Hawaii

Establishes an excise tax on certain taxpayers who own excess single-family residences for failure to sell those residences. Establishes and allocates excise tax revenues to the Housing Downpayment Trust Fund. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Amends the types of occurrences for which the Hawaii Tourism Authority Board of Directors may request the Governor to declare a tourism emergency. Reduces the minimum balance to be maintained in the Tourism Emergency Special Fund through an allocation of transient accommodations tax revenues.

Requires employers to reimburse employees for vehicle mileage expenses incurred when using their personal vehicle to carry out employee duties or at the direction of the employer.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for teacher-requested classroom supplies for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.

For the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, requires the Department of Human Services to: (1) prorate or exclude certain income from household members who are ineligible for the Program; (2) establish a standardized medical expense deduction option for elderly or disabled household members; (3) establish a pre-release Program application form for individuals who are incarcerated and scheduled for release; and (4) report to the Legislature. Specifies that, for purposes of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the federal restriction of providing Program benefits to certain individuals does not apply in Hawaii.

Establishes a comprehensive system of public financing for all candidates seeking election to state and county public offices in the State of Hawaii, to begin with the 2028 general election year. Requires the Campaign Spending Commission to submit reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Short form bill relating to culture.

Establishes rate transparency requirements for insurance companies operating in the State. Establishes the Office of Insurance Consumer Affairs within the Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer affairs to provide oversight, information, and consumer advocacy. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Amends payroll requirements for public officers and employees by requiring them to be paid pursuant to a predicted payroll schedule, rather than an after-the-fact payroll schedule. Provides that the predicted payroll schedule shall not be subject to negotiation under Chapter 89, HRS. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Repeals the authority of the Department of Education to set the price for school meals, except to provide a lower rate or free meals through rules. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Exempts medical services from the general excise tax.

Implements a phased elimination of the tip credit.

Appropriates funds for eight full-time agricultural technician, and four full-time coordinator positions at University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

Requires counties to commission a comprehensive economic impact analysis before issuing tax increment bonds and make the analysis publicly available. Requires counties issuing tax increment bonds to conduct publicly available biennial independent audits and report to the Legislature. Requires counties issuing tax increment bonds to establish a review board to oversee tax increment bond projects. Restricts the amount of total outstanding tax increment bonds that may be excluded from the calculation of a county's debt limits from exceeding twenty per cent. Conforms county debt limit statements law 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.

Requires newly installed or modified individual wastewater systems that are near the shoreline to include denitrification capacity. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

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

Establishes an exemption from mediation in paternity proceedings where there are allegations of domestic abuse. Clarifies the exemption from mediation in divorce proceedings as it relates to domestic abuse. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Establishes limitations on geographical restrictions provided as a condition of probation. (HD1)

Authorizes differentials in pay for state and county employees who are exposed temporarily to unusually hazard working conditions, under certain conditions.

Requires the mayor of each county to appoint, and the county council or city council to confirm, a county medical examiner. Provides that the medical examiner for each county shall serve as the county's coroner. Makes conforming amendments. Appropriates moneys to the counties of Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai, for the establishment of county medical examiner positions.

Appropriates funds for the Waiahole Water System for bond debt service and tunnel repair. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to provide emergency shelter and services to unaccompanied homeless youth.

Establishes the Kamaaina Homes Program to provide funding to the counties to purchase voluntary deed restrictions from eligible homeowners or homebuyers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Establishes a Performing Arts Special Fund to be used for the coordination, planning, promotion, marketing, and execution of performing arts events and to be funded by a percentage of all ticket sales from concerts held at state venues. Establishes exemptions. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)