Hawaii

Designates student transportation as critical infrastructure and a critical service for Hawaii's public education system. Requires all school bus contracts between the State and the contractor to include certain standards, performance metrics, and accountability requirements to prevent service disruptions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes a minimum age requirement for the sale of manufactured hemp products.

Requires the State to ensure and enforce that all certified arborists in its employ, including contractors, adhere to best management practices.

Authorizes the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to establish a two-year Hawaii Office of Naval Research Grant Program to provide 50 per cent matching grants to Hawaii awardees of alternative energy research grants from the United States Department of Defense Office of Naval Research. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to adopt administrative rules to implement the Hawaii Office of Naval Research Grant Program. Establishes the Alternative Energy Research and Development Revolving Fund. Appropriates funds.

Relating To Health. Short form bill.

Prohibits claims for refunds, reimbursements, or other payments, authorization for which is sought from the Legislature that exceed the time limitations of section 40-68, Hawaii Revised Statutes, from being claimed. Requires the Attorney General to include in the Attorney General's annual report of claims recommended for approval a total dollar amount of possible judgments against the State that have not yet settled. Requires the Attorney General's report to the Legislature describing the claims against the State to include additional information. Requires the Attorney General to submit a report every five years to the Legislature containing further incidents that occurred in an agency that led to a claim. (SD1)

Adopts the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact to regulate the practice of telepsychology and temporary in-person, facetoface practice of psychology by psychologists across state boundaries in the performance of their psychological practice. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt rules to implement and administer the Compact. Effective 1/1/2026.

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.

Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to develop and implement training programs, public-private partnerships, funding opportunities, and recruitment strategies to develop a local workforce to meet the growing demand in defense-related personnel and promote economic diversification. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes an exemption from applicable county permit requirements for repetitive construction projects for facilities under the control of any state department or agency, under certain conditions. Clarifies that, except for projects in special flood hazard areas, contracts for the construction, renovation, or repair of facilities under the control of the Department of Education, University of Hawaii, or School Facilities Authority shall be exempt from county permitting requirements that related off-site improvements be made by the contracting government agency as a condition to the issuance of any permit. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Prohibits a person under the age of fifteen from operating a class 3 electric bicycle. Prohibits a person sixteen years of age or older from operating a class 3 electric bicycle unless the person satisfies certain requirements. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Increases the caps for the total contract value for any one Capital Advancement Contract (CAC) and the total aggregate value of CACs in a fiscal year entered into by the Department of Transportation with private parties for harbor improvements. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Adds a definition for "specified data element" and expands the definition of "personal information". Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires the department of education to prohibit cell phone use during the instructional day, prohibit student access to social media through the school's internet, and implement a social media education campaign. Creates exemptions for students requiring accommodations, emergency situations, and teacher authorizations.

Establishes a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for persons convicted of offenses based on the possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Prohibits the imposition of cost-sharing requirements for certain diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations.

Prohibits state and local law enforcement agencies to collaborate with the federal government for immigration purposes except for in limited, specific circumstances.

Adds the Chairperson of the Hawaiian Homes Commission or the Chairperson's designee to the Hawaii Community Development Authority. Considers the Chairperson in determining quorum and majority and makes the Chairperson eligible to vote on matters affecting the Kalaeloa Community Development District.

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to identify all legislative districts in the State in which a majority of the population consists of Native Hawaiians. Designates these districts as Native Hawaiian majority districts.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the number of years members may serve in the Legislature to a maximum of sixteen years.

Authorizes boards and commissions to make employment decisions related to its officers and employees without the approval of the head of the department to which the board or commission is administratively attached.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the terms of members of the Legislature, as provided by law, for terms beginning after the general election of 2028.

Clarifies that a person who uses deadly force in self-defense does not have a duty to retreat if they are in their dwelling or on their property unless they are the initial aggressor. Repeals statutory language that permits a person to use deadly force at their place of work.

Increases the income tax rate on the highest income earners in the State by establishing a new tax bracket for taxable years beginning after 12/31/2029.