Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO STATE FACILITIES.

Requires all state building construction begun on or after 7/1/2026 to provide at least 1 universal changing accommodation in each public restroom designated as a family or assisted-use restroom, where feasible.

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO PENALTIES.

Increases the offense of habitual property crime from a class C felony to a class B felony. Increases the sentencing structure for convictions of habitual property crime.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes the alternative transportation options tax credit for employers that offer transportation demand management strategies to employees who commute using a method other than single occupancy vehicle. Authorizes rulemaking.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO WATER CARRIERS.

Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to establish automatic adjustment mechanisms by rules that include specified criteria. Grants Governor veto-authority over the rules. Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to waive or exempt any water carrier from any requirement under the Hawaii Water Carrier Act. Repeals 7/1/2032. (SD2)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WORKFORCE PELL GRANT PROGRAM.

Establishes a statewide framework for the implementation of the federal Workforce Pell Grant Program to provide financial aid for certain short-term workforce education and training programs. Establishes a Workforce Pell Grant Program Approval Committee within the Workforce Development Council. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS.

Establishes a Teacher National Board Certification Incentive Program to incentivize public charter school teachers who achieve national board certification under the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Requires that incentives paid to public charter school teachers under the Teacher National Board Certification Incentive Program established for public charter school teachers and other teacher differentials be paid from funds appropriated to the State Public Charter School Commission, instead of the per-pupil allocation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FORTIETH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the 40th representative district.

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

RELATING TO INSURANCE FRAUD.

Increases the scope of insurance fraud and certain offenses. Augments offenses by contractors and insurers during a declared emergency. Clarifies the penalties for the offense of insurance fraud and the capabilities and operations of the Insurance Fraud Investigations Branch, including the annual report to the Legislature and the protection of sensitive information. Adds protection for insurance fraud whistleblowers. Authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to establish a centralized database for authorized agencies to track insurance fraud data. Appropriates funds.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Prohibits the sale of nonprescription diet pills and dietary supplements for weight loss or muscle building to any person under eighteen years of age. Requires retail establishments and delivery sellers to follow certain protocols regarding certain products to prevent access by minors to the restricted products.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Exempts persons operating wing-in-ground craft from the application of the Hawaii Water Carriers Act. Defines "wing‑in‑ground craft."

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO TOWING PRACTICES.

Establishes a Uniform Towing Practices for Public Parking Facilities Working Group within the Department of Transportation to examine existing state and county laws, ordinances, rules, and administrative practices relating to towing from public parking facilities and develop recommendations for uniform standards applicable to towing from state and county parking facilities. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Authorizes the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, to establish the Shade and Fruit Tree Program to support educational activities and encourage propagation of native shade trees and fruit trees for planting in Department of Education schools. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF NON-AGRICULTURAL PARK LANDS.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to accept the transfer of and manage certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to request information related to easements prior to any transfer of certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands. Requires approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources and Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity and an approved feasible and funded action plan before pasture lands are removed for reforestation or other public purposes.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC TRANSIT.

Establishes a two-year Keiki Fare-Free Transit Pilot Program on Oahu and Kauai. Appropriates funds.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Prohibits a financial risk-bearing entity from administering Medicaid services. Requires the Department of Human Services to contract with one or more administrative services organizations to perform non-risk administrative functions for the operation of the State's Medicaid program. Requires the Department to establish a Medicaid Care Coordination Program to contract with community-based programs to provide care coordination services. Requires physicians, other independent practitioners, hospitals, and other institutional providers to be paid or reimbursed directly by the State's medicaid agency. Requires the Department to establish regional health hubs in each county to serve as localized oversight bodies. Requires the Department to convene a Medicaid Stakeholder Advisory Group to support continuous improvement throughout the transition period. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriate funds.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO ASSISTED COMMUNITY TREATMENT.

Authorizes registered nurses and qualified state-licensed health care professionals who are participating in a community paramedicine program approved by the Department of Health who are licensed by the State to administer medication as part of an assisted community treatment order's treatment plan to the subject of the order, under certain circumstances. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE IX OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION RELATING TO WAGE EQUITY.

Proposes an amendment to Article IX of the Hawaii State Constitution to guarantee that every person has the inalienable right, while engaged in employment in the State, to be paid at a wage rate that is at least equal to the state minimum wage rate, as provided by law, without regard to the type or nature of employment, unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO PURCHASE OF SERVICE CONTRACTS BY THE JUDICIARY.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires contracts for services awarded to community-based organizations by the Judiciary in support of fulfilling the Judiciary's statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State to include certain protections against inflation. Appropriates funds to the Judiciary to increase the contract price in existing contracts for services provided by community-based organizations in support of fulfilling the Judiciary's statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT EARNINGS.

Requires hourly rate or salary ranges to be disclosed on job listings for full-time, part-time, temporary, or seasonal employees. Removes the exemption for employers having fewer than fifty employees. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO ASSISTED COMMUNITY TREATMENT.

Expands an individual's eligibility to receive assisted community treatment if they are a repeat petty offender.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST.

Requires the office of the legislative analyst to produce fiscal notes on all fiscal bills. Prohibits a committee from making a decision on a fiscal bill without a fiscal note. Mandates that fiscal notes be made available to the public. Appropriates funds.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO ELECTION REFORM.

Requires the Chief Election Officer role to be an elected position by popular vote beginning with the 2030 general election. Amends the appointment process of the elections commission to subject nominations to confirmation by an appointing body. Makes conforming amendments.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO RETIRANTS.

Establishes a five-year pilot program allowing retirants to be rehired for exempt service for one-year terms under certain circumstances. Provides that retirants employed under the program are excluded from the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund and will not experience an interruption of pension benefits. Requires an employer of a retirant under the program to contribute to the Employees' Retirement System. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to submit a report to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

By 1/1/2029, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a family and medical leave insurance program and begin collecting payroll contributions to finance payment of benefits. By 1/1/2030, requires the Department to begin receiving claims and paying benefits under the program. Specifies eligibility requirements and employee protections under the program. Excludes paid family and medical leave benefits from income tax. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires the counties to automatically approve permits for hurricane retrofitting under certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO RETIREMENT.

Includes the Chief Investigator and Chief Special Investigator of the Department of Law Enforcement as class A members of the pension and retirement system. Establishes guidance for the computation of retirement benefits for the Adjutant General, Deputy Adjutant General, Fire Marshal, and Deputy Fire Marshal. (HD2)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Prohibits music streaming platforms from hosting, distributing, or otherwise making available in the State music performed or attributed to an artificial intelligence music artist. Makes violations an unfair method of competition and an unfair and deceptive act or practice. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide a certificate of rehabilitation to offenders who have satisfied all sentencing and post-release requirements. Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to work with government and private stakeholders to conduct public education regarding the certificates. Authorizes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to work with state agencies to increase offenders' eligibility for security clearance in post-release employment with the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO THE STATE PARKS SPECIAL FUND.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to expend the moneys from the State Parks Special Fund for programs aimed at environmental protection.

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS.

Requires the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to make certain contact information for newly registered entities available online. Requires the Director to transmit the contact information to the Business Development and Support Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO VEHICLE SAFETY.

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to implement a pilot program to allow for mobile vehicle safety inspections for passenger cars. Establishes a four-year sunset date on the pilot program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO CASH TRANSACTION ROUNDING.

Requires cash transactions to be rounded up or down to the nearest 5 cents. Requires cash transactions that total $0.01 or $0.02 to be rounded up to $0.05. Exempts transactions in which payment is made by demand or negotiable instrument, electronic fund transfer, check, gift card, money order, credit card, or other like instrument or method.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.

Requires the School Facilities Authority to establish geographically based capital improvement project districts for the localized management of capital improvement projects. Transfers all capital improvement project functions, funds, and vacant Facilities Development Branch positions from the Department of Education to the School Facilities Authority. Clarifies that general funds shall not be used for operations or management of the Authority. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD2)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR.

In counties of fewer than 200,000 residents, but more than 100,000 residents, exempts the 3-day temporary liquor licenses for fundraising events, known as class 10 special licenses, from any requirement to obtain fire-related clearances. Allows applications for class 10 special licenses to be submitted electronically and for a single application to apply any fundraising event that spans multiple parcels of land owned by the same entity. Increases the percentage of fines assessed by all county liquor commissions that may be used to fund public liquor-related educational or enforcement programs.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Short form bill relating to the University of Hawaii.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to assume responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for highway projects, as well as railroad, public transportation, or multimodal projects within the State, allowing streamlined environmental reviews. Provides a limited waiver of sovereign immunity to comply with federal requirements. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Removes county-specific expenditure restrictions for funds in the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund. Requires unencumbered and unexpended revenues from the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund in excess of a certain amount as of June 30 of each year to lapse to the general fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FEDERAL MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to enter into agreements with the United States Department of Defense for the provision of services at federal military installations, under certain conditions. Authorizes charging an administrative fee. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Short form bill relating to taxation.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HOSTING PLATFORMS.

Requires hosting platforms that earn service fees for providing booking services for transient accommodations to register with the Department of Taxation as tax collection agents and report, collect, and remit general excise and transient accommodations taxes on behalf of operators.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE USE OF PUBLIC LANDS.

Defines public uses of public lands as uses by an agency either directly or through disposition, that support the agency's functions including but not limited to the uses described in section 171-10, HRS.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSERVATION BANKS.

Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to approve the operation of conservation banks and amends the Endangered Species Recovery Committee's membership and scope of authority. Effective upon approval.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt, amend, or repeal administrative fee schedules for use of certain lands pursuant to a specified procedure and to exempt parking lot and concessions operations on such lands from the bidding requirements for concessions operated on public property.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH LAW.

Repeals the requirement that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations regulate hoisting machines and certify their operators and the Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board, including its rules requiring a separate state crane operator certificate. Allows additional time for the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to complete an investigation of a discharge or discrimination complaint pertaining to employees exercising rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Law without formal extension. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CIVIL SERVICE EXEMPT POSITIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Exempts certain positions within the State Historic Preservation Division and Commission on Water Resource Management within the Department of Land and Natural Resources from the state civil service law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW.

Repeals outdated mail and triplicate form requirements. Clarifies how a physician transmits a treatment plan to an employer. Clarifies the timeframe for when an employer must submit an objection to a vocational rehabilitation plan and when a vocational rehabilitation plan is deemed received by an employer. Requires electronic submission of various reports to the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT.

Updates the Uniform Controlled Substances Act to make it consistent with amendments in the Federal Controlled Substances Act as required under state law. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO DANGEROUS INTOXICATION.

Establishes the offenses of dangerous intoxication and habitual dangerous intoxication. Provides for civil protective custody and transport for emergency examination under section 334-45, HRS, in lieu of arrest for dangerous intoxication in specified circumstances, and bars prosecution when civil protective custody is used. Requires probation with mandatory treatment for habitual dangerous intoxication, with incarceration only upon probation violation. Makes conforming amendments to chapter 334, HRS.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE FIRE COUNCIL.

Replaces the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations with the Department of Law Enforcement as the department responsible for budgeting administrative staffing for the State Fire Council. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S AUTHORITY TO REGULATE FOOD, DRUGS, AND COSMETICS.

Removes duplicative food-related statutory material and aligns all food-related provisions under chapter 328, HRS. Ensures adequate statutory authority for permits, fees, inspections, and enforcement.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat