Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO PESTICIDES.

Requires the Department of Agriculture to use consistent units of measurement in its summary to the public on the amounts of restricted use pesticides used. Establishes a one-half mile buffer zone for pesticides around schools and state and county public parks.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO FAMILY.

Establishes an exemption from mediation in paternity proceedings where there are allegations of domestic abuse. Clarifies the exemption from mediation in divorce proceedings as it relates to domestic abuse. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO PESTICIDES.

Requires quarterly rather than annual reporting of all use of restricted use pesticides. Amends the contents of reports to include specific geospatial data and information and increased detail on the amount of restricted use pesticides used. Requires the Department of Agriculture to develop an online reporting tool for restricted use pesticides.

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

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

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

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO CERTIFIED CAREGIVERS.

Lowers the minimum age for certified caregivers for adult foster homes from twenty-one to eighteen. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

Requires the State Fire Marshal to convene an electric vehicle fires working group to examine the impact of electric vehicle fires in residential, commercial, and business properties that have confined parking structures.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HAZARDOUS TREE REMOVAL.

Appropriates funds for the assessment and removal of hazardous trees on state lands across Hawaii. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Establish a medical education liaison position within the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine to support programs that utilize a team of medical specialists to support primary care providers and other health care professionals through mentorship and guidance. Appropriates funds.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

Establishes factors under which officers may, without warrant, arrest and detain persons for petty misdemeanors and violations. Requires officers to record the factors that justified the warrantless arrest. (HD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO STREAM MAINTENANCE.

Establishes a two-year stream maintenance pilot program to be implemented by the City and County of Honolulu Department of Facility Maintenance. Appropriates funds.

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO DIGITAL FINANCIAL ASSET.

Imposes a daily maximum of $1,000 on transactions through a digital financial asset transaction kiosk. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Establishes a schedule of late fees to be added to the original unpaid claim amount if a health insurer, mutual benefit society, or health maintenance organization fails to pay a provider within the required time.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE AUDITOR.

Requires the State Auditor to conduct management and financial audits of Medicaid health care insurance contractors at least once every two years, with the first audit report to be submitted no later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2027. Appropriates funds.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION OF REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS.

Disallows the dividends-paid deduction for real estate investment trusts. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

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

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

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO ACCESSIBILITY.

Beginning 7/1/26, requires any public or private entity that operates a public lot, including a business lot, that provides more than 25 parking spaces to increase the number of federally mandated parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities by a minimum of one or fifty per cent, whichever is greater.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO A HAWAII TEACHER REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

Establishes the Hawaii Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program, to be administered by the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board. Appropriates funds.

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAIL ACCESSIBILITY.

Establishes the Accessible Wilderness and State Parks Trails Program within the Division of State Parks of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Establishes the Accessible Wilderness and State Parks Trails Program Special Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO FAMILY LEAVE.

Allows family leave to also apply to an employee's domestic partner or the child of an employee's domestic partner.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO PRETRIAL RELEASE.

Requires bail to be set in an amount that the defendant can afford based on certain factors. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Requires the Department of Taxation to establish a pilot program that would grant participating landlords a certain general excise tax exemption for each unit they rent to a long-term tenant with a pet. Requires the Department of Taxation to submit reports to the Legislature.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX CREDITS.

Establishes a Recycled or Waste Inputs Tax Credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/25.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO SHORT-TERM VACATION RENTALS.

Establishes the Hawaii Community Housing and Rental Oversight Agency within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to establish and oversee a process for receiving and addressing complaints relating to short-term vacation rentals, in coordination with the county planning departments. Establishes penalties for noncompliance. Prohibits persons with interests in short-term vacation rentals from serving on governing boards of planned communities and condominiums. Appropriates moneys.

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO CORRECTIONS.

Establishes a Rehabilitation and Re-entry Services Task Force. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMERGENCY AND BUDGET RESERVE FUND.

Adds, as an allowable use of the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund, economic payments to certain residents who have incurred losses in a disaster for which the Governor has declared a state of emergency.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTE MANAGEMENT.

Establishes an Extended Producer Responsibility Program. Requires certain producers of fast-moving consumer goods to register with the Department of Health and pay an annual fee based on the amount of packaging volume the covered producer places on the market each calendar year. Provides for the deposit of fees into an Extended Producer Responsibility Special Fund. Provides for the expenditure of moneys from the Extended Producer Responsibility Special Fund for the creation of a countywide needs assessment of resources needed to reduce the volume of packaging waste sent to landfills or power plants that burn municipal solid waste as a fuel by fifty per cent and eighty per cent by a date to be determined by rule. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 7/1/2032.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a tax credit for landlords who charge below-market rent and assesses an additional privilege tax on landowners who charge above-market rent, under certain conditions. Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to determine median market rent for rental units by geographic area for the purposes of the below-market rent tax credit and above-market rent tax.

Ikaika HusseyDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires each county, in collaboration with the Department of Transportation, to establish a Summer Streets Pilot Program that closes vehicular traffic and repurposes roads for pedestrian and cyclist use, outdoor events, and other community-driven activities. Requires each county to submit an initial proposal to the Director of Transportation. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals on 6/30/2027. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO AIR POLLUTION.

Requires owners or operators of waste combustion facilities to develop a plan to implement continuous monitoring and sampling technologies at each combustion unit to monitor and sample for certain air contaminants. Requires a publicly available website hosted by the Department of Health to track and display the data collected on the air contaminants. Requires the Department of Health to adjust permit limits for air contaminants based on the data collected. Requires annual reports to the Legislature.

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Authorizes the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to establish a two-year Hawaii Office of Naval Research Grant Program to provide fifty per cent matching grants to Hawaii awardees of alternative energy research grants from the United States Department of Defense Office of Naval Research. Establishes and appropriates funds into and out of the Alternative Energy Research and Development Revolving Fund. Sunsets the grant program on 6/30/2027.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

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

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

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO PERMITS.

Establishes specific deadlines within the facilitated application process and requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish certain resources and processes to help streamline permit applications. Appropriates funds.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO SOLICITATION OF FUNDS FROM THE PUBLIC.

Amends Act 205, SLH 2024, by: reducing undue burdens on charitable fundraising platforms and platform charities, including requirements related to good standing, reporting complaints, waivers of certain requirements, solicitation campaign records, and contracts; and extending its effective date until 6/30/2026. Effective 7/1/2026.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO PROBATION.

Establishes the Hawaii Opportunity Probation with Enforcement Program to be administered by the Judiciary.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a refundable income tax credit to offset the increase in real property insurance premiums for certain properties.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO THE STATE CAPITOL.

Requires DAGS and DPS, in consultation with the legislature and other entities, to plan and implement security improvements at the state capitol. Requires DAGS to remove all parking meters from the capitol parking facility and reallocate parking in the capitol district. Appropriates funds.

Gene WardRepublican

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

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriated funds for capital improvement projects in the 18th representative district.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.

Requires each public school to develop a disaster and attack preparedness plan by 1/1/2026 that includes shelter-in-place drills. Requires each school to maintain emergency goods sufficient for at least 48 hours in its facilities.

Gene WardRepublican

RELATING TO CANNABIS.

Establishes the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to regulate all aspects of the cannabis plant. Beginning 1/1/2026, legalizes the personal adult use of cannabis. Establishes taxes on the retail sale of adult-use cannabis and the sale of medical cannabis. Adds new traffic offenses relating to the consumption or possession of marijuana or marijuana concentrate. Makes conforming amendments related to the legalization of personal adult use of cannabis. Beginning 1/1/2026, decriminalizes certain drug offenses related to marijuana and marijuana concentrate. Transfers the personnel and assets of the Department of Health and assets of the Department of Agriculture relating to cannabis to the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office. Establishes various positions within state entities to regulate the personal adult use of cannabis. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO A VAPING STORE REGISTRY.

Requires, beginning 1/1/2026, vaping stores to register with the Department of Health and be subject to inspections for compliance with federal and state laws.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS.

Allows a party aggrieved by the judgment of a circuit court on a minimum term order to appeal to the Intermediate Appellate Court. Requires prisoners to be represented by counsel in any petition challenging the minimum term proceedings. Requires the Supreme Court to establish rules. Establishes grounds for challenging a minimum term order. Appropriates funds. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO LABOR STANDARDS AT HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.

Establishes certain minimum registered nurse-to-patient staffing requirements for hospitals. No later than 9/1/2025, requires hospitals to create hospital registered nurse staffing committees. Beginning 7/1/2026, requires hospitals to implement registered nurse staffing plans. Appropriates funds.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO ADAPTATION PATHWAYS PLANNING.

Expands the authority of the State and counties to develop adaptation pathways plans to modify and relocate infrastructure away from critically threatened areas to locations outside sea level rise and coastal flooding exposure areas. Appropriates funds.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYORS.

Establishes a ten year statute of repose for land surveyors, after which time a complaint for a civil action cannot be made.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO MANELE SMALL BOAT HARBOR.

Appropriates moneys for a structural engineering analysis; the planning, design, and construction of repairs and improvements to the water line system; and the reopening of a roadway related to Manele Small Boat Harbor.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

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

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriated funds for capital improvement projects in the 42nd representative district.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO A WEALTH ASSET TAX.

Establishes a wealth asset tax of one per cent of the state net worth of each individual taxpayer who holds $20,000,000 or more in assets in the State.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO LEGISLATIVE EMPLOYEES.

Repeals staff of the legislative branch of the State from the list of individuals not included in any appropriate bargaining unit. Specifies that the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each have one vote if they have employees in a particular bargaining unit for the purposes of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture for agricultural biosecurity and the prevention, detection, and control of invasive species in Maui County. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS.

Prohibits counties from permitting or allowing retention and detention ponds to be constructed except under certain conditions. Requires the Department of Health to inspect retention and detention ponds statewide. Establishes certain safety requirements. Appropriates funds.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat