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Hawaii Congressional Bills

Browse federal bills sponsored by your state's delegation.

State Legislature US Congress

All 5,447 Active 4,867 In committee 4,852 Passed 496 Signed 77 Failed 6

in committee · Hawaii · House May 23, 2025

HR 3604: Reducing Waste in National Parks Act

HR 3604, the *Reducing Waste in National Parks Act*, requires National Park Service (NPS) units to reduce and eliminate the sale of disposable plastic products (including water bottles, bags, and food containers) where feasible, considering operational factors like cost, waste reduction, and concessioner impacts. Park officials must develop visitor education plans, implement refill stations, and weigh 13 specific factors before eliminating sales, such as infrastructure costs, revenue effects, and public health safety. The program must be evaluated every two years to measure visitor satisfaction, waste collection rates, and safety outcomes. This bill directly affects NPS operations, concessioners, and park visitors who use park facilities.

Topics ✓ Environment

Mike Quigley (D) · 49 co-sponsors

in committee · Hawaii · House May 23, 2025

HR 3599: Joint Reserve Detachment (JRD) Formalization Act

This bill requires the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to formally establish and maintain a Joint Reserve Detachment (JRD) under existing law. It amends Section 1766(a) of Title 10, U.S. Code, changing the language from "may establish" to "shall establish and maintain," making JRD formation mandatory rather than optional. The bill directly affects the DIU's operational structure by requiring a permanent JRD framework. As a procedural change, it does not create new policy but formalizes an existing capability.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 22, 2025

S 1879: Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act

The Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act (S 1879) requires current and new Members of Congress, along with their spouses and dependent children, to divest or place certain investments in qualified blind trusts. It defines "covered investments" broadly to include stocks, bonds, commodities, and derivatives, while excluding diversified mutual funds, Treasury securities, and retirement plan investments. Members must complete this process within 120 days of enacting the law (with possible 180-day extensions), and new members have 120 days after taking office to comply. The law mandates public reporting of assets placed in blind trusts and imposes civil penalties for non-compliance, equal to a monthly portion of the member's salary. This legislation directly affects congressional staff members and their immediate families who hold financial interests that could create conflicts of interest.

Jon Ossoff (D) · 20 co-sponsors

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 22, 2025

S 1910: Real Education and Access for Healthy Youth Act of 2025

This bill would establish federal grants to support comprehensive sex education and sexual health services for young people ages 10-29, with specific emphasis on making these programs evidence-informed, medically accurate, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and inclusive of diverse identities. The bill authorizes $100 million annually for five years to fund programs in schools, colleges, and youth organizations that provide age-appropriate education on topics like anatomy, contraception, consent, healthy relationships, and STI prevention. It specifically requires programs to address racial and gender equity, serve underserved youth (including Black, Indigenous, Latine, LGBTQ+, and low-income youth), and avoid harmful practices like abstinence-only education. The bill repeals the "abstinence-only-until-marriage" program and redirects those funds to support the new comprehensive approach, requiring grantees to report on program impact including how many young people were served and how programs address racial and gender equity.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 22, 2025

S 1914: Andrew Kearse Accountability for Denial of Medical Care Act of 2025

This bill requires federal law enforcement officers, Bureau of Prisons staff, and U.S. Marshals to immediately obtain or provide medical care when someone in federal custody shows medical distress (like breathing difficulties). It makes it a federal offense for covered officials to negligently fail to act, punishable by fines, up to one year in prison, or both. The bill mandates Inspector General investigations into such failures that cause harm and establishes confidential complaint processes. It also requires agencies to train covered officials on responding to medical distress in custody. The law directly affects individuals in federal custody and the specific federal officials responsible for their care.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 22, 2025

S 1887: Vote at Home Act of 2025

The Vote at Home Act of 2025 would require all states to mail ballots to registered voters at least two weeks before federal elections, making voting by mail the default option for all eligible voters. It eliminates unnecessary barriers like notary requirements and excuse documentation for mail-in voting while ensuring ballots are accessible for people with disabilities. The bill also mandates free postage for election mail and expands automatic voter registration through motor vehicle departments. These changes would directly affect all voters participating in federal elections across the United States, aiming to increase accessibility and participation.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 22, 2025

S 1918: Access Technology Affordability Act of 2025

S 1918, the Access Technology Affordability Act of 2025, creates a new federal tax credit for expenses related to access technology for blind individuals. It allows taxpayers to claim a credit of up to $2,000 per 3-year period for qualified hardware, software, or IT tools that convert visual information into accessible formats for themselves, their spouse, or a blind dependent. The credit amount adjusts annually for inflation starting in 2026 and expires after 2030. This policy directly affects taxpayers who pay for such technology for blind family members, reducing their tax liability for these qualifying expenses.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Technology

John Boozman (R) · 19 co-sponsors

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 21, 2025

SRES 240: A resolution affirming that diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are fundamental values of the United States and emphasizing the ongoing need to address discrimination and inequality in the workplace, pre-K through 12th grade and higher education systems, government programs, the military, and our society.

This resolution (SRES 240) affirms that diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are core U.S. values and emphasizes the need to address ongoing discrimination across multiple sectors. It directly affects workplaces, K-12 and higher education systems, healthcare, housing, government programs, and the military by citing data on persistent inequities - such as racial disparities in housing discrimination, wage gaps, and underrepresentation in leadership. The resolution does not create new laws but encourages federal, state, and local entities to adopt inclusive policies and remove barriers to opportunity. It references evidence from agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to support its focus on systemic discrimination. The Senate calls for promoting environments where all individuals can achieve their full potential.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Mazie K. Hirono (D) · 21 co-sponsors

in committee · Hawaii · House May 21, 2025

HRES 441: Expressing support for the designation of May 2025 as "Mental Health Awareness Month".

HRES 441 is a symbolic House resolution expressing support for designating May 2025 as "Mental Health Awareness Month." It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or change existing policies - it solely aims to raise public awareness about mental health challenges. The resolution cites statistics on rising mental health issues (including youth depression, suicide rates, and disparities in care access) to underscore the need for greater attention. It encourages the public, schools, and organizations to use the month to promote mental well-being and reduce stigma, but contains no concrete policy changes or mandates.

Andrea Salinas (D) · 47 co-sponsors

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 21, 2025

S 1844: Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act of 2025

This bill requires U.S. public schools (K-12) to integrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history into existing American history and civics curricula. It amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to mandate that state standards, teacher training programs, and national assessments explicitly include this history. Key provisions include adding specific language to curriculum guidelines, teacher certification requirements, and the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The law directly affects school districts, educators, and students by requiring comprehensive coverage of these histories within current educational frameworks.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 21, 2025

S 1825: AG RESEARCH Act

The AG RESEARCH Act (S 1825) establishes a new competitive grant program to address deferred maintenance at agricultural research facilities. It provides $1 billion annually starting October 1, 2025, for the construction, modernization, or renovation of facilities and equipment at schools of agriculture, with the federal government covering up to 100% of costs in certain cases. The program requires equitable distribution of funds across geographic regions, diverse institutions, and facility sizes, while limiting any single state to no more than 20% of annual funding. This directly affects 91 schools of agriculture nationwide, which face a $11.5 billion deferred maintenance backlog as documented in the bill's findings.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 21, 2025

S 1853: Parity for Native Hawaiian Veterans Act of 2025

This bill requires the VA to reimburse Native Hawaiian health care systems for medical care provided to eligible veterans, regardless of whether care is delivered directly, through referrals, or via contracts. It directly affects Native Hawaiian veterans (defined under the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act) and the health care systems serving them. Key provisions mandate full reimbursement for covered care and exempt these veterans from cost-sharing under VA programs. The bill aims to ensure Native Hawaiian veterans receive equal access to VA medical benefits as other veteran groups.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans