Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.

Requires each public high school in the State to require students to complete and pass 2 full years of Hawaiian language courses as a condition of graduation.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO CIVIL SERVICE EXEMPTION OF COUNTY POSITIONS.

Exempts positions of a county Housing and Community Development Office or Department from civil service laws.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU.

Appropriates moneys as a grant-in-aid to the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Information Technology to upgrade the driver's license and motor vehicle application systems, subject to a dollar-for-dollar match. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE CAMPAIGN SPENDING COMMISSION'S ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

Requires designated campaign finance documents to be submitted electronically through the Campaign Spending Commission's upgraded electronic filing system. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS TO THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Housing and Land Management and Department of Design and Construction of the City and County of Honolulu as grants‑in-aid to comply with the requirements of Act 206, SLH 2017, and Act 210, SLH 2018. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Restructures the conveyance tax to a marginal rate system for the sale of properties with residential use, adjusts the tax for multifamily properties to reflect value on a per-unit basis, and applies a cost-of-living adjustment to conveyance tax rates. Allocates revenues from conveyance tax collections. Allocates a portion of conveyance tax collections to the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund to fund infrastructure programs in areas that meet minimum standards of transit-supportive density. Allocates a portion of conveyance tax revenues to the Hawaii Agricultural Development Revolving Fund, Special Land and Development Fund, and Hawaiian Home Lands Infrastructure and Housing Special Fund. Establishes and appropriates funds out of the Hawaiian Home Lands Infrastructure and Housing Special Fund. Authorizes the Hawaii Agricultural Development Revolving Fund to be used to acquire land. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Establishes a payment rate not to exceed cost plus forty per cent for nonprescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or nonlegend drugs for workers' compensation purposes, subject to certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

Prohibits state or county contractor's officers and any officer's immediate family, with contracts of $100,000 or more for goods or services or $250,000 or more for construction, from contributing to candidate or noncandidate committees, candidates, or any person for any political purpose for the duration of the contract. Prohibits grantees, grantees' officers and grantees' officer's immediate family, with grants of more than $100,000, from contributing to candidate or noncandidate committees, candidates, or any person for any political purpose for the duration of the grant. Requires any unlawful contribution to be returned to the contributor or it will escheat to the Hawaii election campaign fund.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE HOLIDAYS.

Designates La Hoihoi Ea, Sovereignty Restoration Day, as a state holiday in place of Statehood Day. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS.

Establishes new requirements for the disposition of public lands, including requiring two-thirds approval of each house of the Legislature via concurrent resolution and with a supporting resolution from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and applies this requirement to the disposition of public lands to public utilities and renewable energy producers as well. Limits the duration of public land disposition to the United States military to twenty-five years. Requires any new land disposition to the United States military to be accompanied by a clean-up and remediation bond from the United States military to be deposited into the state treasury. Prohibits the Board of Land and Natural Resources from issuing any new land disposition to the United States military until the military, State, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs reach an agreement in principle on certain matters.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE AHA MOKU ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

Amends the process for the hiring of the Executive Director of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee. Specifies that the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources is responsible for the appointment, oversight, and administrative authority over the Executive Director of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee. Requires any formal position, recommendation, or advisory action of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee to be adopted at a duly noticed public meeting at which a quorum is present. Amends the reporting requirements of the Aha Moku Advisory Committee. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO CRIMINAL MISCHIEF.

Establishes the offense of criminal mischief as a petty misdemeanor for low level property offenses.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Requires an audit for a self-insured employer or an insurance carrier that defaults in workers' compensation payments to identify other instances of unpaid compensation claims.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY.

Expands programming and training for the comprehensive offender reentry program under the department of corrections and rehabilitation to reduce the rate of recidivism and increase inmate marketability. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

Repeals existing law that preempted local ordinances or regulations that regulate the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic smoking devices and nullified and voided any conflicting local laws and regulations. Allows counties to adopt ordinances that regulate the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic smoking devices that do not conflict with and are more stringent than the state law that govern smoking.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO PROTECTION OF MINORS.

Protects minors from addictive content by imposing special requirements for operators regarding consent, notifications, and age verification. Protects minors from having their online personal data processed without parental consent.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Part I: Establishes an Ombudsman's Office and gives the Real Estate Commission the authority to investigate complaints. Part II: Broadens the list of documents an association must maintain and provide to unit owners.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

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

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the 32nd representative district.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO TIME LIMITATIONS FOR CRIMES.

Adds sexual assault in the third and fourth degrees to the list of offenses which are not subject to a time limitation for prosecution.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE.

Prohibits private passenger automobile insurance businesses from stockpiling excess premium profits. Requires private passenger automobile insurance businesses to return excess premium profits to consumers.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Establishes the Administrative Hearings Division within the Department of Transportation and transfers certain administrative hearing powers to the Division, including matters related to transportation network company permit appeals, automated red light camera and speed enforcement traffic citations, and commercial driver's license appeals. Specifies that a person aggrieved by an administrative decision related to red light camera and speed enforcement traffic citations may petition for judicial review. Allows authorized employees of the Department of Law Enforcement to review images produced by the automated red light camera and speed enforcement systems. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

PART II: Exempts the sale of groceries and nonprescription drugs from the general excise tax. PART III: Removes the state income tax on unemployment compensation benefits. PART IV: Doubles the standard deduction for individuals earning less than $100,000 and joint filers earning less than $200,000. Repeals the incremental increases on standard income tax deduction amounts. PART V: Increases the maximum adjusted gross income allowed to qualify for the low-income household renters' income tax credit and increases the credit amount. PART VI: Repeals the incremental changes to income tax brackets and removes the tax liability for the first $100,000 of individual income earned.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

PART I: Requires motor vehicles to have front number plate mounting brackets or devices and for sellers, licensed dealers, or owners to securely affix number plates to the vehicles. PART II: Amends the Traffic Code relating to street racing. PART III: Expands the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program to high-risk locations of state or county highways as determined by the Department of Transportation, under certain conditions. Appropriates moneys. PART IV: Authorizes the installation of a school bus infraction detection system on the exterior of a school bus. Establishes strict liability and the process for issuing summons or citations for drivers shown by the system to be in violation of certain school bus laws. Clarifies the liability of drivers near a school bus that is actively monitored by a school bus infraction detection system. Appropriates moneys. PART V: Specifies that the Department of Transportation's Motor Vehicle Safety Office shall administer the Photo Red Light Imaging Detector Systems Program Special Fund and Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund. PART VI: Clarifies language relating to photo red light enforcement, automated speed enforcement, and penalty provisions. PART VII: Requires the Director of Transportation to adopt rules allowing for mobile vehicle safety inspections of passenger cars. Effective 7/1/3000; provided that part IV, except the rule-making directive and appropriation, effective 7/1/2028. (SD2)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION FUNDING.

Requires the Committee on Weights to develop recommendations for a weighted student formula that achieves resource parity between public schools and independent schools of the State. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION AFFORDABILITY.

Requires the Department of Transportation to establish a clean vehicle rebate program to provide rebates for the purchase or lease of new and used zero-emission vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Establishes the clean vehicle special fund. Beginning 1/1/2027, establishes a transportation affordability and energy security tax. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

Revises the deadline for a county council to take action on a low- and moderate-income housing project's application from 45 days to 90 days after receipt of the applicable agency's report and the proposed project's preliminary plans and specifications.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO LABOR DAY.

Establishes a nonrefundable tax credit for employers who provide a paid Labor Day holiday to construction workers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Restricts motor vehicles that tow a motor vehicle or trailer from the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes going in the same direction, with exemptions. Specifies penalties for restricted motor vehicles who drive in the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes moving in the same direction. Applies restrictions and penalties to a county with a population of 500,000 or more. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Prohibits vehicles from driving on the shoulder of a roadway, except in certain circumstances. Authorizes the Department of Transportation, law enforcement officers, and other approved persons to impound vehicles with expired registrations of three years or more, under certain conditions. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Increases the fine amount for owners of out-of-state motor vehicles who fail to register the vehicle in the State. Establishes minimum and maximum statutory penalties for violations relating to the use of high occupancy vehicle lanes. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION.

Specifies that the county annual vehicle registration fee shall not exceed the state annual motor vehicle registration fee for counties with a population of five hundred thousand or more. Specifies that counties with a population of five hundred thousand or more are required to spend a certain portion of the collected revenues from county motor vehicle registration fees and weight tax on roadway repair and maintenance. Specifies that the county annual vehicle weight tax shall not exceed the state annual vehicle weight tax for counties with a population of five hundred thousand or more. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION WORKER COVID-19 HAZARD PAY PROGRAM.

Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish and administer the Construction Worker COVID-19 Hazard Pay Program. Appropriates funds to pay eligible construction workers a one-time payment in recognition for essential labor performed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sunsets 6/30/2031.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.

Appropriates funds to the Executive Office on Early Learning to administer funding for family-child interaction learning programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWAL OF DRIVER'S LICENSES.

Requires certain applicants for driver's license renewal to complete an educational course that includes a road safety video developed by the Department of Transportation and a written examination. Authorizes the Department to develop and implement a system to randomly require applicants for renewal of a driver's license to complete a written examination. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSERVATION ENFORCEMENT.

Appropriates funds for the purchase of equipment for the Hawaii Island Branch of the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish rules allowing the sale and distribution of fine mesh nets, including monofilament netting, in the State to protect plants from the coconut rhinoceros beetle.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

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 COFFEE LABELING.

Clarifies the labeling and advertising requirements for roasted coffee, instant coffee, and ready-to-drink coffee beverages based on where they were grown and processed. Defines "regional origin". Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC HOUSING.

Requires the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to develop and implement a comprehensive safety plan that includes the use of safety technologies for all public housing statewide. Requires the Authority to adopt policies that protect civil liberties and safeguard data and engage with public housing residents regarding the use of safety technologies. Appropriates funds.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a new bracket for higher-income earners for taxable years beginning after 12/31/2029.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a surcharge on taxable income exceeding $1,000,000 to provide funding, if approved by the Legislature, for the State Medicaid Program.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO PET ANIMALS.

Prohibits insurers from refusing to issue or renew, canceling, restricting, otherwise terminating, or charging higher rates for a commercial general liability insurance policy, homeowners insurance policy, renters insurance policy, or dwelling fire policy based on the breed of any dog that is kept on the insured premises.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL.

Appropriates funds to supplement the salary of the State Fire Marshal. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELL-BEING.

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer a Hawaii Rx kids program to improve the economic stability of households with very young children who reside in the State through a one-time payment and several monthly payments.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Extends the Librarian Pilot Program established by Act 135, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, through 2030. Authorizes the Department of Education to select a second school complex on Oahu to be part of the pilot program if no appropriate school complex on the neighbor islands can be identified. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO DIGITAL FINANCIAL ASSET TRANSACTION KIOSKS.

Establishes limits on transactions through digital financial asset transaction kiosks. Requires operators of digital financial asset transaction kiosks to use blockchain analytics and tracing software to prevent fraud; make certain disclosures; provide receipts to customers; provide full refunds under certain circumstances; and provide live customer service and a dedicated communications line for the Attorney General, Office of Consumer Protection, Department of Law Enforcement, and county police departments.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.

Establishes a statewide Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program at the University of Hawaii. Establishes positions and appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY.

Establishes and appropriates funds for the Neighborhood Security Watch Grant Program to help fund certain activities and rental payments of established neighborhood security watch groups and neighborhood citizen patrol groups that rent government-owned facilities for a fee to carry out their duties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RIGHT TO REPAIR.

Establishes a right to repair for wheelchairs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Imposes a statewide limitation on consumer fireworks, except by permit for use at cultural events.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO LAVA ZONE INSURANCE.

Requires the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to conduct a study on the homeowners insurance market for lava zones 1 and 2. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat