Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO WASTE OR DISPOSAL FACILITIES.

Prohibits landfill units on land in an agricultural district with class A soils in a county with a population greater than five hundred thousand. Beginning 7/1/2025, narrows the prohibition on constructing, modifying, or expanding waste or disposal facilities within a one-half mile buffer zone of residential, school, or hospital property lines to apply specifically to landfill units or components of landfill units. Beginning 7/1/2025, prohibits the construction, modification, or expansion of a landfill unit, or any component of a landfill unit, inland of an underground injection control line in a county with a population greater than five hundred thousand, with certain exemptions. (CD1)

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO INTERNSHIPS.

Permits the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to enter into contracts with eligible employers or registered apprenticeship programs in the private sector to provide on-the-job training to eligible interns. Establishes a state internship and workforce development program. Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to collaborate with the Department of Human Resources Development for placement of interns in state executive branch departments, agencies, and programs. Provides that the State shall be the responsible employer for purposes of workers' compensation coverage for students or recent graduates in the on-the-job-training work experience program, subject to certain limitations. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY-EFFICIENCY PORTFOLIO STANDARDS.

Requires energy-efficiency portfolio standards to be designed to achieve 6,000 gigawatt hours of electricity use reductions statewide by 2045. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish additional interim standards for electricity use reduction to be achieved by 2035 and 2040. Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to adjust the 2030 and 2045 standards and any interim standards. (CD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO DISABILITY HEALTH DISPARITY.

Requires the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to collect data and submit to the Legislature a report focused on the health disparities experienced by individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities in the State prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND EXCHANGE.

Allows the Governor to negotiate land exchanges, subject to approval by the Board of Land and Natural Resources, to acquire lands that are suitable for long-term diversified agricultural production in exchange for land for private affordable, workforce, or other housing development. Requires a report to the Legislature. (CD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO SKILLS-BASED HIRING.

Prohibits the State or any of its departments, agencies, or political subdivisions from requiring a bachelor's degree as a condition of eligibility for hire to a position in state or county employment. Establishes exemptions. (CD1)

AQUINO

RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSURE ACTIONS AGAINST SEX OFFENDERS.

Authorizes the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and certain licensing boards to automatically revoke and refuse to renew, restore, or reinstate the professional licenses or certification of registered sex offenders. (CD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

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 program specialist positions. (CD1)

Lisa KitagawaDemocrat

RELATING TO LAULAU DAY.

Designates the first Friday in May of each year as "Laulau Day" in the State. (CD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO HANALEI BAY.

Prohibits vessels longer than seventy-five feet from entering Hanalei Bay. Exempts vessels operated by a federal, state, or county agency. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE GENERAL FUND.

Appropriates general revenues for deposit into the emergency and budget reserve fund pursuant to article VII, section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution. (CD1)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO FALL PREVENTION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to fund the current Fall Prevention Campaign. (CD1)

Mike LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes procedures and requirements for single-family and multi-family housing project applicants to apply for an expedited permit, including requirements for completeness of expedited permit applications, duties of licensed professionals and the counties during construction, and applications for owner-builder exemptions. Takes effect 7/1/2026. Sunsets 6/30/2031. (CD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires the counties to adopt ordinances for the regulation of retention and detention ponds. Requires the counties to conduct a survey of existing retention and detention ponds and submit a report to the Legislature. (CD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO COGNITIVE ASSESSMENTS.

Establishes, with certain exceptions, standardized cognitive assessments for qualified Medicare beneficiaries. Establishes a two-year Dementia Data Pilot Program within the Executive Office on Aging to collect and analyze cognitive assessment data. Requires the Executive Office on Aging to report de-identified aggregated data to the Legislature. (CD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO CORRECTIONS.

Beginning 7/1/2026, restricts the use of restrictive housing in state-operated and state-contracted correctional facilities, with certain specified exceptions. Establishes a restrictive housing legislative working group to develop and recommend more comprehensive laws, policies, and procedures regarding restrictive housing for members of vulnerable populations by 1/8/2027. Requires the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission to review restrictive housing placements on an annual basis. Authorizes the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, by 12/1/2027, to implement policies and procedures recommended by the restrictive housing working group related to committed persons. Requires interim and final reports to the Legislature and Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission. (CD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING.

Extends the sunset date for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna to 6/30/2028. (CD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON AGING.

Establishes a Medi-Medi Project within 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 for staff and operating expenses. Requires and appropriates funds for the Executive Office on Aging to develop a one-year pilot project to provide the Medi-Medi Project to kupuna and families living in a disadvantaged community, specifically the Kalihi Valley catchment areas. (CD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO DEMENTIA.

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to establish positions within the University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine's Department of Geriatric Medicine to coordinate and incorporate training on Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia for health care providers into existing University of Hawaii programs; and review, update, and develop a dementia curriculum to be incorporated into existing University of Hawaii programs with the goal of establishing a local, informed dementia workforce. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. (CD1)

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.

Provides for the transfer of certain parcels in the Liliha Civic Center area and Iwilei Fire Station area from various state agencies to the City and County of Honolulu. Provides for the transfer of the parcel of land upon which Alii Tower is sited from the City and County of Honolulu to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Exempts the lands transferred to the Department of Land and Natural Resources from the definition of public lands for purposes of Chapter 171, HRS. (CD1)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

Amends the definition of "historic property" to require that the property is over fifty years old and meets the criteria for inclusion in the Hawaii Register of Historic Places. Excludes proposed projects on existing residential property and proposed projects that are in nominally sensitive areas from the State's Historic Preservation Program review, under certain circumstances. (CD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO CRISIS SERVICES.

Expands the Crisis Intervention and Diversion Services Program to include at least two sites on the island of Oahu, including one program in an area with a disproportionate number of individuals with mental health disorders or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, or both. Authorizes the use of intensive mobile treatment services as part of the Crisis Intervention and Diversion Services Program. (CD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO SUPPORTED DECISION-MAKING AGREEMENTS.

Allows qualified adults, including adults with a disability, mentally ill adults, and adults sixty-five years of age or older, to enter into supported decision-making agreements with one or more members of a supportive community. Specifies the terms of a supported decision-making agreement, including access to personal information, agreement requirements, and circumstances for termination. (CD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE BONDS.

Authorizes issuance of general obligation bonds. Makes findings required by Article VII, Section 13, of the Hawaii State Constitution to declare that the issuance of authorized bonds will not cause the debt limit to be exceeded. (CD1)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE KIKIAOLA SMALL BOAT HARBOR.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct a study of the carrying capacity of Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor and its surrounding area in the County of Kauai. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO FIRE PREVENTION.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish an independent program relating to the prevention, control, and extinguishment of wildland fires within forest reserves. Authorizes the Administrator of Forestry and Wildlife to establish and maintain facilities for the performance of fire protection, fire prevention, pest control, and forest and range protection and enhancement activities. Allows the State Fire Council to amend the State Fire Code to require certain owners and occupants of properties and holders of easements located in hazardous fire areas to maintain effective firebreaks and to practice other fire prevention activities. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish and implement the Community Fuels Reduction Project. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EXPEDITIOUS REDEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING.

Authorizes the director of a county planning department to issue a special management area use permit to redevelop permanent affordable multi-family rental housing that has been substantially destroyed as result of certain natural disasters, with certain exceptions. Permits county planning departments and any other applicable state or county department or agency to amend or modify final plans and specifications for redevelopment of an existing experimental and demonstration housing project, with certain restrictions. Requires county planning departments and any other applicable state or county department or agency to prioritize approving permits for the redevelopment of permanent affordable multi-family rental housing in special management areas, under certain circumstances. Exempts permanently affordable multi-family rental housing projects within a special management area that are being redeveloped and are located on properties or districts on the state or national historic register from environmental impact statement requirements. (CD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to determine the effect of any proposed state or county housing projects that may affect a historical property, an aviation artifact, or a burial site within ninety days of a request for determination. Establishes historic review requirements based on the project area's known historic, cultural, and archaeological resources. Establishes procedures and notification requirements if previously unidentified human remains or previously unidentified historic property are discovered. (CD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.

Appropriates moneys to the Office of Community Services of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for the award of grants for fiscal year 2025-2026. Establishes an evaluation and selection committee to oversee the awarding of grants. Authorizes the Office of Community Services to contract the services of Aloha United Way to assist with the administration and distribution of grant awards. Appropriates moneys to the Office of Community Services for positions, office equipment, and furniture. (CD1)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Amends and repeals certain exemptions under the general excise tax and use tax laws. (CD1)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX CREDITS.

Requires that income tax credits existing on 12/31/2025 or established or renewed after 12/31/2025 include a 5-year sunset or an annual one-third reduction, beginning with the 6th year of the credit. (CD1)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Establishes safe riding behaviors for electric bicycles. Prohibits the operation of high-speed electric devices in certain locations. Establishes labeling and signage requirements for electric bicycles. Prohibits the operation of a moped or electric motorcycle in certain locations. Amends the definition of "bicycle" for purposes of county vehicular taxes. Defines "electric bicycle" in place of "low-speed electric bicycle". Defines "electric micro-mobility device" and requires the same regulations as electric foot scooters to apply to electric micro-mobility devices. Prohibits a person under the age of sixteen from operating a class 3 electric bicycle. Authorizes a person under the age of fourteen to operate class 2 electric bicycles under supervision. Prohibits a person from riding a class 3 electric bicycle on a sidewalk. Authorizes a person to ride a class 1 or class 2 electric bicycle on a sidewalk under certain circumstances. Prohibits a person from operating a bicycle or electric foot scooter under the age of eighteen without a helmet. Repeals the requirement that moped drivers use bicycle lanes. Substitutes the word "motor-driven cycle" with the word "motor scooter". (CD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO MARIJUANA.

Changes from 1 ounce to 30 grams the minimum amount of marijuana that constitutes the offense of promoting a detrimental drug in the second degree. Increases from 3 grams or less to 15 grams or less the amount of marijuana that constitutes the offense of promoting a detrimental drug in the third degree.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO THE MAJOR DISASTER FUND.

Establishes timely notice and reporting requirements to the Legislature by the Governor regarding the transfer of appropriations to the Major Disaster Fund. Effective 7/1/2025. Sunsets 7/1/2026. (CD1)

Kyle T. YamashitaDemocrat

RELATING TO PROPERTY.

Authorizes a person who discovers a recorded discriminatory restrictive covenant to take certain actions, without liability, to invalidate the covenant. Defines discriminatory restrictive covenant. (CD1)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO NAMING RIGHTS.

Allows the naming rights of the Stadium Facility and Convention Center Facility to be leased to any public or private entity. Requires any revenues derived from advertising or marketing in or on the Stadium Facility or Convention Center Facility to be deposited into the appropriate special fund of the facility. Authorizes the display of the name of any entity that leased the naming rights to a stadium operated by the Stadium Authority on the exterior of the stadium. (CD1)

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY.

Requires the Department of Transportation, after the City and County of Honolulu educates the public and adjusts any systems, to expand the use of photo red light imaging detector systems and automated speed enforcement systems to locations on the North Shore of Oahu. (CD1)

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO THE AIRCRAFT RESCUE FIRE FIGHTING UNIT.

Specifies the appointment processes and terms for the Fire Chief of the Hawaii State Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Unit of the Airports Division of the Department of Transportation. (CD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat