Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO AMBULANCES.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to purchase one advanced life support ambulance and related equipment to be based in central Maui, fund pay-related personnel costs for state-certified emergency medical services personnel, and increase the predictability and stability of available air ambulance services for all islands in the State. Effective 1/31/2050. (SD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT OF RETIRANTS.

Establishes a five-year pilot program to authorize the Department of Education to rehire retired teachers and educational officers for hard-to-staff positions. Sunsets 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO MARIJUANA.

Exempts drug paraphernalia for marijuana from certain penalties under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Lowers the penalties for the possession and transfer without remuneration of certain amounts of marijuana, marijuana concentrate, and marijuana-infused products. Makes smoking marijuana in a public place a violation under the offense of promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Establishes mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment for certain class A felonies involving firearms. Changes from a class B felony to a class A felony the penalty for owning, possessing, or controlling any firearm or ammunition while being prosecuted for or having been convicted of committing a felony, a crime of violence, a criminal offense relating to firearms, or an illegal sale or distribution of any drug. Changes from a misdemeanor to a class A felony the penalty for ownership, possession, control, or transfer of ownership of any firearms or ammunition by a person who a court order has restrained from contacting, threatening, or physically abusing any person. Changes from a misdemeanor to a class A felony the penalty for carrying a firearm while under the influence of a controlled substance. Establishes possession of methamphetamine while carrying a firearm as a class A felony.

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.

Authorizes and appropriates moneys for the Board of Psychology to grant prescriptive authority privilege to clinical psychologists who meet specific education, training, and registration requirements. Requires the Board of Psychology to accept applications for prescriptive authority privilege beginning 7/1/2027. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO IMMUNIZATIONS.

Requires, rather than authorizes, schools to provide an exemption from required immunizations. Specifies that for purposes of the Department of Health's rulemaking authority and authority regarding infectious and communicable diseases, no child shall be subjected to medical examination, vaccination, revaccination, or immunization if a parent or legal guardian objects based on bona fide religious tenets and practices.

Sam Satoru KongDemocrat

RELATING TO YOUTH HOMELESSNESS.

Requires the Office of Youth Services to establish a five-year Youth Housing Stability Assistance Pilot Program to enter into contracts with nonprofit organizations or execute memoranda of agreement with government agencies to support eligible youth with financial assistance. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. Sunsets 6/30/2031. (SD1)

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Defines compounded prescription drugs for the purposes of workers' compensation law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PEDESTRIANS.

Requires the driver of a vehicle to stop for a pedestrian who is crossing the roadway within a crosswalk and not to proceed until the pedestrian has completely exited the crosswalk and the driver can safely proceed. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Requires a condominium association to deposit at least ten per cent of all revenues for each fiscal year, except for estimated replacement reserve assessments, into the total replacement reserves fund of the association. Requires the Real Estate Commission to enforce the minimum deposit requirement and allows unit owners to file complaints with the Commission. Holds board members who fail to comply with the minimum deposit requirement personally liable and subject to a fine.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

Establishes requirements for the clinical review criteria and clinical practical guidelines used to establish step therapy protocols. Provides a process for a patient to request an exception to using step therapy protocols. Establishes insurance coverage requirements relating to the use of step therapy protocols and standards to appeal an adverse step therapy exception determination.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PHARMACY.

Establishes the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Special Fund to support pharmacist workforce assessment and planning efforts. Establishes the pharmacist workforce assessment fee. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes positions and appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to support health care workforce development in the State. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY.

Establishes a framework for the use of intelligent speed assistance technology for habitual speeders. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.

Statutorily establishes the Agricultural Statistics Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to collect data on local agricultural interests. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO COMPLEX PATIENT TREATMENT.

Appropriates funds to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division of the Department of Health to contract with community-based organizations for a behavioral health complex patient model. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO BUILDING MATERIALS.

Specifies that no state or county building code shall prohibit the use of hempcrete as a non-structural building material. Authorizes building officials to approve hempcrete construction that meets applicable safety and performance standards. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Disallows the dividends paid deduction for real estate investment trusts.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAL INFORMED CONSENT.

Requires the Hawaii Medical Board to establish standards for health care providers to ensure that a patient's consent to treatment is an informed consent. Requires that informed consent for a proposed medical or surgical treatment or a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure shall be obtained before the day of that treatment or procedure. Specifies that if the treatment or procedure is to occur on the same day it is scheduled, the informed consent shall be obtained at the time the decision is made to schedule that treatment or procedure.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES.

Establishes the sugar-sweetened beverage fee program. Beginning 7/1/2027, imposes a 2 cent per fluid ounce fee on all sugar-sweetened beverages sold in the State and requires all distributors of sugar-sweetened beverages to register with the Department of Health. On or after 6/30/27, prohibits retailers from selling or displaying for sale any sugar-sweetened beverage acquired from a distributor that is not registered with the Department of Health. Requires management and performance audits. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Establishes the Healthy Ohana Advisory Committee. Appropriates funds.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX HAVEN ABUSE.

Part I: Effective 1/1/2027, requires corporations to include in their income the income of all foreign subsidiaries to the State; applies the State's apportionment formula to determine the share of reported profits subject to the appropriate tax, which shall be deposited into the state general fund; and requires corporations to report all profits, losses, revenues, and inter-company transactions made and all taxes paid in other states. Part II: Establishes within DOTAX a Corporate Tax Law Task Force to annually review the State's corporate tax laws and recommend updates to close tax loopholes.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ESTATE AND GENERATION-SKIPPING TRANSFER TAX.

Establishes an unrealized gains surcharge on certain property transfers subject to the estate and generation-skipping transfer tax. Except for certain types of properties within estates, lowers the applicable exclusion amount allowed. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

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.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Establishes a universal, single payer health care system to be known as "Hawaii Care", to provide comprehensive health care benefits to all state residents and eventually replace all existing health care plans in the State. Designates the Hawaii Health Authority as the responsible agency for the comprehensive planning, implementation, and administration of Hawaii Care. Requires the Hawaii Health Authority to develop and submit a comprehensive implementation and administration plan to the legislature by a certain date. Establishes the Hawaii Care special fund. Requires the Hawaii Health Authority to adopt rules and submit reports to the Legislature. Requires the Governor to appoint members to the Hawaii Health Authority by 12/31/2026. Requires the Department of Human Services to apply for necessary federal waivers. Takes effect 180 days after the approval of the Hawaii Medicaid State Plan and necessary federal waivers. Appropriates funds.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE COVERAGE OF PROTON BEAM THERAPY.

Beginning, 1/1/2027, requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for medically necessary proton beam therapy for cancer treatment and prohibits imposing stricter clinical evidence standards on proton beam therapy than on other radiation treatments.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO ESSENTIAL PERMITTING POSITIONS.

Establishes a four-year pilot program to improve the speed, accountability, and quality of permit processing through targeted staffing, performance incentives, and interdepartmental competition within participating counties. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to conduct a study on effective treatment methods to reduce populations of the Queensland Longhorn Beetle. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE ENTERPRISE ZONES.

Increases the number of enterprise zones that may be nominated by each county. Authorizes enterprise zone designation for census tracts that contain the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine and the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. Allow businesses not established in an enterprise zone to qualify for enterprise zone benefits; provided that they have entered into a binding collaboration or contract with a business that is established in the census tract that contains the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine or the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes a Hilo-Kona transportation pilot program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to study, plan, evaluate, implement, and trial transportation routes and services connecting Hilo and Kona. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes the Hawaii Farm TEAM Card Program. Establishes penalties for misusage of the Hawaii Farm TEAM Card program. Eliminates the general excise tax for qualifying agricultural materials.

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO VOTING.

Authorizes state agencies to implement automatic voter registration if designated by the Office of Elections. Requires eligible applicants for instruction permits, provisional licenses, driver's licenses, and identification cards to be automatically registered or preregistered to vote unless the applicant opts out. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts gross income from real property leases from the general excise tax when the lessee is a small business. Makes conforming amendments.

Joe GedeonRepublican

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Requires the State Auditor to conduct audits of Medicaid health care insurance contractors and the Department of Human Services and its Med-QUEST division at least once every two years, with the first audits to be conducted by 1/1/2027, and the reports to be submitted no later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2027. Requires the Auditor to conduct audits. Appropriates funds.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE POWERS OF ARTIFICIAL PERSONS.

Makes any state-chartered corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, cooperative, nonprofit, or other association lack the legal capacity to make expenditures or contributions in connection with elections or ballot measures. Deems any election or ballot measure expenditure or contribution to be ultra vires or void as a matter of law, triggering administrative forfeiture of charter privileges, including limited liability and perpetual duration, until reinstatement. Effective 1/1/2027.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Provides that the period of limitations for criminal prosecutions under campaign finance laws commences upon discovery of the offense by the Campaign Spending Commission, rather than being limited to five years from the violation date or report filing date.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.

Appropriates funds for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT ACTIONS.

Requires any law enforcement officer acting under color of law in a public space or on state or county property to remain visibly identifiable. Prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while performing their duties, with certain exceptions. Requires law enforcement officers to wear apparel and use vehicles that bear conspicuous markings of the applicable law enforcement agency. Requires all civil law enforcement activity that involves participation by state or county law enforcement officers or occurs on state or county property to be conducted in a manner that adheres to specified standards. Deems certain locations to be service-first spaces and requires them to have clear, narrowly tailored procedures with respect to civil immigration actions. Requires all state and county agencies to adopt policies that limit the collection, retention, and sharing of immigration-related personal data. Requires all interagency data exchanges between state agencies, county agencies, or state and county agencies to operate under auditable agreements. Requires all state and county agencies to report annually to the Legislature and Governor regarding the civil-immigration-related requests. Requires every state and county agency to adopt a policy that prohibits immigration-based harassment or threats, including unwarranted verification of an individual's immigration status, with respect to employment or the provision of services to the public. Requires all state and county law enforcement officers to monitor civil immigration enforcement activity by activating body cameras when present in a situation in which United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are interacting with a member of the general public.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

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.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO CIVIC EDUCATION.

Establishes a Civic Education Grant Program to provide support to public middle and intermediate schools in providing civic education to students through department approved programming. Establishes a Civic Education Trust Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

Appropriates funds to: (1) the counties for more voter service centers for in-person voting; (2) the Office of Elections to print and mail the digital voter information guide to all registered voters; and (3) the Office of Elections to support a public outreach and engagement campaign to encourage greater voter participation.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO BRIBERY.

Establishes the offense of failure to report bribery as a misdemeanor.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO MISCONDUCT BY A PUBLIC SERVANT.

Extends the statute of limitations for offenses based on misconduct in office by a public servant to allow prosecution at any time during the defendant's period of public service and up to ten years thereafter.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTE MANAGEMENT.

Beginning 1/1/2027, prohibits the sale, offer for sale, or distribution for sale of any disposable electronic smoking devices in the State. Establishes penalties. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO TEACHER HOUSING.

Establishes the Teacher Housing Assistance Program to be administered by the Department of Education to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers. Appropriates funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO MARRIAGE LICENSE AGENTS.

Authorizes private marriage license agents to collect up to $25 from applicants for marriage licenses.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM.

Transfers the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission from the Department of Accounting and General Services to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Transfers certain authority and responsibilities held by the Comptroller regarding the Works of Art Special Fund to the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Appropriates funds for positions within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Effective 1/1/3000. (SD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO COFFEE PEST CONTROL.

Temporarily reestablishes the Coffee Berry Borer and Coffee Leaf Rust Pesticide Subsidy Program and the program manager position, including the position's civil service and collective bargaining laws exemption. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds for the operation and implementation of the Pesticide Subsidy Program. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO GRANTS.

Appropriates funds to the Office of Community Services (OCS) to award grants to certain nonprofit organizations. Establishes an evaluation and selection committee to oversee the awarding of grants. Requires an applicant for a grant to provide certain documentation on activities that qualify for community engagement hours to qualify for the grant. Appropriates funds for positions in OCS and for the Department of the Attorney General to assist OCS in reviewing contracts and monitoring costs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ARTS.

Establishes the Mapping of Arts Data for Education Task Force to conduct a study and develop a comprehensive, publicly available statewide database and geographic information systems map of arts entities and programs engaged in arts and arts education. Requires interim and final reports to the Legislature. Task Force sunsets upon submission of final report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity for the removal of overgrown vegetation from the Kainahola Stream. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat