Hawaii Bills

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HCR 51: URGING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO ADD A STIPULATION TO ITS SIGNATURE EVENT PROGRAM TO REQUIRE THIRTY PERCENT OF FUNDS AWARDED THROUGH THE PROGRAM TO BE USED TO MARKET EVENTS TO OUT-OF-STATE MARKETS.

This House Concurrent Resolution urges the Hawaii Tourism Authority to modify its Signature Event Program by requiring 30% of awarded grant funds to be spent on marketing events to visitors from outside Hawaii. The bill directly affects the Hawaii Tourism Authority and organizations that receive funding for major state events like the Honolulu Marathon and Hawaii International Film Festival. Under current rules, grant recipients can use funds for operational costs without a specific requirement to promote events to out-of-state audiences. The resolution seeks to ensure that publicly funded events actively contribute to attracting more visitors from other states and countries.

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HCR 155: SUPPORTING THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HAWAIʻI WATER SAFETY COALITION'S HAWAIʻI WATER SAFETY PLAN.

This House Concurrent Resolution expresses legislative support for the Hawaiʻi Water Safety Coalition's Hawaiʻi Water Safety Plan, which aims to address the state's high drowning rates and related public health concerns. The resolution urges state agencies and local governments to collaborate on implementing the plan's recommendations, which include establishing the coalition as a central water safety authority, expanding funding for drowning prevention programs, and improving safety measures at pools and flood control structures. The plan also calls for free swim lessons for all children, culturally competent water safety education, and better infrastructure in underserved communities. While the resolution itself does not create new laws, it encourages agencies to work together to adopt the plan's evidence-based strategies for preventing drowning incidents.

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HCR 49: URGING THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO OBTAIN, AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE, THE CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE DESTINATION DESIGNATION FROM THE GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE TOURISM COUNCIL FOR THE STATE.

This bill is a non-binding resolution urging the state's Executive Branch to apply for and obtain the Certified Sustainable Destination designation from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council for Hawaii. The measure aims to encourage the state to adopt internationally recognized standards that balance tourism growth with the protection of cultural and natural resources while improving resident quality of life. By seeking this certification, the resolution seeks to align Hawaii's tourism strategies with global sustainability benchmarks and support existing state sustainability plans. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal recommendation to state officials to pursue this specific certification.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HCR 46: RECOGNIZING OPEN WATER LIFEGUARDS AS FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII.

This House Concurrent Resolution formally recognizes open water lifeguards in Hawaii as first responders, acknowledging their critical role in public safety and emergency response. The resolution highlights that these professionals are among the first to arrive at beach and water emergencies, providing life-saving assistance, medical care, and scene management similar to police and firefighters. While the bill does not change laws or grant new legal powers, it serves as an official statement of recognition that encourages state and county agencies to provide lifeguards with the same rights, resources, and professional respect afforded to other first responders.

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HR 149: URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO FINALIZE, PRIORITIZE, AND MATERIALIZE THE MAKAKILO DRIVE EXTENSION PROJECT.

This bill is a House Resolution that asks the City and County of Honolulu to move forward with the Makakilo Drive Extension Project to address traffic congestion in the growing Makakilo and Kapolei areas. The resolution requests that local officials finalize planning, prioritize funding, and begin construction on the road extension, which was previously studied in 2009 as environmentally safe. It also asks the city to create a clear timeline for the project and submit a progress report to the state Legislature by early 2027.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HR 176: URGING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY TO EXTEND THE RENEWAL PERIOD FOR SECRETARIAL DESIGNEE HEALTH CARE AUTHORIZATIONS RELATED TO THE RED HILL WATER CONTAMINATION CRISIS AND TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE ACCESS FOR AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS.

This bill is a state-level resolution from Hawaii urging the U.S. Department of Defense to extend the renewal period for medical authorizations related to the Red Hill water contamination crisis. It directly affects military personnel, their families, and civilian residents who were exposed to contaminated water at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility on Oahu. The resolution requests a two-year renewal cycle for Secretarial Designee health care authorizations to improve continuity of care and asks the Defense Health Agency to expand access to civilian medical providers, implement coordinated referral practices, ensure long-term medical monitoring, and explore reimbursement programs for out-of-pocket medical costs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HCR 58: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MILILANI ʻIKE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS USING SCHOOL CROSSWALKS.

This bill is a non-binding resolution urging the Department of Transportation, Department of Education, and City and County of Honolulu to improve safety at the crosswalk near Mililani ʻIke Elementary School where students cross Meheʻula Parkway and Kuaoʻa Street. The resolution requests specific safety measures including speed bumps, warning signage, and a solar-powered rapid flashing crosswalk sign to alert drivers of pedestrians. It cites concerns about high traffic volumes and previous near-miss incidents involving students in the area. As a concurrent resolution, it does not create new laws but formally asks state and local agencies to address the identified safety hazards.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Transportation

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HR 111: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ESTABLISH AN INDIRECT TRAFFIC DISRUPTION GRANT PROGRAM.

This legislative resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Transportation to create a grant program that provides financial assistance to property owners and small businesses affected by unplanned road closures, detours, or utility disruptions caused by state or county roadwork. The program would offer grants to those who can demonstrate loss of property access, prolonged detours, or verifiable revenue loss due to these disruptions, with eligibility determined by factors such as the duration and severity of the roadwork and the economic impact on the applicant. The Department of Transportation is asked to work with county governments to administer the program for joint roadwork projects and to submit a progress report to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 session detailing the number of applications, grants awarded, and process timelines.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HR 128: URGING THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO ADOPT ORDINANCES THAT ESTABLISH WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE SAFETY STANDARDS FOR PLANTATION TOWNS AND OTHER HIGH-RISK COMMUNITIES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE COUNTY OF KAUAI'S ORDINANCE NO. PM-2025-425, RELATING TO THE PLANTATION CAMP DISTRICT WILDFIRE AND WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE, AND OTHER STATE AND NATIONAL WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE BEST PRACTICES.

This bill is a House Resolution that urges the County of Maui to adopt new ordinances establishing wildfire safety standards for plantation towns and other high-risk communities. It specifically recommends that Maui look to Kauai's recent ordinance as a model, which requires measures like ember-resistant construction, noncombustible zones around buildings, defensible space, and vegetation management. The resolution calls for integrating these wildfire safety requirements into zoning, permitting, and community planning processes for historic areas. It emphasizes learning from the 2023 Maui wildfires to better protect life, property, and cultural resources in communities where wildland and urban fire risks intersect.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HCR 168: REQUEST THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO DEVELOP A TEMPORARY WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE CURRENT CAPACITY OF UTILITY SERVICES, THE EXPECTED LIFESPAN OF EXISTING COASTLINE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF NECESSARY EXPANSIONS.

This House Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to create a temporary working group to evaluate the state's utility infrastructure capacity and lifespan, particularly for the City and County of Honolulu. The working group will include representatives from government agencies, utility companies, and labor unions to assess current service levels, identify aging infrastructure, and analyze the costs of expanding systems to meet growing community demands. The study aims to provide data on potential funding gaps, projected rate increases, and whether existing permits are straining utility capacity, ultimately supporting more informed community planning and infrastructure investment decisions.

Topics ✓ Energy

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HR 95: AFFIRMING SUPPORT FOR THE EXPANSION OF PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS THAT INCREASE TREE CANOPY COVERAGE AND INSTALL SHADE TREES IN URBAN AREAS TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF URBAN HEAT ISLANDS ACROSS THE STATE.

This House Resolution expresses support for expanding programs that increase tree canopy coverage and install shade trees in urban areas to reduce the effects of urban heat islands across Hawaii. It requests state and county agencies to collaborate on assessing heat exposure, canopy disparities, and opportunities to integrate tree planting into infrastructure and development projects. The resolution also asks agencies to evaluate best practices for tree selection and maintenance, and to establish statewide standards for urban tree canopy coverage. While it does not create new funding or mandates, it encourages coordinated efforts to improve public health, reduce energy costs, and address climate resilience through urban forestry initiatives.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HR 146: REQUESTING THE COUNTY OF HAWAIʻI TO EXPAND THE HELE-ON SHARED RIDE PROGRAM TO SERVE THE ENTIRE ISLAND OF HAWAIʻI, INCLUDING RURAL AND UNDERSERVED AREAS SUCH AS WEST HAWAIʻI, NORTH KOHALA, SOUTH KOHALA, KAʻŪ, AND PUNA.

This House Resolution requests the County of Hawaiʻi to expand its Hele-On Shared Ride Program to cover the entire island, including currently underserved rural areas like West Hawaiʻi, North Kohala, South Kohala, Kaʻū, and Puna. The bill asks the county to prioritize accessibility for people with disabilities and those who rely on mobility devices, while encouraging partnerships with local transportation providers to increase service availability. It also directs the county to consider phased implementation or pilot programs to manage costs and ensure the expansion can be funded effectively. This measure aims to improve transportation access for residents who cannot drive, particularly for medical appointments and essential services, without mandating immediate funding changes.

Topics ✓ Transportation

Bill results