Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO SCHOOL IMPACT FEES.

Prohibits the Land Use Commission from imposing exactions from a residential development for educational purposes. Repeals school impact fees. Abolishes school impact fee subaccounts within the School Facilities Special Fund and transfers unencumbered balances to the School Facilities Special Fund. Abolishes fair share contribution and impact fee accounts within the DOE Donations – Facilities Trust and transfers unencumbered balances to the School Facilities Special Fund. Provides that any existing educational contribution agreements executed with the Department of Education or School Facilities Authority before the repeal of school impact fees shall remain in effect. Transfers existing educational contribution agreements from the Department of Education to the School Facilities Authority. Repeals a requirement for the School Facilities Authority to report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds from the School Facilities Special Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Provides the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation with autonomy in personnel matters. Increases the salary cap for the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Renames the Executive Assistant of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation the Deputy Executive Director. Prohibits the extension of any employment contract of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and Hawaii Public Housing Authority beyond two years without legislative approval. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Authorizes HHFDC to designate certain for-sale units as permanently affordable housing, subject to certain restrictions. Clarifies that certain resale and occupancy restrictions apply only to projects developed prior to a certain date. Amends the definition of "qualified resident" for the purposes of HHFDC housing development programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Limits mixed-use developments to transit-oriented developments that include housing along a locally preferred alternative for a mass transit system. Repeals the sunset date of Act 45, SLH 2024, thereby making permanent the authority of the counties to share in facilitating the development, construction, financing, refinancing, or other provision of mixed-use developments, including low- and moderate-income housing projects, and issue county bonds before 7/1/2033 for this purpose. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUMS.

Clarifies the Ninety-Nine Year Leasehold Program by: including the renting or subleasing by the owner of a residential condominium unit to any tenant or sublessee of any kind as a form of owner occupation; requiring at least sixty per cent of the residential condominium units within urban redevelopment sites to be set aside for owner-occupied residential use for at least ten years from the date of initial purchase; exempting the design, development, and construction of contracts for residential condominium units within an urban redevelopment site from procurement requirements; allowing an individual to own other real property and still qualify for the program; and allowing the sale of up to forty per cent of residential condominium units to qualified residents if there are units available after being advertised for sale for more than sixty days. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO YOUTH PENALTIES.

Prohibits the assessment of any fees, fines, or court costs against a person who was adjudicated for an offense committed during the person's minority, or against the person's parent or guardian, and discharges all related debt obligations assessed before the effective date of the Act. Encourages the use of community service and other programs that employ aina-based principles. Repeals certain penalties imposed on parents, guardians, or other persons associated with unaccompanied children in streets and unmarried minors in dance halls. (SD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Makes broadcast and streaming platform productions and commercial advertisement productions with Internet-only distribution eligible to receive the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit. Repeals 1/1/2033. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Prohibits the lease or rental of a high-speed electric device. Prohibits the sale or offer for sale of a high-speed electric device, under certain conditions. Prohibits the operation of a high-speed electric device in certain situations. Establishes penalties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO PHARMACY.

Specifies a framework for the administration of audits of records of registered pharmacists and pharmacies. Amends the definition of "pharmacy benefit manager" under chapter 431S, HRS, to exclude certain health maintenance organizations. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Authorizes health care providers to dispense nonprescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and nonlegend drugs for workers' compensation patients, under certain circumstances. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO INDEBTEDNESS TO THE STATE.

Amends the amount that a disbursing officer may deduct from an employee's salary, wage, or compensation based on the employee's gross income. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CAFETERIA PLANS.

Requires the maximum contribution and carryover amounts for a public service flexible spending account plan to be set annually in accordance with the maximum amounts allowed under section 125 of the Internal Revenue Service Code. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO REIMBURSEMENT OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.

Requires the State or a county to reimburse an officer or employee for work-related travel costs that the officer or employee loaned to the State or a county within thirty calendar days of submitting an approved statement of completed travel. Requires the State or a county to pay interest on a loan not reimbursed within thirty calendar days until the loan is fully reimbursed. Obligates an officer or employee to request a complete refund from the travel vendor for travel not taken for good cause. Entitles an officer or employee to reimbursement from the State or a county when a travel vendor offers a partial refund or no refund. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CIVIL IDENTIFICATION.

Lowers the age to obtain a state civil identification card without a signature from a parent or guardian from eighteen years old to sixteen years old. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Requires the Department of Human Services to allow a full earned income disregard for individuals with disabilities who are between the ages of sixteen and sixty-four years when determining eligibility for Medicaid. Takes effect upon approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires electronic smoking device and e-liquid manufacturers to certify to the Department of the Attorney General annually that the manufacturer received a Marketing Granted Order from the federal Food and Drug Administration and that the manufacturer is in compliance with federal regulations and state laws. Requires the Department to compile and make public a directory of all electronic smoking device and e-liquid manufacturers and products duly certified. Establishes penalties for manufacturers that fail to comply with the certification requirements and for other parties that acquire, possess, transport, keep, sell, or offer for sale products that are not in the directory. (SD1)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HEALTHCARE EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.

Formally codifies the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program. Requires a participant in the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program who receives a new award on or after July 1, 2027, to remain and work in the State for a certain number of years based on the amount of financial assistance received. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD2)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Expands the definitions of "preceptor" and "volunteer‑based supervised clinical training rotation" applicable to the Healthcare Preceptor Tax Credit to improve accessibility for providers to receive income tax credits for acting as preceptors, including removing "primary care" from the criteria to qualify as a preceptor. Adds physician assistants, dietitians, and social workers to the list of preceptors and eligible students. Expands eligibility for the tax credit to include accredited residency programs that require preceptor support. Adds the Director of Health and representatives of residency programs with eligible students to the Preceptor Credit Assurance Committee. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Requires, for any affordable rental housing development project that receives financing or any financial assistance from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, that the Corporation require the housing development lease or occupancy agreement to allow residents to own or otherwise maintain one or more common household pets. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE LIBRARIAN.

Repeals the salary cap for the state librarian. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL PARK LEASES.

Repeals the requirement for land covered by an agricultural park lease with a remaining term of fifteen years or less to be located in a county having a population of less than five hundred thousand in order for the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to extend the lease. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Beginning 1/1/2027, establishes a yearly reduction in the general excise tax rate on groceries and nonprescription drugs on a tiered schedule until 1/1/2034, when a full general excise tax exemption applies. Beginning 1/1/2027, prohibits the counties from imposing a county surcharge on groceries and nonprescription drugs. Beginning 1/1/2028, provides a general excise tax exemption on the wholesale sale of groceries and nonprescription drugs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Reestablishes the Agricultural Development and Food Security Special Fund. Renames the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax, also known as the barrel tax, as the Environmental Response, Energy, Carbon Emissions, and Food Security Tax; gradually increases barrel tax rates; and allocates portions of barrel tax revenues to the Agricultural Development and Food Security Special Fund, Carbon Emissions Tax and Dividend Special Fund, Airport Revenue Fund, and Boating Special Fund. Establishes a refundable Carbon Cashback Tax Credit and appropriates funds to the Department of Taxation to administer the tax credit. Establishes the Carbon Emissions Tax and Dividend Special Fund to be used in the administration of the barrel tax and Carbon Cashback Tax Credit and for public awareness of the Carbon Cashback Tax Credit. Requires the Department of Taxation to submit reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO CESSPOOL CONVERSIONS.

Establishes and appropriates funds for a Cesspool Conversion Revolving Loan Fund, to be administered by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, to provide financial assistance, including low-interest or forgivable loans, to eligible homeowners for the upgrade, conversion, or connection of cesspools. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes a Conservation Agriculture and Soil Health Incentive Program within the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO PEDESTRIANS.

Establishes that fines for pedestrian violations under chapter 291C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, shall not exceed $25. Requires state and county agencies to revise applicable schedules of fines, rules, and procedures to comply with the monetary limit. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS.

Establishes an income tax credit for automated external defibrillator devices that are installed and placed in service in certain places of public accommodation located in the State, subject to registration requirements. Authorizes the Department of Health to establish a statewide automated external defibrillator registry to collect and maintain certain information. Requires the owner or operator of an automated external defibrillator located in a place of public accommodation to conduct certain maintenance. Requires reporting of certain automated external defibrillator data to the Department of Health. Requires the Department of Health to coordinate with certain entities. Requires the Department of Health to request funds from the 911 Fund for the establishment and maintenance of the automated external defibrillator registry. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

Exempts certain positions in the Developmental Disabilities Division of the Department of Health and Hawaii State Hospital from civil service. Authorizes the Director of Health to appoint two additional associate administrators and two project managers for the Hawaii State Hospital or a secure psychiatric rehabilitation facility. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Establishes a 3-year Health Coverage Continuity Pilot Program within the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, to assist individuals who have lost Medicaid health insurance coverage and lack access to other health insurance options. Authorizes the Department of Human Services to contract with a nonprofit health insurer or community-based organization to operate the Pilot Program under certain circumstances. Authorizes the Department of Human Services to issue premium subsidies in certain circumstances. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys. Sunsets 6/30/2029. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.

Repeals the law prohibiting drug paraphernalia under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires public charter schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to provide free meals to students whose family income is no more than three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO ENERGY EQUITY.

Allows the Public Utilities Commission to establish a lifeline baseline performance standard and medically essential needs energy program based on proposals from electric utilities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Imposes an additional fee for a certificate of registration for motor vehicles, to be deposited into the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Increases the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit for qualified productions that utilize qualified production facilities located within the State. Changes the cap amount and aggregate cap amount of the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit to unspecified amounts. Imposes the manufacturing GET rate on motion picture, digital media, and film productions and repeals the provision in the definition of "qualified production costs" that applied the term to mean costs incurred that are subject to the highest GET rate. Exempts from the GET amounts received by a motion picture project employer from a client equal to amounts that are disbursed by the motion picture project employer for employee wages, salaries, payroll taxes, insurance premiums, and employment benefits and payments to loan-out companies. (HD1)

LAMOSAO

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Establishes requirements for property and casualty insurers and policies for pre- and post-disaster protections. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Elle CochranRepublican

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Repeals the authorization of a physician to transmit a treatment plan by mail or facsimile to an address or facsimile number provided by the employer. Requires employers denying a treatment plan to file a written denial with the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations within seven days of receipt. Places the burden of proof on the employer to establish by a preponderance of medical evidence that the denial of the treatment plan is justified. Establishes a presumption that a denial of a treatment plan not supported by a medical opinion or relevant medical records existing at the time of denial shall be without reasonable grounds. Clarifies that a treatment plan is deemed accepted if an employer fails to file a written denial within the seven-day period. Requires employers to pay the appropriate health care provider for any medical care set forth in a treatment plan that is accepted or deemed accepted. Establishes penalties for employers whom the Director found to have denied a treatment plan without reasonable grounds, frivolously, or primarily for purposes of delay, or to have failed to pay for an injured employee's medical care under an accepted treatment plan. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES.

Conditions the issuance of a certificate of inspection upon a vehicle not being equipped with any cover or shield installed over the license plate. Amends the penalty for obstruction of a license plate. Allows state or county parking enforcement officers and persons authorized by a state or county law enforcement agency to issue citations for vehicles with a cover or shield obstructing the license plate. Repeals the requirement that a cover or shield be intended to alter or interfere with the visibility, legibility, or identification of a license plate by law enforcement or traffic enforcement systems. Effective 1/1/2027. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Clarifies the process for selecting a certified provider of vocational rehabilitation services. Requires certified providers to automatically approve vocational rehabilitation services for an injured employee if those services will likely be required for suitable gainful employment and the initial evaluation report finds the injured employee feasible to participate. Requires providers to file an employee's vocational rehabilitation plan no later than one hundred twenty days after submitting an initial evaluation report, unless extended by the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations. Clarifies the process for an employer to object to a vocational rehabilitation plan. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Authorizes an attending physician to request a functional capacity examination and refer an injured employee for the examination without first obtaining permission from the employee's employer in order to assess the employee's ability to return to work. Allows licensed occupational and physical therapists to be deemed qualified to perform functional capacity examinations. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO PRETRIAL RELEASE.

Requires certain factors to be considered when determining a defendant's financial ability to afford bail. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

By 2/28/27, requires the Department of Human Services, upon obtaining a federal waiver, to establish a pre-release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) application process for inmates nearing release. Allows all individuals convicted of an offense involving the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance to apply for SNAP benefits, regardless of treatment status. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO FARMS.

Creates an exclusion from income tax for the first $50,000 of gross income earned by farmers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

WARD

RELATING TO FINANCING.

Establishes and appropriates funds for a cesspool conversion on-bill financing program to be administered by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority to provide low-interest loans to eligible homeowners for the upgrade, conversion, or connection of cesspools. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL CLIMATE RESILIENCY.

Establishes a three-year Climate-Resilient Food Systems Grant Pilot Program, to be administered by the Department of Agriculture. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING RESILIENCY.

Establishes the Strengthen Hawaii Homes Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to administer grants to retrofit residential properties to enhance resilience against disaster impacts and reduce potential insurance liabilities. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO FLOOD MITIGATION.

Establishes a grant program for drainage system maintenance and flood mitigation measures in residential areas, to be administered by the Board of Land and Natural Resources. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO THE USE OF INTOXICANTS WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE.

Lowers the blood alcohol concentration threshold for driving while under the influence of an intoxicant. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO RETIRANTS.

Allows a retirant to be employed without reenrollment in the Employees' Retirement System and without loss or interruption of retirement benefits if the retirant is employed as an investigator in a position identified by the Department of Law Enforcement or Department of the Attorney General as a labor shortage or difficult—to-fill position, subject to certain conditions. Requires the director of human resources of the appropriate state jurisdiction to include in the director's annual report to the Legislature, details on the employment of retirants as investigators. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat