Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.

Requires the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the counties of the State, to establish a 1-year unregistered motor vehicle amnesty pilot program to encourage motor vehicle registration and mandate the surrender or impoundment of unregistered motor vehicles after the expiration of the program. Appropriates moneys.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO TEACHER LOANS.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a teacher loan forgiveness program to assist in the payment of loans for teachers who commit to teaching in the Hawaii public school system. Appropriates funds.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Beginning 1/1/2026, requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, health maintenance organizations, and health plans under the State's Medicaid managed care program to provide coverage for biomarker testing.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Prohibits the sale of flavored nicotine products and the mislabeling of e-liquids as nicotine free. Establishes penalties for violations. Authorizes the Department of Health to appoint, commission, or contract for services of inspectors. Establishes two full-time equivalent program specialist positions and one full-time equivalent hearing officer position. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2026.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMERCE.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires Medicaid and private insurance coverage for intravenous ketamine therapy to treat depression. Appropriates moneys.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO COVERED OFFENDER REGISTRATION.

Amends covered offender registration laws to include offenders who, while acting in a professional capacity, commit the offense of sexual assault in the fourth degree against a minor who is at least sixteen years old. Provides that the exception to public access requirements does not apply when the covered offense was committed against a minor.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY-EFFICIENCY PORTFOLIO STANDARDS.

Extends the State's energy-efficiency portfolio standards from 2030 to 2045. Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to establish interim goals and clarifies procedures.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT REFORM.

Requires a law enforcement officer who observes criminal misconduct by another law enforcement officer to report the criminal misconduct. Requires passage of a psychological screening test battery to qualify for appointment as a law enforcement officer. Subjects a law enforcement officer to denial, suspension, or revocation of a law enforcement officer's certification for failure to report observed criminal misconduct or committing an act of criminal misconduct. Prohibits the use of a chokehold by a law enforcement officer unless the use of deadly force is justifiable. Defines "chokehold".

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Allows certain undocumented students to be considered residents of the State for the purposes of tuition, financial assistance, and University of Hawaii program participation under certain conditions.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO ENTERPRISE ZONES.

Amends the definition of "eligible business activity" for enterprise zone program purposes to include retail sales of tangible personal property manufactured and sold in the enterprise zone that is to be used or consumed by the purchaser and not for resale, the processing of value-added agricultural products grown within an enterprise zone, and the provision of professional services by health care professionals in health care related sectors.

AQUINO

RELATING TO EARLY CHILD INTERVENTION.

Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to reclassify certain early intervention specialist positions within the Early Childhood Services Unit in the Department of Health. Appropriates funds for the reclassification of certain positions and establishment of new positions within the early childhood services unit.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS.

Appropriates funds for the Family Health Services Division of the Department of Health to establish and oversee peer-to-peer support programs for children from birth to age five and their families, including the establishment of two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) program specialist positions.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO PUPIL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY.

Authorizes the use of motorcoaches, small buses, and vans for student transportation services if certain conditions are met.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO AMBULANCES.

Requires the Department of Health to require each ground ambulance to be equipped with front- and rear-facing cameras. Appropriates funds.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO IMMIGRATION.

Establishes a standard for covered educational entities and certain health facilities when interacting with federal immigration authorities regarding civil immigration violations.

AQUINO

RELATING TO CARE HOMES.

Prohibits the licensing of an adult residential care home, expanded adult residential care home, or developmental disabilities domiciliary home that is financed, managed, operated, supervised, directed, or owned in whole or in part by a person convicted of a gambling offense.

AQUINO

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Replaces the five per cent bid preference for bidders for a public works contract with an estimated value of $250,000 or more, who is a party to an apprenticeship agreement registered with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations with a five per cent earned credit that can be applied to certain future public works contract bids for a duration of three years after the chief procurement officer issues the earned credit certificate. Authorizes purchasing agencies to audit and have full access to the books and records of contractors or subcontractors relating to the contractor's compliance with requirements of the earned credit bid preference. Requires contractors and subcontractors to maintain relevant records for three years. Requires the contractor to submit reports as required by the Chief Procurement Officer.

AQUINO

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a refundable Family Caregiver Tax Credit for nonpaid family caregivers. Requires the Department of Taxation to report to the Legislature before the convening of each Regular Session.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

Requires the Department of Health to establish and implement a program to improve and increase support for emergency medical services in the State. Requires the Department of Health to submit reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON AGING.

Establishes a temporary Medi-Medi Project within the Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program administered by the Executive Office on Aging to assist older adults, Medicare beneficiaries, individuals with disabilities, and other underserved populations who may qualify for various low-income subsidy programs to gain access to their benefits. Requires the Executive Office on Aging to submit reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Allows newly graduated high school students to be eligible for workers' compensation coverage during the summer following their high school graduation while participating in Department of Education-sponsored work-based learning programs.

AQUINO

RELATING TO FOOD SECURITY.

Establishes the Hawaii Food Security Special Fund to restore Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit levels to those provided in federal fiscal year 2023. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO TOURISM.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO CULTURE AND THE ARTS.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO HARBORS.

Short form bill.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires the Department of Health to adopt by rules, a mandate that the primary caregiver caring for two or three clients in community care foster family homes to be a certified nurse aide or licensed nurse who has completed a state-approved training program and other training as required by the Department and holds a current certified nurse aid certificate or nursing license.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO DOULAS.

Requires any person providing doula services for compensation or representing or advertising themselves as a certified doula to register with the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Establishes certain rights for certified doulas, including being present during delivery and in any recovery rooms, if requested by the client. Requires the Director to maintain a link to the registry on the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' website. Effective 1/1/2026.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO BIRTH CERTIFICATES.

Expands the types of health care providers who can submit an affidavit for a new certificate of birth for certain birth registrants.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO RAW MILK.

Authorizes and decriminalizes the sale of raw milk, raw milk products, and raw milk dairy products directly from producers to consumers for human consumption, subject to certain restrictions. Authorizes the direct sale of raw goat milk for pet consumption. Establishes labeling requirements. Requires the Board of Agriculture and Department of Health to adopt rules no later than 7/1/2026.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO TOWING.

In addition to the current requirement that towing companies allow individuals to pay by cash, credit card, or debit card, requires towing companies to have an on-site automatic teller machine. Specifies that a towing company cannot charge for tows if noncompliant.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to establish the Interstate Collaboration on Homelessness to discourage sending unsupported homeless individuals to other states and territories. Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to enter into formal agreements with other states to reimburse costs associated with relocated homeless individuals. Appropriates funds.

Brenton AwaRepublican

RELATING TO SEX-BASED DISCRIMINATION.

Clarifies and strengthens the State's protections against sex-based harassment, sex discrimination, and retaliation that occur in public schools, public charter schools, or at the University of Hawaii, including discrimination based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, and pregnancy-related conditions. Establishes procedures for investigations and decision-making. Requires mandatory reporting by certain employees.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS.

After 1/1/2026, prohibits businesses where food or beverages are packaged and sold on the business' premises for individual consumption from using, selling, or distributing certain disposable or single-use food ware and beverage service items, including items containing PFAS.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO WILDLIFE.

Bans the keeping or breeding of cetaceans in captivity except in certain circumstances.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO PROPERTY FORFEITURE.

Prohibits civil asset forfeiture unless the covered offense is a felony for which the property owner has been convicted. Excludes the forfeiture proceedings for an animal pending criminal charges. Requires the Attorney General to deposit the net proceeds of the forfeited property to the credit of the state general fund.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO CORRECTIONS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for purchasing body cameras for adult correctional officers to wear while on duty at state correctional facilities.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires the Department of Health to develop a service availability form to be completed by covered entities to convey to patients and the public certain health care services unavailable at the entity before 12/1/2026, and to publish and maintain on its website a list of covered entities and the service availability form submitted by each covered entity before 02/1/2027. Requires the Department of Health to adopt rules, including a process for receiving and investigating complaints and assessing fines against covered entities in violation. Requires each covered entity to submit a completed service availability form to the Department of Health, adopt certain relevant policies by 2/1/2027, provide patients with their current service availability form as part of the informed consent process before initiating a health care service, and maintain a record of the patient's receipt of the form beginning 2/1/2027. Establishes penalties.

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO BROADBAND SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE.

Transfers the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to the Department of Accounting and General Services. Transfers the broadband duties of the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office. Creates a Hawaii Broadband Infrastructure Special Fund. Disbands the Hawaii Broadband Assistance Advisory Council. Requires the Information Technology Steering Committee to oversee and manage public advanced communications technology infrastructure. Appropriates moneys.

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

By 1/1/2027, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a family and medical leave insurance program and begin collecting payroll contributions to finance payment of benefits. By 1/1/2028, requires the Department to start receiving claims and paying benefits under the program. Specifies eligibility requirements and employee protections under the program.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat