Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Allows the carrying or possessing of firearm parts only at or between certain locations and in an enclosed container. Defines firearm parts and prohibited persons. Establishes and increases penalties for the carrying or possessing of certain firearms or firearm parts other than at or between specific locations and in an enclosed container.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO AIRPORTS.

Short form bill relating to airports.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts food and groceries from the general excise tax. Expands a 2024 session law exempting certain medical and dental services to include all medical and dental services.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Excludes a homeowner-developer from the annual requirement to file a developer's report and pay a fee if the homeowner's development consists of no more than two units, one in which the developer has resided as their principal place of residence for at least ten years and one for which the initial sale of the other unit has been completed, subject to certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

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

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriated funds for capital improvement projects in the 41st representative district.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO POLICING.

Requires county police departments and police oversight agencies to collect and report certain data regarding police stops, uses of force, and complaints to the Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division of the Department of the Attorney General. Requires the Division to collect and publish incident-level information and an annual report on the data collected. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOLS.

Requires public schools with elementary students to allow faculty and staff to provide time and space each day for students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and Hawaii Ponoi.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO SCHOOL CHOICE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

Establishes a School Choice Scholarship program which allows parents to exercise more financial freedom to send their children to nonpublic schools with the assistance of a $10,000 grant for eligible students.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO SUBCONTRACTORS.

Requires a contractor to pay a subcontractor within 30 days of receiving an invoice for services rendered. Provides penalties for delayed or withheld payments.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO HIGHWAYS.

Short form bill relating to highways.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOLS.

Requires educational institutions with elementary students to allow faculty and staff to provide time and space for students to engage in student-led group prayer or individual student prayer. Prohibits discipline or admonishment based on participation or non-participation in prayer.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Creates the offense of urinating or defecating in public. Provides penalties for public urination or defecation. Requires mental health evaluation and supportive services for a person experiencing homelessness who is arrested for urinating or defecating in public places.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO SEX-BASED ATHLETIC COMPETITIONS IN SPORTS.

Requires the department of education to designate athletic sports teams based on the biological sex assigned to players at birth. Prevents males from participating in female sports.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Increases the capital gains tax for nonresident and foreign taxpayers. Increases the alternative capital gains tax for corporations for nonresident and foreign corporations.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO SCHOOL SAFETY.

Mandates that each school sporting event of 25 or more participants have an AED trained faculty member or athletic trainer in attendance and all schools be equipped with AED devices, Narcan, EpiPens, and inhalers. Mandates CPR training for coaches and athletic trainers. Appropriates funds.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO SURFING.

Clarifies that surfers have the right of way in designated surf locations to be determined by the department of land and natural resources. Authorizes penalties for fishermen who violate this section. Requires DLNR to implement a public education campaign, erect clear signs, and create a designated surf location map.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO FAMILY COURT.

Amends provisions relating to criteria in family court determinations regarding custody and visitation rights. Clarifies that no court shall consider a parent's affirmation of their child's gender identity or expression in a custody determination.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO TEACHER RETENTION.

Establishes the Onipaʻa Teacher Bonus Program to address teacher retention and award teachers for outstanding and extended service in the department of education. Ensures that general education teachers assigned to special education inclusion classes receive the same additional benefits as special education teachers.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes the Vacant and Blighted Residential Property Redevelopment Program within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Appropriates funds.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO VEHICLE WEIGHT TAXES.

Creates an exemption to the vehicle weight tax for full-time college students.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO THE COUNTIES.

PART I: Authorizes county boards of water supply to produce, use, and sell electricity generated from renewable energy sources. PART II: Authorizes counties to establish a process by which subcounty governing entities can designate funding streams within the county budget and submit budget allocation resolutions to county councils.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.

Appropriates funds for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to increase access to bilingual resources and services for residents with limited English proficiency. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a wealth proceeds surcharge on high-income individuals, estates, and trusts. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT MISCONDUCT.

Requires public schools to report to the Department of Education any incident involving physical violence. Requires the Department of Education to collect and maintain data on incidents involving physical violence at public schools and make such data publicly available. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS FOR REFERENDUM.

Proposes a constitutional amendment for the establishment of a legislative referendum process that allows the Legislature to refer acts to voters for approval or rejection.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO INTEREST.

Protects consumers, who are purchasing their first vehicle, from predatory interest rates by setting a maximum interest rate of two per cent for consumers with a credit score below six hundred and zero per cent for consumers with a credit score of six hundred or more. Authorizes existing avenues of redress from usury under chapter 478 to apply to this Act.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Establishes a Green Fee Special Fund to receive an allocation of green fee revenues. Establishes various special funds to receive allocations of green fee revenues. Requires the Governor to request, through a bill separate from the budget or supplemental budget, an amount that approximates green fee revenues subtracted from the amounts allocated to the various funds to be expended for certain climate change and tourism destination management projects. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO.

Establishes the Institute of Indigenous Education, Science, and Outreach within the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Authorizes the Hawaiian Language College Revolving Fund to include moneys from any revenue source and requires expenditures in the fund to be used to support the Imiloa Astronomy Center. Requires the Hawaiian Early Learning Trust Fund to support the Hawaiian-Language-Medium Education Pathway. Establishes a cap on individual deposits into the Hawaiian Language College Revolving Fund and the Hawaiian Early Learning Trust Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO THE BANYAN DRIVE-MAKAOKŪ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

Establishes the Banyan Drive-Makaokū Community Development District as an entity within the Hawaii Community Development Authority. Establishes the Banyan Drive-Makaokū Community Development District Special Fund. Specifies the powers and duties of the Authority as it relates to the new development district and amends the composition of the Authority to include representatives of the new development district. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RECORDING OF INSTRUMENTS.

Authorizes the recording of a notice of pendency of investigation in the Bureau of Conveyances and Land Court to alert potential purchasers or encumbrancers to investigations of reported or suspected violations of law concerning real property or affecting the title to, or the right of possession of, real property. Specifies the requirements, contents, effect, and procedures for the expiration or expungement of the notice. Requires the registrar to accept for recordation notices of pendency of investigation submitted by authorized government agencies.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO HEMP.

Permits the sale of commercial drink products that contain no more than 10 milligrams of hemp-derived cannabinoids to persons twenty-one years of age or older. Establishes penalties for the sale or furnishing of cannabinoid drink products to, and the purchase or possession of cannabinoid drink products by, persons under twenty-one years of age.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO DECEPTIVE PRACTICES.

Requires merchants that sell cosmetics to accept returns of new or unopened goods within specified timeframes. Clarifies the definition of "conspicuous sign" and expands required placement of return and refund policy signage. Beginning 7/1/2027, requires merchants that receive three or more warning letters from the Office of Consumer Protection of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs for failure to post required signage to display standardized return and refund policy signs provided by the Office. Establishes exemptions for certain merchants. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO ANTITRUST.

Prohibits the use of algorithmic price-setting in Hawaii's rental market. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to develop and undertake a public education program regarding the prohibition. Establishes fines and penalties.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC ORDER.

Establishes the offense of loitering on public property and adds trespassing on public property to the offense of criminal trespass in the first degree. Establishes the homeless case management program and special fund, administered by the judiciary for the benefit of persons experiencing homelessness.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

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

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

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Defines "portable solar generation device" and establishes certain requirements for their regulation and use exclusively within units in condominiums organized pursuant to Chapter 514B, HRS. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish an online registration system. Clarifies that portable solar generation devices are subject to certain approval procedures for installation in condominiums. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER HEATING SYSTEMS.

Authorizes building permit variances for certain high-efficiency electric water heating systems utilizing heat pump technology. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLICITY RIGHTS.

Protects a person's right to publicity from artificial intelligence deepfakes.

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ARTS.

Establishes a position within the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to support implementation and coordination of specialized arts programs and therapeutic arts interventions for underserved and neurodiverse populations. Appropriates funds for the position, programs, and interventions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE.

Establishes the sustainable tourism infrastructure matching grant program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to support one-time capital investments that advance measurable sustainability and climate resilience outcomes within the State's visitor industry. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO PERFORMING ARTS.

Establishes a performing arts ticket surcharge on the primary ticket sale price for certain performing arts events held in the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO PERMITS.

Establishes specific deadlines within the facilitated application process to obtain a permit and requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish certain resources and processes to help streamline permit applications. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to select projects to participate in the facilitated application process. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Eliminates state taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel for motor vehicles. Requires savings be passed from distributor to consumer.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

Appropriates funds to the Office of the Public Defender for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Deputy Public Defender III position. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO TRADE-ORIENTED PRODUCTION CAPACITY GRANT PROGRAM.

Establishes the Trade-Oriented Production Capacity Grant Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to support one-time capital investments that expand the State's manufacturing and production capacity for trade. Provides grants for equipment, automation, and facility improvements that directly increase output, efficiency, and competitiveness for eligible businesses, with required private-sector matching funds. Prioritizes traded-sector businesses with interstate or international market potential to help generate measurable near-term trade and economic returns. Appropriates funds.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Requires the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to establish the Hawaii Made IT Program to certify local information technology vendors for use by state and county agencies in procurement. Establishes vendor requirements. Establishes reporting requirements.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Requires the Chief Data Officer to enhance the State's open data portal website through the phased development and publishing of an artificial intelligence chatbot and necessary data visualizations on statewide shared data sets to assist the public. Requires the Chief Data Officer to develop a system to evaluate and select artificial intelligence governance tools for use by state departments and agencies and establish a mechanism for reporting and publication of artificial intelligence use cases and artificial intelligence vendors used by the departments and agencies. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO HARBORS.

Short form bill relating to harbors.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO REGIONAL AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION.

Establishes the Regional Agricultural Feasibility and Food Systems Production Studies Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to provide coordinated, region‑specific agricultural production and crop feasibility analysis across the State. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2028. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to conduct a study on insurance coverage for small agricultural producers. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Matthias KuschDemocrat