Hawaii Bills

passed · Hawaii · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 2103: RELATING TO THE LAND USE COMMISSION.

Amends the composition of the Land Use Commission to permit more than one member who has substantial experience or expertise in traditional Hawaiian land usage and knowledge of cultural land practices and require at least one member who has substantial experience in water resource management. Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to submit a list of nominees to the Governor for the appointment of a commission member having substantial experience or expertise in traditional Hawaiian land usage and knowledge of cultural land practices. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 2590: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Imposes the manufacturing general excise tax rate on motion picture, digital media, and film productions and repeals the provision in the definition of "qualified production costs" that applied the term to mean costs incurred that are subject to the highest general excise tax rate. Exempts from the general excise tax certain amounts received by a motion picture project employer from a client company equal to amounts that are disbursed by the motion picture project employer for employee wages, salaries, payroll taxes, insurance premiums, and employment benefits and payments to loan-out companies. Requires persons making payment to a loan-out company and claiming the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit to deduct and withhold an amount exceeding the amount actually due for all payments made to the loan-out company for services performed in the State. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2117: RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND.

Allows impasses and disputes relating to the amounts of State and county contributions to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to be resolved by arbitration. Repeals the prohibition against strikes by members of bargaining units on the issue of the amounts of State and county contributions to the Trust Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 2119: RELATING TO COFFEE PEST CONTROL.

Temporarily reestablishes the Coffee Berry Borer and Coffee Leaf Rust Pesticide Subsidy Program and the program manager position, including the position's civil service and collective bargaining laws exemption. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds for the operation and implementation of the Pesticide Subsidy Program. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 2595: RELATING TO REGIONAL AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION.

Establishes the Regional Agricultural Feasibility and Food Systems Production Studies Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to provide coordinated, region‑specific agricultural production and crop feasibility analysis across the State. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2028. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2114: RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

Repeals the prohibition placed on certain employees exempt from Civil Service Law from grieving a suspension or discharge. Allows any employee who is a member of an appropriate bargaining unit to grieve any disciplinary action, unless prohibited by the applicable collective bargaining agreement. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 2594: RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to conduct a study on insurance coverage for small agricultural producers. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

GM 574: Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Commission to Promote Uniform Legislation, Gubernatorial Nominee, MICHAEL TANOUE, for a term to expire 06-30-2028.

This is a procedural nomination, not a legislative bill. Governor Green has submitted Michael Tanoue for Senate confirmation to serve on the Commission to Promote Uniform Legislation, with a term expiring June 30, 2028. The submission follows Hawaii's constitutional requirement for gubernatorial nominations requiring Senate confirmation. It does not propose new policy or affect any specific group; it only requests Senate approval for an existing appointment.

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2665: RELATING TO RENEWAL OF DRIVER'S LICENSES.

Requires applicants for driver's license renewal who have received two or more traffic citations within the preceding five years for violations involving the operation of a motor vehicle to complete an educational course that includes a road safety video developed by the Department of Transportation and a written road safety examination. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2177: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation or a county to accept a complete application seeking certain exemptions within 30 days. Requires HHFDC to process an application and bring it before the Corporation's Board of Directors within 120 days of accepting the application. Requires county agencies to process an application and bring it before the county's legislative body within 120 days of accepting the application. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Housing

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2896: RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSES.

Lowers the age of who may drive commercially within the State from nineteen to eighteen. Repeals the requirement that a person only operates category 3 vehicles to qualify to drive commercially in the State. Prohibits a person under twenty-one years of age from operating a commercial motor vehicle outside of state-approved commercial driver training programs or registered apprenticeship programs as determined by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Requires the Department of Transportation to consult with DLIR to amend its rules to allow persons under twenty-one years of age to operate a commercial motor vehicle under certain conditions. (SD1)

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2485: RELATING TO SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.

Establishes a temporary Solid Waste Management Working Group in the Office of the Governor to examine materials management policies and programs that reduce solid waste and protect the environment, and to present a list of alternative technologies to address solid waste management. Requires a report to the Legislature. Repeals 6/30/2027. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Bill results