Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE.

Establishes the Sustainable Tourism Infrastructure Matching Grant Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to support one-time capital investments that advance measurable sustainability and climate resilience outcomes within the State's visitor industry. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

Provides an emergency appropriation to the Department of Human Services to replace general fund appropriations redirected to provide emergency food assistance during the 2025 federal government shutdown.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Short form bill relating to health care.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PREVENTIVE MEDICINE.

Specifies that no person is subject to liability for providing clinical preventive services in accordance with Department of Health recommendations. Requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, health maintenance organizations, and plans issued by the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to provide coverage for clinical preventive services. Authorizes the Department of Health to make recommendations relating to clinical preventive services and issue standing orders for medications and immunizations. Clarifies that, for child health supervision services coverage, the prevailing medical standards include recommendations by the Department of Health. Prohibits denial of coverage and prior authorization for clinical preventive services based on medical necessity. Specifies that a registered pharmacist may order a vaccine in accordance with the recommendations from the Department of Health. Exempts this measure from an Auditor impact assessment report. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SYSTEMS OF CARE.

Modernizes the State's emergency medical services statutes to align with current best practices. (SD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

Authorizes the Department of Health to establish a vacation payout pilot project in which eligible Department of Health employees may defer unused vacation leave credits in favor of a pay out to provide home purchase down payment assistance. Report required. Sunsets June 30, 2029.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE HEALTH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY.

Amends the functions and responsibilities of the State Health Planning and Development Agency. Adds a new definition of "health care" for chapter 323D, HRS. Amends the exemption threshold for bed changes to up to thirty per cent of existing licensed bed types. Exempts the Department of Health from certificate of need requirements. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT.

Updates chapter 329, HRS, to make it consistent with amendments in the Federal Controlled Substances Act as required under section 329-11, HRS.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO DANGEROUS INTOXICATION.

Establishes the offenses of dangerous intoxication and habitual dangerous intoxication. Provides for civil protective custody and transport for emergency examination in lieu of arrest for dangerous intoxication in specified circumstances, and bars prosecution when civil protective custody is used. Requires probation with mandatory treatment for habitual dangerous intoxication, with incarceration only upon probation violation. Makes conforming amendments to chapter 334, HRS, relating to admission to psychiatric facilities and assisted community treatment. Delays implementation by one year. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW.

Repeals the requirement that health care providers' forms be filed with the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) in triplicate. Clarifies the way a physician transmits a treatment plan to an employer. Repeals a reference to the employer's receipt of a vocational rehabilitation plan by mail. Repeals the option of employers to submit reports to the DLIR via United States mail. Repeals the option of health care providers to provide reports to the DLIR or employer via mail.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CIVIL SERVICE EXEMPT POSITIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Exempts certain positions within the State Historic Preservation Division and Commission on Water Resource Management within the Department of Land and Natural Resources from the state civil service law.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to adopt, amend, or repeal administrative fee schedules for use of certain lands pursuant to a specified procedure and to exempt parking lot and concessions operations on those lands from the bidding requirements for concessions operated on public property. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSERVATION BANKS.

Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to approve the operation of conservation banks and amends the Endangered Species Recovery Committee's membership and scope of authority. Effective upon approval.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE USE OF PUBLIC LANDS.

Defines public uses of public lands as uses by an agency either directly or through disposition, that support the agency's functions including but not limited to the uses described in section 171-10, HRS.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO CONFORMITY TO THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.

Conforms Hawaii income and estate and generation-skipping transfer tax laws to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended as of December 31, 2025.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HOSTING PLATFORMS.

Requires hosting platforms that earn service fees for providing booking services for transient accommodations to register with the Department of Taxation as tax collection agents and report, collect, and remit general excise and transient accommodations taxes on behalf of operators.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Short form bill relating to taxation.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL PORT ADMINISTRATION.

Renames the Harbors Division of the Department of Transportation to the Commercial Ports Division and distinguishes between the terms "harbor" and "commercial port" throughout the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to designate airport special district zones within airports statewide. Adds a new HRS section to help prevent unauthorized access and enhance security. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes priority consideration for full-time employment in state departments or agencies for certain participants in state-funded internship and workforce development programs by granting them eligibility for internal recruitment.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROMISE PROGRAM.

Amends the Hawaii Community College Promise Program (Hawaii promise) to exclude grants, scholarships, and other funding sources from the calculation of Hawaii promise awards, allowing students to apply such funds toward indirect costs, including housing, food, and other living expenses, to reduce financial barriers and support student success. Addresses the change in federal law regarding Pell Grants. Changes Hawaii promise from being a last-dollar award.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII REVENUE BONDS.

Authorizes the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii to issue revenue bonds for the purpose of financing qualifying priority capital improvement projects.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Makes an emergency appropriation for fiscal year 2025–2026 to the University of Hawaii to expand and sustain the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study and Maui Health Registry.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Short form bill relating to the University of Hawaii.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO STRATEGIC FOOD RESERVES.

Establishes the Hawaii Strategic Food Reserves Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Establishes purchasing requirements for crops stored at a strategic food reserve. Establishes the Strategic Food Reserves Advisory Committee. Establishes the Agricultural Market Development Grant Program. Establishes the Hawaii Strategic Food Reserves Program Special Fund. Requires DAB and the Strategic Food Reserves Advisory Committee to submit annual reports to the Legislature, respectively. Establishes a timeline for DAB's implementation of the Hawaii Strategic Food Reserves Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to conduct a proceeding to study and implement the Smart Imports Program. Establishes the Smart Imports Program and requires electric utilities to offer excess electricity to consumers during daylight hours at cost for any legal purpose beginning January 1, 2028. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to adopt rules and establish penalties.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.

Eliminates joint and several liability for child welfare service organizations by limiting liability to each organization's percentage share of damages. (SD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes the Hawaii Micro-Lending Credit Enhancement Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to expand micro-lending capacity by providing state‑funded loan loss reserves or other credit enhancement that absorbs first losses on qualified micro-loans made by participating lenders to Hawaii small businesses. Allows borrower fees and state matching contributions to capitalize lender-held loan loss reserve accounts. Establishes the Hawaii Micro-Lending Credit Enhancement Special Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Appropriates funds to establish one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent Advanced Manufacturing and Cybersecurity Specialist position and one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent Marketing and Branding Specialist position within the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Requires the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to procure a third-party consultant to develop a statewide blue economy and ocean technology and innovation strategy. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation Revolving Fund to provide state matching funds for federal grants awarded to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation that support innovation, technology, research, and manufacturing initiatives. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO COASTAL RESILIENCE.

Establishes a five-year Coastal Resilience Pilot Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for the preservation of Mantokuji Bay. Allows the pilot program to be exempt from certain regulatory requirements. Requires the State Historic Preservation Division to conduct a streamlined historic preservation review. Establishes certain procedures for the discovery of Native Hawaiian skeletal remains. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/3005. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes the Hawaii Employer-led Sector Partnerships Special Fund to be administered and expended by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to support employer‑led, demand-driven sector partnerships in the State. Appropriates funds.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Clarifies that any provisions in an association's bylaws relating to cumulative voting shall apply to the removal and replacement of a board member at any regular or special meeting.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Requires the Department of Taxation to accept, evaluate and make determinations on offers in compromise under certain conditions, including for offers requiring the Governor's approval. Amends the income tax and general excise tax statute of limitation periods for collection or commencement of proceedings to six years, except in cases of false or fraudulent returns, or intent to evade tax. Effective 1/1/2027.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO CULTURAL EDUCATION.

Establishes a Cultural Training Pilot Program within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to be administered by the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation for all commercial use permit holders operating in Lahaina Harbor. Requires DOBOR to partner with an organization identified by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in Native Hawaiian culture and place-based history to teach a cultural training course to educate commercial use permit holders and applicants for commercial use permits on the cultural and historic significance of the area. Requires existing commercial use permit holders and applicants to undergo cultural training. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER.

Subjects a person who controls, operates, or manages plants or facilities for conveying, distributing, and transmitting water for irrigation and other purposes for public use to regulation by the Public Utilities Commission.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE MARKET OVERSIGHT.

Establishes a state oversight framework for material health care mergers, acquisitions, and other consolidation transactions. Requires advance notice and public interest review by the State Health Planning and Development Agency. Requires legislative approval, by concurrent resolution, of certain vertically integrated health care transactions that meet specified market share and pricing impact thresholds.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to rehabilitate, remodel, renovate, and repair housing units, including exterior repairs. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO CORPORATE BONDS.

Authorizes the Director of Finance to invest certain state moneys in short-term investment grade corporate bonds.

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION EVALUATIONS.

Establishes the Board of Education Internal Audit Office to conduct program and fiscal evaluations of the Department of Education's key strategic initiatives to identify program improvements and provide other benefits. Requires the Board of Education to establish a standing committee with a scope that includes audit-related responsibilities. Appropriates moneys.

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Makes the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund Equity Pilot Program permanent, with modifications. Repeals the sunset date for Act 92, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RENTAL HOUSING REVOLVING FUND.

Clarifies the Rental Housing Revolving Fund statute by defining "mixed-income rental projects" to establish consistent eligibility and use of appropriations for mixed-income rental housing projects. Clarifies that mixed-income rental projects are primarily for households at or below one-hundred-forty per cent of the area median income, allowing participation by higher-income households. Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to transfer funds between the Rental Housing Revolving Fund into the mixed-income subaccount to support eligible mixed-income projects, without legislative approval. Repeals the sunset date in Act 159, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, thereby making these provisions permanent. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO A PROGRAM TO CHARACTERIZE THE POTENTIAL OF UNDERGROUND ENERGY RESOURCES STATEWIDE.

Establishes the Underground Energy Resource Characterization Program to identify the location and characteristics of accessible geothermal heat and carbon sequestration resources through the use of slim-hole bores and requires a related environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Expands the allowable uses of Hawaii Technology Development Corporation grant funds to include providing grants to any business that applies for a federal research and development grant or receives a federal research and development award or contract that requires non-federal funding match, with certain exceptions. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII FILM STUDIO.

Provides an exemption to dispositions of lands set aside for filming and film studio operation from prior approval of the Board of Land and Natural Resources. Repeals 6/30/2030 if Hawaii Film Studio has not changed locations as of that date. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII FILM AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL FUND.

Expands the funding sources of the Hawaii Film and Creative Industries Development Special Fund to include reveneues received by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism from managing the Hawaii Film Studio.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat