Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO VOTER REGISTRATION.

Authorizes state agencies to implement automatic voter registration if designated by the Office of Elections. Requires eligible applicants for instruction permits, provisional licenses, driver's licenses, and identification cards to be automatically registered or preregistered to vote unless the applicant opts out. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO TEACHER HOUSING.

Establishes the Teacher Housing Assistance Program to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers. Appropriates funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO BABY BONDS.

Establishes the Wealth Building Working Group to develop a plan for the creation of a baby bonds program for the State to address intergenerational poverty and wealth inequality in Hawaii. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

Prohibits an employer from discriminating against a person in hiring, termination, or any term or condition of employment based on the person's status as a medical cannabis registry card holder, under certain conditions. Authorizes an employer to use a fit-for-duty test for medical cannabis qualifying patients in potentially dangerous occupations. Exempts certain occupations. Effective July 1, 3000. (HD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HOUSEHOLD AND DEPENDENT CARE SERVICES TAX CREDIT.

Increases a taxpayer's applicable percentage of employment-related expenses that may be claimed for the household and dependent care services tax credit for five years. Repeals 6/30/2030.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE CHILDCARE.

Appropriates funds to the Office of the Governor for a state childcare facility for state employees and their families. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Requires the Department of Education to authorize and facilitate complex areas or individual public schools to form their own farm to school meal programs through partnerships to meet the local farm to school meal goal of thirty per cent of food served in the school to consist of locally sourced products by 2030. Allows the Department of Education to establish a plant-based meal program no later than the 2026-2027 school year. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO MARIJUANA.

Exempts drug paraphernalia for marijuana from certain penalties under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Lowers the penalties for the possession and transfer without remuneration of certain amounts of marijuana, marijuana concentrate, and marijuana-infused products. Makes smoking marijuana in a public place a violation under the offense of promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO HOSPITALS.

Requires any hospital licensed by the Department of Health that has an operating room to adopt and implement policies to prevent exposure to surgical smoke. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

Provides state and county employees with five days of paid family leave each calendar year.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO MOPED INSURANCE.

Requires that moped operators carry an insurance policy by incorporating mopeds into the insurance laws governing motorcycles and motor scooters, including with respect to provisions concerning required licensure, the relationship with tort law, proof of insurance card, penalties, rate regulation, and minimum coverage levels. Makes conforming amendments. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL TUITION.

Requires graduates of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine who have paid in-state tuition to serve as a physician in the State for at least 2 years following their medical residency or fellowship. Begins with the class of 2029.

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WAGE AND HOUR LAW.

Amends the definition of "employee" in Hawaii's wage and hour law by excluding individuals who are primarily engaged in the range production of livestock. Effective July 1, 3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PHARMACY.

Establishes the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Special Fund to support pharmacist workforce assessment and planning efforts. Establishes the pharmacist workforce assessment fee. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PROPERTY RIGHTS.

Establishes a procedure for immediately removing an unlawful occupant of a dwelling or premises with assistance from law enforcement. Provides that an unlawful occupant of a dwelling or premises is civilly liable for unpaid utility bills. Provides that a person who trespasses in or upon a dwelling or premises and intentionally or knowingly damages property in an amount exceeding $999 commits a felony of criminal property damage in the second degree. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to develop, publish, and make available a complaint form to remove unlawful occupants of residential dwellings. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO SQUATTING.

Establishes a working group within the Department of the Attorney General to study the issue of squatting in Hawaii and provide recommendations. Requires reports to the legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO VEHICLE SAFETY.

Creates additional fines for any individual found operating a vehicle or moped without a current certificate of inspection. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Restricts motor vehicles that tow a motor vehicle or trailer from the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes going in the same direction with exemptions. Specifies penalties for restricted motor vehicles who drive in the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes moving in the same direction. Applies restrictions and penalties to a county with a population of 500,000 or more. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAFFIC CITATIONS.

Requires police officers to send a carbon copy of a citation to the registered owner of a vehicle within five business days after the citation is issued. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE.

Increases the fines for violating motor vehicle insurance requirements. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Requires the department of taxation to establish a two-year pilot program that reduces the income tax liability for certain residents within the 96792 postal zip code on the island of Oahu. Establishes eligibility and reporting requirements. Repeals 12/31/2027.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO A STATE BREAST MILK BANK.

Establishes a state breast milk bank under the Department of Health. Establishes the breast milk bank special fund. Appropriates moneys.

Kanani SouzaRepublican

RELATING TO INCOME TAX.

Amends the income tax bracket for taxpayers filing a joint return and surviving spouses to exempt those taxpayers whose taxable income is $200,000 or less. Amends the income tax bracket for unmarried individuals and married individuals who do not file a joint tax return with their spouse to exempt those taxpayers whose taxable incomes is $100,000 or less.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BICYCLES.

Increases the minimum age to operate a low-speed electric bicycle from fifteen to sixteen years of age.

Lisa KitagawaDemocrat

RELATING TO EARLY CHILD CARE.

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and implement a Child Care Provider Subsidy and Bonus Program to provide subsidies to retain the existing child care workforce in licensed infant and toddler child care centers, group child care centers, and group child care homes and bonuses to registered family child care homes. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD ABUSE.

Amends the definition of "child abuse or neglect" to clarify that the failure to provide certain needs to a child shall not constitute child abuse or neglect if the sole reason the person responsible for the care of the child is unable to adequately provide for the child's care is lack of financial resources; and evidence of parental request for support shall not be deemed as evidence of child abuse and neglect. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO OVERDOSE PREVENTION.

Establishes and provides criteria for overdose prevention centers, including standards for the Department of Health to designate certain facilities as overdose prevention centers. Establishes an Overdose Prevention Center Oversight Committee. Provides immunity from state criminal prosecution for certain offenses for persons using a designated overdose prevention center and persons operating a designated overdose prevention center.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD CARE.

Establishes a child care classroom contracts pilot program to require the Department of Human Services to contract directly with child care center providers in licensed infant and toddler child care centers and group child care centers that meet certain criteria. Requires reports to the Legislature. Sunsets the pilot program on 6/30/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish a streamlined grid-ready home interconnection process. Requires the Hawaii Electricity Reliability Administrator to report to the Legislature on the streamlined grid-ready home interconnection process. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

Appropriates funds for the Department of Human Services to collaborate with contracted community-based organizations to address the need for social services in the State. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT HEAT EXPOSURE SAFETY.

Requires the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health and State Public Charter School Commission, to conduct a study on the current practices of managing heat exposure in state public and charter schools to protect students' health during outdoor activities and to develop a plan if the current practices are insufficient in managing heat exposure. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE LICENSED CARE FACILITIES.

Requires the Department of Health to post on its website an easily understandable, searchable, and sortable list of all state-licensed care facilities including information on their licenses and inspections. Requires that the list be updated within five days of any change in its information.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII ABLE SAVINGS PROGRAM.

Repeals the requirement to use the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program Trust Fund if the Director elects to accept deposits from contributors instead of sending deposits directly to the ABLE program manager. Authorizes the Director of Finance to expend moneys in the trust fund to provide incentive payments to Hawaii public school ABLE account owners. Appropriates funds for incentive payments to Hawaii public school ABLE account owners and to fund a position to provide statewide outreach, advocacy, and relationship management for the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAL RECORDS.

Establishes fees that medical providers may charge for requests for a patient's medical records from the patient's family member, caregiver, or representative. Requires medical providers to respond to requests in a timely manner. Establishes penalties.

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.

Appropriates funds for the Executive Office on Early Learning to contract with third-party providers of family-child interaction learning programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO SOCIAL WORK.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services, to develop and establish a social work training program to assist nonviolent incarcerated individuals in the area of social work. Requires progress reports on the program to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO MANAGING AGENTS.

Requires managing agents for residential condominium properties over seventy-five feet in height to have commercial property management experience. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Allows authorized insurers in the State to offer building and hurricane damage insurance for condominium buildings at a lesser rate than the building's prior surplus lines insurance policy for the same coverage. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Requires insurers to provide advance written notice to policyholders and the Insurance Commissioner, with reasonable explanations and primary factors, of any policy cancellation, non-renewal, or proposed premium increase, if, upon renewal, premiums are scheduled to increase more than ten per cent. Requires insurers that provide property insurance to file rate schedules and underlying criteria with the Insurance Commissioner. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to conduct periodic reviews of insurance rates and submit annual reports to the Legislature. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to establish a Public Reporting and Dispute Resolution Program to handle complaints and appeals regarding premium increases. Requires insurers to provide premium discounts or credits to policyholders that implement disaster risk mitigation measures.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Requires insurers to provide automatic, advance written premium change notices to common interest community policyholders and the Insurance Commissioner, with reasonable explanations and primary factors, disclosing the causes of any premium increase if, upon renewal, premiums are scheduled to increase more than an unspecified per cent. Requires insurers that renewed property insurance policies between 2022 and 2024 for policyholders that were condominium associations, planned community associations, or cooperative housing corporations in the State, to provide an explanation for certain premium increases during this period. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to submit a report to the Legislature.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

Requires an owner or operator of a waste-to-energy facility to comply with certain United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations for emission limitations as they existed on 12/31/2024, unless emission limitations are made more stringent by federal regulations or by the state air pollution control permit issued to that owner or operator by the Department of Health. Sunsets 6/30/2027. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO CERTIFICATES OF BIRTH.

Provides that a new certificate of birth issued by the State shall include a designation of the sex of the person born, based on the genitalia of the person. Authorizes amendments of designations of sex on certificates of birth, provided that the birth registrant is an adult, and a new designation is based on the genitalia of the birth registrant, as confirmed by a physician or physician's assistant. Requires certain original certificates to be unsealed and new certificates to be marked as amended with regard to sex designation.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO SCHOOL SPORTS.

Requires the Department of Education to implement a supplemental sports program for high school students in West Oahu.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

Requires that each county council district feature at least one voter service center for elections. Prioritizes using public schools as voter service centers. Requires the clerk to advertise for volunteers. Requires each county council district to have one voter service center open on election day.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Eliminates state taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel for motor vehicles. Requires savings be passed from distributor to consumer.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO PUBLIC ORDER.

Establishes the offense of loitering on public property and adds trespassing on public property to the offense of criminal trespass in the first degree. Establishes the homeless case management program and special fund, administered by the judiciary for the benefit of persons experiencing homelessness.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO INTEREST.

Protects consumers, who are purchasing their first vehicle, from predatory interest rates by setting a maximum interest rate of two per cent for consumers with a credit score below six hundred and zero per cent for consumers with a credit score of six hundred or more. Authorizes existing avenues of redress from usury under chapter 478 to apply to this Act.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO VEHICLE WEIGHT TAXES.

Creates an exemption to the vehicle weight tax for full-time college students.

David Alcos IIIRepublican