Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO THE TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TAX.

Provides Hawaii taxpayers with a refundable transient accommodations tax credit.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATIONS.

Establishes the Ombudsman's Office for Condominium Associations within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Updates the Condominium Property Act to integrate the role and functions of the ombudsman's office for condominium associations. Appropriates funds for establishment of the Ombudsman's Office for Condominium Associations.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO MARIJUANA.

Decriminalizes the possession of drug paraphernalia relating to marijuana; possession of a certain amount of marijuana concentrate; and the possession of a certain amount of marijuana and smoking of marijuana in a public place. Lowers the criminal penalty for the possession of a certain amount of marijuana concentrate from a misdemeanor to a petty misdemeanor.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO DESALINATION.

Establishes a Desalination Planning Task Force to examine the feasibility of, and develop a plan and timeline for, the use desalination as a source of potable water in the State.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WAIAHOLE WATER SYSTEM.

Appropriates funds for the Waiahole Water System for bond debt service and tunnel repair. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes within the Department of Agriculture a working group to review and make recommendations on amending or repealing unnecessary or obsolete laws pertaining to agriculture. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO IRRIGATION.

Authorizes the Director of Finance to issue general obligation bonds and appropriates funds to finance capital improvement projects for irrigation systems in the State. Converts the means of financing from the Irrigation System Revolving Fund to the general fund for certain positions in the Department of Agriculture. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Makes an appropriation for the operation of an additional ambulance for the island of Hawaii to be based in Makalei. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY-EFFICIENCY PORTFOLIO STANDARDS.

Extends the State's energy-efficiency portfolio standards from 2030 to 2045 and updates the standards. Authorizes the public utilities commission to adjust the 2045 and interim standards.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING.

Allows the Department of Health to use money in the Deposit Beverage Container Deposit Special Fund to deploy reverse vending machines. Repeals certain exemptions for beverage dealers from the requirement to operate redemption centers. Allows for the establishment of regional centers for the redemption of refillable beverage containers but not as substitutes for dealers' means to receive deposit beverage containers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO DECARBONIZATION.

Requires the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to study the feasibility of implementing a "buy clean" decarbonization policy and program in Hawaii. Requires administrative and substantive support from the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES.

Establishes a working group within the Hawaii State Energy Office to make recommendations for the reuse and recycling of electric vehicle batteries and requires a report to the Legislature.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY ASSISTANCE.

Establishes the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program within the Department of Human Services to assist households in paying their energy bills. Requires the Public Utilities Commission's Public Benefits Fee Administrator to provide information and technical assistance about available energy efficiency programs to recipients of the program. Appropriates funds.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Establishes an installation goal for customer-sited distributed energy resources in the State. Ensures that fair compensation is provided to distributed energy resources exports as part of grid service programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE FUNDS.

Makes technical amendments to the definition of "state funds" as it relates to the deposit of certain moneys into the state treasury.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT SERVICES.

Clarifies the Office of the Legislative Analyst. Effective 1/1/2491. (SD1)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.

Requires the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House to be notified in writing upon the receipt of any federal-aid moneys for expenditure by the State within ten days following receipt.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE CIGARETTE TAX AND TOBACCO TAX LAW.

Exempts the shipment of large cigars in fulfillment of a sale by mail order from the offense of unlawful shipment of tobacco products.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT.

Clarifies the exemptions to the prohibition on discharging any wastewater or raw sewage into state waters after December 31, 2026, including an exemption for treatment plants having a treatment capacity of less than a certain number of gallons per day. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Short form bill relating to taxation.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO NON-GENERAL FUNDS.

Short form bill relating to non-general funds.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE PROGRAMS.

Short form bill relating to state programs.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.

Short form bill relating to the state budget.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE FINANCES.

Short form bill relating to the state finances.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Establishes the Condominium Loan Program to provide condominium associations with low-cost financing, or refinancing for previously obtained loans, for maintenance or repair projects. Establishes the Condominium Loan Loss Reserves Program to incentivize lenders to provide loans at competitive rates and terms to condominium associations for the purpose of allowing condominium associations to make necessary maintenance or repairs. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE PROCUREMENT CODE.

Requires public contractors to obtain insurance to cover at least half of a project's construction costs to the State to provide funds for curing construction defects discovered within ten years after the completion of the contract. Authorizes the State to institute an action against the contractor for the total costs of curing those defects.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Allows bidders to clarify or correct immaterial or technical information required as part of a bid submission for up to twenty-four hours after the bid submission deadline. Requires that bids for construction be opened no sooner than twenty-four hours after the deadline for the submission of bids. Defines "immaterial or technical information". Repeals 6/30/2027.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO NOISE POLLUTION.

Establishes a private right of action for any person aggrieved by a violation of the Federal Aviation Act and existing federal laws to bring a civil action against the owner or operator of the helicopter in violation and collect damages and litigation costs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY.

Establishes penalties for failure to remediate violations, including fines and, under certain circumstances, foreclosure on the real property.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Authorizes a contract for the purchase of local produce having a value of more than $25,000 to be for a term of at least five years, under certain conditions. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Reduces the minimum number of years of credited service from ten years to five years qualified Tier 2 employee's retirement system members must have to be eligible for vested benefit status for service retirement allowance purposes. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO CANNABIS.

Appropriates funds for the Department of Health to develop and implement a public health and informational campaign and contract with community-based organizations to prevent substance misuse and treat substance use disorder among youth. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Requires the health benefits plan or plans established by the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund board to meet or exceed the requirements of the Prepaid Health Care Act. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1).

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

Authorizes licensed paramedics in a county with a population of 100,000 or less to administer buprenorphine after administration of an opioid antagonist in cases of opioid overdoses, under certain conditions. Requires the Department of Health to implement a two-year phased pilot program beginning in one county with a population of 100,000 or less and authorizes expansion of the program statewide as additional treatment resources become available. Requires a report to the Legislature evaluating program outcomes. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2028. (SD1)

KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Authorizes physicians to practice at organized ambulatory health care facilities even if the physician does not have hospital privileges at a licensed hospital in the same geographic location as the ambulatory facility. Provides that a written transfer agreement is not required to transfer a patient from an organized ambulatory health care facility to a licensed hospital.

KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY

RELATING TO THE WAIAKEA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

Establishes the Waiakea Peninsula Community Development District and the Waiakea Peninsula Community Development District Special Fund. Specifies the powers and duties of the Hawaii Community Development Authority as it relates to the new development district. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY

RELATING TO DISABILITY HEALTH DISPARITY.

Requires the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to collect data and submit to the Legislature a report focused on the health disparities experienced by individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities in the State prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027. Appropriates funds.

KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Requires all health insurers in the State, including Medicaid managed care programs, to cover the cost of continuous glucose monitors and related supplies under certain conditions. Applies to insurance policies, contracts, plans, or agreements issued or renewed in the State after 12/31/2025.

KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the City and County of Honolulu to transfer to the State the City and County of Honolulu's authority to construct a Makakilo Drive extension. Appropriates moneys.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT.

Requires certain employers in the State to offer reproductive loss leave for employees.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO EMERGENCY EVACUATION ROUTES.

Requires and appropriates moneys for the Department of Transportation, in collaboration with the City and County of Honolulu, to assess and develop an improvement plan for emergency evacuation routes along the Waianae coast. Authorizes the Department to request input and assistance from the United States Navy. Requires a report to the Legislature.

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 NUISANCE ABATEMENT.

Offers rights and protections to citizens who bring civil nuisance abatement suits related to illegal gambling. Imposes a mandatory fine of $5,0000 for violating nuisance abatement laws related to gambling offenses.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Authorizes a county planning commission, by special permit, to permit land uses exclusively providing residential housing for purposes of agricultural workforce housing, long-term rental, or workforce fee simple ownership in an agricultural district, under certain conditions. Repeals 6/30/2035. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION MEDICAL BENEFITS.

Expands workers' compensation medical benefits for firefighters to include coverage for adenocarcinoma or mesothelioma of the respiratory system; cancer of the buccal cavity, colon, pharynx, and thyroid; and malignant melanoma. Specifies that an employer may prove that the cancer or disease was not associated with the firefighting duties to deny medical benefits under workers' compensation law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO PLANT-BASED FOOD AND DRINKS.

Requires state agencies to establish a Plant-Based-By-Default Program for food and drinks offered at state-operated prisons, state-licensed hospitals, and government-sponsored events. Requires the Director of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Comptroller, and Director of Health to submit annual reports to the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Effective 7/1/2026.

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO INTOXICATING LIQUOR.

Provides that leaders of nonprofit organizations shall be exempt from county liquor commission criminal history check requirements for license applicants.

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat