Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO A REGULAR SESSION REVIEW WORKING GROUP.

Establishes a Regular Session Review Working Group to develop a comprehensive plan and make recommendations to the Legislature on the adoption of an effective year-round legislative session calendar. Establishes a Technical Advisory Committee to advise the Regular Session Review Working Group. Requires reports to the Legislature. Requires report finalization and drafting assistance from the Legislative Reference Bureau. Dissolves the Working Group and Advisory Committee on 6/30/2028. Appropriates funds. Effective 10/18/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

Amends the membership and responsibilities of the Public Land Trust Working Group established under Act 226, SLH 2022. Requires the Working Group to submit four reports to the Legislature: by 8/1/2027, a first interim report regarding Act 178, SLH 2006, financial reporting and accounting; by 12/1/2027, a second interim report regarding the public land trust inventory; by 6/1/2028, a third interim report that includes a preliminary draft of findings and recommendations regarding Act 178 financial reporting and accounting and the public land trust inventory; and by 10/1/2028, a final report that includes proposed legislation. Authorizes the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to provide administrative support to the Working Group in coordination with a third-party consultant. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to submit annual reports to the Legislature outlining certain information concerning capital improvement projects and facilities. Requires the reports to be posted on DOE's website annually in a searchable format. Provides that any CIP funds encumbered for more than five years without commencement of construction to be identified and justified, or be subject to legislative review for reversion or reassignment. Establishes a three-year pilot program authorizing the Superintendent to redesignate certain positions in the Office of Facilities and Operations as exempt from civil service laws. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO WASTEWATER SYSTEMS.

Establishes a Cesspool Conversion Implementation Working Group to assist the Department of Health in a review of the Department's administrative rules and practices regarding wastewater systems and cesspools and in the development of proposed changes to make cesspool conversions more affordable. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds for positions and hiring of a consultant to assist the Cesspool Conversion Implementation Working Group. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Authorizes HHFDC to designate certain for-sale units as permanently affordable housing, subject to certain restrictions. Clarifies that certain resale and occupancy restrictions apply only to projects developed prior to a certain date. Amends the definition of "qualified resident" for the purposes of HHFDC housing development programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO SURVEILLANCE PRICING.

Requires the Office of Consumer Protection of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to conduct a study to determine the extent to which companies operating in the State deploy surveillance pricing practices. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Tina Nakada GrandinettiDemocrat

RELATING TO LIABILITY.

Provides certain liability protections for nonprofit child welfare service organizations that are under contract with the Department of Human Services to provide child welfare services to children and families. Prohibits contracts between nonprofit child welfare service organizations and the State from including indemnification and hold harmless provisions and from requiring either party to name the other as an additional insured in their respective liability insurance policies. Prohibits pre- and post-judgment interest and punitive damages for nonprofit child welfare service organizations. Requires actions against nonprofit child welfare service organizations to be tried by the court, except in certain circumstances. Removes joint and several liability for nonprofit child welfare service organizations. Specifies that no bond shall be required from a nonprofit child welfare service organization on appeal. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Requires purchase, lease, and power purchase agreements for residential solar energy devices to include a cover page with certain required disclosures. Requires any person or entity that markets, sells, leases, or solicits a residential solar energy device or markets, sells, or solicits power purchase agreements to comply with consumer protection laws. Prohibits any person or entity from installing, marketing, offering financing, or engaging in customer acquisition for a residential solar energy device without holding a contractor's license or having a contractual affiliation with a licensed contractor. Allows for rescission or cancellation of the agreement. Specifies that agreements in violation of the law are voidable. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to transfer funds from the Hydrogen Fueling System Subaccount of the Public Utilities Commission Special Fund to the Electric Vehicle Charging System Subaccount of the Fund. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nicole E. LowenDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Declares that the State is an ocean cluster. Establishes the Office of Marine Affairs within the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation for administrative purposes only. Establishes and appropriates funds for the Marine Affairs Coordinator position. Requires the Marine Affairs Coordinator to submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature. Transfers the functions of the Governor's Advisory Committee on Marine Affairs to the Office of Marine Affairs. Appropriates funds for the Office of Marine Affairs to procure the services of a consultant to support the marine affairs declaration of intent. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Clarifies that the disposition of agricultural park lots for commercial activity may occur after the initial development of the agricultural park and regardless of whether the applicable county council approved plans and specifications for the future disposition of lots for commercial activity, with certain exceptions. Authorizes the care and production of swine and swine products within certain agricultural parks and under certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO BIOSECURITY.

Amends the amount and expending agency for a fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriation for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Cory M. ChunDemocrat

RELATING TO LIBRARIES.

Clarifies that the Board of Education, through the State Librarian, has exclusive authority over the development, use, support, and improvement and maintenance of public library system facilities. Allows the Board of Education to authorize the State Librarian to exercise exclusive control of certain land for development or expansion purposes, subject to legislative appropriation. Requires the Department of Education to expeditiously cooperate with the State Librarian and Hawaii State Public Library System to effectuate any project authorized by the Board of Education on certain lands. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY.

Part I: Requires drivers of vehicles approaching stationary motor vehicles stopped in any location on the roadway, shoulder, or roadside to slow down and make a lane change if necessary. Part II: Prohibits the operation of a pickup truck with a passenger seated in the bed or load-carrying area on roadways with posted speed limits of forty-six miles per hour or higher and roadways with three or more lanes traveling in the same direction. Provides certain exemptions from passenger restrictions. Increases the minimum age to ride in the bed or load-carrying area of a pickup truck while in operation from twelve years of age to eighteen years of age. 0Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Lorraine R. InouyeDemocrat

RELATING TO AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to: (1) Establish a Restorative Aquaculture Development Program to reduce aquaculture permit processing time, support aquaculture infrastructure expansion, increase the aquaculture workforce, and pursue federal aquaculture grants; (2) Establish three pilot demonstration sites for restorative aquaculture; and (3) Convene a Restorative Aquaculture Advisory Council. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2030. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Amy A. PerrusoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE PUBLIC LAND TRUST.

Temporarily increases the total amount of public land trust revenues transferred to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Repeals 6/30/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL TOURISM.

Establishes the Statewide Agricultural Tourism Standards Task Force. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO HOMEMADE FOOD PRODUCTS.

Requires the Department of Health to adopt rules for the regulation of farm kitchens producing homemade food products that are no more stringent than those for home kitchens producing homemade food products. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE SPAYING AND NEUTERING OF ANIMALS.

Establishes the Spay and Neuter Special Fund to reduce pet overpopulation, including the free-roaming cat population, and authorizes an income tax designation to provide revenues into the special fund. Requires cats over five months of age to be surgically sterilized unless covered by an intact cat declaration, and conditions the importation of intact cats on state and county declaration requirements, with certain exceptions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Chris LeeDemocrat

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDING THE STORAGE AND ADMINISTRATION OF ORAL ANTIHISTAMINES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

Clarifies the types of events that constitute disasters and emergencies for the purposes of emergency management. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A PERFORMANCE AND PROCUREMENT AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT TO REVIEW ITS COMPLIANCE WITH THE HAWAII PUBLIC PROCUREMENT CODE.

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

REQUESTING THE STATE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE HAWAII STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL.

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO LIBERTY AND JUSTICE DAY.

Designates March 5 of every year as Liberty and Justice Day. Requires all flags flown on state lands to be flown at half-staff on Liberty and Justice Day. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MILILANI ʻIKE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS USING SCHOOL CROSSWALKS.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO FINALIZE, PRIORITIZE, AND MATERIALIZE THE MAKAKILO DRIVE EXTENSION PROJECT.

Diamond GarciaRepublican

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to establish a permanent Return-to-Home Program to return homeless individuals in the State to families and relatives in their home states. Requires the Office to report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.

Allows a retirant to be employed without reenrollment in the Employees' Retirement System and without loss or interruption of benefits under the System or the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund if the retirant is employed in a position needed for succession planning, as a law enforcement officer stationed at a public school as a resource officer, as an investigator, or in a management position excluded from collective bargaining, subject to certain conditions. Requires the director of human resources of the appropriate state jurisdiction or the human resources management chief executive of each county to include in their annual reports to the Legislature details on the employment of retirants as school resource officers or investigators. (SD2)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE INDIVIDUAL HOUSING ACCOUNT PROGRAM.

For taxable years, beginning 1/1/2026, increases the maximum annual deduction for contributions to, and maximum account levels for, individual housing accounts. Takes effect 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

RELATING TO FARM TO FAMILIES.

Establishes the Hawaii Farm to Families Program to alleviate food shortages in the State. Requires reports to the Legislature before the Regular Sessions of 2026 and 2027. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

Amends section 11-364, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to provide that an excess contribution of more than $100 in cash, in the aggregate, from a single person during an election period to a candidate, candidate committee, or noncandidate committee shall escheat to the Hawaii election campaign fund if not returned to the contributor within 30 days. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Clarifies the process for selecting a certified provider of rehabilitation services. Requires providers to automatically approve vocational rehabilitation services for an injured employee if those services will likely be required for suitable gainful employment. Requires providers to file an employee's vocational plan no later than ninety days after submitting an initial evaluation report, with certain exceptions. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.

Appropriates funds to hire teachers and teacher assistants and for equipment and services for public preschools. Takes effect 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Amends the conditions and procedures of alternative dispute resolution methods for condominium-related disputes, including the use of evaluative mediation or binding arbitration. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD2)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

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

Establishes a Carbon Sequestration, Underground Water, and Geothermal Exploration Resource Characterization Program via slim hole bores and requires a related statewide environmental assessment. Requires a report to the Legislature. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

DECLARING THE INTENT THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING CREDITS ARE PERPETUAL AND REMAIN VALID UNTIL REDEEMED, AND REQUESTING THE COUNTIES TO RECOGNIZE THESE CREDITS WITHOUT EXPIRATION DATES.

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO MEET THE CRITERIA NECESSARY TO OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE CHEERLEADING AS A TITLE IX SPORT IN HAWAII.

Linda IchiyamaDemocrat

URGING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO ADD A STIPULATION TO ITS SIGNATURE EVENT PROGRAM TO REQUIRE THIRTY PERCENT OF FUNDS AWARDED THROUGH THE PROGRAM TO BE USED TO MARKET EVENTS TO OUT-OF-STATE MARKETS.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO MINIMIZE RUMBLE STRIP DIMENSIONS ON A SEGMENT OF KAMEHAMEHA V HIGHWAY ON MOLOKAI TO REDUCE UNINTENDED HAZARDS.

Mahina PoepoeDemocrat

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO SUPPORT ACADEMIC FLEXIBILITY AND EQUITY FOR STUDENTS WITH CHRONIC AND AUTOIMMUNE ILLNESSES.

Sam Satoru KongDemocrat

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ESTABLISH AN INDIRECT TRAFFIC DISRUPTION GRANT PROGRAM.

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MILILANI ʻIKE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS USING SCHOOL CROSSWALKS.

Lauren MatsumotoRepublican

URGING THE COUNTIES TO INTEGRATE THE SAFE SYSTEM APPROACH INTO ROAD AND TRANSPORTATION DESIGN, ESPECIALLY WHEN REDUCING OR ELIMINATING OFF-STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS, TO INCREASE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY.

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

URGING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO ADD A STIPULATION TO ITS SIGNATURE EVENT PROGRAM TO REQUIRE THIRTY PERCENT OF FUNDS AWARDED THROUGH THE PROGRAM TO BE USED TO MARKET EVENTS TO OUT-OF-STATE MARKETS.

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO PHARMACISTS.

Authorizes a registered pharmacist under contract with a covered entity for purposes of the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program to supervise the filling or receipt of a prescription via telehealth in certain circumstances. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF MANDATING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR BRIEF COGNITIVE ASSESSMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS FIFTY YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER.

Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee LoyDemocrat

RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

Requires an owner or operator of a waste-to-energy facility to comply with certain United States Environmental Protection Agency regulations for emission limitations as they existed on 12/31/2024, unless emission limitations are made more stringent by federal regulations or by the state air pollution control permit issued to that owner or operator by the Department of Health. Sunsets 6/30/2027. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO TECHNOLOGY ENABLEMENT.

Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to assist small businesses, including those related to the tourism sector, with technology enablement. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Adrian K. TamDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Prohibits a procurement officer from disclosing a competing offeror's proposal or evaluation scores, except the summary of scores, during a debriefing requested by a non-selected offeror. Authorizes the disclosure of a competing offeror's proposal or evaluation scores after a protest is resolved and the contract is executed. Effective 1/1/2491. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to submit an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for reentry services to connect offenders with community-based services. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat