Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Categorizes electric bicycles into three classes based on speed and operation. Requires electric bicycle manufacturers and distributors to apply a label to each electric bicycle. Imposes a requirement that counties inform individuals of the applicable traffic code, safety information, and penalties for violations at the time of registering a bicycle.

REYES ODA

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Imposes a less deferential standard of negligence on officers and directors of condominium associations incorporated under HRS 414D. Ensures that officers and directors of condominium associations are held accountable by imposing a reasonable person standard of negligence.

REYES ODA

RELATING TO PENALTIES.

Mandates courts to impose an enhanced sentence for theft and burglary offenses over a certain property value threshold. Increases penalties for habitual property crime perpetrators. Targets fencing operations and imposes enhanced sentencing to those who knowingly receive stolen property or resell such property.

REYES ODA

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Mandates state agencies to prioritize purchasing from local vendors whenever feasible. Allows state agencies to split contracts across multiple local vendors to enhance participation and competitiveness. Specifies when contracts may be awarded to multiple vendors.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO OPEN MEETINGS.

Amends the definition of a "board" under the Sunshine Law to include the Legislature. Clarifies notice period requirements. Repeals the Legislature's exemption from the Sunshine Law. Repeals the exemption for permitted interactions between board members.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Appropriates funds to increase the funding of certain Medicaid home and community-based services, including adult day programs and residential services offered in community care foster family homes and expanded adult residential care homes.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO A STATEWIDE DATA AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE GOVERNANCE AND DECISION INTELLIGENCE CENTER.

Establishes and appropriates funds for a data and artificial intelligence governance and decision intelligence center and necessary positions to improve data quality and data sharing statewide.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

PROPOSING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM.

Amends the Hawaii State Constitution to prohibit the State from denying or interfering with an individual's reproductive freedom, including the right to choose to obtain an abortion and to obtain or use contraceptives.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO MARRIAGE OF MINORS.

Raises the minimum age to enter into marriage from sixteen to eighteen years of age. Repeals the authority of parents and the family court to consent to a minor's marriage. Repeals spousal cohabitation after the parties attain legal age as an exception for an annulment based on nonage. Repeals exemptions for sexual assault of a minor if the perpetrator is married to the minor. Makes conforming amendments. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes, and appropriates funds for, five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) positions within the Civil Rights Compliance Branch of the Department of Education. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

REYES ODA

RELATING TO MINORS.

Authorizes a licensed health care provider properly trained in the medical forensic care of a patient who has experienced sexual assault or abuse, upon consultation with a minor patient who indicates that the minor was the victim of a sexual offense, with the consent of the minor patient, to perform customary and necessary examinations to obtain evidence of the sexual offense and may prescribe for and treat the patient for any immediate condition caused by the sexual offense. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE PARKING.

Removes the exemption that allowed owners of multiple parking facilities within the State to designate and electrify fewer parking spaces than required in one or more of the properties if the requirement for the total number of aggregate spaces on all of their owned properties was met. Authorizes the counties to adopt ordinances to regulate electric vehicle charging systems for places of public accommodation with fewer than one hundred parking spaces. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTEWATER SYSTEMS.

Requires the Department of Health, in consultation with various agencies and professionals, to review rules and practices and propose changes that have the potential to make wastewater systems and cesspool upgrades more affordable without compromising water quality. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

Redefines "historic property" with respect to the State Historic Preservation Program. Deletes the requirement for an application for a proposed project on an existing privately-owned single-family detached dwelling unit to have a historic preservation review if the unit or townhouse is over fifty years old.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

Creates a process for expediting the review of majority-residential mixed-use transit-oriented development or residential transit-oriented development on certain parcels within county-designated transit-oriented development zones that have a low risk of affecting historically significant resources. Authorizes lead agencies, including county governments, to make determinations on the potential effects of a project. Creates a ninety-day limit, or thirty-day if no historic property is to be affected, to concur or not concur with project effect determinations. Exempts projects with written concurrence from further review unless there is a change to the project or additional historic properties, aviation artifacts, or burial sites are identified within the project area. Establishes notice and reporting requirements if there is a change to the project or additional historic properties, aviation artifacts, or burial sites are identified within the project area after the initial written concurrence. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes the Kamaaina Homes Program to provide funding to the counties to purchase voluntary deed restrictions from eligible homeowners or homebuyers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes the Accessory Dwelling Unit Financing and Deed Restriction Program to allocate funds to the counties for the purchase of equity in an accessory dwelling unit by the State. Specifies eligible homeowners or homebuyers for the Program to finance construction costs, development costs, and non-reoccurring closing costs associated with the construction of an accessory dwelling unit and purchase deed restrictions on the property. Appropriates moneys for infrastructure projects. Sunsets 1/1/2031. Takes effect 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Exempts affordable housing projects that are financed by a nonprofit community development financial institution certified by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation as utilizing less than a certain amount from the Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund from prevailing wage provisions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.

Requires the Hawaii Community Development Authority to prepare environmental impact statements for the Iwilei/Kapalama and University of Hawaii West Oahu transit-oriented development infrastructure improvement districts on the island of Oahu. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY.

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to develop a model that assesses the fiscal impacts of land use development projects and regional infrastructure investments. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DWELLING UNIT REVOLVING FUND.

Makes the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund Equity Pilot Program permanent. Allows partial or full repayment of Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund interim loans in the form of unit equity through the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund Equity Program. Gives preference to projects developed under governmental assistance programs pursuant to section 201H-36(a)(2).

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO BUILDING CODES.

Beginning on the date the International Code Council 2024 suite of published codes is adopted as the Hawaii state building code, makes the most recent Hawaii state building codes adopted by the state building code council supersede all existing county building codes and thereafter allows counties to amend the Hawaii state building code as it applies within their jurisdiction. Repeals the counties' authority to adopt, amend, and update the Hawaii state building codes for their respective county building codes. Effective 1/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to transition the Red Raider Productions student organization at Kauai High School into a learning center through the Department of Education's learning centers program.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO HUMAN REMAINS.

Allows for the use of natural organic reduction for the treatment and disposal of human remains.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTE OR DISPOSAL FACILITIES.

Prohibits the construction, modification, or expansion of any waste or disposal facility on land that is near or above a significant aquifer as determined by the Department of Health. Reduces the required buffer zone around waste or disposal facilities.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

Establishes a Cesspool Conversion Section within the Department of Health's Wastewater Branch, which shall be responsible for facilitating the conversion of cesspools within the State. Establishes and appropriates funds for positions within the Cesspool Conversion Section. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO ORGANIC WASTE.

Establishes statewide goals for solid waste reduction and organic waste diversion. Requires each county to incorporate into its next integrated solid waste management plan revision a plan to divert certain organic waste generated within the county in alignment with established state benchmarks. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP FEES.

Effective 7/1/2027, establishes the Environmental Stewardship Fee Program within the Department of Land and Natural Resources, through which the Department will collect a fee from visitors for a license to visit a state park, forest, hiking trail, or other state natural area. Establishes the Environmental Stewardship Fee Special Fund effective 7/1/2025. Allocates a certain amount of transient accommodations tax revenues to the special fund. Requires report to the Legislature on strategic plan and timetable for objectives and implementation of the environmental stewardship fee program. Appropriates funds for the environmental stewardship fee strategic plan and positions for the Environmental Stewardship Fee Program.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HOUSEHOLD AND DEPENDENT CARE SERVICES TAX CREDIT.

Increases a taxpayer's applicable percentage of employment-related expenses that is used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit. Extends the sunset date of the temporary increase in maximum employment-related expenses that are used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit, established by Act 163, SLH 2023, to 6/30/2030. Effective 7/1/3000. Sunsets 6/30/3005. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for community schools and a program manager position. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

By 1/1/2028, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a family and medical leave insurance program and begin collecting payroll contributions to finance payment of benefits. By 1/1/2029, requires the Department to start receiving claims and paying benefits under the program. Specifies eligibility requirements and employee protections under the program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

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. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the Department of Education to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students enrolled in department schools. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO SEX-BASED DISCRIMINATION.

Clarifies and strengthens the State's protections against sex-based harassment, sex discrimination, and retaliation that occur in public schools, public charter schools, or at the University of Hawaii, including discrimination based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, and pregnancy-related conditions. Establishes procedures for investigations and decision-making. Requires mandatory reporting by certain employees.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX HAVEN ABUSE.

Part I: Effective 1/1/2026, requires corporations to include in their income the income of all foreign subsidiaries to the State; applies the State's apportionment formula to determine the share of reported profits subject to the appropriate tax, which shall be deposited into the state general fund; and requires corporations to report all profits, losses, revenues, and inter-company transactions made and all taxes paid in other states. Part II: Establishes within DOTAX a Corporate Tax Law Task Force to annually review the State's corporate tax laws and recommend updates to close tax loopholes.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Reenacts the agricultural development and food security special fund. Establishes and appropriates moneys into the carbon emissions tax and dividend special fund. Establishes a refundable tax credit to mitigate the effect of a carbon emissions tax on taxpayers. Amends the environmental response, energy, and food security tax by taxing fossil fuels based on their emissions. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO COUNTY PERMITTING AND INSPECTION.

Exempts state projects from county building permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy requirements under certain conditions. Requires counties to accept the dedication of state projects exempt from the county permitting process. Prohibits state agencies responsible for state projects exempt from county building permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy requirements from applying for county building permits. Defines building permit, state agency, state lands, and state project.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires eligible applicants of the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to be either governmental agencies or organizations that are required to use all financial surplus to develop additional housing in the State.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO CIVIC EDUCATION.

Establishes the civic education trust fund to support programs benefiting civic education of public school students. Appropriates funds for the expansion of civic education in the public schools and for full-time equivalent permanent civic education resource teacher positions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

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

Proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the terms of members of the Legislature, as provided by law, for terms beginning after the general election of 2028.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

Prohibits officers, senior employees, consultants, and immediate family members of state or county contractors from contributing to candidate committees or noncandidate committees for the duration of the contract. Provides that if any unlawful contribution is not returned to the contributor within 30 days, the unlawful contribution shall escheat to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS.

Establishes a comprehensive system of public financing for all candidates seeking election to state and county public offices in Hawaii, to begin with the 2026 general election year. Requires the Campaign Spending Commission to submit reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

Extends from 5 business days to 13 calendar days the time period for ballot curing after the date of election.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO THE CAMPAIGN SPENDING COMMISSION.

Appropriates funds for the establishment of investigator positions in the Campaign Spending Commission.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

Establishes a Democracy Dollars Program to be administered by the Campaign Spending Commission to provide vouchers to eligible residents for the purpose of making contributions to certain candidates, beginning with the 2028 elections.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH A CONTINUOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

Establishes a continuous Legislature. Requires the Legislature to convene at least once each month. Repeals language regarding special sessions, adjournment, and recesses. Creates a 2-year deadline for a bill to be submitted for gubernatorial consideration. Standardizes the number of days that the Governor must approve or veto a bill submitted for consideration. Requires the passage of the legislative budget within 45 days before the end of each fiscal year. Prohibits members of the legislature from holding any position of employment in the private sector during their term. Authorizes members to serve in the United States military reserves, National Guard, or hold any lawful position of government employment, subject to certain current ethical limitations. Establishes salaries of the members of the Legislature pursuant to recommendations by the Commission on Salaries submitted during the 2028 regular session, unless those recommendations are amended by law.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO SUPER PACS.

Establishes a fee based on the total expenditures or disbursements made by noncandidate committees within a calendar year. Establishes a process for verification and review of proposed electioneering communications. Establishes a minimum font size for certain information that must be included on campaign advertisements.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat