Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO PUBLIC MEETINGS.

Requires certain information to appear at the beginning of notices for public meetings.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR LICENSES.

Provides that the Liquor Commission or other licensing agency of each county shall deny the renewal of certain current liquor licenses upon receipt of sufficient protests.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO HEARING AIDS.

Exempts from the general excise tax, gross receipts from the sale of hearing aids received by a hospital, infirmary, medical clinic, health care facility, pharmacy, or a practitioner licensed to administer drugs to an individual. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

Authorizes the inclusion of provisions addressing individualized accommodations and supports during emergency situations and evacuations in individualized education programs and section 504 plans for students with disabilities. Requires support and guidance from the Department of Education. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CIVIL RIGHTS.

Establishes it as an unlawful discriminatory practice for a place of public accommodation to deny a person with a disability full and equal enjoyment of information related to their services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations by requiring use of information and communication technology that is not accessible to the person. Establishes exceptions.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO SERVICE ANIMALS.

Requires sellers or providers of emotional support animals, as well as those issuing verifications of a disability-related need for an emotional support animal, to provide written notice of certain laws relating to emotional support animals. Requires persons or businesses that sell or provide certificates, vests, or identification tags that identify an animal as an emotional support animal to provide to the buyer or recipient written notice of certain laws relating to emotional support animals. Establishes penalties.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO DEAF INDIVIDUALS.

Authorizes deaf motor vehicle owners to register their vehicle as being owned by a deaf individual so that a deafness designation appears when a law enforcement officer accesses the motor vehicle's information. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PARKING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

Provides that people who are blind or deaf are eligible to apply for and receive a disabled paid parking permit.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LIQUOR TAX.

Replaces the defined liquor categories subject to the liquor tax with alcohol-by-volume categories, but with a separate rate for beer manufactured by a small craft producer pub licensee. Adjusts the liquor tax rates for inflation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY.

Establishes penalties, including fines and liens, for an owner of residential real property's failure to remediate zoning violations. Requires, under certain conditions, county planning or permitting agencies to record the notice of violation as a lien on the property with the Bureau of Conveyances. Requires referral to the applicable county corporation counsel for foreclosure, subject to certain conditions, if the owner fails to satisfy certain conditions. Requires the applicable district or circuit court to hold a de novo review of penalties assessed for unaddressed residential real property zoning violations, including foreclosure, upon appeal by the affected residential real property owner. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO FORECLOSURES.

Authorizes the public sale of a foreclosed mortgaged property or unit on a state website to be developed and maintained by the Judiciary. Requires the public notice of the public sale of the mortgaged property or unit to include the date, time, and website address of the sale if the sale is to be held on a state website. Appropriates funds.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY.

Includes any parcels owned by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority as areas that may be closed to the public. Specifies required signage. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER RETENTION.

Directs the University of Hawaiʻi School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology to conduct a study that identifies, analyzes, and evaluates possible methods to capture, retain, and store rainwater and storm water runoff for counties with a population of more than five hundred thousand. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

Prohibits the harvesting of aquatic life for commercial aquarium purposes, regardless of the method of collection.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO A CLEAN FUEL STANDARD.

Requires the Department of Transportation to adopt rules by 1/1/2028 governing a clean fuel standard for alternative fuels in the State. Requires reporting and public informational session requirements. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

PART II: Allows certain extensions of the deadline for cesspool conversions. Establishes a goal for the Department of Health to prioritize the upgrade, conversion, or connection of cesspools that pose the highest risk to human health or the environment. PART III: Authorizes and appropriates funds to the Department of Health to retain qualified consultants as necessary to identify necessary public outreach and education resources and tools and develop a comprehensive public outreach strategy and website to educate property owners and wastewater industry professionals about information and resources regarding the State's cesspool upgrade, conversion, and connection requirements and deadlines. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE FUEL TANK ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

Requires the Fuel Tank Advisory Committee to hold at least one regular meeting during each calendar quarter. Appropriates funds.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES.

Authorizes geological subsurface characterization activities conducted by a public research institution under certain conditions. Clarifies that boreholes or test holes drilled for the purposes of geological subsurface characterization are distinct from water well exploration and geothermal or mineral exploration. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, to designate the Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center of the University of Hawaii, or a successor entity, as the repository for data collected from any geological subsurface characterization activity. Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to designate a repository or be the repository for any scientific data collected from any geological subsurface characterization activity on lands it holds in trust. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to amend its exemption list to specify that certain geological subsurface characterization activities shall be exempt from the environmental review process or shall only require an exemption notice. Requires the University of Hawaii to amend its exemption list to specify that certain geological subsurface characterization activities shall be exempt from the environmental review process or shall only require an exemption notice. Requires the Department of Health to amend its rules related to hazardous waste and hazardous waste management for consistency with federal regulations to specify that certain waste products generated by geological subsurface characterization activity are exempt from hazardous waste management requirements. Requires that the first site where a borehole or test hole is drilled shall be on lands owned by DHHL. Establishes the Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center within the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology of UH Manoa. Appropriates funds.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

By 7/1/2027, requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to establish a self‑certification process for certain behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build solar distributed energy resource systems immediately. Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to develop guidance for determining specific conditions when a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands for certain geothermal resource exploration and development activities and the hiring of consultants. Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to engage in consultation with beneficiaries of Hawaiian home lands regarding activities funded and to comply with the environmental impact statements law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

Establishes a goal of the State to retrofit state facilities to be electric vehicle charger-ready. Requires the design of all new state building construction where parking is to be included to provide that at least twenty-five per cent of parking stalls be electric vehicle charger-ready. Requires the Hawaii State Energy Office, in consultation with all state agencies that have parking facilities, to conduct a survey and identify certain high-priority state facilities. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

Shortens the period during which certain judicial proceedings involving environmental assessments and environmental impact statements on actions that propose the use of land for, or construction of, affordable housing or clean energy projects must be initiated. Specifies that appeals from environmental courts that involve actions that propose the use of land for, or construction of, affordable housing or clean energy projects meet one of the grounds for transfer to the Supreme Court. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDERS.

Increases the mandatory minimum jail sentence for a first conviction of knowingly or intentionally violating a temporary restraining order from forty-eight to seventy-two hours. Requires mandatory mental health counseling for a first conviction of knowingly or intentionally violating a temporary restraining order.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires the Department of Health to procure a Maternal and Infant Health Information Mobile Application by 1/1/2027 to provide qualified individuals with information on federal and state programs and resources for prenatal, pregnant, and postpartum individuals and their families. Requires DOH to issue a request for proposals. Authorizes DOH to procure or otherwise contract for an existing mobile pregnancy application. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WEST HAWAII REGIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

Appropriates funds for the planning, design, site work, and construction of a new outpatient care center in North Kona. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING.

Repeals the sunset for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna. Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna and for two positions to support the program. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, health maintenance organizations, and health plans under the State's Medicaid managed care program to provide coverage for biomarker testing.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII SPACE COMMISSION.

Establishes the Hawaii Space Commission within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to promote innovation in the fields of space exploration and commercial aerospace. Appropriates moneys.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SPECIAL FUND.

Amends the Emergency Medical Services Special Fund by authorizing the deposit of revenues from billable emergency medical services. Amends the composition and allowable uses of the special fund. Establishes a cap on the unencumbered and unexpended balance in the special fund. Exempts expenditures from the special fund from chapters 103D and 103F, HRS. Discontinues the allocation of cigarette tax revenues to the special fund beginning 1/1/2027. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO PERMITTING.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, in collaboration with a county selected by the Department, to develop an artificial intelligence-assisted pre-compliance intake pilot platform, subject to a matching funds requirement for the county. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop a policy or metric to measure the success of the pilot platform. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO PRIMARY CARE.

Establishes the Primary Care Providers Working Group within the State Health Planning and Development Agency to address issues relating to, and develop recommendations for the stabilization of, primary care services in Hawaii. Requires the Working Group to make a report to the Legislature. Sunsets the Working Group on 6/30/2027. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL.

Implements certain recommendations of the SPEED Task Force. Requires the State Building Code Council to provide annual training to state and county permitting agency employees. Appropriates funds for the training, subject to a matching requirement from the counties. Effective 7/1/2055. (SD1)

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO IMAGE-BASED SEXUAL ABUSE.

Establishes the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate or private images as a criminal offense. Amends the criteria for an extended term of imprisonment to include an offender whose act of attempting to commit or committing the nonconsensual disclosure of intimate images or private images against a minor or vulnerable adult was the proximate cause of the victim's death. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO PORT WORKERS.

Establishes the Port Worker Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the Department of Transportation regarding management of state-owned and state-managed ports. Requires the Department to conduct meetings to solicit input from port workers on methods to improve ports and problems faced by port workers.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO SAFE ENTRYWAYS.

Establishes, for a county with a population greater than three hundred thousand, enforcement procedures to prevent people or personal property from blocking or otherwise impeding ingress or egress to private doorways and entranceways. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Establishes, for a county with a population greater than three hundred thousand, enforcement procedures to prevent domiciling or storing of personal property on public property within a bus stop area, if a person does not intend to use the public transportation services. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO IDENTITY THEFT.

Includes fraudulent impersonation or false depiction through artificial intelligence or materially deceptive media in the offenses of identity theft.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Increases the contract award value that triggers required proof of vendor compliance from $2,500 to $6,000.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FRESHWATER WATERWAYS.

Prohibits residing in, on, or within fifty feet of a freshwater waterway. Authorizes law enforcement officers to enforce the prohibition. Specifies that violation is a civil violation, not a criminal offense. Establishes procedures for the removal, inventory, storage, and disposal of unattended personal property. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.

Requires the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience to establish a Center on Biosecurity Research, Education, and Extension to develop and implement innovative solutions for detecting, monitoring, eradicating, and managing invasive species. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to identify and preserve historically significant areas within state harbors and place educational displays at the areas for public awareness.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO THE TRANSIENT ACCOMMODATIONS TAX.

Establishes the State-led Marketing and Branding Special Fund and requires that a portion of all transient accommodations tax revenues that would otherwise be deposited into the general fund be deposited into the special fund, to be used for state-led marketing, branding, and tourism management. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop and submit an annual comprehensive marketing, branding, and tourism management plan to the Legislature for approval. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO THE GREEN FEE.

Establishes the Green Fee Transparency and Accountability Program and Green Fee Resiliency Impact Dashboard, to be administered by the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS.

Prohibits lodging establishments from providing 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. (HD2)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Establishes and designates the Corporation for the Stewardship of Hawaii Tourism, a nonprofit organization, as the official destination stewardship organization for the State. Repeals the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Expands the purposes of the establishment and operation of out-of-state offices to include collaboration with tourism agencies and stakeholders to execute tourism strategies. Requires, and appropriates funds for, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish out‑of-state offices in Seoul, Republic of Korea and Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Republic of the Philippines. Appropriates funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's Beijing and Taipei offices to promote "Made in Hawaii" branded products and increase the export of Hawaii products. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Amends the requirements for productions to qualify for the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax to include completing at least fifteen per cent of the production's principal photography within the same taxable year the production is qualifying for the film tax credit and completing or committing to complete fifteen per cent of the production's post-production in the State within the same taxable year the production is qualifying for the film tax credit or later taxable years. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Repeals 1/1/2033. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a 100th Infantry Battalion history curricula plan beginning with the 2027-2028 school year. Establishes a one-year 100th Infantry Battalion history curriculum pilot program within certain public high schools during the 2026-2027 school year. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Amends the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit (film tax credit) by providing additional credits to qualified productions that have a workforce of at least eighty per cent local hires in the first taxable year or second consecutive taxable year and meet other specific requirements, then increasing the local workforce threshold to eighty-two per cent in the third or fourth consecutive taxable year and eighty-five per cent in the fifth consecutive taxable year, that the additional credit is claimed; requiring independent third-party certification of qualified production costs for all film productions claiming the film tax credit; authorizing DBEDT to waive the credit cap per qualified production for one qualified production each fiscal year; and requiring the Hawaii Film Office to submit an annual report to the Legislature. Sunsets 1/1/2033. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATIONS.

Requires a condominium association to make available on an internet site the association's general ledgers, project information form (RR-105C), and statement of accounts at no cost to a unit owner or the unit owner's authorized agent. Reduces the reasonable fee a condominium association may charge to provide copies of association documents from $1 per page to 75 cents per page.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat