Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME.

Requires the Department of Human Services to automatically enroll, or authorize the Social Security Administration to automatically enroll, in the State's Medicaid program any individual in the State who receives federal Supplemental Security Income benefits. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE.

Establishes a Child Welfare Services Branch (CWS) Oversight Commission within the Department of the Attorney General to review and assess case management procedures, training, staffing levels and other support given to CWS and address issues identified in the 2024 Auditor's Report on CWS and make recommendations on actions to reduce child harm and death and for legislation, funding, and other needs for CWS to support the goals of the Commission. Requires annual status reports to the Legislature. Dissolves the Commission on 6/30/2028. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO CRIMINAL STREET GANGS.

Establishes the offense of criminal street gang participation, solicitation, recruitment, or retention. Provides for enhanced penalties for crimes committed by a defendant while part of a criminal street gang.

Samantha DeCorteRepublican

RELATING TO HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATIONS.

Requires condominiums and planned community associations to issue monthly damage and repair reports, have a reserve study done every 3 years, have a fully funded reserve, and only spend reserve funds to maintain the property.

Samantha DeCorteRepublican

RELATING TO AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR.

Provides access by owners of motor vehicles and independent repair facilities to motor vehicle manufacturer diagnostic and repair information and diagnostic repair tools otherwise made available to dealers.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT RECORDS.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires all government records required to be open to public inspection under the Uniform Information Practices Act to be made available in a disability-accessible format upon request. Requires the Governor, Chief Justice, and Mayor of each county to designate at least one agency within their respective government unit as a converting agency responsible for converting government records into a disability-accessible format. Establishes the process by which government records shall be converted into disability-accessible format upon request. Allows the converting agencies to consult with the Disability Communications Access Board. Requires the Office of Information Practices, Judiciary, and each county to adopt rules, regulations, or ordinances, including a provision that extends the time within which an agency must respond to requests for government records by 5 business days for records in disability-accessible formats, with exceptions for records pertaining to board meetings. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO PROPERTY RIGHTS.

Establishes a procedure for immediately removing an unlawful occupant of a dwelling or premises with assistance from law enforcement. Provides that an unlawful occupant of a dwelling or premises is civilly liable for unpaid utility bills. Provides that a person who trespasses in or upon a dwelling or premises and intentionally or knowingly damages property in an amount exceeding $999 commits a felony of criminal property damage in the second degree. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to develop, publish, and make available a complaint form to remove unlawful occupants of residential dwellings.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO DYNAMIC PRICING.

Prohibits retailers from using dynamic pricing in the sale of food that is sold, or qualifies to be sold, as part of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Special Supplemental Foods Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Establishes fines.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires Medicaid and private insurance coverage of ambulance services and community paramedicine services rendered statewide by emergency medical technicians or paramedics. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII'S SPACE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING INITIATIVE.

Appropriates funds for salaries and fringe benefits of positions for the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy's Space Science and Engineering Initiative Workforce Development Program, Maunakea Scholars Program, and Internship Program. Appropriates funds for office equipment and supplies, operational costs, and stipends for the Maunakea Scholars Program and Internship Program.

III RichardsDemocrat

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.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE.

Establishes a 1-year Physician Licensing Subsidy Pilot Program within the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to provide subsidized licensing fees for eligible medical school graduates and out-of-state physicians applying for initial licensure in the State. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to collaborate with the Department of Health, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, and other stakeholders to promote the pilot program; adopt rules; and submit a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2026.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS.

Provides that a survey of the land to be set aside shall not be a condition precedent to the setting aside of public lands to any department or agency of the State.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO LAND USE.

Authorizes rodeos on lands that are zoned for agricultural use.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO THE NORTH KOHALA KYNNERSLY EAST SITE LAND PARCEL.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to the Agricultural Development Corporation for the purchase of the North Kohala Kynnersly East Site Land Parcel for agricultural development.

III RichardsDemocrat

RELATING TO SPECIAL MANAGEMENT AREAS.

Designates each county as the special management area authority within the county's respective jurisdiction. Makes conforming amendments.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE ARCHIVES.

Establishes the State Archives Relocation Task Force to make recommendations on a new location for the state archives building.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES.

Establishes the DLNRTip application as the official electronic platform for persons to report natural resource violations to the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement. Creates statutory requirements regarding the design and maintenance of the DLNRTip application. Require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to ensure that all information submitted through the DLNRTip application is continuously monitored to facilitate timely enforcement responses. Requires annual reports. Authorizes 1.0 full-time equivalent position. Appropriates moneys.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO THE SCHOOL FACILITIES AUTHORITY.

Changes the qualifications and appointment process for members of the School Facilities Authority Board.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO MARINA RESTORATION.

Establishes a procedure for the Board of Land and Natural Resources to lease fast lands and submerged lands that were destroyed by an event triggering a Presidential Disaster Declaration.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Provides that a tax credit for low-income housing that exceeds the taxpayer's income tax liability for a taxable year may be used as a credit against the taxpayer's income tax liability in subsequent taxable years, but not after the tenth subsequent taxable year.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO ENERGY.

Expands the types of water heater systems that may satisfy the relevant requirement for the issuance of a building permit for new single-family dwellings to include ENERGY STAR certified heat pump water heaters.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO GOVERNMENT PROPERTY.

Transfers from the Department of Land and Natural Resources certain state boating facilities on Maui to the County of Maui with the corresponding revenue from those harbors. Appropriates funds.

Angus L.K. McKelveyDemocrat

RELATING TO ELECTRIC BICYCLES.

Requires all riders of a high-speed electric bicycle who are under 18 years of age or in a restraining seat or trailer towed by the bicycle to wear a safety helmet. Requires licensure of high-speed electric bicycle operators. Defines "high-speed electric bicycle."

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Grants the Public Utilities Commission the ability to authorize preferential rates for the purchase of renewable energy from facilities that meet certain prevailing wage requirements. Requires public utilities to forward certain requests for preferential rates to the PUC for approval. Appropriates funds.

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

RELATED TO TOXIC CHEMICALS.

Establishes a temporary working group in the Office of the Governor to investigate the existence and environmental dangers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and related chemicals. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires waste combustion facility owners to implement continuous monitoring and sampling technologies for the purposes of collecting data regarding emissions. Establishes a publicly available website hosted by the Department of Health that will track and display data collected on emissions. Requires the DOH to adjust permit limits for air contaminants based on emissions data collected. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO SOCIAL WORK.

Requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services, to develop and establish a social work training program to assist nonviolent incarcerated individuals in the area of social work. Requires progress reports on the program to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Authorizes the Department of Education to establish a recognition program to incentivize schools to submit to the Department a plan for the school to reach the local farm to school meal goal of thirty per cent of food served in the school to consist of locally sourced products by 2030. Requires public high schools under the Department of Education to provide plantbased meals as an option under the school meals program.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO ALLOWANCE ON SERVICE RETIREMENTS.

Adds definitions for certain Department of Law Enforcement employees. Establishes guidance for the computation of retirement benefits for the Director of Law Enforcement, Deputy Director of the Department of Law Enforcement, Sheriff Division Investigator, Sheriff, and Department of Law Enforcement Investigator.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO ESTABLISH A CONTINUOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

Establishes a continuous Legislature. Requires the Legislature to convene at least once each month. Repeals language regarding special sessions, adjournment, and recesses. Creates a 2-year deadline for a bill to be submitted for gubernatorial consideration. Standardizes the number of days that the Governor must approve or veto a bill submitted for consideration. Requires the passage of the legislative budget within 45 days before the end of each fiscal year. Prohibits members of the legislature from holding any position of employment in the private sector during their term. Authorizes members to serve in the United States military reserves, National Guard, or hold any lawful position of government employment, subject to certain current ethical limitations. Establishes salaries of the members of the Legislature pursuant to recommendations by the Commission on Salaries submitted during the 2028 regular session, unless those recommendations are amended by law.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

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.

Lynn DeCoiteDemocrat

RELATING TO FIREARMS POSSESSION.

Requires individuals denied a firearm permit or otherwise disqualified from possessing firearms and certain defendants to provide a sworn statement that the individual has disposed of any firearms and ammunition in the individual's possession. Requires the applicable chief of police to search firearm permit and registration records for those individuals before serving a protective order or restraining order involving firearms or ammunition, and to seize any firearms or ammunition that were not disposed of. Requires police to seize firearms and ammunition in domestic abuse cases that are in plain view of the officer or discovered by consensual search.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO BAIL.

Requires judges to make certain findings regarding a defendant's ability to afford bail.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires suppliers of water in the State to adjust the level of fluoride in its public water system in conformance with a standard published by the Board of Water Supply of each county until the issuance of a proclamation by the Governor declaring the date on which all residents of the State have either obtained or affirmatively rejected dental insurance coverage and provide a certified copy to the Revisor of Statutes. Requires the Department of Health to provide suppliers of water with technical assistance and training and submit annual status reports to the Legislature regarding the public water systems' status of compliance with the fluoride adjustment requirement. Allows the Department of Health to reimburse suppliers of water for necessary expenses incurred for compliance. Requires the Department of Health to monitor dental insurance coverage of the State's residents, submit annual status reports to the Legislature, and upon confirmation that all residents of the State have either obtained or affirmatively rejected dental insurance coverage, submit a written verification to the Governor. Requires the Governor to issue a proclamation. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE INSURANCE.

Requires insurers to notify the Insurance Commissioner of all existing motor vehicle insurance policies and whenever the insurer issues, cancels, terminates, or does not renew a motor vehicle insurance policy. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to use the insurance policy information to create an electronic database to provide law enforcement and the courts with instant insurance verification. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO SHORELINE SETBACKS.

Increases shoreline setback requirements.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Requires the independent medical examination and permanent impairment rating examination of an injured employee under the Workers' Compensation Law to be conducted by a qualified physician selected by the mutual agreement of the parties and paid for by the employer. In absence of a mutual agreement, requires the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to appoint a duly qualified impartial physician to be paid by the employer.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) to consider as a preference under chapter 201H, HRS, the proximity between the housing location and the applicant's place of employment; whether the applicant is a state or county employee; and whether the applicant is a returning resident that left the State to attend a university, college, or trade school and has graduated within the past two years. Requires, for any project developed or administered by the HHFDC under chapter 201, HRS, the HHFDC to set aside as a matter of preference an undetermined per cent of available units for state or county employees, when feasible. Requires HHFDC to determine the order of preferences and rank applicants accordingly, select applicants based on application date within the pool of similarly ranked applicants, and validate the preference status of applicants before occupancy of a unit. Authorizes HHFDC to adopt rules to establish additional eligibility criteria.

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES.

Establishes a Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Fee Program to be administered by the Department of Health that, beginning 7/1/2026, imposes a fee on the distribution and sale of sugar-sweetened beverages in the State. Establishes the Healthy Ohana Special Fund into which revenues generated from the sugar-sweetened beverage fee are deposited. Establishes the Healthy Ohana Trust Fund in the private sector to receive revenues from the Healthy Ohana Special Fund to support prevention and control of obesity and chronic diseases. Allows the Department to contract with a third party to administer the program. Requires the Auditor to conduct a management and financial audit of the program and submit reports to the Legislature. Establishes the Healthy Ohana Trust Fund Advisory Committee to advise the Department on the administration of the trust fund. Requires the Department to adopt interim rules no later than 6/30/2026, and final rules no later than 12/31/2027. Establishes civil penalties. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Karl RhoadsDemocrat

RELATING TO EQUITY.

Requires all places of public accommodation and public entity constructions constructed after 7/31/2026, to provide universal changing accommodations that are equally accessible regardless of gender.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to provide health insurance through Medicaid's Children's Health Insurance Program to income-qualified children and pregnant persons regardless of their immigration status.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to provide Medicaid coverage under the Children's Health Insurance Program for income-qualified pregnant persons and children who are otherwise ineligible due to their immigration status.

Henry J.C. AquinoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE PRESCHOOL OPEN DOORS PROGRAM.

Expands the preschool open door program's eligibility criteria. Repeals the requirement that open door program providers be accredited.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY FOR CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS.

Authorizes and appropriates moneys for the Board of Psychology to grant prescriptive authority to clinical psychologists who meet specific education, training, and registration requirements. Requires the Board of Psychology to accept applications for prescriptive authority privilege beginning 7/1/2026. Requires the Board of Psychology to report to the Legislature.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO LAVA ZONE INSURANCE.

Establishes a Lava Zone Insurance Fund to subsidize the cost of insurance premiums for properties in lava zones 1 and 2. Defines lava zones 1 and 2. Appropriates funds.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO EXCITED DELIRIUM.

Prohibits excited delirium from being recognized as a valid medical diagnosis or cause of death in the State. Prohibits a local health officer or local agent of the Department of Health from stating on a certificate of death or in any report that the cause of death was excited delirium. Prohibits law enforcement officers from using the term excited delirium to describe an individual in an incident report. Establishes a new rule of evidence that deems evidence that a person experienced or suffered an excited delirium inadmissible in a civil action.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE I OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND PROTECT THE INHERENT AND INALIENABLE RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE TO CLEAN WATER AND AIR, A HEALTHFUL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE, HEALTHY NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS, AND BEACHES.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure that the inherent and inalienable right of the people, including future generations, to clean water and air, a healthful environment and climate, healthy native ecosystems, and beaches, shall be protected and shall not be infringed.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Appropriates funds for the agricultural loan program to offer loans with an interest rate cap of four per cent; a line of credit program with a prevailing interest rate; and loans with an interest rate cap of three per cent for new farmers that commit to growing import replacement crops and farm-to-state programs.

Mike GabbardDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT.

Permanently increases the state earned income tax credit to fifty per cent of the federal earned income tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2024.

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat