Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Establishes block appropriations and increases fiscal flexibility for the University of Hawaii. Establishes a University of Hawaii Budget Stabilization Fund, authorizes limited procurement and fiscal exemptions, and implements performance‑based funding metrics. Requires annual fiscal and performance reporting to the Legislature and provides a transition framework for the move to block budgeting. Effective July 1, 3000. (HD2)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Requires the University of Hawaii to develop a facilities and student housing master plan. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

Establishes a statewide framework for the assessment and the award of academic credit for prior learning acquired through military service, workforce training, apprenticeships, professional certifications, and other structured learning experiences outside of traditional classrooms.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO HELMETS.

Increases the age of an individual who is required to wear a helmet for electric foot scooters and bicycles. Prohibits a person from operating any class of electric bicycle or electronic micro-mobility device unless that person wears a helmet. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE HOUSING.

Establishes the Workforce Housing Regulatory Sandbox Program to be administered by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Establishes an advisory council within the Workforce Housing Regulatory Sandbox Program to advise on environmental and cultural practices within specific developments. Requires reports to the Legislature. Establishes a position. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

Establishes the Office of the State Construction Manager within the Department of Accounting and General Services, overseen by the State Construction Manager, to organize, manage, and oversee design review of, and issue design approvals for, state construction projects. Exempts state construction projects from county building permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy requirements under certain circumstances, as determined by the State Construction Manager. Establishes the Design Review Special Fund and appropriates funds into and out of the fund.

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE FOR MINORS.

Prohibits medical procedures and the distribution of hormones or puberty blockers for the purpose of allowing a minor to change their sex to correlate with an identified gender. Allows for certain exceptions. Creates both a private and state right of action. Outlines sanctions through the proper licensing authority for violations.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO MEDICAL FREEDOM.

Protects the right of individuals to make autonomous decisions regarding medical interventions without discrimination, coercion, or exclusion by public or private entities. Requires the Department of Health to amend its rules. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO ELECTION INTEGRITY.

Requires voter registration roll maintenance and election audits. Establishes uniform chain-of-custody standards for ballots and election materials. Appropriates moneys.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO SOCIAL WORK.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services, to develop and establish a social work training program to assist nonviolent incarcerated individuals in the area of social work. Requires progress reports on the program to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes an income tax credit for employers who provide paid family and medical leave for their employees.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Establishes a three-year homelessness sanctuary pilot program to be administered by the Coordinator on Homelessness on designated land for the pilot program, which shall serve as a safe location for unhoused women and young children, under the age of ten, to reside and access services. Requires the Coordinator on Homelessness and the Coordinator's partner agencies to provide certain facilities and services to the designated location. Requires reporting to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO AIR MEDICAL SERVICES.

Establishes the Statewide Air Medical Services Program within the Department of Health, Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention Systems Branch to coordinate and strengthen air medical services. Establishes an air medical director, an air medical program manager, and an air medical coordinator. Specifies that annual licensure and accreditation fees are to be deposited into the Emergency Medical Services Special Fund for costs of the program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Requires all health insurers in the State, including Medicaid managed care programs, to cover the cost of continuous glucose monitors and related supplies under certain conditions. Applies to insurance policies, contracts, plans, or agreements issued or renewed in the State after 12/31/2026.

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to develop and maintain comprehensive Housing Equity Dashboard on the Corporation's website that provides annual public reporting on certain statistics regarding affordable housing production. Appropriates funds.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO THE MINIMUM WAGE.

Amends the minimum monthly guaranteed compensation an individual must earn to be exempt from certain wage and hour requirements. Requires the minimum wage to increase to $18.00 per hour beginning 1/1/2027, instead of 1/1/2028. Increases the minimum wage on 1/1/2028, 1/1/2029, and 1/1/2030. Prohibits tipped employees from being paid less than the minimum wage. Beginning on 9/30/2030, and on September 30 of each year thereafter, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to calculate an adjusted minimum wage rate.

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Requires operators of conversational artificial intelligence services in the State to issue certain disclosures to account holders and users. Requires operators to develop protocols to respond to prompts or content associated with, and prevent the production of, suicidal ideations in account holders and users. Establishes protections for minor account holders of conversational artificial intelligence services. Beginning 1/1/2027, requires operators to submit annual reports to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Allows the Department of the Attorney General to bring a civil action against operators who violate certain requirements and establishes statutory penalties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires a developer of an algorithmic decision system to provide certain disclosures to a deployer and an individual who is or will be affected by a decision made, informed, or influenced by the algorithmic decision system. Provides certain rights and procedures for individuals to access and correct data used by an algorithmic decision system. Requires disclosure requirements for generative artificial intelligence systems. Provides that a developer and deployer of an algorithmic decision system are jointly and severally liable for a violation of any law that results from the deployer's use of the developer's system, under certain conditions. Assigns enforcement responsibilities to the attorney general, including establishing rules.

Daisy HartsfieldDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Short form bill relating to transportation.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

Establishes factors under which officers may arrest and detain persons without a warrant for petty misdemeanors and violations, and requires officers to document the justification for the arrests. Amends the circumstances under which officers may issue citations in lieu of arrest. Requires officers to issue citations in lieu of arrest for certain petty misdemeanors and violations, unless public safety or flight risks are present or the alleged offense involves operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant or the abuse of family or household members. Requires the Judiciary to promulgate a standardized citation form and updates the required information for citations. Requires citations be visible on an offender's criminal record. Requires the Criminal Justice Research Institute to submit reports. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO DEMOGRAPHIC DATA.

Requires the Office of Enterprise Technology Services to coordinate the development and maintenance of statewide standards for the collection, management, and reporting of race and ethnicity demographic data by any state or county department, agency, board, or commission. Focuses the use of collected demographic data on areas of public interest and establishes transparency and accountability requirements regarding artificial intelligence systems associated with the collected data. Requires state and county departments, agencies, boards, and commissions that collect race and ethnicity data to report to the Office of Enterprise Technology Services on meeting federal data collection requirements. Appropriates funds.

Daisy HartsfieldDemocrat

RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.

Clarifies that the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and the counties, including officers, employees, and authorized agents of the Department and counties, shall not be liable for costs relating to the entering of private property to control or eradicate pests. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish a working group that comprises signatories of the biosecurity government-industry agreements for joint-decision making. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT.

Establishes the procedure that a circuit court shall follow upon the reversal or vacation of an individual's judgment of conviction on grounds consistent with innocence, and where the charges were dismissed. Requires the State to pay advance compensation to any petitioner who was convicted in a court of the State, imprisoned for at least one year, and whose judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated, or was pardoned, on grounds consistent with innocence. Requires the Comptroller to issue a warrant for payment of advance compensation to a petitioner. Requires the Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, to contract with a community-based agency to assign a case manager to a petitioner upon the petitioner's release. Requires the State to provide medical coverage to a person for a certain duration upon the reversal or vacation of the person's judgment of conviction on grounds consistent with innocence and where the charges were dismissed. Provides that the Judiciary and Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall retain jurisdiction over the person for the purposes of effectuating this process. Authorizes the State to seek reimbursement from the applicable county for any losses incurred by the State pursuant to this process. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to submit an annual report to the Legislature. Clarifies eligibility to seek compensation for individuals whose judgment of conviction was reversed or vacated, or who were pardoned, on grounds consistent with innocence, and where the charges were dismissed. Shifts the burden of proof to the State to prove by a preponderance of evidence that the reversal or vacation of the judgment of conviction for a petitioner, or the pardoning of the petitioner, was inconsistent with innocence. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY.

Includes the Chief Energy Officer of the Hawaii State Energy Office as a member of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Ensures that the State's zero emissions clean economy aspirational target encourages both local and global sequestration. Requires each state agency to review the impacts of its internal plans as they relate to the purpose and goals of the Commission. Requires HSEO to submit summary reports to the Governor and Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO COASTAL RESILIENCE.

Establishes a five-year Coastal Resilience Pilot Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the preservation of Mantokuji Bay. Allows the pilot program to be exempt from certain regulatory requirements. Requires the State Historic Preservation Division to conduct a streamlined historic preservation review. Establishes certain procedures for the discovery of Native Hawaiian skeletal remains. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO MEASUREMENT STANDARDS.

Exempts commercial measuring devices utilized in taxicabs from the requirement that the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity Measurement Standards Branch inspect and test all measurement standards and measuring devices.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DISABILITY AND COMMUNICATION ACCESS BOARD.

Requires the Disability and Communication Access Board to study the health care communication needs of patients who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, or deaf-blind. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Dee MorikawaDemocrat

RELATING TO SOLAR ENERGY.

Defines and provides requirements for the use of a portable solar generation device. Provides that electric utility companies are not liable for any damage or injury caused by a portable solar generation device. Requires each portable solar generation device to be registered with the Public Utilities Commission. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish and maintain an online system for registration of portable solar generation devices, at no cost to the customer. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO CARDIOVASCULAR SCREENING.

Requires cardiovascular screening for students, including student athletes. Requires the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health, to distribute educational and informational materials regarding sudden cardiac arrest. Requires the Department of Health to implement policies, programs, training, and continuing education that increase health care provider knowledge of cardiovascular screening guidelines.

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a Medicaid buy-in program for workers with disabilities. Requires the Department to adopt rules.

Dee MorikawaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RELOCATION OF FACILITIES.

Establishes the facilities relocation task force to identify and address the issue of the inequitable location of mental health facilities, clean and sober homes, homeless shelters, and supportive living homes across the island of Oahu, particularly on the Waianae Coast. Appropriates funds.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

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

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the 45th representative district.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the twenty-sixth representative district.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

Protects emergency responders from liability during periods of evacuation. Provides that individuals who wilfully fail to comply with predictive evacuation orders assume the risk and waive liability. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to establish a permanent Return-to-Home Program to return homeless individuals in the State to families and relatives in their home states. Requires the Office to report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO INFRASTRUCTURE.

Establishes a temporary working group to study the current capacity of state utility services, the expected lifespan of existing coastline utility infrastructure, and the financial implications of necessary expansions. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FIFTEENTH, SIXTEENTH, AND SEVENTEENTH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICTS.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth representative districts.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO FINANCIAL LITERACY.

Requires the Department of Education to implement financial literacy instruction into existing courses in public high schools that have sufficient overlap with financial literacy program standards beginning in the 2027-2028 school year. Requires the Board of Education to provide professional development to teachers. Allows the Board of Education to adopt rules. Appropriates funds.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

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.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the department of education to prohibit electronic telecommunication device usage during the instructional day and implement a social media and artificial intelligence literacy education campaign. Creates exemptions for students requiring accommodations, emergency situations, and teacher authorizations. Requires the department of education to submit a report three years after the initial effective date, and then every five years thereafter.

Joe GedeonRepublican

A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATUTORY REVISION: AMENDING OR REPEALING VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE HAWAII REVISED STATUTES OR THE SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII FOR THE PURPOSES OF CORRECTING ERRORS AND REFERENCES, CLARIFYING LANGUAGE, OR DELETING OBSOLETE OR UNNECESSARY PROVISIONS.

Amends or repeals various provisions of the HRS or the SLH for the purposes of correcting errors and references, clarifying language, or deleting obsolete or unnecessary provisions.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CRIME.

Allows the charge of unauthorized entry into motor vehicle in the first degree to be brought as a class B felony if property damage of $750 or more occurs or the person has a previous conviction for the same offense within the past five years.

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Prohibits auto manufacturers and dealers from charging a post-sale subscription fee for hardware that is already installed at the time of purchase. Establishes penalties and fines.

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a family caregiver tax credit for nonpaid family caregivers. Requires the Department of Taxation to submit annual reports to the legislature. Appropriates moneys to the Executive Office on Aging. The tax credit applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2027. Effective 12/31/2026.

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO CONSUMER PRIVACY.

Establishes the Hawaii Drop and Delete Act to limit the information data brokers collect and sell regarding consumer information. Establishes a deletion mechanism allowing consumers to request data brokers to drop their personal information. Establishes the consumer privacy fund. Establishes a private right of action.

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.

Establishes the Community Resilience Hubs Pilot Program within the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency. Requires a report. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE FOUNDATION ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS.

Increases the ceiling of the works of art special fund. Appropriates funds for the maintenance, upkeep, and preservation of the State's public art and collections. Appropriates funds for a collections manager position within the state foundation on culture and the arts.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

Establishes a Royal Mausoleum Commission within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop and implement policy for the preservation, operation, and outreach of Mauna ʻAla. Allows the Royal Mausoleum Commission to make rules as necessary, employ staff, and receive private or federal funds. Requires the Royal Mausoleum Commission to report annually to the Legislature. Requires the Legislature to appropriate sufficient funds to support the Royal Mausoleum Commission.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Establishes the Ombudsman's Office for Condominium Owners and Associations within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Increases the biennial Condominium Education Trust Fund fee by $2.50 a year to pay for the ongoing costs of the Ombudsman's Office. Appropriates funds from the Condominium Education Trust Fund for establishment of the Ombudsman's Office.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO DRUGS FOR WEIGHT LOSS.

Requires the Department of Human Services to provide Medicaid prescription drug program recipients with coverage of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs for weight loss. Appropriates funds. (HD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat