This bill, signed into law as Act 156, allows state agencies responsible for small boat harbors and state parks to perform necessary repairs and renovations on existing facilities without seeking prior approval from the legislature or the governor. The law permits these agencies to use funds for major maintenance tasks such as dredging and rebuilding, provided the money is not used to construct entirely new facilities. To maintain oversight, the bill requires departments to notify the legislature at least fourteen days before spending money and mandates semiannual reports detailing all expenditures and project statuses. These provisions are set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and will automatically expire and revert to the previous rules five years later.
This bill amends Hawaii's deposit beverage container program to reduce the financial burden of mandatory independent audits on small businesses. It establishes a tiered audit system where only distributors handling at least five million containers annually are required to undergo an independent audit, while those managing fewer than five million are exempt. Additionally, the law requires the Department of Health to develop a risk-based process for selecting specific distributors and redemption centers for periodic audits based on factors like transaction volume and past findings. These changes aim to balance the need for financial accountability with the economic realities faced by smaller operators in the beverage distribution industry.
This bill, signed into law on June 25, 2026, requires state and county law enforcement agencies in Hawaii to inform individuals in custody about their rights before any federal immigration interview regarding civil immigration violations can begin. Under the new rules, officers must provide a free, written consent form in accessible languages that explains the individual's right to remain silent, their right to have an attorney present, and the voluntary nature of the interview. The form allows the person to choose whether to decline the interview entirely or proceed only with their lawyer, and it clearly marks their decision. Additionally, the bill designates all records showing that federal immigration authorities accessed a detained individual as public records, increasing transparency around these interactions.
This bill directs state and county agencies in Hawaii to establish written policies by January 1, 2027, that ensure their facilities remain safe spaces for all residents regardless of immigration status. The law requires these agencies to clearly mark nonpublic areas, create procedures for handling warrants, ban the collection of immigration data unless legally required, and mandate annual staff training along with multilingual notices. Additionally, the attorney general must publish model policies for these agencies to adopt, while private organizations may choose to follow them voluntarily. The legislation explicitly states that it does not prevent the University of Hawaii from complying with federal funding requirements.
This bill exempts specific executive personnel within the Employees' Retirement System from Hawaii's civil service rules. It allows the system's board to appoint key roles, including a deputy executive director, a chief compliance officer, and an information security officer, without requiring them to go through standard hiring procedures. These appointed positions will be directly managed by the executive director, with their duties and salaries determined by the board rather than civil service regulations. The change aims to provide greater flexibility in staffing critical leadership and oversight positions within the retirement system.
This bill, signed into law by the Governor of Hawaii on June 25, 2026, allows businesses and employers to round cash transactions to the nearest five cents. The law was enacted in response to a shortage of pennies following the U.S. Treasury's decision to stop minting them for general circulation. Under the new rules, amounts ending in one, two, six, or seven cents are rounded down, while those ending in three, four, eight, or nine cents are rounded up, with specific exceptions for very small amounts. The provision applies only to physical cash payments and wages, excluding electronic transfers, checks, and card transactions, and it protects those who comply from certain penalties.
This document is a formal notification from the Governor of Hawaii to the Legislature stating that Act 157, which relates to digital identification, was signed into law on June 25, 2026. The underlying bill amends state statutes to allow drivers and vehicle owners to present a mobile driver's license or an electronic insurance card on a smartphone instead of a physical card when stopped by law enforcement. Under the new provisions, officers must have the technical ability to verify the digital credentials before accepting them, and they are restricted from viewing other content on the device during the inspection. The act also clarifies that individuals presenting these digital documents assume full liability for any damage to their mobile electronic devices.
This bill establishes a new bachelor's degree program in agricultural science at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu to support the state's goals for sustainable and diversified farming. To make this possible, the legislation appropriates $375,000 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to cover program setup, one full-time administrative position, and necessary supplies. The program is designated as a matter of statewide concern, and the funding is authorized to begin on July 1, 2026.
This bill, signed into law on June 25, 2026, allows the executive branch to use money from specific special or revolving funds to cover the administrative and operating costs of related programs. The legislation amends state statutes to clarify that funds designated for the Hawaii Community Development Authority and the Strategic Development Programs Revolving Fund can be used for general expenses, including personnel and daily operations. By permitting these funds to pay for their own management costs, the bill aims to help the state adapt to fluctuating federal revenue projections without relying solely on general fund appropriations.
This bill, signed into law as Act 150, updates Hawaii's rules for keeping biological evidence after a criminal conviction to address storage challenges caused by overly broad requirements. It limits mandatory retention to serious felony cases where the defendant's identity was genuinely disputed and DNA testing could help identify or exclude the perpetrator. For cases where the identity was not contested or biological material was unlikely, the bill allows law enforcement to dispose of evidence with court approval, even before all appeals are finished. Additionally, the law provides defendants a formal opportunity to object to the disposal of evidence and grants courts the authority to order retention under specific circumstances.
This bill establishes a pilot program to help care homes in specific zip codes on central and leeward Oahu improve their ability to withstand natural disasters and power outages. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency will administer the program, offering financial assistance and technical support for upgrades such as reinforced roofs, backup power systems, and improved cooling. Eligible facilities include various types of residential care homes serving vulnerable populations like seniors and individuals with disabilities, with priority given to those in high-risk areas or operating older structures. The program requires participating homes to develop evacuation plans and mandates that the agency report its progress to the legislature by early 2027.
This bill establishes a new office within the Department of Health to certify community behavioral health clinics and provide them with technical assistance. The legislation creates an oversight board and a certifying office staffed by specific roles like a quality manager and data engineer to manage these clinics. The new office will set certification standards that meet or exceed federal requirements, administer a fixed payment system for services, and monitor clinic compliance. Clinics that meet these criteria will be officially certified to ensure consistent access to mental health and substance use services across the state.
