Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

Allows the Department of Human Services to administer and provide public assistance to eligible residents of the State during a Governor-Declared State of Emergency.

Della Au BelattiDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Renames the Electric Bicycle and Electric Moped Rebate Program to the Electric Mobility Device Rebate Program. Expands eligibility and amends the maximum rebate amount. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO NATIVE HAWAIIANS.

Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to identify all legislative districts in the State in which at least twenty-five per cent of the population consists of Native Hawaiians. Designates these districts as Native Hawaiian notable districts. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO NUISANCE ABATEMENT.

Requires the court to impose a mandatory fine per violation for nuisance abatement laws related to gambling offenses. Allows citizens who bring civil nuisance abatement suits against places used for illegal gambling the same rights and protections as those afforded to victims and witnesses in criminal proceedings.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO DATA SHARING.

Establishes a data sharing and governance working group within the office of enterprise technology services. Appropriates funds.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO AIRCRAFT.

Requires the Director of Transportation to adopt rules that require tour aircraft operators to have aircraft liability insurance coverage no less than $5,000,000 per person per incident.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE.

Makes mandatory the suspension of the driver's license of a driver or registered owner of a vehicle for operating a motor vehicle without a motor vehicle insurance policy.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Makes contributions by the candidate's immediate family subject to contribution limits. Amends the loan amount that a candidate or candidate committee may receive from the candidate's immediate family. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND COURT.

Repeals the Land Court. Requires registered owners of an interest in property registered in land court to deregister their interest. Requires the land court to inform registered owners of the requirement to deregister. Appropriates moneys.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES.

Authorizes the issuance of special number vehicle license plates commemorating the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO DISABLED VETERANS.

Exempts disabled veterans from the State's vehicle weight tax and repeals the exemption for disabled veterans from the State's annual vehicle registration fee. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF VETERANS' SERVICES.

Appropriates moneys to the Office of Veterans' Services to perform its statutory duties, including maintaining a center that provides information, counsel, aid, and assistance to veterans, their families, and their dependents; and cooperating with federal agencies responsible for the administration of rights and benefits granted to veterans, their families, and their dependents.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO HURRICANE RESISTANT CRITERIA.

Requires the State to consider hurricane resistant criteria when designing and constructing new state buildings, constructed on or after 7/1/2025, for the capability of providing shelter refuge.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.

Limits the required payment of certain unpaid motor vehicle taxes and fees and accompanying financial penalties to those incurred during the most recent five consecutive years of delinquency. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREA MINOR PERMITS.

Amends the definition of "special management area minor permit", in section 205A-22, HRS, to mean an action by the applicable authority authorizing: (1) Development, the valuation of which does not exceed $1,000,000, and that has no substantial adverse environmental or ecological effect, taking into account potential cumulative effects; or (2) Construction or reconstruction of single-family residential use that is less than 7,500 square feet of floor area in aggregate; is situated on a shoreline parcel or a parcel that is impacted by waves, storm surges, high tide, or shoreline erosion; and is not part of a larger development.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO NON-GENERAL FUNDS.

Closes or reclassifies certain non-general funds of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, pursuant to certain recommendations made by the Auditor in Auditor's Report No. 2408.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO VETERANS RIGHTS AND BENEFITS.

Regulates persons receiving compensation for providing advice or assistance regarding veterans benefits.

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUM INSURANCE.

Establishes the Hawaii Condominium Mutual Insurance Company to provide property and casualty insurance to high-rise residential condominium properties and the owners of those units. Establishes a loan fund to assist associations of apartment owners experiencing increased insurance costs. Appropriates moneys.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE LAW.

Short form bill relating to state law.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

Short form bill relating to the Department of the Attorney General.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSERVATION BANKING.

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

Mark J. HashemDemocrat

RELATING TO THE PENAL CODE.

Short form bill relating to the Penal Code.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Appropriates moneys to the department of Hawaiian home lands for new construction of housing units for native Hawaiians.

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO AUTISM.

Appropriates moneys to the Department of Human Services to increase funding for applied behavioral analysis services for Medicaid enrollees who have been diagnosed with autism. Requires the Department to obtain the maximum federal matching funds available for the expenditure.

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE X, SECTION 2 AND ARTICLE XVIII, SECTION 12, OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO ESTABLISH A SCHOOL BOARD COMPRISED OF APPOINTED AND ELECTED MEMBERS.

Proposes a constitutional amendment that would establish a school board comprised of five members appointed by the governor and four members elected by the voters and representing each county. Prohibits board members from serving more than twelve years as a member.

Julie Reyes OdaRepublican

RELATING TO LIQUOR LAW VIOLATIONS.

Establishes enhanced penalties for multiple violations of the same liquor law by licensees in a county with a population of 500,000 or more, under certain circumstances.

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO DANGEROUS DRUGS.

Establishes a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree if the conviction is predicated on the possession of methamphetamine or fentanyl, and progressive mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment if the person has prior convictions predicated on the trafficking of methamphetamine or the possession of methamphetamine or fentanyl.

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR.

Requires Liquor Commissions or Boards to deny any renewal for a liquor license if the applicant for renewal has violated any provision of the Intoxicating Liquor Law under chapter 281, Hawaii Revised Statutes, on three separate occasions during the twelve-month period preceding the renewal application date.

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts food and groceries from certain healthcare-related goods or services that were not the general excise tax. Expands general excise tax exemptions to include purchased under the Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Authorizes a tax credit for businesses that pay the public transportation costs of employees. Requires reports to the Legislature. Applies for taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025 but not beginning after 12/31/2029. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Limits condominium board members to serving no more than two consecutive terms. Allows such members to resume their positions after one term has passed since their departure.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Provides an income tax deduction for tips received by tipped employees.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE III, SECTION 4, OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO ESTABLISH TERM LIMITS FOR LEGISLATORS.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the terms of members of the legislature to a maximum of twelve years in the house of representatives or senate, or both, for terms beginning on or after the general election of 2026.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO PROTECTION OF MINORS.

Protects minors from addictive content by imposing special requirements for operators regarding consent, notifications, and age verification. Protects minors from having their online personal data processed without parental consent.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO MANDATORY PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE AND CONSENT IN CONTRACTS TO PROVIDE CREMATION SERVICES.

For contracts entered into on or after 10/1/2025, requires mortuaries and pre-need funeral authorities that contract to provide cremation services to provide written notice if precious metals are recovered after cremation and a disclosure that the person has thirty days to claim the precious metals after receipt of the notice. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE THIRTY-SECOND REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriated funds for capital improvement projects in the 32nd representative district.

Garner M. ShimizuRepublican

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Creates an exemption within the existing limits on recovery to ensure that accepting restitution under chapter 487 does not prohibit an individual from a separate recovery from an action brought under chapter 480 for unfair and deceptive practices.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO TELEHEALTH.

Extends the sunset date of Act 107, SLH 2023, which allows for the reimbursement of services provided through telehealth via an interactive telecommunications system, until 12/31/2026. (HD2)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO NUCLEAR ENERGY.

Establishes the Nuclear Energy Task Force within the Hawaii State Energy Office. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Prohibits covered entities in the State from entering into contracts with drug manufacturers that limit the covered entities' use of contract pharmacies. Voids contract provisions for certain drugs if the provisions are based on the maximum allowable cost payment model. Authorizes the attorney general to bring a civil action for violations.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

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. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO COLORECTAL CANCER.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Human Services to develop and implement a public assistance program offering state-funded colorectal screenings for certain persons. Requires coverage for all colorectal cancer screenings in the State to be consistent with the Affordable Care Act Implementation Frequently Asked Questions published by the United States Department of Labor, United States Department of Health and Human Services, and United States Department of the Treasury. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATED TO CARE HOMES.

Increases the state supplemental payment ceilings for type I adult residential care homes, licensed developmental disabilities domiciliary homes, community care foster family homes, certified adult foster homes, and type II adult residential care homes. Authorizes an additional payment for resident clients residing in these homes when state funds for the state supplemental payment for a specific fiscal year are not fully expended, under certain circumstances.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO THE SPAYING AND NEUTERING OF ANIMALS.

Establishes the Spay and Neuter Special Fund to reduce pet overpopulation and the reproduction of free-roaming cats. Establishes various revenue and fundraising sources for the special fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Establishes the Aloha Intelligence Institute within the University of Hawaii to develop, support, and advance artificial intelligence initiatives statewide. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATED TO CARE HOMES.

Increases the state supplemental payment ceilings for type I adult residential care homes, licensed developmental disabilities domiciliary homes, community care foster family homes, certified adult foster homes, and type II adult residential care homes.

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO LICENSE PLATES.

Prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle with, possession, purchase, installation, sale, offer for sale, or distribution of license plate flipping devices. Establishes a minimum fine of $250 and a maximum fine of $2,000 for each separate violation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO URBAN DEVELOPMENT.

Makes certain urban development and land use requirements applicable only to counties with a population of less than five hundred thousand, including: vesting the director of the county land use agency with the administrative authority to act on any application for subdivision, consolidation, or resubdivision; the required adoption or amendment of an ordinance to allow at least two accessory dwelling units, subject to certain conditions, on all residentially zoned lots; the calculation of certain school impact fees; and a prohibition on private covenants that include certain limitations or restrictions for residentially zoned lots within an urban district.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Resources Development for the establishment of three permanent full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) positions and the development and implementation of a leadership training module for manager level positions.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO TWO-WHEELED MOTORIZED VEHICLES.

Repeals the exception for when a person is not required to wear a safety helmet when operating a moped or motor scooter leased from a rental company. Requires operators and passengers of motorcycles to wear safety helmets with securely fastened chin straps while operating two-wheeled motorized vehicles on highways, streets, roadways, or any other public property in the State. Requires all renters or lessees of an electric foot scooter to wear a safety helmet regardless of their age. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ikaika OldsDemocrat