Bills & Legislation

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

RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Expands eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to include any individual or household whose monthly income is equal to or less than three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level. Appropriates funds.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO SAFE ENTRYWAYS.

Prohibit individuals from residing in a doorway or surrounding area of certain places. Gives county police departments primary authority to enforce the prohibition.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO LIQUOR.

Establishes a three-year surcharge on the liquor tax. Repeals 06/30/2028.

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO HISTORIC PROPERTY.

Amends the definition of "historic property" under the State's historic preservation program to include properties included on, or eligible for inclusion on, the national register of historic places or Hawaii register of historic places and any artifacts, records, or material remains relating to the property. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO FRESHWATER WATERWAYS.

Prohibits residing in, on, or within fifty feet of a freshwater waterway. Authorizes state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Land and Natural Resources' Conservation and Resources Enforcement Program and county police, to enforce the prohibition.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES.

Requires employers to authorize and permit employees a 10-minute paid rest period for every four hours worked. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO VEHICLE TITLES.

Clarifies that proof that a transferor has filed required notice forms serves as a complete defense to any action brought against the transferor for an act or omission, civil or criminal, arising out of the use, operation, or abandonment of the vehicle by another person. Requires, by July 1, 2026, the courts to create new forms permitting transferors to respond to actions arising out of the use, operation, or abandonment of transferred vehicles. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATED TO SAFE WATER.

Prohibits the addition of fluoride to a public water system. Preempts and voids conflicting laws, executive orders, ordinances, regulations, or rules.

Ikaika OldsDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD CARE.

Establishes a child care classroom contracts pilot program to require the Department of Human Services to contract directly with child care center providers in licensed infant and toddler child care centers and group child care centers that meet certain criteria. Requires reports to the Legislature. Sunsets the pilot program on 6/30/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT HEAT EXPOSURE SAFETY.

Requires the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health and State Public Charter School Commission, to conduct a study on the current practices of managing heat exposure in state public and charter schools to protect students' health during outdoor activities and to develop a plan if the current practices are insufficient in managing heat exposure. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish a streamlined grid-ready home interconnection process. Requires the Hawaii Electricity Reliability Administrator to report to the Legislature on the streamlined grid-ready home interconnection process. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Lisa MartenDemocrat

RELATING TO MAUNA KEA.

Authorizes 2 or more members of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority to meet during its transition period regarding any matter relating to the Authority's business; provided that no commitment to vote is made or sought and no decision-making action is taken.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION.

Makes the members of the Elections Commission subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. Clarifies that a majority of all members to which the Elections Commission is entitled shall constitute a quorum to do business. (HD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO MAUNA KEA.

Amends the conservation district use permit application, approval, and oversight responsibilities of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, and lessees. Provides that certain conservation district use permits that are in effect as of 7/1/2028, to which the University of Hawaii is a permittee or other named party, shall not be transferred to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Clarifies the requirements for the secure storage of firearms. Amends the offense of criminally negligent storage of a firearm to establish felony penalties for when a minor obtains an unsecured firearm and it results in injury or death.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Requires a trigger lock for all firearms purchases from a licensed dealer. Requires licensed firearms dealers to provide purchasers with notice regarding the law on firearms storage. Amends the requirements for the secure storage of firearms and establishes fines for violations. Amends the offense of criminally negligent storage of a firearm.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE IV, SECTIONS 4 AND 6, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION REGARDING REAPPORTIONMENT.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to specify that reapportionment shall be based on the resident population, as counted in the most recent decennial United States census for the respective reapportionment year, rather than the permanent resident population.

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for the purchase of the real property located at 64-486 Kamehameha Highway on the North Shore of Oahu. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO RESEARCH.

Allows agencies to disclose government records to researchers for certain research purposes.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO YOUTH FEES AND FINES.

Prohibits the assessment of any fees, fines, or court costs against a person who was adjudicated for an offense committed during the person's minority, or against the person's parent or guardian, and discharges all related debt obligations assessed before the effective date of the Act. Limits court-ordered community service for a minor to no more than seventy-two hours. Repeals certain penalties imposed on parents, guardians, or other persons associated with unaccompanied children in streets and unmarried minors in dance halls. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO FEES FOR PUBLIC RECORDS UNDER CHAPTER 92F.

Imposes a cap on charges for searching for, reviewing, and segregating government records under the Uniform Information Practices Act. Provides for a waiver of fees in certain circumstances when the public interest is served by a government record's disclosure.

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO THE COUNTIES.

Authorizes counties, after adoption of power of sale laws, ordinances, or rules, to sell private property after all notices, orders, and appeal proceedings are exhausted, and to use those revenues to pay unpaid civil fines related to that property. Requires the county to remit any amounts in excess of the unpaid civil fines to the property owner. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO RESTRICTIONS ON THE TRANSFER OF REAL PROPERTY UNDER CHAPTER 201H, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES.

Exempts transfers of Hawaiian Home Lands from transfer restrictions for real property under housing development programs of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Daniel HoltDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes an income tax credit of $3,000 for retired service members of the Hawaii National Guard.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

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

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

David A. TarnasDemocrat

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

Extends the due date of payment to the Employees' Retirement System for departments or agencies of the State or counties that fail to comply with reporting requirements by one year after the review period. Changes the time frame for which the Employers' Retirement System must report regarding any department or agency's failure to submit required information to the Employees' Retirement System from the current fiscal year to the previous fiscal year. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Amends statutory language to conform the requirements of beginning dates and automatic cashout requirements with the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Appropriates funds for the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to allocate to housing counseling agencies certified by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide housing counseling services. Requires a report to the Legislature regarding services provided by the housing counseling agencies.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO ADULT CONTENT.

Requires adult content providers and adult content consumers to register with the Department of Accounting and General Services. Requires the collection of registration fees from adult content providers. Requires adult content providers to charge mandatory subscription fees to adult content consumers. Imposes monetary penalties for noncompliance. Deposits moneys collected into the domestic violence and sexual assault special fund.

Kurt FevellaRepublican

RELATING TO SPORTS WAGERING.

Establishes the Hawaii State Sports Wagering Commission within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Establishes licensing requirements for sports wagering operators. Establishes penalties for violations. Specifies that sports wagering shall not be considered games of chance or gambling. Allows the commission to conduct background checks on applicants for a sports wagering operator license and persons in control of applicants for a sports wagering operator license. Requires tax revenue collected from sports wagering to fund certain initiatives, including 50 per cent for public education programs and 25 per cent for affordable housing. Requires the commission to submit annual reports to the Legislature.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO NATURAL HAIR BRAIDING.

Exempts natural hair braiders from licensing requirements under certain conditions.

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO PLASTIC.

Bans businesses from providing single-use plastic bags and nonrecyclable paper bags to customers. Assesses a fee that businesses shall charge for allowable bags provided to customers. Establishes penalties.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY.

Requires each purchasing agency to provide justification for hiring external consultants. Caps the amount each agency can spend on external consultants. Requires each agency to seek approval from the Legislature for consulting contracts exceeding a certain dollar amount. Requires each agency to disclose new contracts with external consultants. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Requires the Compliance Audit Unit to conduct regular audits of agency consultant contracts to assess cost-effectiveness and compliance. Requires each chief procurement officer to ensure that inherent government functions are not delegated to a contractor. Effective 1/1/2491. (SD2)

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROCUREMENT.

Exempts Department of Education purchases of local edible produce and packaged food products less than a certain amount from the electronic procurement system requirement. Requires at least three written quotes for Department of Education purchases of local edible produce and packaged food products between certain amounts. Requires at least two written quotes for Department of Education purchases of local edible produce and packaged food products between certain amounts for certain schools in rural communities. Sunsets 6/30/2028.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN SCHOOLS.

Requires each public school to implement a policy to prohibit students from using cellular phones and other wireless communication devices during school hours, subject to exceptions for education, health, and emergencies.

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO NEPOTISM.

Repeals language in the State's Code of Ethics that exempts the legislative and judicial branches from prohibitions against nepotism in public employment. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO CLEAN AND SOBER HOMES.

Requires a county conditional use permit for clean and sober homes with 5 or more residents. Requires registration of all clean and sober homes on registry maintained by the Department of Health. Requires DOH to conduct unannounced inspections of clean and sober homes on at least an annual basis.

Samantha DeCorteRepublican