Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO SCHOOL IMPACT FEES.

Places oversight of the School Impact Fee Program under the School Facilities Authority Board. Directs the School Facilities Authority Board to carry out the processes and procedures conducted by the Board of Education to dissolve a school impact district upon the transfer of oversight of the School Impact Fee Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO PERMITS.

Establishes an exemption from applicable county permit requirements for repetitive construction projects for facilities under the control of any state department or agency, under certain conditions. Clarifies that, except for projects in special flood hazard areas, contracts for the construction, renovation, or repair of facilities under the control of the Department of Education, University of Hawaii, or School Facilities Authority shall be exempt from county permitting requirements that related off-site improvements be made by the contracting government agency as a condition to the issuance of any permit. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO RECYCLING.

Establishes a lithium-ion battery recycling working group within the Department of Health to assess recycling methods for small and medium format lithium-ion batteries. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning with the - school year, requires public elementary, middle, and high school classes to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. Requires the Department of Education to adjust state-provided bus and school meal schedules accordingly.

LA CHICA

RELATING TO TRAFFIC CITATIONS.

Establishes that intentional destruction or damage to a traffic camera is a class C felony. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes a two-year pilot program that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the Department of Education to provide free school lunch to all students enrolled at a department school. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals on 6/30/2027.

LA CHICA

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Requires condominium associations to repair defective conditions of common elements that constitute health or safety violations. Allows unit owners to make the repairs at the association's expense.

LA CHICA

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Requires and appropriates moneys for the Public Utilities Commission to establish standards requiring each electric utility company to remove from the rate base a commensurate amount of costs related to fossil fuel resources when adding new or converted renewable electrical energy and renewable energy resources.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Specifies that adjustments required to compensate for certain unavoidable increases in financing costs, if proven by a producer of nonfossil fuel generated electricity by clear and convincing evidence, are mechanisms for reasonable and appropriate incremental adjustments that the Public Utilities Commission may include in the rate payable to the producer. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES.

Part I: Requires the Public Utilities Commission to impose certain conditions of approval on any order approving, in whole or in part, an application for the proposed acquisition, merger, or consolidation of an electric utility company by an acquiring entity. Establishes a process to ensure that when an electric utility is subject to an application for a proposed acquisition, merger, or consolidation by a potential acquiring entity that is an investor-owned utility and seeks approval of the application from the Public Utilities Commission, it must demonstrate that it solicited bids from potential acquiring entities that operate under a non-investor-owned utility ownership model. Requires the electric utility to submit those acceptable bids concurrently with an application by a potential acquiring entity that is an investor-owned utility. Part II: Authorizes the issuance of reimbursable GO bonds for acquiring Hawaiian Electric Industries and converting it to a publicly owned utility. Authorizes the establishment of a non-bypassable electric utility conversion charge, to be deposited into the new Electric Utility Conversion Special Fund. Appropriates Funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish a streamlined grid-ready homes interconnection process. Authorizes the use of the Hawaii electricity reliability surcharge for cost recovery of certain expenses of the Hawaii electricity reliability administrator associated with the grid-ready homes interconnection process. Requires report to the Legislature on the grid-ready homes interconnection process.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE GAS TARIFF.

Requires gas utilities to file a proposed initial renewable gas tariff or tariffs with the Public Utilities Commission by August 31, 2025. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to approve or modify a renewable gas tariff within six months of receiving a proposed renewable gas tariff. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER.

Defines "isolated wetlands" and "wetlands". Clarifies the definition of "state waters" to include wetlands and isolated wetlands. Requires the Director of Health to determine all wetlands in the State, including whether a wetland is an isolated wetland or is included in the waters of the United States. Prohibit persons from discharging any water pollutant into or at any location that enters state waters.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

Requires the design of all new state building construction where parking is to be included to provide that a number of the parking stalls, as determined by the Department of Accounting and General Services, shall be electric vehicle charger-ready. Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office, in consultation with the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Transportation, to conduct a survey and identify certain high-priority state facilities. Establishes a goal of the State to retrofit state facilities to be electric vehicle charger-ready. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

Provides rebates for the installation of eligible electric vehicle-ready parking stalls for new construction of affordable housing. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO GOATS.

Prohibits the Department of Land and Natural Resources from establishing or implementing bag limits for goats in public hunting areas.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS.

Beginning 7/1/2026 for lodging establishments with more than fifty sleeping room accommodations, and beginning 1/1/2028 for lodging establishments with fifty or fewer sleeping room accommodations, prohibits the provision of personal care products in small plastic containers within sleeping room accommodations, any space within sleeping room accommodations, or bathrooms used by the public or guests. Establishes civil penalties. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office to conduct a statewide environmental assessment for, and subsequently administer, a Slim-Hole Resource Characterization Program. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Expands the types of water heater systems that may satisfy the relevant requirement for the issuance of a building permit for new single-family dwellings to include ENERGY STAR certified heat pump water heaters. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO LONG DURATION CLEAN ENERGY STORAGE.

Amends the Hawaii renewable hydrogen program and hydrogen investment capital special fund to include a broader focus on long duration clean energy storage. Transfers responsibility for the program to the Hawaii State Energy Office. Appropriates funds.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Authorizes certain state government entities to establish a self-certification process for behind-the-meter, customer-sited solar distributed energy resource systems and exempt the systems from the Federal Emergency Management Agency No-Rise/No-Impact declaration requirements under certain circumstances.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.

Appropriates funds for the Office of the Governor, in collaboration with the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, to oversee and administer grants to low-income residents, and condominium associations on behalf of low-income condominium owners, to fortify residential real property against hurricanes.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

Appropriates funds for the Office of the Governor, in collaboration with the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, to: (1) plan and administer income tax credits relating to emergency management or disaster preparedness and grants for low-income taxpayers to fortify their residential real property; (2) oversee the development of emergency shelters; and (3) hire necessary personnel.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO AN INCOME TAX CREDIT.

Establishes a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for expenses paid to retrofit a residence with wind resistive devices.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE BUILDING CODES.

Requires all newly constructed single-family residences and apartment buildings located within specified geographic areas to be built to withstand certain categories of hurricanes and to contain residential safe rooms with attached bathrooms. Effective 1/1/2026.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO HURRICANE SHELTERS.

Appropriates funds for the Office of the Governor, in collaboration with the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, to strengthen existing hurricane shelters and develop new hurricane shelters to withstand category five hurricanes.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.

Requires all public buildings, including public school buildings, constructed after January 1, 2026, to be designed to withstand category five hurricanes and be used as shelters in the event of an emergency. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO OAHU CORAL REEF RESILIENCE ENHANCEMENT.

Establishes bag limits for kala, nenue, and uhu fish around the island of Oahu. Requires the Division of Aquatic Resources to conduct population assessments of these fishes and report to the Legislature. Sunsets on 6/30/2035.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

Requires the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to: (1) Adopt the National Incident Management System as the standard for all incident management and emergency response operations; (2) Complete an after-action review for all significant emergency incidents or exercises; (3) Develop and manage position task books; (4) require the use of standardized Incident Command System forms; (5) Maintain accreditation through the Emergency Management Accreditation Program; and (6) Define specific roles and responsibilities for all Incident Command System and emergency operations center positions. Expands training and education qualifications and responsibilities for the Administrator of Emergency Management and county-level administrators or directors of emergency management. Amends the contents of the state comprehensive emergency management plan.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL LAND TRANSFER.

Requires the conveyance of a certain parcel of land from the Department of Education to the County of Kauai. Appropriates funds.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO ANIMALS.

Establishes cat owner liability for harm to property or native birds. Prohibits the care of predators on state lands under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Establishes administrative fines.

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO ANIMAL CONTROL.

Establishes the Spay and Neuter Special Fund to reduce pet overpopulation, including the free-roaming cat population, and authorizes an income tax designation to provide revenues into the special fund. Requires that female cats over the age of three months and male cats over the age of five months be surgically sterilized, with certain exceptions. Authorizes county animal control authorities to establish and enforce a permit program to allow the responsible breeding of cats. Establishes minimum requirements for breeding permits and penalties. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. Applies to taxable years after 12/31/2025. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO AQUACULTURE.

Prohibits certain octopus aquaculture. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Requires contested cases, environmental assessment cases, or environmental impact statement cases involving renewable energy projects over twenty megawatts in size, except cases that involve any form of incineration, to be appealed from an agency's decision directly to the Hawaii Supreme Court for final decision. Requires the cases to be prioritized and decided expeditiously. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO BUILDING PERMITS.

Allows for county permit exemptions for certain kinds of activities, including maintenance activities, installing group U structures, and certain interior remodeling work, when located outside a special management area. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE SUN SCREENING DEVICES.

Exempts from restrictions on light transmittance percentages, up to a certain percent, of certain motor vehicle sun screening devices for persons having light sensitivity of the eyes due to a medical condition. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

Amends section 11-364, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to provide that an excess contribution of more than $100 in cash, in the aggregate, from a single person during an election period to a candidate, candidate committee, or noncandidate committee shall escheat to the Hawaii election campaign fund if not returned to the contributor within 30 days. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS.

Increases the amount of partial public campaign financing available for all elective offices. Adjusts the minimum amount of qualifying contributions certain candidates must receive to participate in the program. Increases the matching fund payments for excess qualifying contributions. Appropriates funds for the program and staff. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

Prohibits state or county grantees and officers and immediate family members of state or county contractors or grantees from contributing to candidate or noncandidate committees, candidates, or any person for any political purpose for the duration of the contract. Requires any unlawful contribution to be returned to the contributor or it will escheat to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. Requires disclosures of the names of any officers and immediate adult family members of a state or county contractor or grantee for contracts exceeding a certain amount. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

Prohibits state legislators from soliciting and accepting campaign contributions during any regular session or special session of the Legislature, including any extension of any regular session or special session or any legislative recess day, holiday, or weekend. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Repeals the sunset provision in Act 45, SLH 2024, related to the counties' authorization to develop, construct, finance, refinance, or otherwise provide mixed-use developments. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to consider additional preferential factors when supplying housing or assistance in obtaining housing. Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to determine the order of preferences and rank applicants, select applicants based on application date, and validate the preference status of applicants. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Authorizes each county that has established a surcharge on state tax before 7/1/2015 to extend the surcharge until 12/31/2045, at the same rates, if the county does so before 1/1/2028; Provides that no county surcharge on state tax authorized for a county that has not established a surcharge on state tax before 7/1/2015, shall be levied before 1/1/2019, or after 12/31/2045; and Repeals certain conditions on the use of surcharges received from the State for counties having a population equal to or less than 500,000 that adopt a county surcharge on state tax.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

Accelerates the deadlines for the required upgrades, conversions, or connections of priority level 1 and priority level 2 cesspools to 2035 and 2040, respectively, and repeals the 1/1/2050 deadline for the upgrade, conversion, or connection of all remaining cesspools. Before 1/1/2050, requires the Director of Health to prepare and submit to the Legislature an inventory of every remaining cesspool in the State as of 1/1/2045, including cesspools that were granted exemptions by the Director of Health, recommending whether or not and by what date the cesspool should be: (1) Upgraded or converted to a Director-approved wastewater system; or (2) Connected to a sewerage system. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE CONVEYANCE TAX.

Establishes the Homeless Services Special Fund. Allows counties to apply for matching funds from the Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund for certain housing projects. Increases the conveyance tax rates for certain properties. Establishes conveyance tax rates for multifamily residential properties. Establishes new exemptions to the conveyance tax. Allocates collected conveyance taxes to the Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund, Homeless Services Special Fund and, and Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund. Amends allocations to the Land Conservation Fund and Rental Housing Revolving Fund.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO DEFERRED RETIREMENT FOR POLICE.

Establishes a deferred retirement option program to allow qualified officers who are eligible for retirement to continue working.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Requires newly installed or modified individual wastewater systems that are near the shoreline to include denitrification capacity. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

Repeals existing statutory language that: declares that the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic devices are a statewide concern; and preempts all local ordinances and regulations that regulate the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic devices. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat