Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO FIREFIGHTING AT COMMERCIAL HARBORS.

Limits civil liability of individuals who render firefighting services with a firefighting vessel at any of the State's commercial harbors or roadsteads, any commercial harbor or waterfront improvement belonging to or controlled by the State, or any vessel within a commercial harbor or roadstead to only damages resulting from an individual's gross negligence or wanton acts or omissions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PUPIL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY.

Amends sections 286-102 and 286-181, HRS, to allow exemptions to include use of motorcoaches, small buses, and vans, which may not meet school bus regulations for school bus services, but which shall otherwise meet vehicle requirements and qualifications set forth in chapter 19-143, Hawaii Administrative Rules, to the extent required by the Department of Transportation and the Department of Education, when adult staff chaperone escorts of students are provided while students are being transported between designated locations off-campus and designated locations on-campus.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Beginning 7/1/2028, authorizes a county to impose a mileage-based road usage charge on electric vehicles. Provides and requires a county to establish the rate of the road usage charge. Repeals the requirement for the Department of Transportation to establish county subaccounts within the State Highway Fund. Clarifies the disposition of funds for state mileage-based road usage charge. Clarifies the rate and calculation of the state mileage-based road usage charge. Specifies that rental motor vehicle companies may visibly pass the costs of the mileage-based road usage charges to the consumer. Expands allowable uses of the State Highway and Highway Funds. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSING.

Amends requirements to commercial driver's license qualification standards to meet current federal regulations to allow the State to issue a non-domiciled commercial learner's permit and non‑domiciled commercial driver's license for applicants who are unable to provide proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HIGHWAY REVENUE BONDS.

Restores the revenue bond authorization for the Department of Transportation to issue Highway Revenue Bonds for highway capital improvement projects authorized in Act 164, SLH 2023, as amended by Act 230, SLH 2024. Takes effect 1/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HIGHWAYS.

Authorizes the counties to sell or dispose of property bordering the ocean when the Department of Transportation requests the acquisition of the property for state highway purposes. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO AUTOMATED SPEED ENFORCEMENT SYSTEMS PROGRAM.

Appropriates funds out of the State Highway Fund for deposit into the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund and appropriates funds out of the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund for fiscal year 2026-2027. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

Makes an emergency appropriation out of the State Highway Fund to provide funds for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the Department of Transportation to enforce the Motor Carrier Law. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPARTMENTAL DATA SHARING.

Adds the Department of Taxation to the list of state agencies sharing data through the statewide longitudinal data system. Allows the Department of Taxation to provide the University of Hawaii and other state agencies certain wage data. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE PROCEDURE FOR PAYMENT UNDER PROTEST LAWSUITS.

Allows for the interest earned on payments under protest in the litigated claims fund to be paid in nontaxation cases if the claimant prevails. Establishes a procedure for the disposition of moneys and refiling of actions when a payment under protest suit is filed prematurely. (SD1)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Establishes the Hawaii Economic Diversification Grant Program under the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to provide grants to qualified high technology businesses engaging in qualified research activities. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the Department of Transportation to establish and implement a five-year Interisland Transportation Fee Reimbursement Pilot Program, to be funded by revenues received from the rental motor vehicle surcharge. Extends the increase of the rental motor vehicle surcharge by $0.50 each year from 12/31/2027 to 12/31/2031. Appropriates funds.

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the Department of Education to establish a cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator training program for public school students in grades six through twelve as part of existing health or physical education curriculum. Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the establishment of a cardiac emergency response plan in all public elementary, middle, intermediate, and high schools in the State.

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LANDLORD TENANT CODE.

Authorizes a landlord to petition a district court for a temporary restraining order, permanent restraining order, or injunction to compel a tenant's compliance with section 521-51, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT.

Excludes from the definition of "development" used for purposes of coastal zone management the reconstruction of certain structures that were damaged or destroyed in a disaster proclaimed to be a state of emergency or local state of emergency, under certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Grants the Public Utilities Commission the ability to authorize preferential rates for the purchase of renewable energy from facilities that meet certain prevailing wage requirements. Requires public utilities to forward certain requests for preferential rates to the PUC for approval. Appropriates funds. Effective 07/01/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO ALLOWANCE ON SERVICE RETIREMENTS.

Includes certain law enforcement administrators and employees of the Department of Law Enforcement as class A members of the pension and retirement systems and provides guidance for the computation of retirement benefits similar to police officers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CONTROLLED-ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds for the development of a controlled-environment agriculture research and demonstration facility at the Magoon research and teaching site in Manoa, Oahu. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes a Plant-based Building Materials Working Group to study and report on how best to grow plants and develop plant-based building materials in Hawaii. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO BED BUGS.

Prohibits landlords, including those operating in public housing and educational dorm settings, from renting a dwelling unit that the landlord knows has a current bed bug infestation. Establishes procedures that landlords shall take upon receiving notice of an actual or suspected bed bug infestation.

KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Phases in a ban on state departments and administratively attached agencies from purchasing lei that contain plant material grown and harvested outside the State. (SD1)

KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY

RELATING TO TEACHER WORKFORCE HOUSING.

Establishes a Teacher Workforce Housing Stipend Program to support teacher retention at public and charter schools classified as hard-to-staff. Requires reports to the Legislature. Amends the purpose and uses of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY

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.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Repeals the authority for campaign funds to carry over to subsequent elections. Requires, at the latest, for campaign funds not expended to escheat to the State after a certain period. Requires the Campaign Spending Commission to make reasonable efforts to return escheated funds to contributors with any remaining balance to fund partially publicly financed campaigns.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

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

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates moneys for capital improvement projects for the benefit of the 43rd Representative District.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO MISSING PERSONS.

Establishes and appropriates moneys for a Charli Alert program to help locate persons who are 18 to 64 years old, missing, and thought to be in danger.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO PARENTAGE.

Repeals the Uniform Parentage Act of 1973 and updates laws relating to parentage, including enacting portions of the Uniform Parentage Act of 2017.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the department of education to prohibit cell phone use during the instructional day, prohibit student access to social media through the school's internet, and implement a social media education campaign. Creates exemptions for students requiring accommodations, emergency situations, and teacher authorizations.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes a high school law enforcement curriculum-to-career pipeline initiative. Appropriates funds to develop and implement the program.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY.

Authorizes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to utilize student education partnerships to increase the amount of mental health care providers in correctional facilities across the State. Appropriates funds.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO STATE LEGISLATIVE VACANCIES.

Provides the Governor with discretion to not fill a vacant legislative position if the vacancy occurs one hundred twenty days or less from an upcoming primary election until after the results of the primary election are certified.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE.

Directs the Office of Wellness and Resilience to collaborate with the Department of Human Services to, either directly or by contract, design, administer, and implement a program for trauma-informed organizational assessments and a training curriculum for the Department of Human Services Child Welfare Services Branch staff. Appropriates funds. Takes effect 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FAMILY RESILIENCE PILOT PROGRAM.

Establishes the Family Resilience Pilot Program within the Office of Wellness and Resilience and appropriates funds to execute the program, including the contracting of services.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE.

Transfers the Office of Wellness and Resilience to the Department of Human Resources Development. Creates a Wellness and Resilience Advisory Board. Updates the Office of Wellness and Resilience functions. Effective 6/29/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Reduces the minimum number of years of credited service qualified Tier 2 Employees' Retirement System members must have to be eligible for vested benefit status for service retirement allowance purposes from ten years to five years. Increases employer contributions to offset the resulting liability.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO VESSELS IN STATE COMMERCIAL HARBORS.

Clarifies and expands the exemptions of certain vessels from the requirements for the securing of mooring lines in state commercial harbors. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO USE OF INTOXICANTS WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE.

Lowers the blood alcohol content threshold for driving while under the influence of alcohol from .08 to .05 or more grams of alcohol to reduce impaired driving and fatal crashes.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Increases the tax rates for cigarettes and little cigars beginning 1/1/2026, amends the disposition of tax revenues to certain non-general funds starting from fiscal year 2026-2027, with the excess carrying over to the general fund, and expands the disposition of tax revenues to the non-general funds to include all tobacco product taxes. Repeals obsolete historical tax rates. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Exempts any development of homestead lots or housing for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from general excise and use taxes. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.

Allows the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to assume historic preservation review of the effect of any proposed project for lands under its jurisdiction, except under certain circumstances. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2026. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL IMPACT FEES.

Exempts housing developed by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from school impact fees. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT.

Confirms that Act 130, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024, shall take effect on either the date of the Secretary of the Interior's notification letter to the Congressional Committee Chairpersons that this Act meets none of the criteria in title 43 Code of Federal Regulations section 48.20, or on the date that the United States Congress approval becomes law.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO COUNTY USER FEES.

Exempts the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from county user fees, in the amount of $100,000 aggregate per year, and ensures county services to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for Hawaiian Home Lands.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID THIRD PARTY LIABILITY.

Amends third party liability provisions for Medicaid program claims for payment as required under the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.

Allows the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to sell, donate, or dispose of property abandoned or seized in federal public housing projects. Requires the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to notify the known owner of the abandoned or seized property. Creates procedures for persons entitled to the abandoned or seized property. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.

Amends section 356D-6.7, HRS, to include all Hawaii Public Housing Authority parcels as areas that may be closed to the public.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TENANT SELECTION.

Repeals the tenant selection preferences for disabled veterans and the spouses of deceased veterans in the State Low-Income Housing Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC HOUSING EVICTIONS.

Reduces the time the Hawaii Public Housing Authority is required to store unclaimed personal effects of a tenant evicted from public housing from thirty days to fourteen days. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat