Bills & Legislation

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

RELATING TO APPROPRIATIONS.

Prohibits the transfer of funds appropriated for positions to operating expenses, and vice versa, except to fulfill the Legislature's purpose for which the funds were appropriated.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO HEARING AIDS.

Requires health insurance policies and contracts issued on or after 1/1/2026 to provide optional coverage for the cost of hearing aids at a minimum $1,500 per hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every thirty-six months. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HIGHWAY REVENUE BONDS.

Restores the revenue bond authorization for the Department of Transportation to issue Highway Revenue Bonds for highway capital improvement projects authorized in Act 164, SLH 2023, as amended by Act 230, SLH 2024. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTORCYCLE INSTRUCTION PERMITS.

Starting on July 1, 2026, requires all applicants for a motorcycle instruction permit to successfully complete a basic motorcycle rider course approved by the Department of Transportation before becoming eligible for the permit. Designates exemptions for certain drivers on an enclosed training course. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL HARBORS.

Requires masters or persons in charge of vessels to follow an order by a harbor master to evacuate a commercial harbor in emergencies. Establishes higher penalties for noncompliance. Authorizes fines collected for violations of this requirement as moneys to be paid into the Special Harbor Fund. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS.

Repeals the Public Utilities Commission's authority to penalize electric utility companies that fail to meet the renewable portfolio standards.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

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.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Makes emergency appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of Units (1), (2), (3), (4), (8), (9), (10), (13), and (14) and their excluded counterparts, including the cost of salary adjustments negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal year 2024-2025. Declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025 has been exceeded. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for teacher‑requested classroom supplies; provided that the private sector contributes matching funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL IMPACT FEES.

Exempts housing developed by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from school impact fees.

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO A PROGRAM TO CHARACTERIZE CARBON SEQUESTRATION POTENTIAL AND UNDERGROUND WATER RESOURCES STATEWIDE.

Establishes a statewide underground water and carbon sequestration resource characterization program via slim hole bores and a related statewide environmental assessment. Effective 5/13/2040. (SD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Establishes ratemaking regulations for insurers who base their rates on a policyholder or applicant's wildfire risk. Amends the definition of "prospective loss costs" to incorporate catastrophe modeling instead of historical aggregate losses. Prohibits insurers from basing certain insurance rates on past loss experience within or outside the State. Requires insurers to provide a list of items that may be covered under a homeowners insurance policy issued or renewed on or after 1/1/2026, as additional living expenses when a claim for additional living expenses is made. If a loss relating to a state of emergency occurs, requires coverage for additional living expenses for a period of not less than 24 months from the loss, subject to other policy provisions. Requires that coverage for additional living expenses not limit a policyholder's right to recovery if the insured home is made uninhabitable by a covered peril and allows an insurer to provide a reasonable alternative remedy that addresses the property condition that precludes reasonable habitation of the insured premises. Requires additional living expenses coverage for at least 2 weeks for certain losses incurred if a state of emergency is accompanied by an order of civil authority restricting access to the home. Beginning on 1/1/2026, requires each newly issued or renewed homeowners insurance policy that covers a property within the State to provide for the replacement cost value of the insured property. Amends the determination of over insurance under section 431:l0E-102, HRS.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS.

Repeals the definition of "finding of no significant impact". Defines "finding of completion of environmental disclosure process". Makes conforming amendments.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat