Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT, 1920, AS AMENDED.

Increases the limit of the State's liability for moneys borrowed by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands or loans made to lessees that are guaranteed by the Department from $100,000,000 to $500,000,000. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education's existing Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) working group to create a state plan to make completion of the FAFSA or an opt-out waiver a statewide graduation requirement by the 2027-2028 school year. Requires a report to the 2026 legislature.

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement negotiated for Bargaining Unit (5) and subject to the availability of funds, provides annual salary step increases for public school teachers who have completed a year's satisfactory service and comply with specified requirements. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO FISHING.

Establishes within the Department of Land and Natural Resources a permitting system for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the taking of aquatic life. Repeals prohibition on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the taking of aquatic life. Provides a timeline for implementation of the permitting system.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Board of Education to adopt a policy that bans the use of phones and related devices by students during school hours. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Establishes tax credits for insurers providing full property coverage to owners and associations of condominiums in the amount equal to twenty per cent of the insurance premium. Provides additional ten per cent tax credits to insurers incorporated in the State.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY PROGRAMS.

Expands programming and training for the comprehensive offender re-entry program under the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to reduce the rate of recidivism and increase inmate marketability and workforce readiness. Appropriates funds.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Establishes a 2-year homelessness sanctuary pilot program, to be administered by the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness in coordination with the Department of Human Services and the City and County of Honolulu. Directs the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness to designate a specific location on state or county land for the pilot program, which shall serve as a safe location for homeless individuals and families to reside and access services. Requires the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness and the coordinator's partner agencies to provide certain facilities and services at the designated location. Requires reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 12/31/2027. Appropriates moneys.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO CRIMES AGAINST ELDERS.

Establishes strict liability for crimes against elders with respect to the attendant circumstance that the victim was sixty years of age or older.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts food and groceries from the general excise tax. Expands a 2024 session law exempting certain medical and dental services to include all medical and dental services.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

Amends the prohibition against contributions to a candidate committee or noncandidate committee by state and county contractors to include state and county grantees and the owners, officers, consultants, and joint account holders of a state or county contractor or state or county grantee.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a general excise tax exemption for the gross proceeds or income from the manufacture, production, packaging, and sale of diapers. Establishes a surcharge on the general excise tax and use tax for the sale or use of luxury cars.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO ENDEMIC PLANTS.

Requires the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience to establish an endemic plant seed bank pilot program to preserve and promote the planting of plant species that are endemic to Hawaii. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAII BEACH DAY.

Establishes Hawaii Beach Day. Requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority, in collaboration with the Department of Land and Natural Resources, to organize and support events and activities to celebrate and observe Hawaii Beach Day. Appropriates funds.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO ACUPUNCTURE.

Recognizes individuals practicing acupuncture as essential health care providers who are subject to regulation and control.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates moneys to the Department of Accounting and General Services for the replacement and relocation of the Oahu Community Correctional Center. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMUNITIES.

Requires any state or county department pursuing any major plan or work effort that is likely to significantly affect members of any community to: (1) Conduct a public hearing on the issue, and post notices on the department's website; and (2) Send direct notices of the public hearing to state and county elected officials who have constituents in the community.

Elle CochranDemocrat

RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.

Changes the name and expands the functions and duties of the Office of International Relations. Establishes the Matsunaga Aloha Pacific Academy within the Office of International Relations.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO FEES.

Provides that any Hawaii-born or Native Hawaiian individual shall qualify for resident fees at state parks, regardless of where the individual currently resides; provided that the individual first presents to the Department of Land and Natural Resources certain documentation.

Elle CochranDemocrat

RELATING TO MIDWIVES.

Continues a licensing scheme for licensed certified midwives and licensed certified professional midwives, to be overseen by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Reestablishes 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.

Elle CochranDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FOURTEENTH REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the fourteenth representative district.

Elle CochranDemocrat

RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF NON-AGRICULTURAL PARK LANDS.

Allows the Department of Land and Natural Resources to transfer certain public lands for agricultural use to the Department of Agriculture without approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources and Board of Agriculture. Requires the Department of Agriculture, upon approval of the Board of Agriculture, to accept the transfer of and manage certain qualifying non-agricultural park lands. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the University of Hawaii System to collect, analyze, and publicly report certain graduate outcome data. Requires and appropriates funds for the development and maintenance of a graduate outcomes dashboard. Appropriates funds for positions within the University of Hawaii's Office of the Vice President of Academic Strategy. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO LANDLORD-TENANT DISPUTES.

Requires the Judiciary to contract for legal services for residential tenants in actions or proceedings for possession under certain circumstances. Authorizes attorneys, paralegals, and law students to provide legal services to residential tenants. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE PLAN.

Establishes green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines for state facility systems, infrastructure, transit projects, and other areas in the Hawaii State Planning Act to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. Adds definition of "green infrastructure". Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, in partnership with the Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force, to submit a report to the Legislature making recommendations for implementing the green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines. Establishes full-time equivalent ( .0 FTE) policy analyst positions within the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development. Appropriates funds.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Removes from the definition of "public lands" lands set aside by the Governor to the counties for the purpose of affordable housing. Specifies that lands set aside by the Governor to the counties for affordable housing require legislative approval for the sale or gift of such lands. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE HOUSING.

Establishes the Workforce Housing Regulatory Sandbox Program within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Establishes an advisory council within the Workforce Housing Regulatory Sandbox Program to advise on environmental and cultural practices within specific developments. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2030. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH.

Requires that all schools develop plans to execute mental health check-ins with their students grades six through twelve. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO PARLIAMENTARIANS.

Requires all parliamentarians doing business in the State to be licensed with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and complete mandatory training courses.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO BOARD MEMBERS.

Requires board members of a condominium association to certify the receipt and review of certain documents and complete a board training and education course approved by an accredited third party organization, to be selected by the Real Estate Commission.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO ASSOCIATION MANAGERS.

Creates regulation requirements for association managers who oversee the daily operations of a condominium unit owners' association. Beginning 7/1/2027, requires licensure of association managers by the Real Estate Commission.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Office of the Governor to provide profiles of Filipino immigrants related to demographic, education, and vocation data. Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with certain agricultural entities in the Philippines. Requires and appropriates funds for the Departments of Labor and Industrial Relations and Human Resources Development to develop a program that brings agricultural workers from the Philippines to Hawaii, under certain conditions. Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Agriculture to establish a hydroponics pilot program.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM PROXY VOTING.

Removes from the standard condominium proxy form the option of giving a proxy vote to the board of directors of a condominium association as a whole or to those directors present at an association meeting.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO SPORTS WAGERING.

Allows for the regulation of sports wagering by the Department of Law Enforcement. Establishes licensing requirements for sports wagering operators and sports wagering suppliers. Establishes a general excise tax to be levied on sports wagering operator licenses. Establishes the Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Special Fund to be administered and expended by the Department of Health. Specifies that legal sports wagering and fantasy sports contests shall not be considered contests of chance or gambling. Authorizes DLE to perform criminal history record checks on applicants and licensees relating to sports wagering. (SD2)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Establishes the Geothermal Revolving Fund for loans for water well development for geophysical investigation, exploration, and identification of geothermal resources on Hawaiian home lands. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND TRANSFERS.

Authorizes the transfer of certain lands under the jurisdiction of certain state agencies to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes the Kupuna Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Program under the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the Department of Transportation to adopt rules governing a clean fuel standard for alternative fuels in the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREWORKS.

Requires the Department Education, in coordination with the Department of Health, to develop a fireworks education and marketing program for implementation in public schools, including charter schools, and distribution to private schools.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT.

Requires the Department of Human Resources Development, in collaboration with various state and county agencies, to establish a Transportation Demand Management Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN SCHOOLS.

Requires each public school to implement a policy to prohibit students from using cellular phones and other wireless communication devices during school hours, subject to exceptions for education, health, and emergencies.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WORKS OF ART SPECIAL FUND.

Specifies that the works of art special fund's one per cent transfer requirement shall apply only to capital improvement appropriations for the original construction of state buildings. Amends the authority for funds from the works of art special fund to be used only for costs related to the acquisition of works of art. Appropriates funds.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Establishes notice requirements for employers under Hawaii's Workers' Compensation Law. Requires employers who deny the compensability of an employee's injury to submit a written report supporting the denial to the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations within a specified period. Requires employers to furnish to the injured employee up to $10,000 for medical care, services, and supplies for the period immediately following the injury and so long as reasonably needed or until the employer files a written report with the Director denying the compensability of the injury, whichever is earlier. Clarifies that failure to give an employer notice of an employee's injury does not bar a claim for compensation if any person having authority in the interest of the employer had knowledge of the injury.

Sam Satoru KongDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Applies the existing framework regulating motor carriers onto transportation network companies. Repeals the chapter regulating transportation network companies. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO LABOR.

Establishes a Portable Benefits Program under the administration of a board of trustees to provide portable benefits to gig workers. Expands the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program to gig workers. Appropriates funds.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENTAL EFFICIENCY.

Authorizes Executive and Administrative Departments and Agencies to enter into intergovernmental and partnership agreements with private sector entities, nonprofit organizations, and other governmental bodies. Requires annual report to the Legislature.

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires electronic smoking device and e-liquid manufacturers to submit certifications with the Department of Taxation annually, stating that the manufacturer's products comply with federal regulations. Requires the Department of Taxation to maintain a directory of manufacturers of electronic smoking devices and e-liquids whose certifications the Department approved. Imposes penalties.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO RARE DISEASES.

Establishes a Rare Disease Advisory Council within the Department of Health to advise the State on the needs of rare disease patients.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.

Prohibits pedestrians from walking along the roadway of an interstate highway, an auxiliary interstate highway, or certain state highways except while conducting authorized first responder duties or highway maintenance duties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

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

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

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat