Bills & Legislation

RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES.

Establishes the offense of criminal destruction of a tree on state or county property, punishable as a misdemeanor. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Chris LeeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM'S EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS FOR NORMAL COST AND ACCRUED LIABILITY.

Increases employer contribution rate for normal cost and accrued liability for police officers, firefighters, and corrections officers to ensure that the amortization period for the unfunded accrued liability of the State's Employees' Retirement System does not exceed the maximum funding period. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO LEAD MATERIALS IN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.

Amends prohibitions on the use of lead materials in drinking water distribution to align with the Safe Drinking Water Act and related Code of Federal Regulations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S AUTHORITY TO REGULATE FOOD, DRUGS, AND COSMETICS.

Removes duplicative food-related statutory material and aligns all food-related provisions under chapter 328, HRS. Ensures adequate statutory authority for permits, fees, inspections, and enforcement. On 6/30/2027, repeals the Sanitation and Environmental Health Special Fund and transfers any unexpended or unencumbered balance to the newly established Food Safety and Environmental Health Special Fund. Makes conforming amendments. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Removes county-specific expenditure restrictions for funds in the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to assess the procurement of the operator of the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program. Requires the Department of Transportation to reissue procurement for the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program every five years. Requires unencumbered and unexpended revenues from the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund in excess of a certain amount as of June 30 of each year to lapse to the general fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Authorizes the use of the University of Hawaii Tuition and Fees Special Fund to conduct donor evaluations. Requires the related report to the Legislature to include any donor evaluations conducted using moneys from the fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Donovan M. Dela CruzDemocrat

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. (HD2)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat

RELATING TO HUMAN REMAINS.

Requires any cemetery, crematory, funeral establishment, hydrolysis facility, or mortuary to dispose of the remains of a dead human body no later than sixty days from the later of either the date a burial‑transit permit has been issued or the date of an affidavit for amendment of the permit has been submitted. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Jenna TakenouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Repeals the authorization of a physician to transmit a treatment plan by mail or facsimile to an address or facsimile number provided by the employer. Requires employers denying a treatment plan to file a written denial with the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations within seven days of receipt. Places the burden of proof on the employer to establish by a preponderance of medical evidence that the denial of the treatment plan is justified. Establishes a presumption that a denial of a treatment plan not supported by a medical opinion or relevant medical records existing at the time of denial shall be without reasonable grounds. Clarifies that a treatment plan is deemed accepted if an employer fails to file a written denial within the seven-day period. Requires employers to pay the appropriate health care provider for any medical care set forth in a treatment plan that is accepted or deemed accepted. Establishes penalties for employers whom the Director found to have denied a treatment plan without reasonable grounds, frivolously, or primarily for purposes of delay, or to have failed to pay for an injured employee's medical care under an accepted treatment plan. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.

Prohibits entities from distributing unsolicited mail or electronic mail that employs high pressure tactics or is reasonably likely to cause a consumer to believe that the sender is affiliated with another entity that the sender is not actually affiliated with and the entity is asking the recipient to pay for goods, services, or forms of legal authorization, unless certain disclosures are met. Makes contracts that fail to meet disclosure requirements voidable at the option of the consumer. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Authorizes an attending physician to request a functional capacity examination and refer an injured employee for the examination without first obtaining permission from the employee's employer in order to assess the employee's ability to return to work. Allows licensed occupational and physical therapists to be deemed qualified to perform functional capacity examinations. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Scot Z. MatayoshiDemocrat

RELATING TO SENTENCING.

Limits the maximum term of imprisonment for misdemeanors that are not crimes of violence, or for offenses that are not crimes of violence punishable by up to or not exceeding one year, to three hundred sixty-four days. Allows individuals previously sentenced to a one-year term of imprisonment for an offense that is not a crime of violence to apply to the court for a sentence modification to conform to the new limit. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

David A. TarnasDemocrat

RELATING TO CIVIL IDENTIFICATION.

Lowers the age to obtain a state civil identification card without a signature from a parent or guardian from eighteen years old to sixteen years old. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY.

Part I: Requires drivers approaching stationary vehicles displaying warning signals to slow down to a reasonable and prudent speed and make a lane change if possible and safe to do so or come to a complete stop 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. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Darius K. KilaDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Amends, for purposes of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation's Rent-to-Own Program, the period during which the sales price of a dwelling unit is required to remain fixed from 5 years to a period of up to 10 years. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Limits mixed-use developments to transit-oriented developments that include housing along a locally preferred alternative for a mass transit system. Repeals the sunset date of Act 45, SLH 2024, thereby making permanent the authority of the counties to share in facilitating the development, construction, financing, refinancing, or other provision of mixed-use developments, including low- and moderate-income housing projects, and issue county bonds before 7/1/2033 for this purpose. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Luke A. EvslinDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.

Adjusts and requests appropriations for fiscal biennium 2025‑2027 funding requirements for operations and capital improvement projects of Executive Branch agencies and programs. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO CHARITABLE SOLICITATION.

Beginning 1/1/2027: establishes prompt payment and financial reporting requirements for professional solicitors that sell donated or collected non-perishable tangible property on behalf of charitable organizations and prohibits these professional solicitors from failing to visibly display certain signage; comply with prompt payment, financial reporting, and contract term requirements; or prominently disclose certain information on any collection bin, container, or receptacle used to receive donated or collected property. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Tyson K. MiyakeDemocrat

RELATING TO THE STATE FOUNDATION ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS.

Explicitly applies existing grant standards to Performing Arts Grants Program grants under the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Effective 7/13/2085. (SD1)

Jeanne KapelaDemocrat

RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS.

Allows small condominium associations with a building or buildings of no more than two stories to waive the requirement for the reserve study to be reviewed by an independent reserve study preparer if a majority of unit owners at a meeting approve the waiver and certain other requirements are met, but prohibits associations from waiving this requirement for consecutive three-year periods. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO VISAS.

Establishes uniform statewide requirements for policies and processes for the issuance of U and T visa certifications for noncitizen victims of crime that are consistent with federal laws and regulations governing U and T visas. Requires each state and county certifying entity to adopt a policy and process for the issuance of U and T visa certifications, consistent with those statewide requirements. Appropriates funds for the Department of the Attorney General to provide training to certifying entities and certifying officials on all federal and state requirements for U and T visa certifications. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

Greggor IlaganDemocrat

RELATING TO VITAL STATISTICS.

Amends the various requirements in the event of a fetal death, including registration of certain fetal deaths, filing and preparation of a certificate of fetal death, and issuance of a permit for removal, burial, or other disposition. (SD1)

Gregg TakayamaDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HAWAII SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

Designates the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Exempts state funds received by the State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra from chapter 42F, Hawaii Revised Statutes. (SD1)

Sean QuinlanDemocrat

RELATING TO FAMILY.

Establishes an exemption from mediation in parentage proceedings where there are allegations of domestic abuse. Clarifies the exemption from mediation in divorce proceedings as it relates to domestic abuse. (SD1)

Daisy HartsfieldDemocrat

RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS.

Increases the expenditure limit and the amount of partial public campaign financing available for all elective offices. Adjusts the minimum amount of qualifying contributions certain candidates must receive to participate in the Partial Public Campaign Financing Program. Increases the matching fund payments for excess qualifying contributions. Appropriates funds for the Program. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO JURY DUTY.

Increases the amount each juror or prospective juror is paid for each day of actual attendance at court. Appropriates funds. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO ISLAND BURIAL COUNCILS.

Extends the time to fill vacancies that occur during an Island Burial Council member's term. Provides per diem compensation in the form of a stipend for Island Burial Council members representing geographic regions. Adjusts the Island Burial Councils' quorum for business to be a majority of the appointed council members, but no fewer than three members. Effective 9/9/2129. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO DOG ATTACKS.

Clarifies owner liability and increases penalties and enforcement mechanisms for dog attacks on livestock occurring on land or premises within the agricultural district. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Matthias KuschDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Requires the University of Hawaii System to collect, maintain, and publish standardized program-level data for each academic program offered. Requires maintenance of an online dashboard with program-level data. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Andrew Takuya GarrettDemocrat

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Authorizes the University of Hawaii to engage in enterprise-related activities for educational purposes exempt from certain county zoning requirements, under certain circumstances. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Justin H. WoodsonDemocrat

RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish a Biosecurity Government-Industry Working Group. Clarifies that the Department and the counties, including officers, employees, and authorized agents of the Department and counties, shall not be liable for costs relating to the entering of private property to control and eradicate pests. Allows the use of certain monofilament netting for the protection of plants against invasive species. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to establish rules allowing the sale and distribution of fine mesh nets, including monofilament netting, in the State to protect plants from the coconut rhinoceros beetle. (SD2)

Kirstin KahaloaDemocrat

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL GRANT ADMINISTRATION.

Establishes the Agricultural Grant Program and Agricultural Grant Revolving Fund for the purposes of grant application, execution, reporting, and auditing to be administered by the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Appropriates funds out of the Agricultural Grant Revolving Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO FUNDING ADJUSTMENTS FOR STATE PROGRAMS.

Appropriates general funds to various programs due to anticipated operating shortfalls because of the lack of authority to transfer funds between programs. Appropriates moneys to certain programs for operations in FY26-27. Lapses moneys from the State Risk Management Revolving Fund to the general fund. Appropriates moneys into and out of the major disaster fund to address flood disaster recovery and response costs. (SD2)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE HARM TO STUDENTS REGISTRY.

Clarifies the scope of the Department of Education's harm to students registry by excluding K-12 students and by providing that contractors and volunteers are included only if their roles involves interaction with students. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROCUREMENT.

Adjusts the applicability of Act 134, SLH 2025, to clarify the threshold for Department of Education procurement of local edible produce and packaged food products. Prohibits the artificial division and parceling of DOE procurements of local edible produce and packaged food products. Sunsets 6/30/2028. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE KANEOHE BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to provide administrative support to the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council. Requires the chairperson of the Council to be selected by the voting members from among all voting and nonvoting members on an annual and rotating basis. Requires the Council to meet quarterly. Effective 1/1/3000. (SD1)

Lisa KitagawaDemocrat

RELATING TO DISASTER SERVICES.

Integrates the needs of individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs into emergency planning, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities. Establishes a Disability Integration Specialist position, to be located in the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, who shall provide programming support for disability community projects that promote accessibility, inclusion, and equity in disaster management. Requires the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to develop and implement a statewide public education and communications program to promote household emergency preparedness consistent with the Agency's 14-day essential supplies recommendation. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to provide an American Sign Language interpreter during each official announcement broadcast via television or the Internet during a state of emergency. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to ensure, to the fullest extent possible, that the American Sign Language interpreter's face, body, arms, and hands are visible during the broadcast. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to provide a standardized pool feed that includes the American Sign Language interpreter in a picture‑in‑picture window not less than one quarter the size of the primary video and not blocked or covered by captions, graphics, or other on-screen tax. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Terez AmatoDemocrat

RELATING TO CORPORATE BONDS.

Authorizes the Director of Finance to invest certain state moneys in short-term investment grade corporate bonds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Nadine K. NakamuraDemocrat

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Prohibits law enforcement officers from using any personnel or funds originating in the State to assist or facilitate conduct by federal immigration agents that is for the purposes of civil immigration enforcement or exceeds their law enforcement duty or authority. Prohibits law enforcement officers from assisting or cooperating with or allowing resources to be used to facilitate federal immigration agents engaged in operations with the purpose of civil immigration enforcement or that target individuals or entities engaged in certain activities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUMS.

Clarifies the Ninety-Nine Year Leasehold Program by: (1) allowing the Hawaii Community Development Authority to prohibit renting, advertising for rent, or using for any other purpose other than owner-occupied residential use a residential condominium unit, by rule, rather than statutorily; (2) exempting the design, development, and construction contracts from procurement requirements, subject to prevailing wage requirements for laborers and mechanics; (3) requiring HCDA to adopt rules to implement an initial sales period during which residential condominium units are offered only to eligible buyers for owner-occupied residential use; (4) authorizing the sale of a residential condominium unit that is not subject to an income restriction and was not sold within a certain period to be sold to other buyers, as determined by rule by HCDA, without an owner-occupancy requirement; (5) requiring HCDA to adopt rules that require at least sixty per cent of residential condominium units to be income restricted; and (6) requiring HCDA to establish rules to require buyback pricing similar to other state agencies' existing pricing formulas. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Stanley ChangDemocrat

RELATING TO EQUITY.

Requires all places of public accommodation and public entity construction projects planned and designed after 7/31/2027 to provide at least one universal changing accommodation within the building in a public restroom, with certain exceptions. Makes conforming amendments to sections 489-6, 489-7.5, and 489-8, HRS, to prevent conflicts among the provisions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO HOME HEALTH LICENSING.

Authorizes the Department of Health to accept accreditation from an accreditation organization or a certification organization approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as demonstration that a licensed home health agency is in compliance with all licensing inspections required by the State. Specifies conditions under which a home health agency may be exempt from a licensing inspection on a continuing basis. Requires information obtained in reports of survey and accreditation or certification letters to be public information. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD2)

Joy A. San BuenaventuraDemocrat

RELATING TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish performance-based incentives, including revenue adjustment mechanisms, cost control mechanisms, and reward and penalty mechanisms on or before 1/1/2027. Clarifies that the Public Utilities Commission is authorized to adopt alternative ratemaking procedures to establish electric utility rates and performance-based incentives. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to apply a presumption in favor of considering historical cost trends and external indices that reflect incentives to control costs if the Commission resets an electric utility's allowed revenues based on consideration of the utility's costs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Jarrett KeohokaloleDemocrat

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Establishes new deadlines for the completion of Law Enforcement Standards Board certification responsibilities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO STATE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

Establishes a five-year Office of the State Construction Manager Pilot Program to provide guidance and recommendations on the design review of certain state construction projects administered by the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Education. Requires the Office to assign employees to the certain county agencies to review and approve permit applications under the Pilot Program. Establishes the Design Review Special Fund. Appropriates funds for the Pilot Program and necessary positions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO PETITIONS TO TEMPORARILY RESTRAIN AND ENJOIN HARASSMENT OF AN EMPLOYEE.

Establishes a two-year pilot project to authorize public employers to petition for temporary restraining orders and injunctions against employment-related harassment of certain public employees. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Ronald D. KouchiDemocrat

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL LAND TRANSFER.

Revises tax map key numbers and the conveyance process by which identified properties are conveyed to the Department of Education pursuant to Act 307, SLH 2022. Directs the conveyance to the County of Kauai of certain lands held by the Department of Education. Directs the conveyance of land on which Kaimuki Middle School is located from the City and County of Honolulu to the Department of Education. Clarifies that land dispositions of school buildings, facilities, and grounds made by the DOE shall not require approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources when these dispositions are for periods exceeding one year. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Michelle N. KidaniDemocrat

RELATING TO ESSENTIAL PERMITTING POSITIONS.

Authorizes the mayor of each county with a population of less than five hundred thousand to implement a pilot program to improve the speed, accountability, and quality of permit processing within that county through targeted staffing, performance incentives, and interdepartmental competition. Authorizes increased pay for certain permitting positions and requires county personnel departments to prioritize the hiring of permitting positions as part of the pilot program. Requires participating county mayors and county agencies to establish goals for the pilot program. Requires participating county agencies to submit quarterly reports to the respective county councils on the pilot program. Sunsets the pilot project on 6/30/2030. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO THE COUNTIES.

Requires a statewide permitting data standard developed collaboratively by the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, county permitting agencies, and the Chief Data Officer. Requires each county to publish monthly updates of building and civil engineering permit data in accordance with that standard. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Troy N. HashimotoDemocrat

RELATING TO CONSERVATION ENFORCEMENT.

Appropriates funds for equipment for the Hawaii Island Branch of the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Dru Mamo KanuhaDemocrat