Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Establishes the Hawaii Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council. Requires an action plan and reports to the Governor and Legislature by certain dates. Establishes positions. Authorizes the hiring of consultants to assist the advisory council. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO A FAMILY RESILIENCE PILOT PROGRAM.

Establishes and appropriates funds for a five-year family resilience pilot program within the Office of Wellness and Resilience. Requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience to establish data and referral system tracking needs and protocols and an implementation and evaluation plan by 12/31/2025. Sunsets the pilot program 6/30/2030. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE FLAG.

Establishes the Hawaii State Flag Redesign Commission to lead the process of designing a new state flag that represents the people, culture, and history of Hawaii.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

Appropriates funds for the Department of Human Services to contract with a non-profit specializing in domestic violence to provide training and staff to be housed on-site in Child Welfare Services Branch offices to support all aspects of screening for and addressing domestic violence within a case. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO ARBORISTS.

Requires the State to ensure and enforce that all certified arborists in its employ, including contractors, adhere to best management practices.

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

Requires the Director of Corrections and Rehabilitation to reduce the number of individuals incarcerated in private, out-of-state correctional institutions. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective July 1, 3000. (HD2)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO INTOXICATING LIQUOR.

Allows direct shipment of beer and distilled spirits by certain licensees. Requires the Liquor Commission of each county to adopt rules and regulations.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION OF POLLUTION.

Amends the environmental response, energy, and food security tax to address carbon emissions. Incrementally increases the tax rate over time. Establishes a refundable tax credit to mitigate the effect of a carbon emissions tax on taxpayers. Reenacts the agricultural development and food security special fund. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO ALCOHOL.

Establishes a definition of "low alcohol by volume spirits beverage". Beginning 7/1/2025, establishes a tax on low alcohol by volume spirits beverages at a rate of $1.10 per wine gallon. Takes effect 6/30/2025.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR LICENSES.

Increases the limits on volumes of liquor and other alcoholic beverages that may be manufactured by class 18 small craft producer pub license holders. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

Amends the composition of the Hawaii employer-union health benefits trust fund board of trustees. Clarifies vacancy procedures. Amends quorum requirements and voting powers.

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER RESOURCES.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds to the Honolulu Board of Water Supply for the planning, design, and construction of up to six monitoring wells. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO A CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND RESILIENCE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to develop and publish a Hawaii climate adaptation and resilience implementation plan and updates to the plan every five years thereafter. Appropriates funds.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR.

Authorizes persons to apply for a permit to act as solicitors or representatives of licensed wineries, brewpubs, and small craft producer pubs in any county of the State.

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR LICENSES.

Authorizes liquor sold through a class 10 license to be consumed on or off the premises.

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Requires individual managing agents and employees of entity managing agents to be licensed and imposes certain duties on these individuals.

Kim Coco IwamotoDemocrat

RELATING TO A RATE STUDY FOR HOME HEALTH SERVICES.

Appropriates funding for the Department of Human Services to conduct a rate study for Medicaid home health services in Hawaii.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CORRECTIONS.

Restricts the use of solitary confinement in state-operated and state-contracted correctional facilities, with certain specified exceptions. Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to develop written policies and procedures regarding solitary confinement by 7/1/2026. Requires the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission to review certain housing placements. Requires the Department to develop policies and procedures to review committed persons placed in solitary confinement and develop a plan for committed persons currently in solitary confinement by 4/1/2026. Requires a report to the Legislature and Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission. Effective 7/1/2026.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII STATE BUILDING CODES.

Requires the counties to adopt the Hawaii state building codes no later than one year after its adoption. Authorizes a county with a population in excess of 500,000 to amend its building energy conservation code to require more stringent energy-saving performance.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO THE TRANSITION OF THE OAHU REGIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FROM THE HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

Repeals the requirement to transfer the Oahu Regional Health Care System from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to the Department of Health. Repeals certain changes to the Hawaii Revised Statutes that were made by Act 212, SLH 2021. Requires the Oahu Regional Health Care System to enter into an agreement with the Department of Health regarding Oahu Regional Health Care System taking care of low acuity patients in the Department's custody by December 31, 2025.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

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

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

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE IMMERSION EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to implement a plan for a Hawaiian language immersion school in Kapolei that shall be ready to educate students in grades kindergarten through 12 by the 2028-2029 school year. Appropriates moneys.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL.

Authorizes the Hawaiian Homes Commission to retain independent legal counsel, with any legal fees owed to be paid by the State, and also use the services of the Attorney General as needed. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO PORNOGRAPHIC WEBSITES.

Requires any commercial entity that knowingly publishes pornographic material on an internet website that is accessible to persons in the State to use an age verification system to ensure that the pornographic material is not accessed by a minor.

Elijah PierickRepublican

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to provide and disseminate its procedures for dealing with bullying. Requires principals, teachers, and staff to disseminate the Department's bullying procedures to students. Defines bullying procedures.

Shirley Ann TemploDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATIONS.

Requires that the fees for attorneys retained by a condominium association be paid from an association's funds or reserves, except for collection of delinquent common dues payments from owners. Limits the total and final legal fees to twenty-five per cent of the original debt amount. Requires attorneys retained by a condominium association to confine their communications to the condominium board, except when the attorneys must request and require materials and responses directly from owners for each matter. Prohibits attorneys retained by a condominium association from billing unit owners directly. Specifies the contents of an attorney's billing statement. Requires that a notice of default and intention to foreclose served on a unit owner affords the unit owner the opportunity to respond within thirty days after service of the notice.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Establishes the Hawaii Economic Diversification Grant Program under the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to provide grants to qualified high technology businesses engaging in qualified research activities. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.

Clarifies and updates the responsibilities of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division of the Department of Health to reflect the current mental health systems of care that address the mental health needs of children and adolescents in the State.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO INSTALLMENT LOANS.

Replaces the term "consumer loan" with the defined term "installment loan" for consistency throughout the installment loan chapter. Clarifies who is subject to the installment loan chapter. Requires loan maintenance fees to be prorated daily. Allows lenders to charge a convenience fee of up to $5 for debit card payments. Requires paper receipts only for in-person or cash payments and removes consumer names from receipts. Repeals the requirement for lenders to wait three days after a consumer fully repays a loan before issuing a new installment loan. Sunsets 6/30/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO INTEREST ON INSURANCE PROCEEDS RELATED TO A MORTGAGE LOAN.

Requires Hawaii financial institutions, during a declared state of emergency, and mortgage servicers to determine whether insurance proceeds are to be applied to a mortgage or be placed into an interest-bearing escrow account. Prohibits charging a fee for the maintenance or disbursement of the interest earned from the interest-bearing escrow account. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE INTERSTATE MEDICAL LICENSURE COMPACT.

Authorizes the Hawaii Medical Board as the State of Principal License to investigate and request criminal history records of qualified physicians seeking licensing through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. Appropriates funds. Effective 07/01/2025.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS.

Modifies and improves the effectiveness of the renewable portfolio standards law, which stipulates the central role of Hawaii's electric utility companies in complying with the State's renewable energy and climate goals to address emerging trends.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND BASE COMPOSITE MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION.

Effective 1/1/2026, increases the employer base composite monthly contribution to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund by 5.2 percent of the 2025 employer base composite monthly contribution. Effective 1/1/2027, requires the calculation of employer base composite monthly contribution based on the change in Medicare Part B premiums from 2025 to 2026 and at two-year increments thereafter. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FUNDING ADJUSTMENTS FOR STATE PROGRAMS.

Makes emergency appropriations and commensurate reductions to pay for anticipated operating shortfalls in the fourth quarter due to the limited ability to transfer funds between programs.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY REVIEW BOARD.

Amends the quorum requirements to do business and validate acts of the Small Business Regulatory Review Board.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ZERO EMISSIONS CLEAN ECONOMY TARGET.

Provides needed clarifications on the applicability and scope of section 225P-5, HRS. Clarifies current emissions reduction goals and defines critical terms used in climate mitigation. Establishes a total or gross emissions target as well as sector-specific targets to reinforce action in the relevant emitting sectors further strengthening the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health for health care services contracted with community-based organizations.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Establishes that any grants received from the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) by an eligible business pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 shall not be subject to state general excise tax. Requires any state general excise tax paid by eligible businesses for RRF grants to be refunded to the tax payer. Applicable to taxable years beginning after 3/11/2021.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE INDUSTRY LICENSING ACT.

Authorizes manufacturers and distributors to sell directly to consumers items activated or installed through remote electronic transmission. Clarifies the applicability of the Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Act to common entities. Amends the grounds for denying, suspending, revoking, or otherwise taking adverse action on a licensee. Prohibits a manufacturer or distributor from requiring a dealer to purchase or lease any electric vehicle charging station at the dealer's expenses unless provided notice of intent to sell the manufacturer's or distributor's electric vehicles. Clarifies the conditions for the transfer of a franchise. Clarifies the requirements for reimbursing a dealer for parts and labor.

Chris ToddDemocrat

RELATING TO FINANCIAL LITERACY.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a statewide financial literacy curricula plan for public high schools. Requires all public high schools to offer instruction in financial literacy as a requirement for graduation. Requires the Department of Education to provide professional development to teachers on financial literacy. Requires the Board of Education to adopt administrative rules to implement the financial literacy education curriculum.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX REDUCTIONS.

Reduces the general excise tax rate on the gross proceeds or gross income from the sale of groceries that are eligible under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), regardless of the means of purchase and the program eligibility of the purchaser. Reduces the general excise tax rate on the gross proceeds or income from the sale of nonprescription drugs. Requires DBEDT to conduct an economic cost-benefit analysis on the general excise tax reductions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ARTS.

Short form bill relating to the arts.

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO DIGITAL EQUITY.

Establishes and appropriates funds for a digital navigator pilot program to offer technical assistance with computers and electronic devices to residents.

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO BUILDING CODES.

Beginning on the date the International Code Council 2024 suite of published codes is adopted as the Hawaii state building code, makes the most recent Hawaii state building codes adopted by the state building code council supersede all existing county building codes and thereafter allows counties to amend the Hawaii state building code as it applies within their jurisdiction. Repeals the counties' authority to adopt, amend, and update the Hawaii state building codes for their respective county building codes. Effective 1/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ARTS.

Establishes a Performing Arts Special Fund to be used for the coordination, planning, promotion, marketing, and execution of performing arts events and to be funded by a percentage of all ticket sales from concerts held at state venues. Establishes exemptions. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO FUNDING ADJUSTMENTS FOR STATE PROGRAMS.

Makes emergency appropriations and commensurate reductions to pay for anticipated operating shortfalls due to the limited ability to transfer funds between programs.

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY.

Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to develop a model that assesses the fiscal impacts of land use development projects and regional infrastructure investments. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat