Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Appropriates funds to the Agribusiness Development Corporation to support the Coffee and Orchard Crops Extension and Applied Research Program and Kona Research Station in the County of Hawaii, and to fund the establishment of one permanent Extension Agent position within the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience's Kona Cooperative Extension. (CD1)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTEWATER SYSTEMS.

Establishes and appropriates funds for fiscal year 2025-2026 for a three-year new wastewater system and individual wastewater system technology testing pilot program within the University of Hawaii Water Resources Research Center. Requires interim and final reports to the Legislature. (CD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Specifies that an engineering study is not required to be considered when reducing the maximum speed limit within ten miles per hour of the current speed limit for that road. Requires the Department of Transportation or a county, to the extent practicable, to consider National Association of City Transportation Officials guidance when setting a maximum speed limit for sections of highways with residential or commercial areas or schools immediately on a highway. (CD1)

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO THE CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION SYSTEMS.

Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to complete a comprehensive review of the classification and compensation systems for all civil service positions under its jurisdiction by 10/31/2026. Allows the Department to contract with a third party, in accordance with the Hawaii Public Procurement Code, to assist with the timely completion of the review. Requires reports to the Legislature. (CD1)

AQUINO

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for the rehabilitation, remodeling, renovation, and repair of housing units. (CD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO PESTICIDE DRIFT MONITORING.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture for the continued monitoring of pesticide drift in schools statewide. (CD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES PREVENTION.

Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to enforce federal quarantines. (CD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO INTEGRATED LAND USE.

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to conduct an integrated land use study for the use of lands within the agricultural districts and submit interim and final reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO RED HILL.

Establishes a WAI Policy Coordinator for coordination of Red Hill WAI initiatives. Creates the Red Hill Remediation Special Fund. (CD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE SCHOOL FACILITIES AUTHORITY.

Clarifies that the School Facilities Authority is responsible for projects for facilities for prekindergarten, preschool, child care, and early learning programs; workforce housing; and any public school development, planning, and construction assigned by the Legislature, Governor, or Board of Education. Allows the School Facilities Authority to use the Department of Education for certain recruitment and hiring responsibilities. Allows the School Facilities Authority to partner with public and private development agencies to develop prekindergarten, preschool, child care, and early learning program facilities. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO THE EARLY LEARNING BOARD.

Requires one voting member of the Early Learning Board to have experience as a local provider of early childhood education and development services. Adds the Director of the Hawaii Head Start State Collaboration Office as an ex officio, nonvoting member to the Early Learning Board. Requires the Early Learning Board to invite the President of the Head Start Association of Hawaii, or their designee, to serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member of the Board. (CD1)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO APPROPRIATIONS.

Requires the Director of Finance to report to the Legislature on the transfer of funds originally appropriated for positions but used for operating expenses, and vice versa. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO RECOUNTS.

Allows for ballots designated by the county clerks for inclusion to be included in the initial tabulation for purposes of initial recounts. Prohibits ballots that the county clerks initially determine are deficient or need additional time to be corrected or verified from being included in the initial tabulation. Increases the minimum threshold required to trigger an automatic recount. (CD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO TELEHEALTH.

Extends the sunset date of Act 107, SLH 2023, which allows for the reimbursement of services provided through telehealth via an interactive telecommunications system, until 12/31/2027. (CD1)

AQUINO

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES.

Establishes a working group within the Hawaii State Energy Office to examine how to maximize the recycling and reuse of electric vehicle batteries and recommend electric vehicle battery management practices. Requires a report to the Legislature. (CD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO VEHICULAR PURSUIT.

Establishes requirements related to vehicular pursuit by law enforcement agencies. Beginning 1/1/2027, requires law enforcement agencies to provide reports to the Department of the Attorney General on all vehicular pursuits. (CD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO REVOLVING FUNDS.

Requires the Legislature, in establishing or reviewing a revolving fund, to ensure the revolving fund is financially self-sustainable by either annual projections that show that the revolving fund will be sustainable without appropriations of general funds or a schedule of projected collections of outstanding payments to the revolving fund. (CD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTEWATER.

Allows an individual wastewater system to serve up to five bedrooms, regardless of the number of dwellings, dwelling units, or accessory units, whether attached or detached, with certain exclusions. (CD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPARTMENTAL DATA SHARING.

Adds the Department of Taxation and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to the list of state agencies required to share data and determine the data to be shared through the Statewide Longitudinal Data System. Requires data shared by the Department of Taxation or Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, to be aggregated or anonymized. (CD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO MOPEDS.

Prohibits persons under the age of sixteen from driving a moped. Requires all persons driving a moped to wear a safety helmet, regardless of age. (CD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Establishes a Procurement Automation System Special Fund to be administered by the State Procurement Office. Adds the Executive Director of the School Facilities Authority as the Chief Procurement Officer for the School Facilities Authority in the Hawaii Public Procurement Code. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL TOXICOLOGY TESTING LABORATORY.

Extends the lapse date for funds appropriated out of the Drug and Alcohol Toxicology Testing Laboratory Special Fund for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 for the establishment and maintenance of a drug and alcohol toxicology testing laboratory. (CD1)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Increases the maximum value of capital advancement contracts that may be executed by the Department of Transportation without legislative approval. Increases the minimum value of capital advancement contracts requirement for the Department of Transportation to obtain legislative approval through concurrent resolution. Increases the total aggregate value of capital advancement contracts that the Department of Transportation may enter into in a fiscal year. Establishes reporting requirements related to capital advancement contracts. (CD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.

Appropriates funds out of the Mass Transit Special Fund for fiscal year 2025-2026, for a preliminary analysis of financing options for the planning, design, and construction for a park-and-ride facility adjacent to the Pearl Highlands rail transit station. Establishes a project priority list for use of remaining Mass Transit Special Fund balance after the minimum operating segment of the rail project is completed. (CD1)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO COMPENSATION FOR COURT-APPOINTED REPRESENTATION.

Increases the rate of compensation and maximum allowable amounts per case for court-appointed counsel and guardians ad litem in family court proceedings. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO DISTRICT COURT JUDGES.

Establishes one additional district court judgeship in the First Circuit. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH COURT.

Permanently establishes and appropriates funds to the Department of Law Enforcement, Office of the Public Defender, and City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the Community Outreach Court as a division of the District Court of the First Circuit. (CD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DETENTION OF MINORS.

Prohibits minors from being held in jails, lockups, or prisons for adults, except temporarily under certain circumstances. (CD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO DISTRICT COURT JUDGES.

Establishes one additional district court judgeship in the Third Circuit. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

Establishes positions and appropriates funds for the Adult Client Services Branch of the First Circuit Court. (CD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO LABELING REQUIREMENTS.

Prohibits the sale of any raw processed ahi by retail establishments without a label that states the country where the ahi was landed. Effective 7/1/2026. (CD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Prohibits the importation of firewood into the State unless the firewood is certified as heat-treated and labeled accordingly or the importation is authorized and permitted by the Department of Agriculture before importation. Requires persons who import firewood into the State to maintain, and make available on request, records of imports for at least two years. (CD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS.

Establishes the Statewide Interagency Food Systems Coordination Team and the Interagency Food Systems Working Group within the Agribusiness Development Corporation. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS.

Establishes a food and product innovation network within the Agribusiness Development Corporation. Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to assist with implementation. (CD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM OVERSIGHT COMMISSION.

Beginning July 1, 2025, extends the term of the Oversight Coordinator for the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission. Authorizes the Hawaii Correctional System Commission to review the Coordinator's performance and make a recommendation to the Governor as to whether the Coordinator should be retained. Clarifies that the Oversight Coordinator has the general authority to inspect agencies and correctional facilities without notice. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Law Enforcement to conduct fireworks sting operations and establish an explosives and firearms laboratory. (CD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE BUDGET OF THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

Appropriates moneys to fund the operating expenses of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for the fiscal biennium beginning on 7/1/2025, and ending on 6/30/2027. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Extends the sunset date of the Illegal Fireworks Task Force from 6/30/2025 to 6/30/2030 and extends the annual reporting requirements to the Legislature. (CD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Allows recordings made by law enforcement agencies who are using, controlling, or operating unmanned aerial vehicles to establish probable cause for arrests under the Fireworks Control Law if the unmanned aerial vehicle is recording directly above public property and the act leading to the arrest is committed on public property. (CD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Requires law enforcement to post notice that a warranted or warrantless search has been conducted on a property. Requires a law enforcement officer to secure any entrance used by an officer in the search. Requires law enforcement agencies to develop a policy for securing the entrances to a house, store, or other building designated as a place to be searched after a search is completed. Allows the breaking of any doors, gates, other bars to the entrance, closets, and other closed places during a search when reasonable and other means of entering the space are not reasonable. (CD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO CANCER.

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii Cancer Center to conduct a multiethnic cohort study focusing on the social determinants of health, lifestyles, environmental exposures, and resilience factors of Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Filipinos, including an analysis of the health effects and risks of individuals living in close proximity to landfills in Nanakuli, Oahu. Requires the University of Hawaii Cancer Center to seek other sources of funding to complete the study. (CD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO NURSING.

Appropriates funds to establish a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at the University of Hawaii Maui College. (CD1)

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD PROTECTION.

Requires mandatory written reports of child abuse or neglect to the Department of Human Services to include the military status of the child's parent or other persons responsible for the child's care, if known. Requires the Department of Human Services to inform the appropriate authority for the branch of the United States military when, upon receiving a report of child abuse or neglect, there is sufficient information to determine that the report involves a family where one of the parents, guardians, or alleged perpetrators is a member of an identifiable branch of the United States military. (CD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO MOTOR CARRIERS.

Exempts community-based organizations engaged in community-based economic development providing transportation services from the Motor Carrier Law under certain circumstances. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO SMALL PURCHASES.

Increases the minimum amount for purchases constituting small purchase procurements that are subject to an electronic system, from $25,000 to $50,000. Requires a report to the Legislature. (CD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO IDENTIFICATION.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to assist inmates with obtaining civil identification cards and other identification documents within a certain time. (HD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE FINANCES.

Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to utilize revenue bonds when obtaining a line of credit or other instrument of indebtedness for the Bond Volume Cap Recycling Program. (CD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat