Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO TENANT SELECTION.

Repeals the tenant selection preferences for disabled veterans and the spouses of deceased veterans in the State Low-Income Housing Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC HOUSING EVICTIONS.

Reduces the time the Hawaii Public Housing Authority is required to store unclaimed personal effects of a tenant evicted from public housing from thirty days to fourteen days. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO ACT 253, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 2023.

Updates the name of the Neighbor Islands Blind and Visually Impaired Service Pilot Program by replacing the term "visually impaired" with the term "low vision". Clarifies the pilot program's implementation timeframes. Sunsets 6/30/2029. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO SAFE SPACES FOR YOUTH PROGRAM.

Makes the Safe Spaces for Youth Pilot Program permanent within the Office of Youth Services. Requires the program to collaborate with all state and county departments that offer services for youth and young adults to coordinate the identification of youth and young adults who are experiencing homelessness and placement of these youth at a shelter for homeless youth or young adults. Authorizes the Office of Youth Services to contract with nonprofit organizations to provide shelters for homeless youth or young adults. Requires the Office of Youth Services to submit a report twenty days prior to the regular session of the Legislature.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAL RECORDS.

Repeals the requirement for the Department of Health to approve a provider's arrangement for the retention and preservation of patients' medical records prior to ceasing operations. Clarifies that retention and preservation of medical records must be consistent with federal and state regulations.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO NON-GENERAL FUNDS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

Repeals the birth defects special fund and deposits a portion of fees for certified copies and marriage licenses into the vital statistics improvement special fund.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO AMENDING SECTION 323D-54, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES, TO EXEMPT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FROM CERTIFICATE OF NEED REQUIREMENTS.

Amends section 323D-54, HRS, to exempt the Department of Health from the State Health Planning and Development Agency's certificate of need requirements.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CREDENTIALING OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

Authorizes the Department of Health to implement a two-year pilot program that reduces duplicative activities required for the credentialing of health care providers by hospitals, universities, clinics, health plans, and independent practice associations; and establishes an advisory committee. Appropriates funds.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

Amends the quorum requirement for the State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY AEROMEDICAL SERVICES.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to expand access to emergency aeromedical services.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO MANUFACTURED HEMP PRODUCTS.

Clarifies that the definition of "manufactured hemp products" in section 328G-1, HRS, includes hemp products specified in rules adopted by the Department of Health pursuant to section 328G-4, HRS.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO MANUFACTURED HEMP PRODUCTS.

Establishes a minimum age requirement for the sale of manufactured hemp products. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

Retroactively repeals the sunset date of the authorization for primary caregivers to cultivate medical cannabis for their qualifying patients. Clarifies that each location used to cultivate cannabis can be used to cultivate cannabis for no more than five qualifying patients. Effective 1/1/2025.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO REGISTRATION TO SELL MANUFACTURED HEMP PRODUCTS.

Requires manufactured hemp product distributors and manufactured hemp product retailers to register with the Department of Health to sell manufactured hemp products; requires the Department of Health to collect application fees and issue certificates of registration.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO VIRAL HEPATITIS.

Establishes and appropriates funds for a Hepatitis Prevention Program within the Department of Health to address morbidity and mortality due to hepatitis B and C. Repeals an outdated reference to hepatitis and blood transfusions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CHANGES TO RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CONCERNING PATIENTS, THE COUNTY OF KALAWAO, AND THE KALAUPAPA SETTLEMENT.

Establishes the Kalaupapa State Historical Area. Authorizes the Department of Health to continue providing services statewide to Hansen's disease patients living in the community. Repeals sections of chapter 326, Hawaii Revised Statutes, upon the one-year anniversary of the passing of the last patient resident of Kalaupapa as affirmed in the Governor's proclamation.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HARM REDUCTION.

Repeals the one-to-one syringe limit for the needle exchange program. Authorizes the Sterile Needle and Syringe Exchange Program to provide needs-based distribution. Authorizes non-injection drug user participation in the Program. Modifies liability for exchange program participants, staff, and law enforcement officers.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO UNIVERSAL IMMUNIZATION FUNDING PROGRAM.

Establishes the Universal Immunization Purchase Program and Universal Immunization Purchase Special Fund into which the fees will be deposited to finance the distribution of immunizations free of charge to qualifying health care providers. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Beginning July 1, 2026, bans the sale of all flavored tobacco products and mislabeled e-liquid products. Establishes positions and appropriates funds to enforce the ban. Repeals section 328J-11.5, HRS. Effective July 1, 2025.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Repeals section 328J-11.5, HRS.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO NON-MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS TO IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS.

Prohibits new non-medical immunization exemptions for school-aged children. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HOME CARE AGENCIES.

Prohibits home care agencies from providing services outside the scope of their facility license.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM CIVIL SERVICE FOR CERTAIN POSITIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

Exempts certain positions in the Department of Health, including the Hawaii State Hospital, from civil service.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE TRANSITION OF THE OAHU REGIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FROM THE HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

Repeals the requirement to transfer the Oahu Regional Health Care System from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to the Department of Health. Repeals certain changes to the Hawaii Revised Statutes that were made by Act 212, SLH 2021. Requires the Oahu Regional Health Care System to enter into an agreement with the Department of Health regarding Oahu Regional Health Care System taking care of low acuity patients in the Department's custody by December 31, 2025.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.

Clarifies and updates the responsibilities of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division of the Department of Health to reflect the current mental health systems of care that address the mental health needs of children and adolescents in the State.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

Establishes maximum rates of payment for medical care for patients of the Hawaii State Hospital or of another psychiatric facility who are under the custody of the Director of Health. Authorizes the Department of Health to establish long-term care payment rates for patients discharged to a long-term care facility from the Hawaii State Hospital or another psychiatric facility where they were under the custody of the Director of Health. Exempts the Department of Health from chapter 103F, HRS, for the procurement of medical care and long-term care for patients who are or were under the custody of the Director of Health at the Hawaii State Hospital or a psychiatric facility.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Authorizes general excise tax exemptions for residential care services provided by certain licensed health care facilities pursuant to a contract with the Adult Mental Health Division of the Department of Health. Effective 1/1/26.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH.

Establishes a two-year digital youth mental health platform pilot project under which the child and adolescent mental health division of the department of health develops and makes publicly available a digital platform providing tools and resources designed to help young people address and manage mental health challenges.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PARKING FOR DISABLED PERSONS.

Authorizes each county to enact ordinances to enforce the design and construction requirements for the provision of accessible parking spaces, including the establishment of penalties for failure to comply with the ordinances.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS.

Requires any order to cease and desist issued by the Director of Health that is administratively appealed to remain in effect during the appeals process.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FOR CONSTRUCTION DEFECT REMEDIATION AT THE HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL.

Emergency Appropriation of $8,160,000 in general funds to the Department of Health to fund construction defect remediation, including the payment of legal fees and cost of special deputies attorney general, of the Hale Ho`ola Building of the Hawaii State Hospital.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

Requires utilization review entities in the State to submit to the State Health Planning and Development Agency data relating to prior authorization of health care services.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO AN INTENSIVE MOBILE TEAM PILOT PROGRAM FOR HOUSELESS INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM SERIOUS BRAIN DISORDERS.

Establishes and appropriates funds for a 2-year Intensive Mobile Team Pilot Program in the Department of Health to provide intensive mobile treatment-type services to chronically houseless individuals suffering from serious brain disorders, including schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

Makes critical infrastructure information received or maintained by the Office of Homeland Security confidential, except in certain circumstances. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND.

Creates a mixed-income rental housing subaccount under the Rental Housing Revolving Fund which shall make loans to mixed-income rental projects or units in a mixed-income rental project. Authorizes the transfer of moneys from the Rental Housing Revolving Fund to the Rental Housing Revolving Fund Mixed-Income Subaccount.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Increases the cap for awards to assist businesses applying for the Small Business Innovation Research Grant Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Program of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation. Adds purchasing of renewable energy systems as an eligible expense and clarifies that training on both new and existing manufacturing equipment is an eligible expense for the Manufacturing Development Grant Program. Clarifies that no tax credit is available for renewable energy systems purchased with a grant received under the Manufacturing Development Grant Program.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE LAND STUDY BUREAU SOIL RATING SYSTEM.

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, in coordination with other agencies, to update the soil data used in the land study bureau soil rating system and create a mechanism for regular soil data updates. Appropriates funds.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL LANDS.

Establishes an important agricultural lands incentive to provide alternative means to develop housing for farmers and farm employees. Authorizes a landowner or lessee of important agricultural lands to apply to a county for a permit allowing the landowner or lessee to develop, construct, and maintain farm cluster housing. Requires each county to enact ordinances to allow farm cluster housing on important agricultural lands. Establishes requirements for farm cluster housing. Repeals existing requirements for farm dwellings and employee housing on important agricultural lands. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Authorizes the use of county surcharge revenues for transportation and housing infrastructure in counties having a population of 500,000 or less. Authorizes counties that have previously adopted a surcharge on state tax ordinance after July 1, 2015, to amend the uses of the surcharge. Extends the period within which a county with a population of 500,000 or less may collect a surcharge on state tax, under certain conditions, to 12/31/2047. Authorizes cost-sharing with private or other public developers for housing infrastructure projects funded by surcharge revenues.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND USE.

Authorizes county petition process for review and approval of land use district boundary amendments based on adopted county general plans or county development plans.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO INTEGRATED LAND USE.

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to conduct an integrated land use study for the use of lands within the agricultural districts. Establishes one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) planner position, exempt from chapter 76.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STADIUM AUTHORITY.

Clarifies requirements to establish a quorum to do business and validate acts of the Stadium Authority.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO LONG DURATION CLEAN ENERGY STORAGE.

Expands and renames the Hawaii Renewable Hydrogen Program to include identification of likely pumped storage hydropower locations, or sites for other long duration clean energy storage technologies, and promotion of their development. Expands the use of the Hydrogen Investment Special Fund to include seed capital and venture capital investments for the Hawaii Renewable Hydrogen and Long Duration Clean Energy Storage Program. Appropriates funds for the Hawaii Renewable Hydrogen and Long Duration Clean Energy Storage Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO A PROGRAM TO CHARACTERIZE CARBON SEQUESTRATION POTENTIAL AND UNDERGROUND WATER RESOURCES STATEWIDE.

Establishes a Carbon Sequestration, Underground Water, and Geothermal Exploration Resource Characterization Program via slim hole bores and requires a related statewide environmental assessment. Requires a report to the Legislature. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ZERO EMISSIONS CLEAN ECONOMY TARGET.

Provides needed clarifications on the applicability and scope of section 225P-5, HRS. Clarifies current emissions reduction goals and defines critical terms used in climate mitigation. Establishes a total or gross emissions target as well as sector-specific targets to reinforce action in the relevant emitting sectors further strengthening the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY INDUSTRY INFORMATION REPORTING.

Adds the promotion of emergency management and critical infrastructure protection as relevant purposes of the Energy Data Collection Program. Adds the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security to the list of agencies that may examine the energy industry information statements submitted pursuant to section 486J-3, HRS. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS.

Modifies and improves the effectiveness of the renewable portfolio standards law, which stipulates the central role of Hawaii's electric utility companies in complying with the State's renewable energy and climate goals to address emerging trends.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY REVIEW BOARD.

Amends the quorum requirements to do business and validate acts of the Small Business Regulatory Review Board.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat