Bills & Legislation

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 (Oahu Region) from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to the Department of Health. Repeals certain changes to the HRS that were made by Act 212, SLH 2021. Requires the Oahu Region and the Department of Health to enter into a formal memorandum of agreement regarding the care of certain psychiatrically stable patients transferred or discharged from the Hawaii State Hospital to an appropriate Oahu Region facility, subject to certain conditions. Requires the Oahu Region to submit a report to the Legislature. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE.

Expands the powers of the Hawaii Property Insurance Association and reactivates the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund to help stabilize the property insurance market in the State. Establishes the Condominium Loan Program and the Condominium Loan Revolving Fund, to be administered by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority on behalf of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, for the purpose of providing financing for essential repairs and deferred maintenance to condominium associations. Abolishes the Condominium Loan Revolving Fund on 6/30/2047. Establishes the Condominium Loan Loss Reserves Program to incentivize lenders to provide loans at competitive rates and terms to allow condominium associations to make necessary maintenance and repairs. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to conduct a study to develop long-term solutions to help stabilize the property insurance market in the State. Requires reports to the Legislature. Authorizes the issuance of reimbursable general obligation bonds to facilitate the initial issuance of policies to condominium associations. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.

Clarifies that nonresidents who claim the refundable earned income tax credit are required to adjust the amount claimed using the ratio of their Hawaii adjusted gross income to federal adjusted gross income. Eliminates the unlimited carryforward on nonrefundable earned income tax credits for tax year 2022.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO UNIVERSAL IMMUNIZATION FUNDING PROGRAM.

Establishes the Universal Immunization Funding Program as a universal funding model for immunization purchases by the Department of Health, to increase statewide access to immunizations for all persons under age sixty-five. Establishes the Universal Immunization Purchase Special Fund, into which fees collected from assessed entities and other sources of funding will be deposited, for purposes of bulk purchasing immunizations and administering the program. Appropriates funds. (CD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Beginning 7/1/2025, requires the Governor to request in the executive budget or supplemental budget that an amount of general funds that approximates the additional Transient Accommodations Tax revenue generated by this Act be expended to advance certain climate change mitigation and tourism projects. Increases the Transient Accommodations Tax rate beginning on 1/1/2026. Assesses the Transient Accommodations Tax on gross rental proceeds derived from cruise fares. Amends the amount of Transient Accommodation Tax that shall be deposited into the Mass Transit Special Fund. Amends the allowable uses of the Special Land and Development Fund and the portion of Transient Accommodations Tax collections that are allocated to the Special Land and Development Fund. Effective 1/1/2026. (CD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Amends chapter 88, HRS, to conform to updated required beginning dates and automatic cashout requirements in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO INSTALLMENT LOANS.

Clarifies chapter 480J, HRS, regulating installment lenders. Replaces the term "consumer loan" with the defined term "installment loan" for consistency throughout the installment loan chapter. Requires loan maintenance fees to be prorated daily. Allows lenders to charge a convenience fee. 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 6/30/2030. (CD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

Amends the procedures and required information for the Department of Land and Natural Resources historic preservation review of proposed state projects, privately owned historic property, and other proposed projects that require entitlement for use. Establishes procedures for the review of transit-oriented development identified by the counties and Hawaii Community Development Authority, or Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. (CD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX APPEALS.

Clarifies that a notice of appeal relating to an appeal of a county tax is not required to be served on the Director of Taxation. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PHARMACISTS.

Beginning 7/1/2026, mandates reimbursement for services provided by participating registered pharmacists practicing within their scope of practice by private and public health plans in the State and requires the health plans to recognize pharmacists licensed in the State as participating providers. (CD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO RECYCLING.

Expands the types of electronic devices subject to the Electronic Device Recycling and Recovery Act to include electronic device peripherals and certain legacy devices. Excludes manufacturers of only electronic device peripherals and no other electronic devices. Allows, rather than requires, the Department of Health to determine additional penalties. Requires manufacturers' recycling plans to describe communication efforts with the State and counties to facilitate consumer education efforts. Repeals the requirement that recycling plans be implemented and fully operational by 1/1/2023 in order for manufacturer collaboration authority to apply. Establishes additional manufacturer recycling goals beginning on 1/1/2026 and 1/1/2027. Requires additional information to be included in manufacturers' reports containing information for calendar years 2025, 2026, and 2027. Requires collectors to report certain information regarding recyclers and refurbishers and allows the Department of Health to require submission of bills of lading and recycler receiving reports. Requires a report to the Legislature. (CD1)

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM'S EMPLOYER REPORTING REVIEW.

Adds a year between the review period and the billing due date and changes reporting of review results from the current fiscal year to the previous fiscal year. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Conditions the issuance of a certificate of inspection upon a vehicle or moped not being equipped with a noisy muffler or exhaust system. Requires rules regarding safety check inspections to ensure that a vehicle or moped is not equipped with a noisy muffler or exhaust system. Suspends, revokes, or refuses renewal of a permit for an official inspection station for repeatedly violating any rule regarding inspecting a noisy muffler or exhaust system within a certain period. Clarifies the types of mufflers that are prohibited. Increases the maximum fine for motor vehicle owners that violate noisy muffler laws. Includes repairing or installing a noisy muffler or exhaust system as a prohibited practice for motor vehicle repair laws. (CD1)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING.

For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024, (1) repeals the maximum tax rate that may be considered in determining the amount of income tax that must be withheld and the requirement that a standard deduction allowance be treated as if it was denominated as a withholding exemption, and (2) for the purpose of income tax withholding, permits the Director of Taxation to prescribe a standard deduction allowance in an amount more or less than one whole exemption.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO VIRAL HEPATITIS.

Authorizes the Department of Health to establish a Hepatitis Prevention Program. Requires the Department of Health to develop and implement a statewide educational program to inform the public on how to identify and prevent hepatitis and aid in its early diagnosis. Requires the Department of Health to develop a statewide comprehensive hepatitis prevention plan. Repeals outdated provisions related to hepatitis. Appropriates funds and establishes positions for the Hepatitis Prevention Program. (CD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX COLLECTIONS.

Suspends the statute of limitations on collections of income tax, general excise tax, transient accommodations tax, use tax, fuel tax, conveyance tax, and rental motor vehicle, tour vehicle, and car-sharing vehicle surcharge tax during the period an assessment is pending on appeal before the Taxation Board of Review or Tax Appeal Court. (CD1)

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, 2024. (CD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WAGE AND HOUR LAW.

Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to issue an order of wage payment violation to employers found to be in violation of the State's Wage and Hour Law. Establishes penalties, enforcement, and appeal procedures. Amends the definition of "wage" to clarify that it means compensation for labor or services rendered by an employee, regardless of how it is calculated. (CD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO NON-GENERAL FUNDS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

Repeals the requirement that a portion of the fees collected for certified copies of birth, marriage, divorce, or death certificates issued by the Department of Health be deposited to the credit of the general fund. Repeals the Birth Defects Special Fund. Requires a portion of fees collected for issuance of marriage licenses to be deposited into the Vital Statistics Improvement Special Fund. (CD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

Authorizes the Department of Health to impose penalties and take enforcement actions for violations of the medical cannabis laws. Increases the maximum number of qualifying patients a primary caregiver is authorized to care for from one to five patients. Retroactive to 1/1/2025, repeals the prohibition against primary caregivers cultivating medical cannabis for their qualifying patients, and authorizes primary caregivers to cultivate cannabis in an amount not to exceed an adequate supply for the qualifying patient; provided that each location used to cultivate cannabis shall be used to cultivate cannabis for not more than five qualifying patients. Extends for two years the sunset date for the interim rules adopted by the Department of Health and extends for four years the sunset date for the exemption from civil service of personnel hired by, or contracts entered into by, the Department of Health related to the medical cannabis dispensary system. (CD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.

Appropriates funds for the operating and capital improvement budget of the Executive Branch for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, expands free school meal coverage to students who currently qualify for reduced-price lunch. Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, expands free school meal coverage to students whose family income is not more than three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO THE INTERSTATE MEDICAL LICENSURE COMPACT.

Authorizes the Hawaii Medical Board, as a state of principal license, to investigate and request criminal history records of qualified physicians seeking licensure or license renewal through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. (CD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.

Exempts reconstruction of any lawfully constructed structure that was damaged or destroyed in a disaster proclaimed by the Governor to constitute a state of emergency or a disaster declared pursuant to federal law from the requirements of a special management area minor permit or a special management area use permit under certain conditions. Sunsets 7/1/2028. (CD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION.

Repeals duplicative and potentially confusing penalties for water pollution offenses in section 200-14, HRS, and thereby clarifies that enforcement of criminal water pollution offenses remains under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health, rather than the Department of Land and Natural Resources. (CD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO SOLICITATION OF FUNDS FROM THE PUBLIC.

Amends Act 205, SLH 2024, to clarify standards and safeguards in online crowdfunding, including creating separate registration, reporting, and fee requirements that are specific to platform charities and charitable fundraising platforms. Extends the effective date of Act 205 to July 1, 2026. (CD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LOANS.

Updates the Agricultural Loan Program by lowering and fixing interest rates, increasing and standardizing loan limits, and reducing the number of credit denials. Includes food hubs as an eligible entity for Class E loans. Authorizes the Agricultural Loan Program to issue lines of credit. Creates a new class of loans to encourage large scale agriculture of import replacement crops or crops grown for the farm to state program. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PHARMACY.

Beginning 1/1/2026, requires pharmacy technicians to be registered with and obtain a certificate of registration issued by the Board of Pharmacy. Imposes a duty on pharmacists-in-charge to report violations by registered pharmacy technicians to the Board of Pharmacy. Specifies that supervising registered pharmacists are responsible for the actions of registered pharmacy technicians and pharmacy interns. (CD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII BROADBAND AND DIGITAL EQUITY OFFICE.

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. Renames the Hawaii Broadband and Digital Equity Office to Broadband Office. Repeals broadband duties assigned to the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Repeals the Broadband Assistance Advisory Council. Transfers the duty of collecting and posting certain broadband infrastructure notices to the Broadband Office. Establishes the Broadband Revolving Fund. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAVEL INSURANCE.

Establishes a new regulatory framework for the sale of travel insurance in the State, including licensing and registration requirements for limited lines travel insurance producers and travel retailers, respectively. (CD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE, ITS OFFICERS, OR ITS EMPLOYEES.

Makes appropriations and approves payments for claims against the State, its officers, and its employees. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.

Part I: Renames the Department of Agriculture as the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (Department) and the Board of Agriculture as the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Part II: Establishes a Deputy Chairperson for Biosecurity. Part III: Authorizes and specifies conditions under which the Department may declare a biosecurity emergency, during which the Department and Governor may take certain actions to prevent the establishment or spread of pests and prohibited or restricted organisms. Broadens the objectives and general actions of the Biosecurity Program. Part IV: Authorizes the Department to establish transitional facilities. Requires the Department to certify and train biosecurity compliance auditors to inspect imported plants and animals. Requires inspection of various items transported interisland. Increases penalties for illegally transporting plants, animals, and microorganisms. Part V: Authorizes the Department to enter into government‑industry agreements for readiness and response to unwanted organisms in the State. Authorizes biosecurity and pest management plans to address, contain, or eradicate pests. Requires the Department to establish a pest dashboard by 12/1/2025. Part VI: Authorizes the Department to adopt rules to establish and enforce the Plant Care Component Program. Authorizes the Department to assess administrative penalties for the enforcement of the Plant Care Component Program. Part VII: Transfers the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department. Part VIII: Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Expands existing crisis intervention programs by requiring, and appropriating funds for, the Department of Health to establish a Homeless Triage and Treatment Center Program within its Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division to serve homeless individuals and individuals at risk of homelessness with substance abuse issues or mental illness. Requires the Crisis Intervention and Diversion Services Program to redirect certain homeless persons to the appropriate health care system and services. Authorizes the program to include intensive mobile outreach services. Requires appropriations for the program to be used only for services contracted directly between the Department of Health and the service provider. (CD1)

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Prohibits any vehicle from parking within certain distances of crosswalks and intersections, regardless of the presence or absence of official signs or curb markings, with certain exemptions. Deposits fines collected from street parking restrictions into the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund. Takes effect 1/1/2026. (CD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO PARKING.

Establishes a state reserved parking space enforcement fine for the unauthorized use of parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities or electric vehicles. Deposits fifty percent of all fines into the general fund and fifty percent of all fines into the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund. Specifies that a fine shall not be imposed on a person who parks in a space designated and marked as reserved for electric vehicles if the electric vehicle charging system is visibly inoperable or broken. (CD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.

Authorizes the use of motorcoaches, small buses, and vans for school bus services if certain conditions are met. (CD1)

LA CHICA

RELATING TO RESTAURANTS.

Prohibits third-party restaurant reservation services from advertising, listing, promoting, facilitating, enabling, or selling restaurant reservations without first obtaining a written agreement from the applicable restaurant authorizing the action. Establishes a private cause of action for civil remedies. (CD1)

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE WOMEN'S COURT.

Permanently establishes the Women's Court Program in the First Circuit. Establishes a temporary two-year Women's Court Pilot Program within the Kona division of the Third Circuit. Requires reports. Establishes a temporary position. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2027. (CD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Part I: Establishes requirements for kauhale projects, including reporting requirements by the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions (OHHS). Requires the Auditor to conduct a management and performance audit of the kauhale initiative. Appropriates funds for the continued operation of the kauhale initiative. Part II: Establishes the Ohana Zones Program as a permanent program within OHHS. Appropriates funds to DHS for the continued implementation of the Ohana Zones Pilot Program. Part III: Requires OHHS to submit a report every four months to the Legislature detailing the expenditure of funds appropriated toward the kauhale and ohana zones initiatives and conduct a comprehensive needs assessment. Part IV: Changes references to the Governor's Coordinator on Homelessness to "Coordinator on Homelessness". Specifies that the Coordinator on Homelessness shall report directly to the Director of Human Services. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.

Beginning 7/1/2026, authorizes the State Historic Preservation Division to contract its review of proposed state projects and projects affecting historic properties to third-party consultants under certain circumstances. Establishes requirements for qualified third-party consultants providing review services. Requires the project proponent to pay the reasonable fee requirements of the third-party consultant. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to publish a draft of its proposed rules and later present its proposed final rules to the Board of Land and Natural Resources. Sunsets 6/30/2030. (CD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN HOMES COMMISSION ACT.

Clarifies that Act 130, SLH 2024, which amended the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, takes effect on the earlier of the date of the Secretary of the Interior's notification letter that Act 130 does not require congressional approval, or on the date that the United States Congress approval becomes law. (SD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW.

Amends the definition of "registered for work" or "registration for work" under the Hawaii Employment Security Law. Repeals the requirement to post work availability online. Amends the qualifications for unemployed individuals who are able to receive certain unemployment benefits. Beginning 4/1/2027, permits electronic notification of determinations or redeterminations of unemployment claims. Repeals language that limited an individual's ability to change a previously elected withholding status to once during a benefit year. (SD2)

Jackson D. SayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO DISCRIMINATION.

Establishes provisions relating to civil remedies for discriminatory reporting to a law enforcement officer. Provides that any person who causes a law enforcement officer to contact a person on the basis of the person's actual or perceived protected class with the intent to discriminate against the person shall be civilly liable. Requires the Department of Law Enforcement, in consultation with the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission, to provide guidance to the public on the enactment of this Act. For purpose and intent of the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission law, adding "place of birth" as a protected class. Effective 9/1/2025. (HD1)

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO CANNABIS.

Part I: Authorizes DOH to inspect qualifying patient medical records held by the physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or hospice provider who issued a written certification for the qualifying patient. Amends and adds definitions for purposes of the medical use of cannabis law. Clarifies the conditions of use for the medical use of cannabis. For purposes of issuing written certifications, authorizes the establishment of a provider-patient relationship via telehealth and limits the maximum amount of fees that can be assessed by providers. Authorizes the sale of hemp products and accessories for the medical use of cannabis at retail dispensing locations, except in waiting rooms. Clarifies transportation requirements for certain inter-dispensary sales of cannabis and manufactured cannabis products. Part II: Establishes criminal penalties for the unlicensed operation of a medical cannabis dispensary. Part III: Authorizes expenditures from the Medical Cannabis Registry and Regulation Special Fund to fund programs for the mitigation and abatement of nuisances related to illegal cannabis and hemp products and medical cannabis dispensaries and appropriates funds from the Special Fund to the AG's Drug Nuisance Abatement Unit for these purposes, including establishing positions. Part IV: Beginning 1/1/2028, prohibits the cultivation of cannabis without a cannabis cultivator license issued by DOH. (CD1)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO PARKING.

Authorizes the counties to adopt ordinances to enforce the accessible parking space requirements for parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities and electric vehicles. (CD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ALA WAI CANAL.

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii for the development of an action plan and pre-engineering concept plan to help with debris management and water quality control in the Ala Wai watershed and establishment of two graduate assistant positions to assist with the action plan and pre-engineering concept plan. (CD1)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO PET INSURANCE.

Beginning 1/1/2026, establishes a regulatory framework specifically for pet insurance based on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Pet Insurance Model Act. (CD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

Appropriates funds for the Judiciary for the fiscal biennium beginning 7/1/2025 and ending 6/30/2027. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat