Bills & Legislation

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 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 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 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds for a capital improvement project for the repair, maintenance, and demolition of buildings at the Waimanalo Research Station.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO SPECIAL PERMITS.

Authorizes the Land Use Commission to designate another agency, including the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Department of Agriculture, or Agribusiness Development Corporation, to monitor compliance with any restrictions imposed in a special permit.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

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

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

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 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 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 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 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 HUMAN REMAINS.

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

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 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 INSURANCE.

Prohibits health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations from arbitrarily denying coverage requests for gender affirming health care services when the requested service is known to be considered a standard of care and for which scientific evidence exists that supports the service. Increases transparency of insurance carrier medical necessity reviews and requirements when coverage is denied.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO YOUTH AND ADULT CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

Requires the State's youth and adult correctional facilities to provide free and accessible voice communication services for incarcerated persons in state correctional facilities. Prohibits any state agency from deriving revenue or financial benefit from the provision of communication services to persons confined in state correctional facilities. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish service quality standards and rules for the free voice communication services. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO BAIL.

Requires judges to make certain findings regarding a defendant's ability to afford bail.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO MARRIAGE OF MINORS.

Raises the minimum age requirement to enter into marriage from sixteen to eighteen years of age. Removes the parental consent and written approval by the family court requirements for a minor to marry. Removes spousal cohabitation after the parties attain legal age as an exception for an annulment based on nonage. Makes conforming amendments.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO A CHILD TAX CREDIT.

Establishes a refundable child tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Restricts how much and how often a landlord may increase rent over the course of a twelve month period.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO PARKING FOR DISABLED PERSONS.

Requires the Disability and Communication Access Board to issue a disability travel placard to an applicant who has a valid removeable windshield placard and provides proof of travel. Effective 7/1/2027.

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 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 VETERANS.

Short form bill relating to veterans.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO CRIMES AGAINST SENIORS.

Removes the requirement that a perpetrator of certain crimes knows or reasonably should know that the victim is a person sixty years of age or older.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS.

Short form bill relating to military affairs.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO ASSISTED REPRODUCTION.

Establishes a streamlined procedure for determining parentage in cases of assisted reproduction.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

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

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 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 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 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 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 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

RELATED TO TOURISM.

Amends the types of occurrences for which the Hawaii Tourism Authority Board of Directors may request the Governor to declare a tourism emergency. Reduces the minimum balance to be maintained in the Tourism Emergency Special Fund through an allocation of transient accommodations tax revenues.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Excludes from state income taxes the gross income, adjusted gross income, and taxable income derived from tips received by employees.

WARD

RELATING TO THE PENAL CODE.

Short form bill relating to the Penal Code.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

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 EMERGENCIES.

Short form bill relating to emergencies.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO NUISANCE ABATEMENT.

Requires the court to impose a mandatory fine per violation for nuisance abatement laws related to gambling offenses. Allows citizens who bring civil nuisance abatement suits against places used for illegal gambling the same rights and protections as those afforded to victims and witnesses in criminal proceedings.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

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 CONDOMINIUM INSURANCE.

Establishes the Hawaii Condominium Mutual Insurance Company to provide property and casualty insurance to high-rise residential condominium properties and the owners of those units. Establishes a loan fund to assist associations of apartment owners experiencing increased insurance costs. Appropriates moneys.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE LAW.

Short form bill relating to state law.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

Short form bill relating to the Department of the Attorney General.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

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 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