Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO A LIBRARY IN EWA BEACH.

Requires the Department of Education to transfer the Ewa Beach Public and School Library from the State Public Library System to James Campbell High School.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO REMEDIES.

Clarifies the applicability of the statute of repose for actions arising from construction defects. Clarifies the required contents of a notice of claim of construction defect served on a contractor. Amends the process and time frame for a claimant to accept a contractor's offer to settle or inspect and authorize the contractor to proceed with repairs. Limits the amount a claimant can recover if the claimant rejects a contractor's reasonable proposal for inspection or a reasonable offer to remedy. Clarifies the consequences of rejecting an offer of settlement. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO INDEBTEDNESS TO THE STATE.

Requires disbursing officers to notify employees within sixty days of making a determination that an indebtedness has occurred to the government resulting from salary or wage overpayment. Amends the amount that a disbursing officer may deduct from an employee's salary, wage, or compensation based on the employee's gross income. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER PROGRAM.

Increases the deposit and refund value for beverage containers from 5 cents to 10 cents under the deposit beverage container program.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD CARE.

Requires the Judiciary to establish a three-year pilot program to provide free child care services to minor children of parties and witnesses who are attending court hearings in the first circuit. Requires the Judiciary to submit reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VI, SECTION 3, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO INCREASE THE MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE FOR STATE JUSTICES AND JUDGES.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory retirement age for justices and judges from seventy to seventy-five years of age. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO SURFING.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to support the establishment of surfing as an interscholastic sport.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO REDRESS FOR WRONGFUL CONVICTION AND IMPRISONMENT.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide written notice to certain persons regarding the ability to file a claim for redress under applicable wrongful conviction law. Requires the liberal construction of that law. Changes the standard for a claim for compensation for wrongful imprisonment from actual innocence to grounds consistent with innocence. Provides for advance compensation for petitioners under certain circumstances. Requires the State to prove, for claims for compensation for wrongful imprisonment, that the reversal or vacating of the petitioner's conviction or pardoning of the petitioner was inconsistent with innocence. Requires reports to Legislature from the Department of the Attorney General. (SD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR.

Requires Liquor Commissions or Boards to deny any renewal for a liquor license if the applicant for renewal has violated any provision of the Intoxicating Liquor Law under chapter 281, Hawaii Revised Statutes, on three separate occasions during the twelve-month period preceding the renewal application date.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION ESTABLISHING THE RIGHT TO OWN ONE'S OWN DATA.

Proposes to amend the Hawaii State Constitution by establishing the right of each person to own and have an exclusive property right in the data they generate on the Internet.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO COUNTY PERMITTING AND INSPECTION.

Allows state projects to be exempt from county building permit requirements under certain conditions. Requires all exempted state projects to be included in a report that is regularly made available to the public. Allows state agencies that undertake projects to be dedicated to a county to prepare programmatic or project-specific agreements that establish requirements and standards for review and acceptance if the agency wants the project to be exempted. Allows state agencies that want to be exempted from county permitting processes to establish a cooperative working group. Requires cooperative working groups to submit an interim report to the Legislature before the Regular Session of 2026. Effective 5/13/2040. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND.

Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to maximize the amount of housing built that utilizes loans from the Rental Housing Revolving Fund by prioritizing projects with the shortest projected loan repayment terms that produce the highest number of units, per dollar, per year. Repeals all other priorities and preferences for projects utilizing the RHRF.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes the Hawaii State Fellows Program within the Department of Human Resources Development to match talented applicants with full-time, paid fellowship roles in various state agencies for a period of ten to eleven months. Establishes minimum qualifications and procedures for eligible applicants to apply to the program. Gives preference to eligible program applicants who have pre-existing ties to the State or a demonstrated commitment to long-term leadership in the State. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development, in consultation with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, to coordinate with state agencies to implement and promote the program. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Requires the Department of Health to construct a mental health facility for inmates or detainees with mental health needs in the custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Appropriates moneys.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC BANKING.

Establishes a state-owned bank implementation board within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to determine the need for, potential costs and benefits of, and prerequisites to establishing a state-owned bank. Requires a report to the legislature.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL IMPACT FEES.

Exempts certain housing developments from assessments of school impact fees.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires certain landlords to provide a specified notice to a tenant regarding the tenant's potential right to purchase the property, under certain conditions. Allows tenants, families, local governments, affordable housing nonprofits, and community land trusts forty-five days to match or beat the best bona fide offer to buy an eligible affordable housing property.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO EVICTIONS.

Prohibits landlords from terminating certain tenancies without cause. Establishes criteria under which landlords can undertake a no-fault eviction. Requires landlords, when proceeding with a no-fault eviction, to offer relocation assistance to the tenant or waiver of the final month's rent. Effective 1/1/2026.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.

Excludes from the definition of "development" for purposes of coastal zone management restrictions, the reconstruction, under certain circumstances, of structures destroyed in the August 8, 2023, wildfires in Lahaina, Maui.

Elle CochranDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Establishes requirements for property and casualty insurers and policies for pre- and post-disaster protections. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Elle CochranDemocrat

RELATING TO TREES.

Establishes base selection criteria for exceptional trees. Establishes the significant tree designation, selection criteria, and related processes. Establishes the State Arborist Advisory Committee within the Department of Land and Natural Resources for administrative purposes. Requires County Arborist Advisory Committees to have at least six members, adopt new exceptional tree selection criteria, and designate significant trees. Directs the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the University of Hawaii to cooperate with State and County Arborist Advisory Committees to carry out the Exceptional Trees Program.

Elle CochranDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Increases the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit for qualified productions that utilize qualified production facilities located within the State. Changes the cap amount and aggregate cap amount of the motion picture, digital media, and film production income tax credit to unspecified amounts. Imposes the manufacturing GET rate on motion picture, digital media, and film productions and repeals the provision in the definition of "qualified production costs" that applied the term to mean costs incurred that are subject to the highest GET rate. Exempts from the GET amounts received by a motion picture project employer from a client equal to amounts that are disbursed by the motion picture project employer for employee wages, salaries, payroll taxes, insurance premiums, and employment benefits and payments to loan-out companies. (HD1)

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Repeals the authority of the Department of Education to set the price for school meals, except to provide a lower rate or free meals through rules. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Agriculture to develop an online reporting tool on restricted use pesticide usage. Appropriates funds to convert an unspecified number of temporary Environmental Health Specialist III positions into permanent positions. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Expands the Department of Education's authority to allow more trained staff to volunteer to assist students with the administration of medication. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes the position of Ka Papahana Kaiapuni Program Complex Area Superintendent. Requires that at least one at-large member of the Board of Education be a proficient Hawaiian speaking educator, practitioner, or scholar of Hawaiian studies or the Hawaiian language, to be selected from a list of three nominees submitted by the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Clarifies the purpose and objective of the Hawaiian Language Medium Education Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE KEAUHOU AQUIFER SYSTEM.

Establishes and appropriates funds for the Keauhou Aquifer System Monitoring Pilot Project within the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Appropriates funds for the installation of two monitoring wells in the Keauhou Aquifer System. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE OF HAWAII FILM COMMISSION.

Establishes the State of Hawaii Film Commission within the Creative Industries Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to support the State's film and media industries. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, to establish a comprehensive action plan to establish a local housing market in Hawaii. Appropriates moneys.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Appropriates funds in addition to the base budget of the Department of Human Services' Homeless Programs Office to address the need for homeless services in the State.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a climate education, environmental sustainability, and indigenous knowledge into the K-12 curriculum and climate education and environmental sustainability teacher training and professional development programs. Requires the University of Hawaii to develop and implement a series of courses on climate education and environmental sustainability, to be completed by every student prior to the student's graduation, and establish sustainability practices across all university campuses to promote sustainability. Requires the Department of Education and University of Hawaii to conduct annual sustainability audits across their respective campuses to assess the progress of each campus in integrating sustainability into their curriculum and operations.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Requires the Hawaii Health Authority to develop a comprehensive plan for the establishment of a universal, single payer health care system to replace all other health care coverage in the State, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Prepaid Health Care Act. Establishes a universal, single payer health care system to be known as the Hawaii Care program under the Hawaii Health Authority to take effect one hundred eighty days after the approval of waivers from certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and the State's Medicaid plan. Appropriates funds.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC ORDER.

Makes it a disorderly conduct offense to remain or loiter within twenty feet of a bus stop with no intent to utilize any bus service. Authorizes law enforcement officers to immediately remove any person committing a disorderly conduct offense of remaining or loitering within twenty feet of a bus stop with no intent to utilize any bus service and confiscate any of their personal property. Authorizes law enforcement officers to determine if the confiscated property is to be saved or discarded. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO PROSTITUTION.

Establishes penalties for property managers and owners of real property on or in which massage parlors or similar prostitution establishments are located. Requires workers to be treated as victims and offered resources. Appropriates funds.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE PENAL CODE.

Increases the category of offense for criminal trespass in the first and second degree and criminal property damage in the second, third, and fourth degree.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes the Transit-Oriented Community Improvement Partnership within the Department of Transportation. Establishes the Community Improvement Revolving Fund. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO AUDIBLE VEHICLE REVERSE WARNING SYSTEMS.

Requires the use of current audible reverse warning systems (back-up beepers) on state and county-owned vehicles purchased on or after 1/1/2028, with more effective broadband reversing alarms by 1/1/2028.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires housing projects developed pursuant to section 201H-38, HRS, to be located within county-designated transit-oriented zones.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS.

Requires an environmental impact statement and consultation with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for actions that propose any launch of a spacecraft from or reeintry into state waters or the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

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

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the thirty-seventh representative district.

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Establishes new requirements for identifying certain top contributors for election campaign purposes. Prohibits structuring, assisting in structuring, or attempting to structure or assist in structuring any solicitation, contribution, expenditure, disbursement, or other transactions. Establishes additional penalties regarding campaign finance violations. Adds and amends various definitions for purposes of campaign finances. Amends reporting requirements for schedules filed for noncandidate committee reports. Repeals certain required information for noncandidate committees making only independent expenditures for late contribution reports. Expands information required for a noncandidate committee that makes independent expenditures of more than $500. Increases the aggregate amount that triggers when a person is required to file a statement of information. Repeals an authorization for a nonprofit organization operating as a noncandidate committee to use a donation for certain expenditures. Requires certain noncandidate committees to maintain transfer records. Requires certain information to be reported to a noncandidate committee. Repeals the requirement to identify certain top contributors.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO BROADBAND SERVICE.

Requires a provider of broadband internet access services to be transparent with network management practices, performance, and commercial terms of its broadband internet access services. Prohibits a provider of broadband internet access services from blocking lawful websites, impairing or degrading lawful internet traffic, engaging in paid prioritization or application-specific differential pricing, or interfering with or disadvantaging users of broadband internet access services. Requires an applicant of a broadband-related permit seeking a state-granted or county-granted right to attach small cell or other broadband wireless communication devices to utility poles to comply with certain practices.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE INSURANCE AFFORDABILITY ASSISTANCE PILOT PROGRAM.

Establishes the Insurance Affordability Assistance Pilot Program within the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to assist eligible homeowners with sudden increases in property insurance premiums. Sunsets 6/30/2028.

Trish La ChicaDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires certain landlords to provide a specified notice to a tenant regarding the tenant's potential right to purchase the property, under certain conditions. Allows tenants, families, local governments, affordable housing nonprofits, and community land trusts forty-five days to match or beat the best bona fide offer to buy an eligible affordable housing property. Establishes conveyance tax rates for the sale of eligible affordable housing properties.

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Imposes an additional fee for a certificate of registration for motor vehicles, to be deposited into the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING RESILIENCY.

Establishes the Strengthen Hawaii Homes Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to administer grants to retrofit residential properties to enhance resilience against disaster impacts and reduce potential insurance liabilities. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO SOCIAL GAMING.

Authorizes a 10-year renewable license for a social gaming facility in a special district designated for tourism. Allows admission and participation for adults. Non-residents shall be required to apply for guest membership. Establishes the Hawaii social gaming control commission to monitor and measure operational activities as well as collect and distribute tax revenue from social game operations. Imposes a consumption tax on every hand and every contest. Uses revenue for housing developments for currently houseless Native Hawaiian residents.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR.

Requires a manufacturer of model year 2022 or later motor vehicles that utilize telematics systems to equip the vehicles with an inter-operable, standardized, and open-access platform across all of the manufacturer's makes and models. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to establish a motor vehicle telematics system notice. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO CRIMINAL STREET GANGS.

Establishes the offense of criminal street gang participation, solicitation, recruitment, or retention. Provides for enhanced penalties for crimes committed by a defendant while part of a criminal street gang.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LEGISLATURE.

Establishes a basic housing allowance for legislators whose legal residence is on an island other than the island of Oahu during session. Appropriates funds.

Terez AmatoDemocrat