Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS.

Increases the matching fund payments to candidates in the partial public financing program for excess qualifying contributions.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Prohibits discrimination against a pharmacy or pharmacist with respect to participation, referral, reimbursement of a covered service, or indemnification. Establishes beneficiary cost sharing and deductible requirements for prescription drugs. Establishes minimum rates for which pharmacy benefit managers are to reimburse pharmacies for dispensing prescription drugs. For prescription drug benefit plans executed, amended, adjusted, or renewed on or after 7/1/2027, requires a pharmacy benefit manager to use pass-through pricing, or may alternatively use spread pricing if any savings realized by the pharmacy benefit manager are passed on.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.

Permits the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to conduct a review of the effect of a proposed project on lands under its jurisdiction on historical properties and burial sites, subject to certain requirements. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Repeals a provision in Act 4, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, that prohibits the Department of Human Services from taking any action to remove pharmaceutical benefits management from managed care plans that provide health care coverage for Hawaii Medicaid beneficiaries. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO CASINO GAMING.

Authorizes limited casino gaming in a single location in the City and County of Honolulu. Establishes the Hawaii Gaming Control Commission. Imposes a wagering tax on the monthly gross receipts received from casino gaming. Establishes the State Gaming Fund. Requires the Hawaii Gaming Commission to create and implement a Compulsive Gamblers Program. Exempts the construction of any casino facility from county special assessments and certain special improvement district requirements. Establishes certain civil service exemptions. Appropriates funds with certain conditions.

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

Requires the Hawaii Community Development Authority to establish a Community Action Center in Chinatown. Expenditure contingent upon the City and County of Honolulu providing matching funds. Appropriation.

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Prohibits a landlord or the landlord's agent from charging an application fee for a criminal background check or credit report if an applicant provides a certified copy of a recent criminal background check or credit report. Prohibits a landlord or the landlord's agent from charging an application fee if a recent comprehensive reusable tenant screening report is available. Requires a landlord or the landlord's agent to provide, upon request, a certified copy of an applicant's criminal background check or credit report.

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO IDENTIFICATION.

Allows applicants for driver's permit, driver's license, or civil identification cards to request a disability notation on their permit, license, or identification card. Requires the Department of Transportation to establish public outreach efforts and coordinate with state and county law enforcement agencies regarding the disability notation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO DISCLOSURE OF ATTORNEY-CLIENT AND ATTORNEY WORK-PRODUCT PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS TO THE OMBUDSMAN.

Specifies that disclosure of communications by an agency to the Ombudsman does not waive any existing attorney-client or attorney work-product privilege pertaining to those communications. Prohibits the Ombudsman from disclosing privileged communications to others. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LOANS.

Authorizes the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to package and sell a portion of its agricultural loan portfolio to permitted third parties. Appropriates funds out of the Agricultural Loans Revolving Fund to increase its expenditure ceiling. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX CREDITS.

Establishes a refundable diaper tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Lisa KitagawaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL.

Establishes one permanent full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent position for the State Building Code Council to support statewide building code coordination, permitting transparency, and modernization initiatives. Requires county reporting on building permitting performance. Requires the State Building Code Council to develop a standardized statewide permitting data system or public dashboard. Requires the development of a state building code modernization and transparency initiative. Requires the State Building Code Council to develop standardized credentials and training requirements for permitting officials. Requires a report. Appropriates funds.

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO A WORKFORCE BUILDER TAX CREDIT.

Establishes an income tax credit for eligible employers who employ qualified interns or apprentices. Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, in coordination with the Department of Taxation, to report to the Legislature on the tax credit. Appropriates funds.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY ENABLEMENT.

Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to assist small businesses, including those related to the tourism sector, with technology enablement, including the adoption of artificial intelligence and advanced digital tools. Requires the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to submit a report to the Legislature.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO PEDESTRIANS.

Specifies that the driver of a vehicle must wait until a pedestrian has crossed half of the crosswalk plus an additional lane of the roadway before the driver can proceed.

Lisa KitagawaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM.

Requires the Board of Regents to grant a waiver on all tuition for qualifying native Hawaiian and Hawaiian students enrolled within the University of Hawaii System.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Requires health insurance carriers to honor a patient's written assignment of benefits to a substance use disorder treatment provider. Prohibits health insurance contracts from including anti-assignment clauses that restrict or invalidate a patient's right to assign benefits. Authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules and take enforcement action to ensure compliance. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to publish an annual summary. Allows providers to bring civil actions to compel payment and obtain injunctive relief, damages, interest, and attorneys' fees for violations. Deems violations to be unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices. Requires insurers to furnish an explanation of benefits to the assigned provider upon request.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Amends the Healthcare Preceptor Tax Credit to remove language limiting access only to those practicing in primary care, to add licensed dietitians, physician assistants, and social workers as eligible preceptors and students, and to include residency and followship programs. Adds the Director of Health and a representative of residency programs with eligible students to the Preceptor Credit Assurance Committee. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY EROSION MITIGATION.

Replaces the current statutory prohibition on private shoreline hardening with a policy directing the minimization of these structures. Establishes a clear, time-limited statutory framework for emergency permits within the conservation district, including defined standards for permit duration and extension.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSERVATION BANKING.

Authorizes the use of conservation banks for compensatory mitigation in a habitat conservation plan and associated incidental take license. Amends the membership and scope of authority for the Endangered Species Recovery Committee.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

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

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriated funds for capital improvement projects in the 42nd representative district.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO CREATING A LOCAL HOUSING MARKET.

Establishing a Local Housing Market that is tied to Hawaii State resident's incomes and not the global economy. Thus providing housing options that are affordable relative to wages for residents of the State.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Prohibits certain entities from purchasing single-family residences in the State of Hawaii. Requires reports and certifications to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Establishes penalties and enforcement authority.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO PREDICTION MARKETS.

Amends the definition of "gambling" to include predictive markets involving the purchase, sale, or financial speculation of securities, commodities, or other similar financial products on the outcome or future contingent event related to catastrophe, contests, death, legislation, national security, people, politics, and sports. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Protects the right of bodily autonomy in health care decisions.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO COLLABORATION WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

Allows state and county law enforcement agencies to collaborate with the federal government for immigration purposes in only limited, specific circumstances.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the Department of Transportation to assess a per passenger head infrastructure fee against cruise ships docking in the State's commercial harbors. Establishes the Cruise Ship Special Fund. Repeals existing law imposing the Transient Accommodations Tax on cruise ships, effective retroactive to 1/1/2026. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Repeals the Deposit Beverage Container program on 6/30/26. Allows redemptions to continue until 6/30/27. Establishes the solar panel and electric vehicle battery recycling special fund to assist in the gathering and recycling of solar panels and electric vehicle batteries. Requires the Department of Health to submit proposed legislation establishing a program to gather and recycle solar panels and electric vehicle batteries. Lapses any unencumbered balance remaining in the deposit beverage container deposit special fund when the Deposit Beverage Container program is repealed to the credit of the solar panel and electric vehicle battery recycling special fund.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PROPERTY.

Specifies a process by which property owners may utilize law enforcement officers to remove unauthorized individuals from dwellings. Establishes the criminal offenses of squatting and fraudulent sale or lease of residential real property. Makes the offense of criminal trespass in the first degree for a person who knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in a dwelling or in or upon the premises of a hotel or apartment building a class C felony, rather than a misdemeanor. Classifies the type of property damage typically inflicted by squatters as a form of criminal property damage in the second degree. Classifies the falsification of documentation typically performed by squatters as a form of unsworn falsification to authorities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT HOMELESSNESS SPENDING.

Requires the State Auditor, in collaboration with the Office of the City Auditor for the City and County of Honolulu, to conduct a financial audit of all state and City and County of Honolulu expenditures on homelessness programs within the City and County of Honolulu during the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 fiscal years. Appropriates funds.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO LEI.

Requires and establishes benchmarks for each state executive agency to ensure that a certain percentage of lei purchased by that executive agency consists of lei made entirely of natural objects and plant materials grown, harvested, and assembled in the State. Establishes labeling requirements for lei and lei materials. Requires the disclosure of the geographic origin for the plant materials and natural objects that comprise a lei or lei materials. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO CRIME.

Doubles the fines and terms of imprisonment for illicit drug sellers and distributors who commit their offenses within 100 feet of schools or public parks.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO CRIME.

Doubles the fines and terms of imprisonment for repeat violent offenders and property offenders.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

Provides state and county employees with five days of paid family leave each calendar year.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.

Requires the Department of Transportation to create and maintain an electronic dashboard on its website disclosing the costs, status, and expected timeline for completion of each current construction state project in excess of $1,000,000 involving state roads or highways.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.

Clarifies driver's obligations at crosswalks. Requires drivers to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians in crosswalks. Strengthens penalties for traffic violations, particularly in school zones. Creates additional criminal penalties when pedestrians suffer bodily injury. Provides heightened protections for blind and visually impaired pedestrians. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FUNDING.

Requires the Department of Education to submit annual reports to the Legislature, Governor, and Board of Education disclosing the moneys the Department allocated in the prior year to department schools and department administration.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires landlords or landlord's agents to accept comprehensive reusable tenant screening reports, if made available by an applicant, and prohibits application fees in such cases. Establishes remedies for refusing to accept those reports. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO LAWMAKER SAFETY.

Prohibits the public disclosure of legislators' personal contact information in a voter's affidavit of registration, nomination papers, and electronic database for campaign committees. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO SPORTS OFFICIALS.

Authorizes the Department of Education to retain private counsel to represent a sports official in certain civil proceedings to obtain a temporary restraining order in response to incidences where the sports official has been assaulted or threatened in the course of legally discharging their sports official duties. Includes substantial bodily injury of a sports official engaged in the lawful discharge of the sports official's duties in the offense of assault in the first degree. Clarifies that a sports official includes a school administrator, league administrator, or athletics director. Clarifies that a sports official's duties cover sports events at public schools and private schools. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

Beginning 7/1/2027, requires the Judiciary to develop, implement, and administer an automated court appearance reminder system that generates text message or electronic mail notifications for upcoming court appearances in certain types of cases. Requires persons making an arrest or issuing a citation to obtain, to the extent practicable, the offender's mobile telephone number and electronic mail address. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

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.

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

RELATING TO LONG-TERM CARE.

Requires the Department of Human Services to conduct a study to recommend legislation to address the issue of long-term care facility closures. Requires reporting.

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

RELATING TO VOTING BOARDS.

Appropriates funds to implement an electronic voting board system in the chamber of the House of Representatives. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

RELATING TO HOSPITALS.

Requires any hospital licensed by the Department of Health that has an operating room to adopt and implement policies to prevent exposure to surgical smoke. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires, rather than authorizes, the Department of Education to develop and administer a Traffic Safety Education Program. Requires the Department of Education's Traffic Safety Education program to include electric bicycles. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

RELATING TO COUNTIES.

Requires a county with a population of 500,000 or more to adopt ordinances to implement park maintenance standard prioritization. Imposes a fine for incompliant parks after three months. Authorizes DLNR to take action and be reimbursed by the county for costs incurred. Appropriates funds.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO ENERGY ASSISTANCE.

Establishes the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program within the Department of Human Services to assist eligible households in paying their energy bills. Requires the Public Utilities Commission Public Benefits Fee Administrator to provide certain information and assistance to recipients of the program. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO FOOD PRICING.

Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study on how other states regulate price gouging of food products.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Repeals the sunset date of Act 163, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023.

David Alcos IIIRepublican