidate committee, the date the contributor executes the transaction on the third-party payment processor website shall be deemed the date of receipt and the date of acceptance for campaign finance reporting and compliance requirements. Clarifies that monetary contributions and other campaign funds shall be deposited within 14 days of their physical receipt in a depository institution. Requires unlawful contributions to be returned to the contributor within 30 calendar days of receipt or escheat to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. Clarifies that where a violation of the prohibition against contributions and expenditures by lobbyists during legislative session occurs because of the acceptance or agreement to accept a prohibited contribution, and the contribution is by check, the date of violation shall be the date of the receipt of the check and not the date of deposit. Appropriates moneys. (SD3)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Clarifies that the five‑year statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions of campaign finance violations begins upon discovery of the offense by the Campaign Spending Commission. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.

Requires contractors performing an agency function to retain records related to the performance of that function and provide agencies with access to those records. Deems the records to be government records under the Uniform Information Practices Act. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO DISCRIMINATION.

Lengthens the statute of limitations to file a complaint of discrimination with the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission to one year. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FORTIETH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriated funds for capital improvement projects in the 40th representative district.

REYES ODA

RELATING TO CANNABIS.

Requires the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division of the Department of Health to develop and implement a comprehensive messaging and informational campaign to prevent cannabis use among the State's youth. Requires the Division to establish and enter into contracts with community-based organizations to award grants to prevent substance misuse among youth through evidenced-based prevention programs. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

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)

WARD

RELATING TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS.

Requires a wireless telecommunications carrier, as a condition for any permit under section 206N-6 or certificate of public convenience and necessity under section 269-7.5, to maintain emergency backup power for a minimum of twelve hours.

WARD

RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.

Defines stages of wildfire suppression efforts.

WARD

RELATING TO SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

Clarifies the funding mechanism for the supportive housing pilot program. Extends the sunset date for the supportive housing pilot program to 6/30/2030.

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 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 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 TAXATION.

Establishes a definition for "premium cigar" that is distinct from a "large cigar" and adds a definition for "characterizing flavor" in the Cigarette Tax and Tobacco Tax Law. Excludes premium cigars from percentage excise tax. Establishes an excise tax at a rate of 50 cents per premium cigar.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO AVIAN INFLUENZA.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health and Department of Agriculture to prevent, monitor, and respond to avian influenza in Hawaii. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

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 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FIFTEENTH, SIXTEENTH, AND SEVENTEENTH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth representative districts.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FOREIGN MEDICAL GRADUATES.

Allows foreign medical school graduates applying for a license to practice medicine and surgery to substitute one year of required medical training or experience in a hospital with one year of fellowship training where the parent program or hospital is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

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 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 GAMING.

Establishes the Hawaii Lottery and Gaming Corporation for the purpose of conducting and regulating wagering and gaming in the State. Establishes the Lottery and Gaming Special Fund and allocates certain percentages of the fund to various community betterment purposes.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat