Bills & Legislation

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

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the twenty-second representative district.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC TRANSIT.

Establishes within the Department of Transportation a subsidized youth transit program for youth who are residents of the State, to be coordinated with the counties. Authorizes the Department to adopt rules, expand eligibility, and consult with the Department of Education on best practices, under certain conditions. Establishes the Subsidized Youth Transit Program Special Fund. Requires biannual evaluations of the new program and Special Fund. Allocates funds from the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax to the Subsidized Youth Transit Program Special Fund. Appropriates funds into and out of the Subsidized Youth Transit Program Special Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO DISCRIMINATION.

Prohibits discrimination based on: (1) The perception that a person possesses certain characteristics; (2) The perception that a person is associated with a person who possesses, or is perceived to possess, certain characteristics; or (3) The intersection or combination of two or more specified characteristics in relation to a person. (SD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Amends the existing prohibition on conversion therapy by prohibiting the practice on persons under the age of twenty-five and the advertisement of such practice. Explicitly provides that talk therapy in the form of pure speech is exempt from the prohibition on conversion therapy. Takes effect upon the certification by the Attorney General that the Supreme Court of the United States has overturned the holding in Chiles v. Salazar, 116 F.4th 1178 (10th Cir. 2024). Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, PLUS COMMISSION.

Expands the membership of the Hawaii State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus Commission from eight voting members to eleven by adding one seat for a person under the age of twenty-nine and one seat each for the appointees of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senate President, respectively. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Exempts one six-hour strategic planning retreat of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii per year from open meeting requirements if certain conditions are met. Requires members of the Board of Regents to complete a governance training and attend the training at least once every two years thereafter. Requires the Candidate Advisory Council to ensure that all candidates presented to the Governor for nomination have certain subject matter experience and are not registered lobbyists who have lobbied on matters pertaining to the University of Hawaii. Exempts the financial disclosures of the Board of Regents as mandated by the State Ethics Code from being made public. Requires the Board of Regents, in collaboration with the Candidate Advisory Council, to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Expands the protections established under Act 2, SLH 2023, to include gender-affirming health care services, including clarifying permitted disclosures of protected health information to address changes in federal regulations. Establishes protections against abusive litigation. Prohibits medical malpractice insurers and health carriers from taking certain adverse actions against health care providers solely on the basis that the health care provider provides lawful reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services. (SD2)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO PLANT-BASED FOOD AND DRINKS.

Requires the Departments of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Accounting and General Services, and Health to establish a Plant-Based-By-Default Program for food and drinks offered at state-operated prisons, state-licensed hospitals, and government-sponsored events. Requires annual reports to the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO AN EARLY LEARNING APPRENTICESHIP GRANT PROGRAM.

Establishes an Early Learning Apprenticeship Grant Program to be administered by the University of Hawaii to provide financial support for early learning program service providers in the State to participate in state- or federally-approved early learning apprenticeship programs. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Establishes the Maternal Health Monitoring Pilot Program within the Department of Health to offer eligible participants improved maternal health care through remote patient monitoring for maternal hypertension and maternal diabetes. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO HOSPITAL DISCHARGE DATA.

Establishes a statewide system for collecting, auditing, and publicly releasing of de‑identified hospital discharge data. Requires the State Health Planning and Development Agency to convene a working group. Appropriates funds.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Increases fines that may be assessed against certain fireworksrelated violations. Effective 7/1/2025.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes a working group to revise the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation's Qualified Allocation Plan and propose revisions to the prioritization of the Rental Housing Revolving Fund and the terms of loans made from the Rental Housing Revolving Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO COUNTY LABOR STANDARDS.

Authorizes the counties to require contractors to disclose information regarding their employees' wages, benefits, hours, and employment status. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO SAFETY AT HOME.

Clarifies that a person who uses deadly force in self-defense does not have a duty to retreat if they are in their dwelling or on their property, unless they are the initial aggressor. Repeals statutory language that permits a person to use deadly force at their place of work.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO STAFFING STANDARDS AT HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.

Requires each hospital to establish a Hospital Registered Nurse Staffing Committee by 9/1/2026. Requires the Staffing Committee to adopt and file a Staffing Committee Charter with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations by 1/1/2027. Requires the Department to develop a Hospital Registered Nurse Staffing Plan Form by 1/1/2027. Requires each Staffing Committee to adopt and file a Staffing Plan, including minimum registered nurse staffing standards, with the Department by 7/1/2027, and annually thereafter. Requires hospitals to implement their Staffing Plan by 7/1/2027, and post the Staffing Plan and staffing schedules in publicly accessible areas. Requires Staffing Committees to receive, review, evaluate, and respond to reports and complaints regarding deviations from the Staffing Plan. Establishes a variance process allowing hospitals to temporarily deviate from their minimum registered nurse staffing standards. Establishes an enforcement framework to be administered by the Department, including review of Staffing Plans, complaint investigations, administrative appeals, and civil penalties for violations. Prohibits retaliation against certain persons who report staffing concerns or participate in enforcement proceedings. Increases the membership of the Center for Nursing Advisory Board to include three elected officers or governing board members of a labor organization representing registered nurses in the State. Requires the Center for Nursing to develop and maintain an online dashboard of staffing standards recommended by certain professional specialty organizations. Requires the Department to adopt rules. Appropriates funds.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Establishes a broad definition of "qualified health care provider" in numerous areas of existing law. Clarifies and standardizes references to specific health care providers. Updates outdated language to reflect correct terminology. Makes numerous clarifying and conforming amendments to support these changes, including but not limited to chapters related to health, education, insurance, professions and vocations, the pain patient's bill of rights, the Uniform Probate Code, minors, the Child Protective Act, and the Penal Code. Repeals the obsolete Hawaii Health Corps. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO AN HONORARY AMBASSADOR TO CANADA.

Establishes an Honorary Ambassador to Canada position within the Business Development and Support Division of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO HARASSMENT BY STALKING.

Makes harassment by stalking a class C felony.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Establishes a framework for the creation of the Hawaii Violent Death Reporting System, to be federally funded, for the purposes of collecting information and data on violent deaths in the State. Appropriates funds.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes an apprenticeship program income tax credit for certain qualified costs incurred by a taxpayer for a qualified apprenticeship program. Sunsets 12/31/2036. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO FERAL CHICKENS.

Allows the killing of feral chickens. Exempts feral chickens from definition of "wild birds". Exempts killing of feral chickens from the offense of cruelty to animals.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL GAINS TAX.

Taxes capital gains tax for individuals, estates, and trusts as ordinary income, except for capital gains that are eligible for a county homeowner's exemption. Repeals the alternative capital gains tax for corporations. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE BANYAN DRIVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

Establishes the Banyan Drive Community Development District and the Banyan Drive Community Development District Special Fund. Specifies the powers and duties of the Hawaii Community Development Authority as it relates to the new development district.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO CARE HOMES.

Prohibits the licensing of an adult residential care home, expanded adult residential care home, or developmental disabilities domiciliary home that is financed, managed, operated, supervised, directed, or owned in whole or in part by a person convicted of a gambling offense.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO LICENSING.

Removes the barrier that requires applicants for professional or vocational licensing to be United States citizens, United States nationals, or persons with work visas. Allows an applicant to provide the applicant's individual tax identification number with a sworn affidavit in lieu of social security numbers when the applicant does not have a social security number. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND USE.

Requires any petitioner for a district boundary amendment to obtain certification from the Commission on Water Resources Management that enough water is available for the project needs without causing harm to the relevant aquifers and provide that certification to the Land Use Commission.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

Specifies that a simple majority of affirmative votes of the members of the Land Use Commission present at a meeting and qualified to vote is required for any boundary amendment. Clarifies that a majority of all members to which the Land Use Commission is entitled shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. Clarifies that a two-thirds vote shall be necessary for actions taken by the Land Use Commission regarding Important Agricultural Lands. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO REGIONAL SHORELINE MITIGATION DISTRICTS.

Authorizes the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to approve the establishment of regional shoreline mitigation districts to facilitate regional coordination by shoreline property owners to address coastal erosion. Requires the preparation of a regional coastal erosion and sediment management plan for each regional shoreline mitigation district. Establishes procedures for the review of state and county permits associated with regional shoreline mitigation districts. Establishes the support and integration of regional coastline erosion and sediment management planning as a policy under the coastal zone management program. Appropriates moneys and establishes 1.0 FTE temporary position.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX CREDITS.

Requires that income tax credits existing on 12/31/2026 include a sunset on 12/31/2030. Requires that income tax credits established or renewed after 12/31/2026 include a sunset 7 years after the date of enactment or renewal of the tax credit. Provides for exceptions.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Implements the Condominium Property Regime Task Force recommendations.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

Except for Important Agricultural Lands, requires the Land Use Commission to reclassify lands that are designated for urban growth under a county general plan or county development plan as being in the urban district at the request of the county, subject to certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO THE INDIVIDUAL HOUSING ACCOUNT PROGRAM.

For taxable years beginning 1/1/2027, increases the maximum annual deduction for contributions to, and maximum account levels for, individual housing accounts.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC BICYCLES.

Prohibits a person under the age of fifteen from operating a class 3 electric bicycle. Prohibits a person sixteen years of age or older from operating a class 3 electric bicycle unless the person satisfies certain requirements. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE COUNTY OF HAWAII.

Appropriates funds as a grant-in-aid to the County of Hawaii to provide grants for the contracting of a private water company for the facilitation and installation of fire hydrants.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO AQUACULTURE.

Requires the establishment of a biological aquatic risk-based framework for assessment and approval of aquatic livestock importation and movement. Authorizes the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to adopt rules implementing species risk categorization, tiered biocontainment standards, per-arrival disease testing, and interagency coordination procedures. Establishes an interagency working group. Requires development of species-specific risk matrices, interagency working group coordination with automatic permit approval timelines, and performance accountability. Establishes an implementation timeline. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LANDS.

For purposes of permissible uses in agricultural districts, establishes minimum requirements for income received from agricultural activity for a family occupying a farm dwelling. Provides that the definition of a "farm dwelling" includes agricultural activity that is considered a farming operation under section 165-2, HRS, and is conducted on more than 50 per cent of the entire lot.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO MARINE AFFAIRS.

Declares that the State is an ocean cluster. Establishes the Office of Marine Affairs under the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation for administrative purposes only. Establishes the Marine Affairs Coordinator position. Requires the Marine Affairs Coordinator to submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature. Transfers the employees and functions of the Governor's Advisory Committee on Marine Affairs to the Office of Marine Affairs. Appropriates funds for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) Marine Affairs Coordinator position.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.

Authorizes each qualifying individual taxpayer to claim an additional credit if the taxpayer claims any dependent under the age of eighteen.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TEACHER STANDARDS BOARD.

Permits the Department of Education and charter schools to hire unlicensed individuals as teachers on an emergency basis for five, rather than three, years. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS.

Short form bill relating to military affairs.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO VETERANS.

Short form bill relating to veterans.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO CESSPOOL CONVERSIONS.

Increases the maximum grant amount for the Cesspool Compliance Pilot Grant Project. Appropriates funds.

Lisa KitagawaDemocrat

RELATING TO CORRECTIONS.

Short form bill relating to corrections.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.

Permanently increases the state earned income tax credit to fifty per cent of the federal earned income tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2024.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO PROTECTING HAWAII'S FISHERIES.

Requires the Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt rules no later than June 30, 2030, establishing a statewide daily bag limit for ʻamaʻama during the open season; provided that the rules shall apply only to areas without management plans as of the effective date of the rules. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa KitagawaDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Short form bill relating to public safety.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes a 5-year Hawaii Builds Pilot Program within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and designates projects that meet specific requirements as Hawaii Builds Pilot Projects. Authorizes the Corporation to deploy moneys from the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund for predevelopment activities or as active construction equity. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM GOVERNANCE.

Allows funds from the Condominium Education Trust Fund to be used for education and resources for condominium unit owners as primary stakeholders in condominium governance. Requires the Real Estate Commission to ensure that condominium unit owners are recognized and included as stakeholders in educational programs, consultations, advisory committees, task forces, and police development activities.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDIA.

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to fix the payment of royalties to the State for the filming of scenic shots of iconic locations in the State that are subsequently featured in media for production purposes. Exempts state and county productions.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat