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Hawaii Bills

Track legislation and stay informed about the bills that matter to you.

State Legislature US Congress

All 53,153 Active 2,085 In committee 29,059 Passed 12,714 Signed 1,934 Failed 183

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 24, 2026

HB 2171: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

HB 2171 authorizes the University of Hawaii to engage in business-like activities for educational purposes, directly affecting the university's ability to operate revenue-generating projects tied to student learning. The bill permits UH to run ventures such as student-run businesses, research commercialization, or educational services that generate income while supporting academic goals. Key provisions remove legal barriers preventing the university from conducting these activities under its existing educational mission. This change allows UH to expand practical learning opportunities without requiring separate legislative approvals for each initiative.

Topics ✓ Education

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 24, 2026

HB 2293: RELATING TO THE HARM TO STUDENTS REGISTRY.

Clarifies the scope of the Department of Education's harm to students registry by excluding K-12 students and by providing that contractors and volunteers are included only if their roles involves interaction with students. (CD1)

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 24, 2026

HB 1718: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Limits mixed-use developments to transit-oriented developments. Repeals the sunset date of Act 45, SLH 2024, thereby making permanent the authority of the counties to share in facilitating the development, construction, financing, refinancing, or other provision of mixed-use developments, including low- and moderate-income housing projects, and issue county bonds before 7/1/2033 for this purpose. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jun 24, 2026

SB 3096: RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM'S EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS FOR NORMAL COST AND ACCRUED LIABILITY.

Increases employer contribution rate for normal cost and accrued liability for police officers, firefighters, and corrections officers to ensure that the amortization period for the unfunded accrued liability of the State's Employees' Retirement System does not exceed the maximum funding period. Takes effect 7/1//2027. (CD1)

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jun 9, 2026

GM 1212: Informing the Legislature that on June 8, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB1810 HD2 SD2 CD1 (ACT 112).

This bill, signed into law on June 8, 2026, addresses the practice of using collection bins for charitable donations by requiring operators to provide clear financial disclosures. It directly affects professional solicitors who run collection bins for non-perishable items, mandating that they prominently display information about how proceeds are used and how they are compensated. The law establishes new rules requiring these operators to pay charities promptly and submit financial reports to ensure transparency in the donation process. Additionally, the bill expands the legal definition of solicitation to explicitly include requests made through collection bins and containers. These changes aim to inform donors about the business arrangements between collection bin operators and the charities they support.

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jun 9, 2026

GM 1219: Informing the Legislature that on June 8, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB2671 SD1 HD2 CD1 (ACT 119).

This bill authorizes mayors in Hawaii counties to run four-year pilot programs designed to speed up and improve the quality of permit processing for housing and infrastructure projects. The key mechanism allows counties to designate specific permit review and processing roles as "essential permitting positions," which qualify for a minimum 15% salary differential to help attract and retain staff. Additionally, the program mandates that hiring for these critical roles be prioritized over other positions and requires job offers to be made within 14 days of an interview. Counties participating in the pilot must set aside funds to cover the extra pay, new hires, and potential performance bonuses tied to meeting specific milestones.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jun 9, 2026

GM 1211: Informing the Legislature that on June 8, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB2567 SD2 HD2 CD1 (ACT 111).

This bill informs the Hawaii Legislature that Governor Josh Green signed Act 111 into law on June 8, 2026. The act establishes a two-year pilot program allowing public employers to seek temporary restraining orders and injunctions on behalf of employees facing employment-related harassment. Under the new provision, public agencies may hire private attorneys to represent harassed employees in court, avoiding potential conflicts of interest that could arise if the Attorney General handled the cases. This change expands existing harassment protections to specifically cover the workplace environment for public sector workers.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jun 9, 2026

GM 1223: Informing the Legislature that on June 8, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB2930 SD2 HD1 CD1 (ACT 123).

This bill directs the state to use insurance proceeds from the 2023 Maui wildfires to rebuild specific Lahaina facilities, including King Kamehameha III Elementary School and the small boat harbor. To ensure these funds are used efficiently, the law requires the creation of a master coordinated project plan involving state agencies, Maui County, and private partners before releasing additional money from the state risk management revolving fund. The legislation also mandates monthly progress reports on construction and allows for the transfer of certain school construction responsibilities between state agencies if needed.

Topics ✓ Education

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jun 9, 2026

GM 1213: Informing the Legislature that on June 8, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB99 SD1 HD1 CD1 (ACT 113).

This bill, Act 113, expands the rules for retired state and county employees in Hawaii to allow them to return to work without losing their pension benefits or having to rejoin the retirement system. It specifically permits rehiring for roles such as elective officers, jurors, part-time or temporary staff, and positions identified as difficult to fill due to high vacancy rates. To qualify for rehiring in difficult-to-fill roles, retirees must not have worked for the government in the twelve months prior to returning, and employers must contribute to the pension fund to offset the cost. The legislation also establishes specific metrics, such as a fifty percent vacancy rate, that agencies must use to officially designate a position as hard to fill.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jun 9, 2026

GM 1217: Informing the Legislature that on June 8, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB3229 SD1 HD1 CD1 (ACT 117).

This bill is a procedural message from the Governor to the Legislature confirming that Act 117 was signed into law on June 8, 2026. The underlying law, SB3229, authorizes the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to spend up to $3 million annually from a specific fund to support alumni relations and fundraising efforts. It also mandates that the university submit detailed financial reports to the legislature every year to explain how these funds are used.

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jun 9, 2026

GM 1220: Informing the Legislature that on June 8, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB2158 HD1 SD1 CD1 (ACT 120).

This bill directs the University of Hawaii to create a public online dashboard that provides students and families with clear, comparable data on academic programs, including costs, time to degree, and post-graduation outcomes. The university must submit a preliminary report by December 2026 outlining its data inventory and implementation plan, followed by the launch of the dashboard and annual progress reports to the legislature. While the system is designed primarily to help prospective students make informed educational decisions, the data will also support evidence-based planning and program reviews within the university system.

Topics ✓ Education

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jun 9, 2026

GM 1205: Informing the Legislature that on June 8, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB2272 SD1 HD2 CD1 (ACT 105).

This bill, signed into law by the Governor on June 8, 2026, allows licensed home health agencies in Hawaii to avoid routine state inspections if they hold current accreditation or certification from organizations approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. To qualify for this exemption, agencies must provide the Department of Health with official reports proving they maintain full accreditation and hold a valid state license. While routine inspections are waived, the Department of Health retains the authority to investigate any agency with complaints, negative accreditation findings, or during periodic validation surveys, and all survey reports from these external organizations will be made public.

Topics ✓ Healthcare