Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a refundable Family Caregiver Tax Credit for nonpaid family caregivers. Requires the Department of Taxation to report to the Legislature before the convening of each Regular Session.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE ON AGING.

Establishes a temporary Medi-Medi Project within the Hawaii State Health Insurance Assistance Program administered by the Executive Office on Aging to assist older adults, Medicare beneficiaries, individuals with disabilities, and other underserved populations who may qualify for various low-income subsidy programs to gain access to their benefits. Requires the Executive Office on Aging to submit reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Sharon Y. MoriwakiDemocrat

RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX REDUCTIONS.

Reduces the general excise tax rate on the gross proceeds or income from the sale of groceries that are eligible under the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) or special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC), regardless of the means of purchase and the program eligibility of the purchaser. Reduces the general excise tax rate on the gross proceeds or income from the sale of nonprescription drugs. Requires DBEDT to conduct an economic cost-benefit analysis on the GET reductions.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a Korean Language Program. Appropriates funds.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Allows newly graduated high school students to be eligible for workers' compensation coverage during the summer following their high school graduation while participating in Department of Education-sponsored work-based learning programs.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Prohibits physicians and surgeons from performing certain procedures on individuals born with variations in their physical sex characteristics who are under one year of age, unless the procedure is a surgery required to address an immediate risk of physical harm.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii at Manoa to establish three additional permanent mental health practitioner positions within the Division of Student Success' Counseling and Student Development Center.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

Requires the Department of Health to establish and implement a program to improve and increase support for emergency medical services in the State. Requires the Department of Health to submit reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER CERTIFICATION SUBSIDY PILOT PROGRAM.

Establishes a one-year School Bus Driver Certification Subsidy Pilot Program within the Department of Education for the 20252026 school year. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates fund.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO STUDENT TRANSPORTATION.

Establishes and appropriates funds for student transportation coordinators positions within the Department of Education to strengthen student transportation services across the State.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Requires retail sellers of firearms to provide purchasers with notice regarding the law on firearms storage. Expands the requirements for the secure storage of firearms. Clarifies the offense of criminally negligent storage of a firearm.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

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.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO EXPUNGEMENT.

Authorizes the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center to transmit all expungement orders to the Judiciary to effectuate the purposes of Act 159, SLH 2023.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes a two-year pilot program that, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the Department of Education to provide free school lunch to all students enrolled at a department school. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals on 6/30/2027.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO SHOPLIFTING.

Increases penalties for the offense of theft by means of shoplifting.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO CARE HOMES.

Prohibits the licensing of an adult residential care home, expanded adult residential care home, or developmental disabilities domiciliary home that is financed, managed, operated, supervised, directed, or owned in whole or in part by a person convicted of a gambling offense.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Replaces the five per cent bid preference for bidders for a public works contract with an estimated value of $250,000 or more, who is a party to an apprenticeship agreement registered with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations with a five per cent earned credit that can be applied to certain future public works contract bids for a duration of three years after the chief procurement officer issues the earned credit certificate. Authorizes purchasing agencies to audit and have full access to the books and records of contractors or subcontractors relating to the contractor's compliance with requirements of the earned credit bid preference. Requires contractors and subcontractors to maintain relevant records for three years. Requires the contractor to submit reports as required by the Chief Procurement Officer.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.

Establishes a paid family leave program for state and county employees. Authorizes a qualifying employee to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave for the birth or placement of a child or to care for a family member who has a serious health condition. Requires the employee to agree to subsequently work for the employer for at least 12 weeks upon return to service except under certain conditions.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO IMMIGRATION.

Establishes the Immigration Services Trust Fund to support immigration-related matters within the Office of Community Services. Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to submit annual reports to the Legislature on the accounting of expenditures of the Fund. Appropriates funds.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO IMMIGRATION.

Establishes a Universal Representation in Immigration Proceedings Program within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Office of Community Services to provide access to legal representation, under certain conditions. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO IMMIGRATION.

Establishes a standard for covered educational entities and certain health facilities when interacting with federal immigration authorities regarding civil immigration violations.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

Authorizes emergency medical technicians in the State to administer buprenorphine after the administration of an opioid antagonist during an opioid-related drug overdose response. Requires the Department of Health to adopt rules, allocate resources for EMT training, and coordinate with emergency medical services providers in the State, to incorporate the administration of buprenorphine after the administration of an opioid antagonist as a standard component of emergency medical services' protocols during an opioid-related drug overdose response.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO PERMITS.

Establishes an exemption from applicable county permit requirements for repetitive construction projects for facilities under the control of the Department of Education, University of Hawaii, or School Facilities Authority. Repeals 1/1/2030.

Brandon J.C. ElefanteDemocrat

RELATING TO PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

By 1/1/2028, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a family and medical leave insurance program and begin collecting payroll contributions to finance payment of benefits. By 1/1/2029, requires the Department to start receiving claims and paying benefits under the program. Specifies eligibility requirements and employee protections under the program.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDIA LITERACY.

Authorizes school complexes to incorporate media literacy in their standards-based curriculum, including content that prevents negative impacts of misinformation, disinformation, digital discrimination, and online hate speech.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO EMERGENCY POWERS.

Prohibits the Governor or a Mayor from suspending requests for public records or vital statistics during a declared state of emergency. Allows for a reasonable delay in an agency's response to a request as a result of extenuating circumstances.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes the Kupuna Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Program under the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Requires the Insurance Commissioner to develop comprehensive standards and requirements for condominium associations and developers to obtain property insurance through self-insurance and mutual insurance, and examine and evaluate the feasibility of implementing guaranteed buyback programs and investment-based protection funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO PUPIL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY.

Authorizes the use of motorcoaches, small buses, and vans for student transportation services if certain conditions are met.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO PUPIL TRANSPORTATION.

Authorizes individuals who possess a commercial driver's license with a passenger "P" endorsement to provide pupil transportation student services without also possessing a school bus "S" endorsement in certain circumstances.

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

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 Chapter 201H housing development programs.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE CHILDCARE.

Appropriates funds to the office of the governor for a state childcare facility for state employees and their families.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE RESIDENTIAL LANDLORD-TENANT CODE.

Allows tenants who prevail in a lawsuit for a violation of the Residential Landlord-Tenant Code to be awarded damages, reasonable attorney's fees, and costs of the suit.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO INSURER PRIOR AUTHORIZATION.

Requires health plan insurers to align their prior authorization processes with Medicare policies.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Authorizes physicians to practice at organized ambulatory health care facilities even if the physician does not have hospital privileges at a licensed hospital in the same geographic location as the ambulatory facility. Provides that a written transfer agreement is not required to transfer a patient from an organized ambulatory health care facility to a licensed hospital.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS.

Appropriates funds for the Family Health Services Division of the Department of Health to establish and oversee peer-to-peer support programs for children from birth to age five and their families, including the establishment of two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) program specialist positions.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO EARLY CHILD INTERVENTION.

Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to reclassify certain early intervention specialist positions within the Early Childhood Services Unit in the Department of Health. Appropriates funds for the reclassification of certain positions and establishment of new positions within the early childhood services unit.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO VEHICLE TITLES.

Reduces the period in which a transferee is required to forward the certificate of ownership to the director of finance when a title of vehicle is transferred from thirty days to fourteen days. Allows a letter of attestation to the Director of Finance to act as an endorsed certificate for motor vehicle transfer.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for community schools and a program manager position.

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO IMMIGRATION.

Prohibits certain covered educational entities and Hawaii Health Systems Corporation facilities from collecting information regarding citizenship or immigration status or allowing officers of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enter certain facilities, except under specific circumstances.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO ENTERPRISE ZONES.

Amends the definition of "eligible business activity" for enterprise zone program purposes to include retail sales of tangible personal property manufactured and sold in the enterprise zone that is to be used or consumed by the purchaser and not for resale, the processing of value-added agricultural products grown within an enterprise zone, and the provision of professional services by health care professionals in health care related sectors.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Allows certain undocumented students to be considered residents of the State for the purposes of tuition, financial assistance, and University of Hawaii program participation under certain conditions.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION OF AVIATION FUEL.

Imposes a state carbon emissions tax of $6.25 per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions on all aviation fuel. Directs the aviation fuel tax into the airport revenue fund. Implements a tax credit to mitigate the effects of this tax on lower income taxpayers. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/24.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO VITAL STATISTICS.

Beginning 1/1/2026, allows a qualified applicant to change their sex designation on their birth certificate. Establishes information required for an applicant to change their sex designation on their birth certificate. Requires the Department of Health to create and make available necessary forms.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT REFORM.

Requires a law enforcement officer who observes criminal misconduct by another law enforcement officer to report the criminal misconduct. Requires passage of a psychological screening test battery to qualify for appointment as a law enforcement officer. Subjects a law enforcement officer to denial, suspension, or revocation of a law enforcement officer's certification for failure to report observed criminal misconduct or committing an act of criminal misconduct. Prohibits the use of a chokehold by a law enforcement officer unless the use of deadly force is justifiable. Defines "chokehold".

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES.

Adds a minimum penalty of $50 per violation of the State Water Code and makes each day that a violation exists or continues a separate offense. Requires the Commission on Water Resource Management to determine the amount of the penalty based on the circumstances of the violation.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO COVERED OFFENDER REGISTRATION.

Amends covered offender registration laws to include offenders who, while acting in a professional capacity, commit the offense of sexual assault in the fourth degree against a minor who is at least sixteen years old. Provides that the exception to public access requirements does not apply when the covered offense was committed against a minor.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Expands the time period within which a county legislative body must approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove housing projects the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation develops or assists under a government assistance program from forty-five days to ninety days.

Carol FukunagaDemocrat

RELATING TO REGULATION OF LICENSED OCCUPATIONS.

Requires professional licensees to report any legal claim, action, or administrative complaint to state licensing boards and requires the boards to review the reported complaint. Requires the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to review its procedures and report to the Legislature.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE FREEDOM TO READ.

Requires the Department of Education to select materials for inclusion, circulation, and exclusion in school library collections according to certain criteria. Requires the Department of Education to uphold the freedom to read. Prohibits the Department of Education from excluding books based on certain criteria. Requires the State Librarian to select materials for inclusion, circulation, and exclusion in school library collections according to certain criteria. Requires the State Librarian to uphold the freedom to read. Prohibits the State Librarian from excluding books based on certain criteria.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat