Hawaii Bills

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 98: URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO CALL A CONVENTION FOR PROPOSING AMENDMENTS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE V OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION LIMITED TO PROPOSING AMENDMENTS THAT IMPOSE FISCAL RESTRAINTS ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LIMIT THE POWER AND JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND LIMIT THE TERMS OF OFFICE FOR ITS OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

This bill is a state-level resolution urging the U.S. Congress to convene a constitutional convention under Article V of the Constitution, limited to proposing amendments that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit federal power and jurisdiction, and restrict terms of office for federal officials and members of Congress. The resolution outlines specific conditions for such a convention, including that Congress only has the authority to set a meeting time and place, that states retain the power to select and appoint their own delegates, and that the convention cannot consider any amendments to the Bill of Rights. Hawaii is submitting this as a formal application toward the two-thirds threshold required to trigger a constitutional convention, with the state reserving the right to recall delegates if they violate the stated instructions.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 134: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESILIENCE TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S SECONDARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AND THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA PROGRAM.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests that the Hawaii Department of Education and the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience support the state's secondary agricultural education program and the Future Farmers of America program. The bill aims to strengthen agricultural education in high schools to help address Hawaii's food security challenges by building a local agricultural workforce through expanded training and experiential learning opportunities. It specifically calls for the university to employ an extension agent to provide professional development and connect agricultural best practices to local schools, following a model used by other land-grant universities. The resolution does not allocate funding but instead formally asks state agencies to collaborate on revitalizing these educational programs that have seen declining enrollment since 2000.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SR 113: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND BIOSECURITY AND DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO INCREASE PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS FOR DOG ATTACKS ON LIVESTOCK.

This Senate Resolution asks the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and the Department of Law Enforcement to strengthen penalties and enforcement actions against dog attacks on livestock. It directly affects farmers and ranchers who raise animals in Hawaii, aiming to address financial losses from uncontrolled dogs harming their herds. The resolution does not change laws directly but formally requests state agencies to review and enhance their existing measures for protecting livestock from dog attacks. It highlights the economic importance of livestock production and the severe impacts of dog attacks on producers. The document is a formal request rather than a law, so it has no immediate legal effect pending agency response.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 34: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND FINANCE TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE FEASIBILITY AND BENEFITS OF CREATING A STATE-OWNED SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND.

This bill requests the Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance to study the feasibility and benefits of establishing a state-owned sovereign wealth fund. The proposed fund would invest state assets, such as tourism revenues and budget surpluses, to generate long-term financial returns for the state's residents. The study would examine how the fund could support economic stability, fund infrastructure, and potentially distribute investment earnings to qualified residents as cash dividends. The Department is required to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the end of 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SR 144: REQUESTING THE HAWAII STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ENSURE GOOD FAITH IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS DOCTORAL EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY STIPEND AGREEMENTS AND TO ESTABLISH AND FUND APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST POSITIONS CONSISTENT WITH CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS.

This Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii State Department of Education to fulfill its contractual obligations to doctoral-level educational psychology trainees by creating and funding appropriate positions. The bill asks the department to report on the number of stipend recipients, existing positions, and how current job titles like "Mental Health Interventionist" align with the specialized training these professionals received. It further directs the department to evaluate whether current classifications properly reflect doctoral-level qualifications and to identify necessary funding to expand positions statewide. Ultimately, the resolution seeks to ensure that professionals who completed multi-year service commitments are placed in roles consistent with their training and the original agreement.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 141: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO MAKE WATER QUALITY AND CONTAMINATION TESTING RESULTS FOR WAIMANALO GULCH PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests that the Hawaii Department of Health make water quality and contamination testing results from the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill publicly accessible. The bill asks the Department of Health to post current and future testing data online in a timely, user-friendly format and to provide clear explanations of the contaminants tested and how to interpret the results. Additionally, it requires the Department of Health to submit an annual report to the Legislature summarizing testing findings and any actions taken in response, with copies sent to relevant agencies and stakeholders. This resolution aims to increase transparency regarding environmental monitoring at the landfill, which has a history of contamination incidents, without mandating new testing or imposing penalties.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 115: REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO REPLACE THE CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE, ELECTED BY VOTERS, TO OVERSEE ELECTIONS.

This bill requests the Legislative Reference Bureau to study whether Hawaii should replace its appointed Chief Election Officer with a Secretary of State elected by voters to oversee elections. The study will examine current laws governing election administration and outline the legal steps needed to make such a change. It compares Hawaii's current system with other states, noting that 33 states elect their chief election officials while 47 have a Secretary of State position. The Legislative Reference Bureau must submit its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to lawmakers before the 2027 regular session begins.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SR 126: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESILIENCE TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S SECONDARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AND THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA PROGRAM.

This Senate Resolution requests that the Hawaii Department of Education and the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience support the state's secondary agricultural education program and the Future Farmers of America program. The bill aims to address Hawaii's food security concerns by expanding educational opportunities and training for students interested in agricultural careers, which have declined since the year 2000 due to policy changes and funding issues. It proposes employing an extension agent at the university to provide professional development for teachers and connect schools with agricultural best practices, following a model used by other land grant universities. The resolution directs copies to the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, and the President of the University of Hawaii System to facilitate implementation.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 70: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE FREE SCHOOL MEALS TO EVERY STUDENT ENROLLED IN A DEPARTMENT SCHOOL, REGARDLESS OF A STUDENT'S ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION IN A FEDERAL SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM, BEGINNING WITH THE 2029-2030 SCHOOL YEAR.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Education to provide free school meals to all enrolled students, regardless of their family's income or eligibility for federal meal programs, starting in the 2029-2030 school year. The bill does not authorize funding or mandate implementation but serves as a formal request to the state education agency to consider universal free meals as a policy option. It builds on existing state legislation that has already expanded free meal eligibility to certain income groups in recent years. The resolution aims to address food insecurity among students by ensuring consistent access to nutritious meals across all schools in the state.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SR 35: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF CREATING AN OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE.

This Senate Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Human Services to study the costs and benefits of creating an Office of the Child Advocate to oversee the state's child welfare system. The bill is prompted by recent high-profile cases of child abuse in foster care and previous findings that the department failed to properly license foster homes, leading to lawsuits and lost federal funding. The study would examine how an independent oversight office could conduct site visits, investigate complaints, review internal records, and issue recommendations to improve child safety and accountability. The department must submit its findings and any proposed legislation to the Legislature by the end of 2026.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 136: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON RECYCLABLE, BIODEGRADABLE, AND COMPOSTABLE LABELING IN THE STATE TO DETERMINE IF THE LABELING IS ACCURATE AND NON-DECEPTIVE.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks Hawaii's Department of Health to study how recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable product labels are used in the state to check if they are accurate and not misleading. The study will examine specific products with common symbols like the chasing arrows triangle, evaluate whether labeled items actually break down as claimed, and compare consumer expectations with local recycling and composting capabilities. It will also review existing labeling standards and provide recommendations to improve clarity and reduce contamination in waste streams. The Department of Health must submit its findings and any suggested new guidelines to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 session.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 176: URGING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO HOLD AT LEAST TWO PUBLIC COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO DISCUSS AND RECEIVE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY OR POTENTIAL MAJOR ENERGY PROJECTS BEFORE APPROVING MAJOR ENERGY PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE HOSTED IN THE AFFECTED COMMUNITIES.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution urges the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to hold at least two public community meetings before approving major energy projects that would be built in affected communities. The bill defines major energy projects as those costing $10 million or more, including solar farms, wind facilities, battery storage, and other infrastructure. While the resolution does not change law, it formally requests the commission to gather community input to address concerns about energy equity and ensure local residents have a voice in decisions that impact their neighborhoods. The measure aims to promote transparency and reduce conflicts that could delay construction of clean energy projects.

Bill results