Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO DANGEROUS DOGS.

Increase penalties for bodily injuries to humans caused by unprovoked dangerous bog bites resulting from dog owner negligence.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Allows tenants who prevail in a lawsuit for a violation of the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code to be awarded damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and costs of the suit.

LA CHICA

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.

Establishes a school capital improvement project modernization initiative in the School Facilities Authority to create a planning database for school facilities. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to implement dyslexia-sensitive universal screenings and evidence-based interventions, offer professional development on structured literacy and evidenced-based interventions, and support pre-teacher programs in training candidates in structured literary instruction. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Prohibits a landlord or the landlord's agent from charging an application fee for a criminal background check or credit report if an applicant provides a certified copy of a criminal background check or credit report. Prohibits a landlord or the landlord's agent from charging an application fee if a comprehensive reusable tenant screening report is available. Requires a landlord or the landlord's agent to provide, upon request, a certified copy of an applicant's criminal background check or credit report.

LA CHICA

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Requires corporations, organizations, or individuals engaging to commercial transactions or trade practices to clearly and conspicuously notify consumers when the consumer is interacting with an artificial intelligence chatbot or other technology capable of mimicking human behaviors, with certain exemptions. Requires developers that sell, offer for sale, advertise, or make available artificial intelligence chatbots to disclose that their chatbots use artificial intelligence. Authorizes private rights of action. Establishes statutory penalties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE.

Requires the Office of the Ombudsman to publish an annual report on its website that identifies the number and nature of complaints that it receives regarding the Child Welfare Services Branch of the Department of Human Services. Requires the Child Welfare Services Branch to provide notification to certain parties that complaints can also be filed with the Office of the Ombudsman. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Beginning 1/1/2026, requires health insurers and mutual benefit societies to provide coverage for traditional native Hawaiian healing and cultural practices offered through a Federally Qualified Health Center or a Native Hawaiian Health Care System.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE RULES.

Requires all state agencies proposing, adopting, amending, or repealing a rule to make the full text of the rules of the agency available on the website of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor in a digitally accessible and searchable format. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLE PROGRAM.

Establishes short-term management initiatives for the coconut rhinoceros beetle response program. Appropriates funds for activities and positions related to coconut rhinoceros beetle infestation control. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS.

Prohibits the distribution, sale, or use of single-use plastic food ware containing plastic with regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances by businesses beginning on 1/1/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO HOMELESS YOUTH.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to provide emergency shelter and services to unaccompanied homeless youth.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME.

Requires the Department of Human Services to automatically enroll, or authorize the Social Security Administration to automatically enroll, in the State's Medicaid program any individual in the State who receives federal Supplemental Security Income benefits. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO MARRIAGE OF MINORS.

Raises the minimum age requirement to enter into marriage from sixteen to eighteen years of age. Removes the parental consent and written approval by the family court requirements for a minor to marry. Removes spousal cohabitation after the parties attain legal age as an exception for an annulment based on nonage. Makes conforming amendments.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO SMALL BOAT HARBORS.

Revises provisions relating to state small boat harbors fees and permits. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSERVATION BANKING.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to operate and approve conservation banks and amends the Endangered Species Recovery Committee's membership and scope of authority. Effective upon approval.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO VETERANS RIGHTS AND BENEFITS.

Regulates persons receiving compensation for providing advice or assistance regarding veterans benefits.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO NON-GENERAL FUNDS.

Closes or reclassifies certain non-general funds of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, pursuant to certain recommendations made by the Auditor in Auditor's Report No. 2408.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA MINOR PERMITS.

Amends the definition of "special management area minor permit", in section 205A-22, HRS, to mean an action by the applicable authority authorizing: (1) Development, the valuation of which does not exceed $1,000,000, and that has no substantial adverse environmental or ecological effect, taking into account potential cumulative effects; or (2) Construction or reconstruction of single-family residential use that is less than 7,500 square feet of floor area in aggregate; is situated on a shoreline parcel or a parcel that is impacted by waves, storm surges, high tide, or shoreline erosion; and is not part of a larger development.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.

Limits the required payment of certain unpaid motor vehicle taxes and fees and accompanying financial penalties to those incurred during the most recent five consecutive years of delinquency. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF VETERANS' SERVICES.

Appropriates moneys to the Office of Veterans' Services to perform its statutory duties, including maintaining a center that provides information, counsel, aid, and assistance to veterans, their families, and their dependents; and cooperating with federal agencies responsible for the administration of rights and benefits granted to veterans, their families, and their dependents.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO DISABLED VETERANS.

Exempts disabled veterans from the State's vehicle weight tax and repeals the exemption for disabled veterans from the State's annual vehicle registration fee. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

Clarifies the scope of an action subject to environmental review.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO HURRICANE RESISTANT CRITERIA.

Requires the State to consider hurricane resistant criteria when designing and constructing new state buildings, constructed on or after 7/1/2025, for the capability of providing shelter refuge.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND COURT.

Repeals the Land Court. Requires registered owners of an interest in property registered in land court to deregister their interest. Requires the land court to inform registered owners of the requirement to deregister. Appropriates moneys.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

Permits, under certain circumstances, a previously permitted or authorized activity challenged as being subject to environmental review to continue while the applicable agency or applicant conducts an environmental assessment, prepares an environmental impact statement, or determines whether the activity is exempt. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Makes contributions by the candidate's immediate family subject to contribution limits. Amends the loan amount that a candidate or candidate committee may receive from the candidate's immediate family. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES.

Authorizes the issuance of special number vehicle license plates commemorating the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

Establishes the Office of Gun Violence Prevention to conduct community outreach on gun violence prevention, develop and administer a grant program for gun violence prevention, and develop and administer a gun violence resource bank. Moves the Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission from the Office of the Attorney General to the Department of Law Enforcement. Replaces the Attorney General with the Director of Law Enforcement as Chair of the Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission and includes the Attorney General as a commission member. Establishes the Gun Violence Prevention Special Fund and appropriates funds into and out of the special fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD2)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO PHARMACISTS.

Authorizes a registered pharmacist under contract with a covered entity for purposes of the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program to supervise via telehealth the filling or receipt of a prescription in certain circumstances.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Prohibits covered entities in the State from entering into contracts with drug manufacturers that limit the covered entities' use of contract pharmacies. Voids contract provisions for certain drugs if the provisions are based on the maximum allowable cost payment model. Authorizes the attorney general to bring a civil action for violations.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII'S SPACE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING INITIATIVE.

Appropriates funds for salaries and fringe benefits of positions for the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy's Space Science and Engineering Initiative Workforce Development Program, Maunakea Scholars Program, and Internship Program. Appropriates funds for office equipment and supplies, operational costs, and stipends for high school and college students. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY

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

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

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO MANDATORY PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE AND CONSENT IN CONTRACTS TO PROVIDE CREMATION SERVICES.

For contracts entered into on or after 10/1/2025, requires mortuaries and pre-need funeral authorities that contract to provide cremation services to provide written notice if precious metals are recovered after cremation and a disclosure that the person has thirty days to claim the precious metals after receipt of the notice. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

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 TAXATION.

Provides an income tax deduction for tips received by tipped employees.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE ANALYST.

Requires the office of 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 EDUCATION.

Requires all department schools to offer community policing programs including DARE, LEEP, and PAL. Authorizes the department of education to work with the department of law enforcement and local police departments to implement the programs. Requires a faculty liaison.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE III, SECTION 4, OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO ESTABLISH TERM LIMITS FOR LEGISLATORS.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the terms of members of the legislature to a maximum of twelve years in the house of representatives or senate, or both, for terms beginning on or after the general election of 2026.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Limits condominium board members to serving no more than two consecutive terms. Allows such members to resume their positions after one term has passed since their departure.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts food and groceries from certain healthcare-related goods or services that were not the general excise tax. Expands general excise tax exemptions to include purchased under the Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Creates an exemption within the existing limits on recovery to ensure that accepting restitution under chapter 487 does not prohibit an individual from a separate recovery from an action brought under chapter 480 for unfair and deceptive practices.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes an income tax credit of $3,000 for retired service members of the Hawaii National Guard.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Provides an income tax deduction for tips received by tipped employees.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER CHAPTER 201H, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES.

Exempts transfers of Hawaiian Home Lands from transfer restrictions for real property under housing development programs of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Authorizes a tax credit for businesses that pay the public transportation costs of employees. Requires reports to the Legislature. Applies for taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025 but not beginning after 12/31/2029. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR LAW VIOLATIONS.

Establishes enhanced penalties for multiple violations of the same liquor law by licensees in a county with a population of 500,000 or more, under certain circumstances.

Daniel HoltDemocrat