Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Board of Education to establish a Korean language program. Appropriates funds.

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO DIGITAL IDENTIFICATION.

Allows digitized identification cards to be accepted as a valid form of identification, under certain conditions. Authorizes state and county law enforcement agencies to accept a digitized identification card as proof of a person's identity beginning 7/1/2027. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD2)

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO VOTER REGISTRATION.

Establishes a process, beginning on January 1, 2026, for automatically preregistering or registering public, charter, and private school-enrolled students who are at least 16 years old to vote.

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMON INTEREST OWNERSHIP COMMUNITIES.

Creates regulation requirements for managers of homeowners' associations, planned community associations, cooperative housing corporations, and condominium unit owners' associations in the State. Requires licensure of association managers beginning 7/1/2027. Establishes an Association Manager Licensing Board within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL GAINS TAX.

Amends the capital gains tax rate for individuals, estates, and trusts. Amends the alternative capital gains tax for corporations. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT.

Amends the definition of "employer" in state law that governs payment of wages and other compensation to include the State and counties when a provision in that law has no comparable provision in state law that governs public officers and employees.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE TIP CREDIT.

Beginning 1/1/2026, increases the tip credit to be twenty per cent of the minimum wage and requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to annually calculate an adjusted tip credit amount.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Authorizes an attending physician to request a functional capacity examination and refer an injured employee for the examination without first obtaining permission from the employee's employer. Allows licensed occupational and physical therapists to be deemed qualified to perform functional capacity examinations. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to issue a certificate of suitability for employment. Requires the Department to collaborate with state and federal agencies and private employers to educate stakeholders on the certification. Appropriate funds.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO ILLEGAL CAMPING.

Clarifies petty misdemeanor penalties for the offense of criminal trespass onto public parks and recreational grounds. Provides for seizure of abandoned or unattended personal property. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish a homeless outreach and case management program. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to identify and restore vacated homeless encampment areas in the State and report to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO HAWAII COVERT OPERATIONS.

Establishes the Hawaii Covert Operations Against Smuggling and Transnational Threats program with the Department of Law Enforcement to combat smuggling of drugs and weapons and human trafficking.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO TRANSITIONAL HOMES.

Establishes the Hawaii Efficient Transitional Homes Commission to provide recommendations for the efficient, effective, and transparent management of transitional homes. Requires annual reports to the Legislature.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes a Department of Education statewide policy for cell phone use in all department schools to ensure clear and enforceable guidelines and foster an environment conducive to learning.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Prohibits the removal of a manufacturer- or factory-installed speed limiting device from an electric bicycle. Requires the Department of Transportation to develop a traffic safety education program and a public awareness campaign. Appropriate funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY.

Appropriate funds to the legislative reference bureau to procure artificial intelligence software and analytic services to streamline state law and regulations. Requires a report to the legislature.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE HAWAII CONSTITUTION TO PROMOTE ACCOUNTABILITY IN ELECTED OFFICIALS.

Proposes to amend the state constitution to suspend or bar criminally charged or convicted elected officials from office and impose term limit requirements on elected officials.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO VACANT HOMES.

Establishes a Vacant Homes Special Fund under the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation for rental assistance programs. Establishes a general excise tax surcharge on an owner that allows a residential real property to remain vacant for 180 days or more a year. Requires persons who own residential real property, but do not live there, to obtain a general excise tax license. Requires the counties to disclose to the Department of Taxation a list of properties classified as not being occupied by an owner of that property. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to calculate average annual rental value for the basis for the surcharge amount.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Requires the Insurance Commissioner to study the feasibility of the mutual insurance model for condominium associations and submit a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND LEASES.

Prohibits the State from leasing any public lands, or extending the lease of any public lands, to any individual, corporation, or federal agency that is in arrears in the payment of certain moneys to the State, is noncompliant with a consent decree or memoranda of agreement with the State that requires environmental maintenance or remediation with regard to the subject public lands, or has been found to be in violation of federal or state laws aimed at protecting the environment. Requires certification by the Office of the Governor before the issuance or extension of any federal lease that the individual, corporation, or federal agency is in good standing with the State. Provides that, if any existing lessee of public lands is found not to be in good standing with the State as of the effective date of this Act, the lessee shall have three years, or until the end of the lease term, whichever is sooner, to correct the violation or the lease shall be terminated. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO PROPERTY FORFEITURE.

Prohibits civil asset forfeiture unless the covered offense is a felony for which the property owner has been convicted. Excludes the forfeiture proceedings for an animal pending criminal charges. Requires the Attorney General to deposit the net proceeds of the forfeited property to the credit of the state general fund.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO ETHICS.

For purposes of the state ethics laws, subjects legislators to all ethics laws applicable to employees by including legislators within the definition of "employees". Repeals references to legislators under the state ethics laws made redundant by the inclusion.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO OPEN MEETINGS.

Repeals the Legislature's exemption under the State's open meetings law.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

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

Proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the number of years members may serve in the Legislature to a maximum of sixteen years.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS.

Transfers the Hawaii Child Nutrition Programs Agency from the Department of Education to the Department of Agriculture and codifies its establishment. Establishes a grant program to be administered by the Agency to support the funding of certain initiatives for the State's public schools. Appropriates funds for grants. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL CRIMES.

Establishes the Hawaii Agricultural Crimes Council. Expands the duties of the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with and support the Council. Establishes the Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO RESILIENCY.

Establishes the Food and Beverage Supply Chain Resiliency Income Tax Credit to be administered by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Department of Taxation. Requires DBEDT to establish expedited permitting processes for food and beverage supply chain activities. Applicable to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Appropriates funds to establish a permanent Educational Support Associate position within the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources' Kona Cooperative Extension.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Establishes the Agricultural Enforcement Program within the Department of Law Enforcement. Establishes the Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND USE.

Temporarily allows each county, by resolution of its county council, to petition for the redistricting of land from an agricultural district to a rural district through the Land Use Commission's declaratory ruling process. Effective 7/1/3000. Sunsets 6/30/2029. (HD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII FIRST RESPONDERS MEMORIAL.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Accounting and General Services to hire a consultant to evaluate potential locations and designs for the Hawaii First Responders Memorial. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO ORDERS FOR PROTECTION.

Reinstates mandatory minimum jail sentences for successive violations of the same order for protection. Removes the distinction between domestic and non-domestic violations of an order for protection. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO SEXUAL OFFENSES AGAINST MINORS.

Increases the penalty for promoting minor-produced sexual images to a felony if the person is more than three years older than the minor. Extends the probationary term for felony obscenity offenses. Tolls the statute of limitations for obscenity offenses during a victim's minority. Requires sex offender registration for felony obscenity offenses involving minors. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO ELDER CRIME VICTIMS.

Removes state of mind requirement pertaining to a victim's age for felony assaults aggravated by the victim's age. Raises the threshold age from 60 years of age or older to 65 years of age or older.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY.

Amends the offense of negligent injury in the first degree to include bodily injuries negligently inflicted by intoxicated drivers. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TORTURE.

Defines and prohibits the offense of torture.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO UNCREWED AIRCRAFT OFFENSES.

Clarifies the applicable felony offenses for using an uncrewed aircraft in the furtherance of the commission of a felony. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO BRIBERY.

Establishes heightened penalties for the offense of bribery, under certain circumstances.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO INTERCEPTION OF WIRE, ORAL, OR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION.

Removes requirement that all wiretapping applications made to a designated judge be accompanied by a written memorandum from the Department of the Attorney General recommending approval or disapproval.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR CAREER CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu for the career criminal prosecution unit. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Appropriates funds as a grant-in-aid to the City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the Victim Witness Assistance Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO JURY DUTY.

Increases the amount each juror or prospective juror is paid for each day of actual attendance at court. Appropriates funds. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EXAMINATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS.

Establishes the amount of compensation for private-sector examiners who evaluate a criminal defendant's penal responsibility or fitness to proceed in a legal case. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PROSPECTIVE JURORS.

Authorizes the Judiciary to determine the format of the juror qualification form and the means of its delivery and return. Removes the requirement that the form be mailed.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE SUNSHINE LAW.

Authorizes any member of a board to attend an informational meeting or presentation on matters relating to board business; provided that the meeting or presentation is not specifically and exclusively organized for or directed toward members of the board. Repeals the requirement of a subsequent report of attendance and the matters presented and discussed that related to board business at the informational meeting or presentation.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO STATEWIDE COMPOSTING.

Requires the Department of Health to adopt or amend rules to establish a classification system for composting facilities or operations. Allows composting and co-composting in the agricultural district, including on lands with class A or class B soils. Appropriates moneys.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER.

Defines the public trust responsibilities of the Commission on Water Resource Management. Allows the Commission to retain independent legal counsel. Amends the scope of the Commission to include declaration of emergencies. Repeals the position of Deputy to the Chairperson of the Commission on Water Resource Management and establishes the position of Executive Director. Amends the composition of the Commission. Authorizes entities to challenge an emergency order of the Commission under certain conditions. Establishes fines for certain water use offenses.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO DEFERRED RETIREMENT FOR POLICE.

Establishes a deferred retirement option program for police officers.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO MIDWIVES.

Establishes a licensing scheme for licensed certified midwives and licensed certified professional midwives, to be overseen by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Re-establishes the home birth task force to provide recommendations on issues related to home births. Dissolves the task force on 6/30/2026. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat