Hawaii Bills

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SR 164: URGING THE CAMPAIGN SPENDING COMMISSION TO TAKE ALL ACTIONS NECESSARY AND WITHIN ITS POWER TO ENSURE CANDIDATE COMMITTEES' FULL COMPLIANCE WITH STATE CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS.

This Senate Resolution urges Hawaii's Campaign Spending Commission to take proactive steps to ensure candidate committees fully comply with state campaign finance laws. The bill specifically requests the Commission to conduct automatic audits of committees spending over $500,000, subsidize independent audit costs, clarify rules about defective reports, and offer more frequent training sessions outside normal business hours. These measures aim to address concerns that volunteer-run campaigns may struggle to meet compliance requirements due to limited training access and unclear reporting standards. The resolution is non-binding and serves as a formal recommendation to the Commission rather than creating new legal requirements.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SR 149: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT ON LITIGATION INVOLVING NATIVE HAWAIIAN TRADITIONAL AND CUSTOMARY RIGHTS AND THE STATE’S PUBLIC TRUST OBLIGATIONS UNDER ARTICLES XI AND XII OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION.

This Senate Resolution requests the Department of the Attorney General to submit an annual report on legal cases involving Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights and the state's public trust obligations under Articles XI and XII of the Hawaii State Constitution. The bill directly affects the state's legal department and Native Hawaiian communities by requiring the Attorney General to compile and present information about court cases related to these constitutional duties. The resolution outlines specific court decisions that have addressed issues such as water resource management, ceded lands, and cultural rights to provide context for the requested reporting. This measure aims to increase transparency and oversight of how the state handles legal matters concerning Native Hawaiian rights and public trust resources.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SR 119: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO EXPAND THE AGRICULTURAL ENFORCEMENT PILOT PROGRAM TO THE ISLANDS OF KAUAI AND MAUI.

This Senate Resolution requests the Department of Law Enforcement to expand an existing agricultural enforcement pilot program to the islands of Kauai and Maui. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies and farmers across Hawaii who face challenges from agricultural crimes such as trespassing, theft, and vandalism. The key provision is a formal request to extend the pilot program's scope from its current locations on Hawaii and Oahu to include Kauai and Maui, aiming to strengthen enforcement efforts in those areas. This resolution does not create new laws or penalties but instead asks the department to apply an already established program to additional islands.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 49: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON HAWAII'S FOOD MANUFACTURING STRENGTHS AND STRATEGIC MARKETS.

This bill requests the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to conduct a study on Hawaii's food manufacturing strengths and identify strategic markets for local high-value products. The study will analyze competitive advantages, calculate minimum profit margins needed to overcome Hawaii's high operational costs, and assess logistical barriers to exporting. It also asks the University of Hawaii to update its curriculum to teach entrepreneurs how to engineer products for premium export markets and requires the Agribusiness Development Corporation to use findings to guide future facility development.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 152: URGING THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE TO CEASE PLANS RELATED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MAUI OPTICAL AND SUPERCOMPUTING SITE SMALL TELESCOPE ADVANCED RESEARCH FACILITY ATOP HALEAKALĀ.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution urges the United States Air Force to stop plans for building the AMOS STAR facility, a proposed telescope complex on the summit of Haleakala in Maui. The measure directly affects federal military space-tracking operations and local communities concerned about cultural and environmental impacts. It highlights concerns that the project would further militarize sacred Hawaiian land and alter a protected conservation area, while noting community opposition regarding transparency and access. The resolution asks federal officials to explore alternative locations for space surveillance infrastructure that would not impact culturally significant sites.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 155: REQUESTING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU'S DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND FISCAL SERVICES, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CUSTOMER SERVICES, TO STUDY THE FISCAL AND POLICY IMPACT OF THE ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY VEHICLE WEIGHT TAX EXEMPTION.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the City and County of Honolulu to conduct a study on the financial and policy effects of tax exemptions for active-duty military vehicles. The bill directs county officials to work with the Department of Customer Services to analyze how many military vehicles qualify for exemptions, how much revenue is lost annually, and what the future financial impact might be. The study will also examine administrative costs and federal legal restrictions that affect the county's ability to collect these taxes. Results and recommendations must be submitted to the state Legislature by early 2027. This measure does not change any current laws but instead asks for data to inform future policy decisions.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SR 147: REQUESTING A STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF FEDERAL HOUSING ALLOWANCES ON RENTAL MARKET CONDITIONS IN HAWAII.

This Senate Resolution requests a study to examine how federal housing allowances, such as the Basic Allowance for Housing, affect rental market conditions in Hawaii. The study will be conducted by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism in collaboration with the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization and will focus on areas with significant military presence. Key areas of investigation include analyzing the relationship between housing allowance rates and rental prices, assessing whether prices cluster near military installations, and evaluating the potential impact on local working families. The study will also measure the economic benefits of federal housing expenditures to provide a balanced assessment of both costs and benefits. The final report is to be submitted to the Legislature by the end of 2026.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SR 116: URGING THE BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO EXTEND FOR A PERIOD OF TEN YEARS THE LEASES AND SUBLEASES ON MAUNA KEA LANDS.

This Senate Resolution urges the Board of Land and Natural Resources to extend existing leases and subleases on Mauna Kea lands for an additional ten years. The bill directly affects the Board of Land and Natural Resources, the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, the University of Hawaii, and entities operating telescope observatories on the mountain. The resolution specifically requests the extension of the master lease agreement and all subleases currently in effect, which are set to expire on December 31, 2033. This action would allow continued astronomical research operations on the site under the existing legal framework established by Act 255 of 2022.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SR 135: REQUESTING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO CONSIDER RENAMING THE HONOULIULI WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT TO A NON-HAWAIIAN NAME.

This Senate resolution asks the City and County of Honolulu to consider renaming the Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant to a name that is not of Native Hawaiian origin. The bill is based on concerns that the traditional Hawaiian name "Honouliuli" might carry unintended negative associations when linked to a sewage facility, potentially affecting how residents in the area are perceived. It directs the city to consult with community stakeholders, including Native Hawaiian organizations, during any renaming process and requires a progress report to be submitted to the Legislature within one year. The resolution does not mandate a name change but instead requests that the city consider the proposal and report back on its deliberations.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 126: REQUESTING THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO COMPLETE THE PURCHASE OF THE FEE SIMPLE INTEREST IN THE HALAULA AGRICULTURAL PARCEL IDENTIFIED AS TAX MAP KEY: (3) 5-3-7:15.

This bill requests the Agribusiness Development Corporation to buy the fee simple interest in the Halaula Agricultural Parcel in north Kohala, Hawaii. The resolution directs the agency to complete the purchase of this specific land identified by tax map key (3) 5-3-7:15. A certified copy of the resolution will be sent to the Executive Director of the Agribusiness Development Corporation to implement the request. The measure is a procedural directive rather than a new law, focusing solely on authorizing a specific land acquisition action.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 36: 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 Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Human Services to study the costs and benefits of creating an Office of the Child Advocate to oversee child welfare services. The proposed office would conduct site visits, investigate complaints, review agency records, and issue annual reports with recommendations to improve oversight of children and families served by state programs. The resolution directs the department to determine whether the new office should be established as an independent entity or placed within an existing agency, with findings to be reported to the Legislature by early 2027.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SCR 33: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE LITERACY CURRICULA PLANS AND PROGRAMS FOR USE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Education to create artificial intelligence literacy curricula and programs for public schools. The bill aims to address the growing use of AI tools by students while ensuring they receive formal instruction on how to use these technologies responsibly and effectively. Key provisions include defining AI concepts, teaching ethical considerations, and incorporating local context related to Hawaii's history and culture. The Department of Education must submit the developed curriculum plans to the Legislature at least twenty days before the 2027 Regular Session begins.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

Bill results