Hawaii Bills

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jun 26, 2026

GM 1276: Informing the Legislature that on June 26, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB3007 SD2 HD1 CD1 (ACT 174).

This bill establishes a new Office of Community Culture, Arts, and Innovation within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to strengthen Hawaii's cultural and arts initiatives. The office will be led by an executive director appointed by the Governor and will have the authority to hire staff and issue grants to support community-driven projects. Its primary functions include identifying best practices for integrating culture into community planning, assisting state agencies with creative improvements, and launching a partnership program to preserve cultural assets and stimulate local economic activity.

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jun 26, 2026

GM 1280: Informing the Legislature that on June 26, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB2095 HD2 SD2 CD1 (ACT 178).

This bill, known as the Judiciary Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2026, provides additional funding to the Hawaii state judiciary for the fiscal biennium spanning July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027. The legislation amends existing budget laws to allocate specific dollar amounts to various judicial components, including courts of appeal, five judicial circuits, and the judicial selection commission. These funds are designated for operating expenses and are subject to position ceilings that limit the number of permanent and temporary staff members the judiciary can hire during this period.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jun 26, 2026

GM 1273: Informing the Legislature that on June 26, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB1432 SD2 HD2 CD1 (ACT 171).

This bill, signed into law on June 26, 2026, formally ends the County of Kalawao as an independent entity and merges it into the County of Maui. The legislation addresses the future of the Kalaupapa Settlement after the last resident patients with Hansen's disease pass away, at which point the state Department of Health will no longer provide patient care there but will instead focus on environmental cleanup. To prepare for this transition, the law requires the Department of Health to create a plan that includes a community organization from Kalawao and a group from Molokai to manage the transfer of powers and duties. Additionally, the bill establishes a public process to gather input on the future governance of the area before finalizing the transfer of control to other governmental or qualified non-governmental entities.

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jun 26, 2026

GM 1277: Informing the Legislature that on June 26, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB1800 HD1 SD1 CD1 (ACT 175).

Received.

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jun 26, 2026

GM 1283: Informing the Legislature that on June 26, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB2474 HD1 SD2 CD1 (ACT 181).

This bill, signed into law as Act 181, authorizes the State of Hawaii to enter into nonbinding international cooperative agreements with foreign governments, regional bodies, and intergovernmental organizations. The legislation expands the legal definition of partnerships to include agreements with foreign nations and prefectures, moving beyond previous limitations that focused primarily on sister-state relationships. These agreements are designed to support state initiatives in areas such as agriculture, climate resilience, renewable energy, and education without creating legally enforceable obligations or constituting treaties. Additionally, the bill requires the Hawaii sister-state and international partnerships commission to evaluate how these new agreements will enhance key state goals and mandates transparency by keeping the agreements subject to public input.

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jun 26, 2026

GM 1275: Informing the Legislature that on June 26, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB2101 SD1 HD1 CD1 (ACT 173).

This bill, signed into law as Act 173, updates Hawaii's solid waste management goals to address organic waste reduction. It requires counties to include specific benchmarks in their waste management plans to reduce organic waste disposal by 40% by 2038 and 70% by 2043, with a target of eliminating such disposal entirely by 2048. The legislation also defines organic waste to include compostable plant and animal materials like food scraps and green waste, while instructing counties to assess recycling and bioconversion methods that account for invasive species risks. These changes take effect on July 1, 2026, and apply to all county integrated solid waste management plans.

Topics ✓ Environment

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jun 26, 2026

GM 1268: Informing the Legislature that on June 26, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB1334 HD3 SD2 CD2 (ACT 166).

This bill establishes a pilot program in Hawaii that allows hunters to donate axis deer meat to charitable, religious, or nonprofit organizations for feeding needy people. To participate, hunters must complete a specific training and certification program covering safe field dressing, disease identification, and proper meat handling. The program is limited to islands with populations between 150,000 and 200,000 and will pause if a disease outbreak occurs in the area. Additionally, the law clarifies that donated axis deer meat cannot be mixed with federally regulated meat or poultry products and restricts transportation to only the locations where the animal was killed, processed, or distributed.

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jun 26, 2026

GM 1281: Informing the Legislature that on June 26, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB3238 SD1 HD1 CD1 (ACT 179).

This bill establishes a new Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program within the University of Hawaii to train qualified translators and interpreters for the state. The program will offer both credit and non-credit courses covering translation ethics, public service interpretation, and will include paid internship opportunities through the Hele Imua program. Priority admission is given to high school graduates who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy, while other applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one additional language. The legislation appropriates $375,000 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to fund three full-time staff positions and program implementation across three campuses.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jun 26, 2026

GM 1274: Informing the Legislature that on June 26, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB1881 HD1 SD2 CD1 (ACT 172).

This bill prohibits individuals and private entities from building, maintaining, or operating passenger or cargo ropeways, such as aerial lifts, tramways, and funiculars, across all land use districts in Hawaii. The law specifically defines these ropeways as systems that transport people or goods using cables or ropes and excludes elevators and small private systems under 100 feet long. A key provision allows government entities to operate these systems if they receive specific approval from the legislature. The legislation also includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the law is ruled invalid, the remaining sections stay in effect.

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 26, 2026

HB 472: RELATING TO DIGITAL IDENTIFICATION.

Authorizes the display of a mobile driver's license to a law enforcement officer on a mobile electronic device, under certain conditions. Limits a law enforcement officer's access to only the information necessary to verify the driver's license credential when displayed electronically. (CD1)

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jun 26, 2026

SB 177: RELATING TO AQUACULTURE.

Authorizes the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to adopt, amend, and repeal rules to develop an evaluation and authorization process to import and transport aquatic livestock in the State. Requires the Aquaculture Program to develop a biological aquatic risk-based framework and biocontainment standards for the aquatic livestock evaluation and authorization process. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 26, 2026

HB 1391: RELATING TO TRADE.

Establishes the Hawaii-Ireland Trade Commission within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for administrative purposes. Requires the Commission to submit annual reports to the Legislature and Governor. Sunsets 6/30/2031. (CD2)

Bill results