Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Authorizes governmental bodies and public employees to procure project management services through non-governmental third-party contracts under certain conditions. Appropriates funds to establish a Special Project Branch within the Public Works Division of the Department of Accounting and General Services. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL DISTRICTS.

Requires condominium maps for lands within an agricultural district to include a letter signed by an appropriate county official or agency certifying that the condominium property regime will conform to county zoning laws. Requires an application for registration of a project in an agricultural district larger than ten acres to include certain additional information. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS.

Establishes the universal school meals special fund to accept deposits of Medicaid reimbursements received by the Department of Education.

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE HOUSING.

Requires state agencies that administer agricultural leases, licenses, development programs, or procurement involving agricultural products to award points or preferences to agricultural projects incorporating agricultural workforce housing. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to submit a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Transportation to install pedestrian safety improvements at sites abutting school properties, with consideration for other sites. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE MINIMUM WAGE.

Amends the minimum monthly guaranteed compensation an individual must earn to be exempt from certain wage and hour requirements. Requires the minimum wage to increase to $18.00 per hour beginning 1/1/2027, instead of 1/1/2028. Increases the minimum wage on 1/1/2028, 1/1/2029, and 1/1/2030. Prohibits tipped employees from being paid less than the minimum wage.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO CARE HOMES.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to establish a Central Oahu Care Home Community Resilience Pilot Program to assist eligible care home facilities to implement structural and operational resilience improvements. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO PROTECTED COMMUNITY LOCATIONS.

Establishes statewide standards for state and county agencies, officers, and employees, and recipients of state funds, to limit participation in civil immigration enforcement in or near protected community locations that provide state-funded services related to education, physical or mental health, social services such as shelter care or food assistance, or access to justice, including schools, health care facilities, libraries, shelters, and places of worship. Requires the Department of Education, State Public Charter School Commission, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Hawaii State Public Library System, and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to adopt and post written policies, provide annual staff training, and maintain data privacy protections. Appropriates funds for implementation by the Attorney General.

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.

Establishes a Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program at the University of Hawaii. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Rachele LamosaoDemocrat

RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.

Appropriates funds for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to increase access to bilingual resources and services for residents with limited English proficiency.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE MILITARY AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism through the Military and Community Relations Office to strengthen intergovernmental coordination for military and defense activities. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO FIRE RISK MITIGATION.

Establishes the Fire Risk Management and Safety Documentation Pilot Program to promote condominium fire safety. Establishes the Fire Risk Management and Safety Documentation Working Group to oversee the Fire Risk Management and Safety Documentation Pilot Program. Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to provide administrative support to the Fire Risk Mitigation and Safety Documentation Working Group. Appropriates funds.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO ENCAMPMENTS.

Prohibits the erection, placement, construction, or maintenance of an encampment within one hundred feet from the property line of a pre-K-12 public or private school or school facility on public or private property.

Samantha DeCorteRepublican

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Establishes a Health Care for All Hawaii Board to design and recommend the Health Care for All Hawaii plan that is publicly funded and available to every resident of the State. Establishes values and principles for the board in developing its plan, designates the scope of the plan, requires the board to establish an advisory committee to provide consumer perspective input, and requires the board to submit the plan to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2027.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL.

Designates the Statewide Independent Living Council of Hawaii as the State's statewide independent living council to comply with federal requirements.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Requires the Department of Human Services to adjust the minimum certification periods for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits households, participate in the Elderly Simplified Application Project, and report to the Legislature. Implementation effective 7/1/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO HOSPITAL DISCHARGE DATA.

Establishes a statewide system for the collection, audit, and public release of de‑identified hospital discharge data. Requires the State Health Planning and Development Agency to convene a Hospital Discharge Data Working Group. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.

Establishes a Royal Mausoleum Commission within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop and implement policy for the preservation, operation, and outreach of Mauna ʻAla. Requires the Royal Mausoleum Commission to report annually to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO LABELING REQUIREMENTS.

Establishes labeling requirements for ʻōkolehao products. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT PROTESTS.

Requires the forfeiture of half of the cash or protest bond for review of procurement-related disputes if the initiating party does not prevail in an administrative proceeding and the Office of Administrative Hearings finds that the appeal was made in bad faith. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

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

RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Prohibits the Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Taxation, and Department of the Attorney General from appointing or employing certain former United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol agents and employees as law enforcement officers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO CLIMATE PLANNING.

Amends the leadership, membership, powers, and duties of the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission. Establishes the powers and duties of the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission Coordinator. Beginning after 12/31/2026, requires all department and agency plans and decisions to consider recommendations made by the Commission and Coordinator. Appropriates funds for positions and other expenses. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSERVATION.

Establishes the Hawaii Conservation Sanctuary as a nonprofit entity to protect and expand populations of endangered species and other native wildlife in the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.

Appropriates funds to be expended by the Department of Health as a grant for the Hawaii Primary Care Association to support solar-plus-storage microgrid implementation at community health centers in medically underserved communities, and provide programmatic services, project management, contract management, reporting and fiscal stewardship responsibilities, and developing future scalable plans for the development and deployment of solar-plus-storage microgrids at nonprofit community health centers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO CURRENCY.

Authorizes cash transactions to be rounded up or down to the nearest five cents, except for cash transactions that total $0.01 or $0.02, which are to be rounded up to $0.05. Exempts transactions in which payment is made by demand or negotiable instrument, electronic fund transfer, check, gift card, money order, credit card, or other like instrument or method. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes the Hawaii Agricultural Transportation Assistance Program, to consist of a reimbursement program and a grant program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, to assist certain farmers and livestock producers with transportation costs for agricultural products, inputs, supplies, and production and distribution of agricultural commodities. Establishes the Hawaii Agricultural Transportation Assistance Special Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM-EDUCATION PROGRAM.

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience and the Department of Health to continue their implementation of the Hawaii Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education Program.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO REGIONAL AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION.

Establishes the Regional Agricultural Feasibility and Food Systems Production Studies Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to provide coordinated, region-specific agricultural production and crop feasibility analysis across the State. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2028.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO SOLID WASTE.

Requires municipal solid waste combustor ash to be disposed of only in a double-lined landfill, except for in Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill cells constructed and in use by 12/31/2025. Beginning 12/31/2026, prohibits the reuse of municipal solid waste incinerator ash for use as daily landfill cover material, roadbuilding, fill, or construction material.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO THE COSMETOLOGY LICENSURE COMPACT.

Authorizes the Governor to enter into a Cosmetology Licensure Compact on behalf of the State to provide a streamlined process that allows cosmetologists to obtain a multistate license enabling them to practice cosmetology in another state without obtaining a separate license under the laws of that state. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules to implement and administer the Compact.

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO ATHLETE AGENTS.

Prohibits any person from providing advisory, negotiation, or procurement assistance to or on behalf of a student athlete relating to endorsements; promotional or marketing services; appearances; autographs; social media branding; content creation or distribution; licensing of publicity rights; brand development, sponsorship, or promotional arrangements; or agreements related to the name, image, or likeness of the student athlete, without being a registered athlete agent in the State and having a valid agency contract executed in compliance with applicable law. (SD1)

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires that the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board submit three nominees for its Executive Director to the Board of Education. Requires the Board of Education to appoint an Executive Director from the nominees on the list, subject to advice and consent of the Senate. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Affirms student-athletes' rights to engage in name, image, and likeness activities for compensation. Requires the University of Hawaii to adopt policies governing institutional name, image, and likeness agreements and other aspects of name, image, and likeness activity consistent with federal law, rules by an intercollegiate athletics governing body such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and Title IX. Requires the University to provide independent advisors to student-athletes. Establishes certain transparency and accountability requirements in the administration of institutional name, image, and likeness activities. Provides protections and educational support for student-athletes who enter into name, image, and likeness agreements. Sunsets 6/30/2030. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Donna Mercado KimDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND STAFF SALARIES.

Authorizes the Board of Trustees of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to establish the salary for an assistant administrator of the Trust Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT ACTIONS.

Requires any law enforcement officer acting under color of law in a public space or on state or county property to remain visibly identifiable. Prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while performing their duties, with certain exceptions. Requires law enforcement officers to wear apparel and use vehicles that bear conspicuous markings of the applicable law enforcement agency. Requires all civil law enforcement activity that involves participation by state or county law enforcement officers or occurs on state or county property to be conducted in a manner that adheres to specified standards. Deems certain locations to be service-first spaces and requires them to have clear, narrowly tailored procedures with respect to civil immigration actions. Requires all state and county agencies to adopt policies that limit the collection, retention, and sharing of immigration-related personal data. Requires all interagency data exchanges between state agencies, county agencies, or state and county agencies to operate under auditable agreements. Requires all state and county agencies to report annually to the Legislature and Governor regarding the civil-immigration-related requests. Requires every state and county agency to adopt a policy that prohibits immigration-based harassment or threats, including unwarranted verification of an individual's immigration status, with respect to employment or the provision of services to the public. Requires all state and county law enforcement officers to monitor civil immigration enforcement activity by activating body cameras when present in a situation in which United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are interacting with a member of the general public.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE NINTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT.

Appropriates funds for capital improvement projects in the 9th senatorial district.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY.

Requires the Advisory Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority to be composed of seven, rather than twelve, members. Requires the Governor to appoint members to the Advisory Board from lists provided by certain organizations representing the tourism industry.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO CASINO GAMING.

Authorizes limited casino gaming in the State at a single casino facility located in the Stadium Development District. Establishes the Hawaii Gaming Control Commission. Authorizes the Commission to adopt rules. Authorizes the Commission to issue one 20-year casino license to one licensee for the development and operation of the casino facility. Establishes application procedures and requirements for the casino license, supplier's license, and occupational license. Allows the Commission to establish procedures for the issuance of a liquor license for the casino licensee. Requires annual reports to the Governor and Legislature. Establishes the Wagering Tax and the disposition of revenues therefrom, including allocations to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and Department of Education. Establishes the State Gaming Fund. Requires the Commission to establish a Compulsive Gamblers Program. Requires the Auditor to perform periodic audits of the Commission. Appropriates funds.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 12 AND 13, OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO EXPRESSLY PROVIDE THAT THE LEGISLATURE MAY AUTHORIZE THE COUNTIES TO ISSUE TAX INCREMENT BONDS AND TO EXCLUDE TAX INCREMENT BONDS FROM DETERMINATIONS OF THE FUNDED DEBT OF THE COUNTIES.

Proposes amendments to the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to expressly provide that the Legislature may authorize, by general law, political subdivisions, such as counties, to issue tax increment bonds and to exclude tax increment bonds in calculating the debt limit of the political subdivisions.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO TAX INCREMENT BONDS.

Conforms county debt limit statements law to permit counties to exclude tax increment bonds from the debt limit of the counties if a constitutional amendment authorizing the use of tax increment bonds and excluding tax increment bonds from determinations of the counties' funded debt is ratified.

Glenn WakaiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Requires the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to establish the Small Business Innovation Research Matching Program. Requires the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, in collaboration with the Department of Education, to establish a STEM education outreach program. Requires and appropriates funds for the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to develop an economic diversification strategic plan. Appropriates funds for economic diversification and defense ecosystem development.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES.

Requires the Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Office of Wellness and Resilience, to design a 4-year Child Welfare System Diversion and Intervention Pilot Program to support families and children involved or at risk of involvement or reinvolvement with child welfare services. Specifies that the Department of Human Services shall implement and administer the pilot program. Allows the Department to contract with public and private entities to provide necessary services. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

Exempts certain positions in the Developmental Disabilities Division of the Department of Health and Hawaii State Hospital from civil service. Authorizes the Director of Health to appoint two additional associate administrators and two project managers for the Hawaii State Hospital or a secure psychiatric rehabilitation facility.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICS.

Establishes the Community Behavioral Health Clinic Certifying Office to certify community behavioral health clinics and provide technical assistance for clinics seeking certification. Establishes the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Oversight Board. Establishes the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Special Fund. Amends the composition of the Advisory Commission on Drug Abuse and Controlled Substances and State Council on Mental Health to include a member from the Community Behavioral Health Clinic Certifying Office. Appropriates funds.

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO CANNABIS.

Beginning January 1, 2027, legalizes low-dose and low-potency cannabis for personal adult use by persons over the age of twenty-one, including cultivation of a certain quantity of plants at a private residence. Legalizes cannabis accessories. Requires the Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation to adopt rules to effectuate the legalization of low-dose and low-potency cannabis. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA

RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to develop and implement a plan to reduce the State's total homeless population by at least twenty-five per cent by 1/1/2028, measured against the 2026 point-in-time count. Requires any funding request by the Office after fiscal year 2026-2027 to be based on the plan. Requires the appointment of the Coordinator on Homelessness to be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services for the funding of the Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons Program under the Ohana Zones Program, and for the expenses of the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions. Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to conduct a survey on statewide homelessness. (SD1)

SAN BUENAVENTURA (Introduced by request of another party)