Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Categorizes electric bicycles into three classes based on speed and operation. Requires electric bicycle manufacturers and distributors to apply a label to each electric bicycle. Authorizes county police to confiscate bicycles for certain offenses. Increases penalty fee paid upon redemption. Imposes a requirement that counties inform individuals of the applicable traffic code, safety information, and penalties for violations at the time of registering a bicycle.

David Alcos IIIRepublican

RELATING TO PUBLIC LAND TRUST REVENUES.

Requires that all moneys in the pro rata portion of the Public Land Trust be transferred to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOMELANDS LEASES.

Requires leases used in the conveyance of available lands as defined by section 203 of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, as amended, to conform to the requirements for securitization by federally insured lending programs.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Amends the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended, to authorize the transfer of a living beneficiary's place on the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands' waitlist for any residential, agricultural, or pastoral tract to a qualified application successor who is at least one-fourth Hawaiian, if the beneficiary dies. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Christopher L. MuraokaRepublican

RELATING TO OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE ANALYST.

Requires the office of legislative analyst to produce fiscal notes on all fiscal bills. Prohibits a committee from making a decision on a fiscal bill without a fiscal note. Mandates that fiscal notes be made available to the public. Appropriates funds.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO ELECTIONS.

Requires that each county council district feature at least one voter service center for elections. Provides further, that each county council district must have one voter service center open on election day.

Elijah PierickRepublican

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

Proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the terms of members of the legislature to a maximum of twelve years in the house of representatives or senate, or both, for terms beginning on or after the general election of 2026.

WARD

RELATING TO THE HAWAII INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL.

Appropriates funds for the Native Resources and Fire Protection Program and Hawaii Invasive Species Council to ensure their long-term viability and continue to control and eradicate invasive species in the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO DOMESTIC ABUSE PROTECTIVE ORDERS.

Makes a second or subsequent conviction for violation of a domestic abuse protective order a class C felony. Increases the sentencing requirements for second or subsequent convictions.

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTHCARE PRECEPTORS.

Expands the definitions of "preceptor" and "volunteer-based supervised clinical training rotation" to improve accessibility for providers to receive income tax credits for acting as preceptors, including removing "primary care" from the criteria to qualify as a preceptor. Adds dietitians, physician assistants, and social workers to the list of preceptors and eligible students. Expands eligibility for the tax credit to include accredited residency programs that require preceptor support. Adds the Director of Health and representatives of residency programs with eligible students to the Preceptor Credit Assurance Committee. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD2)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.

Requires that the Hawaiian version of a law be held binding if the law in question was originally drafted in Hawaiian and then translated into English and the law has not been later amended, codified, recodified, or reenacted in English. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND RESTORATION.

Creates the Aloha Aina Land Trust to rehabilitate and manage lands transferred by the United States military to the State after the leases for those lands expires. Appropriates funds.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES.

Adds a minimum penalty and maximum penalty per violation of the State Water Code and authorizes the Commission on Water Resource Management to consider each day that a violation exists or continues to exist a separate offense. Establishes factors the CWRM must consider when determining the amount of the penalty. Increases maximum fines every five years from 2030 to 2045. Effective 7/1/2040. (SD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO SPECIAL NUMBER PLATES.

Authorizes the issuance of special number plates to recognize the island of Kahoolawe. Specifies the decal size for all special number organizational plates. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS.

Increases the matching fund payments to candidates in the partial public financing program for excess qualifying contributions.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO FISHPONDS.

Establishes a fishpond inventory working group within the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program to create an inventory and map of all fishponds on state land and conduct a literature review. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO OPIOID ANTAGONISTS.

Requires all public schools, including public charter schools, to maintain a stock supply of opioid antagonists. Requires the Department of Education and State Public Charter School Commission to offer training to school employees on the administration of opioid antagonists.

Sam Satoru KongDemocrat

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTION.

Establishes general excise tax exemptions for various medical services, including dental services.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

Requires the department of human services to provide written notice to a parent of the parent's rights when conducting an investigation regarding a child who is or may be subject to imminent harm.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Allows designation of eligible homestead lots as enterprise zones for a period of twenty years. Provides state and local incentives to qualified businesses on homestead lots.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO ADAPTATION PATHWAYS PLANNING.

Requires the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission to develop adaptation pathways plans to modify and relocate development and associated infrastructure away from critically vulnerable areas to locations outside of sea level rise and coastal flooding exposure area. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES.

Adds a minimum penalty of $50 per violation of the State Water Code and makes each day that a violation exists or continues a separate offense. Requires the Commission on Water Resource Management to determine the amount of the penalty based on the circumstances of the violation.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE PARKS SPECIAL FUND.

Allows the Department of Land and Natural Resources to expend the moneys from the State Parks Special Fund for programs aimed at environmental protection.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSERVATION BANKING.

Authorizes the Department of Land and Natural Resources to operate and approve conservation banks.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.

Exempts from the crime of cruelty to animals in the second degree the extermination of insects, vermin, and pests, and the extermination of feral chickens on private property by the property owner, under certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Prohibits any person from charging any fees on a transient accommodation or resort time share vacation interest, plan, or unit that were not disclosed before the time of purchase. Requires a person to clearly and conspicuously display a rate or price that includes all fees to be charged at the time of purchase in each advertisement for a transient accommodation or resort time share vacation interest, plan, or unit. Requires any taxes and fees that are displayed as a percentage of the cost on a booking transaction also be displayed as a dollar amount at the time of purchase.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

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