Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO TAX EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTABILITY.

Requires laws that enact, modify, or extend the availability of a tax expenditure to contain specific information, revenue estimates, and analyses before becoming law. Allows the disclosure of certain tax credit information.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

Requires the Developmental Disabilities Division of the Department of Health to amend its eligibility criteria for the home and community-based services Medicaid waiver to include individuals having an intellectual or a developmental disability and a comorbid mental illness. Appropriates funds.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO ALCOHOL.

Defines "low alcohol by volume spirits beverage". Establishes a tax on low alcohol by volume spirits beverages at a rate of $0.85 per wine gallon. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO.

Appropriates funds for one retention coordinator position, one internship coordinator position, and student enrollment management initiatives at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS.

Requires an owner or operator of an underground storage tank or tank system with a confirmed release to meet certain standards for the restoration of the environment. Establishes a rebuttable presumption that any detection of these contaminants in the vicinity of an underground storage tank or a tank system after a confirmed release is a result of the confirmed release. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Requires corporations, organizations, or individuals engaging to commercial transactions or trade practices to clearly and conspicuously notify consumers when the consumer is interacting with an artificial intelligence chatbot or other technology capable of mimicking human behaviors. Authorizes private rights of action. Establishes statutory penalties.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

Requires each state agency to expeditiously use energy efficient lighting. Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to provide technical assistance and survey state agencies for compliance, prioritizing first responder facilities. Requires the Department of Accounting and General Services to assist the Hawaii State Energy Office in conducting the survey. Requires a report of the survey to the Legislature. Effective 1/1/2491. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO PRINCE JONAH KUHIO KALANIANAOLE.

Requires certain public buildings near mass transit projects and on Hawaiian home lands to display a portrait of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole. (SD1)

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO THE STATE COUNCIL ON MENTAL HEALTH.

Requires the State Council on Mental Health to include an unspecified number of members with demonstrated knowledge of or work experience involving native Hawaiian health practices. Requires council members to receive annual training on topics related to native Hawaiian healing and health.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Authorizes the election of the members of the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Establishes the elected office of Director of Hawaiian Home Lands, the holder of which shall have administrative oversight over the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Subject to congressional approval.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO HEMP.

Requires the Department of Health to construct, operate, and maintain a hemp manufacturing facility. Requires permitted hemp processors to provide certain updated information to the Department of Health no later than 60 days after a relevant event. Explicitly prohibits any person from selling to consumers any hemp biomass, regardless of whether the biomass consists of hemp leaves or hemp floral material, or both. Imposes requirements relating to the form of certain orally consumable manufactured hemp products. Imposes certain labeling requirements. Appropriates moneys.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO STREAM WATER QUALITY.

Implements a 4-phase plan for the Department of Health to address contamination of Ulehawa Stream. Requires the University of Hawaii to provide assistance. Appropriates moneys.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Amends the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit by requiring the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to publish on its website the names of the qualified productions and the amount of the tax credits certified per qualified production per filing year.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY.

Establishes the twenty-eighth day of November of each year as "La Kuokoa", Hawaiian Independence Day, as a state holiday, rather than a day of observance. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Requires, for each draft environmental impact statement, a public hearing in the community directly affected by the underlying proposed action. (SD1)

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Requires that any procurement change order that increases the contract cost by more than fifty per cent or substantially increases the scope of work be considered a new contract for procurement purposes.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO RENT TO BUILD EQUITY.

Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to conduct a study on rent-to-build equity for existing and future state-financed housing. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.

Requires that each Department of Education public school student earn 2 credits in Hawaiian language for a high school diploma. Establishes a 2-year pilot program for Hawaiian language instruction at Noelani Elementary School and Nanakuli High and Intermediate School. Appropriates moneys.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes the rounding up for teachers' salaries special fund, to be administered by the Department of Education. Requires electric utilities and county boards of water supply to provide an option for customers to voluntarily round up their bill to the nearest dollar or provide a specific contribution amount. Deposits the proceeds into the rounding up for teachers' salaries special fund. Appropriates moneys.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Prohibits the sale, importation, personal use, and commercial use of all fireworks, except consumer fireworks. Removes permitting requirements for consumer fireworks.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF VETERANS' SERVICES.

Appropriates moneys to the Office of Veterans' Services to perform its statutory duties, including maintaining a center that provides information, counsel, aid, and assistance to veterans, their families, and their dependents; and cooperating with federal agencies responsible for the administration of rights and benefits granted to veterans, their families, and their dependents. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE TIP CREDIT.

Beginning 1/1/2026, increases the tip credit to be twenty per cent of the minimum wage and requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to annually calculate an adjusted tip credit amount.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS.

Requires the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to make all business registration applications available online. Requires all applications to contain certain contact information.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES.

Requires employers to provide employees with paid breaks.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires the Department of Education to include the teaching of financial literacy in kindergarten through grade twelve. Requires students in grades nine through twelve to complete a one-half credit in financial literacy before graduation. Requires the Board of Education to provide professional development to teachers who are teaching financial literacy courses.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO VETERANS.

Establishes provisions governing any person who receives compensation for advising, assisting, or consulting another person with veterans benefits. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Amends the prohibition on certain assault weapons to include .50 caliber rifles and assault weapon attachments. Modernizes the prohibition on assault pistols to include pistols with one or more prohibited feature. Prohibits firearms other than pistols with a detachable magazine with over a twenty-round capacity. Prohibits persons from bringing or causing to be brought into the State a .50 caliber rifle or assault weapon attachment. Prohibits the sale or transfer of a .50 caliber rifle or assault weapon attachment in the State, unless the .50 caliber rifle or assault weapon attachment is sold or transferred to an authorized individual. Creates exceptions for the acquisition and possession of prohibited firearms for members of law enforcement and the military.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii System for various nursing programs. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PROTECTIVE ORDERS.

Establishes the Hawaii Hope Card Program within the Department of the Attorney General to issue hope cards upon request to those holding a long-term protective order, with specified relevant information about the protective orders and all covered parties. Establishes the Hawaii Hope Card Special Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the Department of Transportation or appropriate county department when disposing of a deceased cat or dog from a public roadway to scan the animal for a microchip, record certain information, and report that information to the appropriate county animal services or animal service contractors. Appropriates funds.

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE HOUSING.

Establishes an Agricultural Workforce Housing Working Group within the Department of Agriculture to address the shortage and challenges of agricultural workforce housing in the State. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish a streamlined grid-ready homes interconnection process, including vehicle-to-grid compliance requirements, by 1/1/2026. Authorizes the use of the Hawaii electricity reliability surcharge for cost recovery of certain expenses of the Hawaii Electricity Reliability Administrator associated with the grid-ready homes interconnection process. Requires a report to the PUC on the grid-ready homes interconnection process. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Repeals the exemption to the general excise tax for agricultural businesses engaged in the production of genetically engineered agricultural products.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes the Accessory Dwelling Unit Financing and Deed Restriction Program to be administered by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to allocate funds to the counties for the purchase of equity for eligible homeowners or homebuyers 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 such property. Exempts the conveyance tax for certain properties for taxable years beginning on 1/1/2026. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO VETERINARIANS.

Establishes the Veterinarian Workforce Development Special Fund. Establishes the Veterinarian Workforce Development Fee to support recruitment and retention of veterinarians in the State. Establishes the Veterinarian Workforce Development Loan Repayment and Scholarship Program to support qualified veterinarians committed to or currently working in veterinary medicine in the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires the Department of Education to require the teaching of financial literacy to be included in the existing personal transition plan requirement for each student.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.

Decreases the exempted light transmittance for motor vehicle sun screening devices on front side wing vents and windows from thirty-five per cent to twenty per cent plus or minus six per cent. Exempts the light transmittance for motor vehicle sun screening devices for side windows that are to the rear of the driver and rear windows in sedans. Repeals the requirement that a front number plate be affixed to the front of a motor vehicle. Makes conforming amendments. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE POMAIKAI HAWAII FUND.

Establishes the Pomaikai Hawaii Fund within the Department of Budget and Finance for administrative purposes. Requires the Department of Budget and Finance to adopt administrative rules to administer the Pomaikai Hawaii Fund.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

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.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Prohibits drug manufacturers and wholesale distributors from restricting or denying access for pharmacies contracted with 340B covered entities to purchase 340B drugs at a discounted price under the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. Imposes civil penalties for engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO COGNITIVE ASSESSMENTS.

Requires all health care providers who accept Medicare to provide a cognitive assessment as part of the Medicare Part B annual wellness visit for Medicare beneficiaries sixty-five years of age or older, with certain exceptions. Requires health care providers to submit certain information to the Executive Office on Aging and the Executive Office on Aging to report de-identified aggregated data to the Legislature on an annual basis. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2026.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO DOMESTIC ABUSE PROTECTIVE ORDERS.

Makes a second or subsequent conviction for violation of a domestic abuse protective order a class C felony. Increases the sentencing requirements for second or subsequent convictions.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.

Requires clinical psychologists employed by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to obtain licensure within five years from the date of employment. Sunsets on 7/1/2030. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Increases fines that may be assessed against certain fireworksrelated violations. Effective 7/1/2025.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO COLORECTAL CANCER.

Requires and appropriates moneys for the Department of Human Services to develop and implement a public assistance program offering state-funded colorectal screenings for certain persons. Requires coverage for all colorectal cancer screenings in the State to be consistent with the Affordable Care Act Implementation Frequently Asked Questions published by the United States Department of Labor, United States Department of Health and Human Services, and United States Department of the Treasury.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

Accelerates the dates for the required upgrades, conversions, or connections of priority level 1 and priority level 2 cesspools to 2035 and 2040, respectively. Appropriates funds to implement the cesspool compliance pilot grant program. Re-establishes a cesspool upgrade, conversion, or connection tax credit.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO DEFERRED RETIREMENT FOR POLICE.

Establishes a deferred retirement option program to allow qualified officers who are eligible for retirement to continue working.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.

Appropriates funds for the operating and capital improvement budget of the Executive Branch for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO DOMESTIC ABUSE.

Specifies that any minor who resides in the same household as a victim of domestic abuse may file a petition for and be granted an order of protection or temporary restraining order.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

Repeals existing statutory language that: (1) declares that the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic devices are a statewide concern; and (2) preempts all local ordinances and regulations that regulate the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic devices.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat