Hawaii Bills

passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 2540: RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Prohibits with certain exceptions, the use of facial coverings and requires visible identification by law enforcement officers and their vehicles in the performance of their duties. Requires state and county law enforcement agencies to establish policies regarding state and county cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement. Prohibits law enforcement officers from prolonging a stop to inquire about a person's civil immigration status. Establishes criminal offenses for use of a mask or facial covering by a law enforcement officer, lack of visible identification, and unauthorized civil immigration arrest or detention. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 2101: RELATING TO COMMERCIAL AQUARIUM COLLECTION.

HB 2101 prohibits the capture and sale of live aquatic animals for commercial aquarium businesses, regardless of how they are collected. This directly affects commercial aquarium suppliers and retailers who currently source wild-caught marine or freshwater species. The key provision bans all such collection and sale activities, creating a complete prohibition without exceptions for methods like nets or traps. The bill is currently in its early stages, having been introduced on January 26, 2026.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 16, 2026

HR 214: RELATING TO THE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE.

This bill assigns Representative M. Cov Ratcliffe to three specific committees in the Hawaii House of Representatives: Economic Development & Technology, Finance, and Tourism. The measure applies to Ratcliffe, who was appointed to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Representative Daniel Holt. By adding Ratcliffe to these groups, the resolution ensures he can participate in relevant legislative discussions while maintaining all other existing committee assignments from previous resolutions.

passed · Hawaii · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SCR 199: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH A FRAMEWORK IN THE OFFICE OF FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS THAT IMPROVES RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR MONITORING ALL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Education to create a system that assigns responsibility for monitoring school construction and repair projects to local complex area leaders. Under this proposed framework, Complex Area Superintendents and their staff would track project progress from planning through completion, coordinate with school leaders to address needs, and submit quarterly reports on budget and timeline status to the state Office of Facilities and Operations. The Office of Facilities and Operations would keep overall management authority while providing technical assistance and reviewing the local reports to ensure projects stay on schedule and within budget. The Department of Education would also be required to develop clear procedures defining roles and responsibilities, and submit a report to the Legislature by early 2027 outlining the new framework and any recommendations for further action.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SCR 132: URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO FINALIZE, PRIORITIZE, AND MATERIALIZE THE MAKAKILO DRIVE EXTENSION PROJECT.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution urges the City and County of Honolulu to move forward with finalizing and building the Makakilo Drive Extension Project to address traffic congestion in the Makakilo and Kapolei areas. The bill requests that city officials establish a clear timeline for planning, funding, design, and construction phases, and submit a status report to the Legislature by early 2027. It directs copies of the resolution to the mayor, transportation director, and city council chair to ensure the request is formally communicated to local leadership.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SCR 145: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO EVALUATE WHETHER THE STATE SHOULD IMPLEMENT A DEMERIT POINT SYSTEM FOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Transportation to create a task force to study whether the state should adopt a demerit point system for traffic violations. The proposed task force would include transportation officials from across the state and police chiefs from each county to evaluate the idea. If the task force recommends moving forward, it must submit its findings and any proposed legislation to the Legislature by the end of 2027. This resolution does not change any laws immediately but initiates a review process to determine if such a system would be beneficial for reducing traffic incidents.

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 16, 2026

HCR 82: REQUESTING THE STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL TO DEVELOP AND ADOPT BASIC SHELTER STANDARDS TO ENABLE LOW-COST, RAPID-DEPLOYMENT HOUSING SOLUTIONS.

This bill requests the State Building Code Council to create a new set of basic shelter standards that would allow for low-cost, quickly built housing solutions during emergencies. The proposed standards would permit simpler structures like prefabricated units and temporary shelters that currently don't meet full building code requirements, but would still ensure safety and sanitation. These housing units would only be allowed during declared emergencies and would be limited to government or nonprofit use to prevent commercial exploitation. The bill also establishes a pathway for these temporary units to be upgraded to permanent housing if they later meet full building code standards.

Topics ✓ Housing

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SB 709: RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Requires the Director of Law Enforcement to adopt rules establishing training and certification standards and procedures for crisis intervention officers. Requires the Department of Health to approve the content of such training. Clarifies the scope of treatment permitted under assisted community treatment orders. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to assist with the preparation, filing, and presentation of requests for a court order to provide treatment over a patient's objection. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SB 83: RELATING TO HOTELS.

Requires hotelkeepers to provide adequate notice of service disruptions to third-party vendors and guests under certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 1840: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to develop an alternative pathway for a visiting international educator permit aligned to the duration of the educator's J-1 visa program. Permits the Department of Education and charter schools to hire unlicensed individuals as teachers on an emergency basis for five, rather than three, years. Requires HTSB to extend the five-year period in the case of a declared state of emergency. Requires the Department of Education to provide support to assist emergency hires in meeting the requirements of licensure and require the training be mandatory for emergency hires in their fourth and fifth years. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Immigration

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SB 2470: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to evaluate an intersection for the installation of a leading pedestrian interval and accessible pedestrian signal upon the first placement or replacement of a state-owned pedestrian signal head. Requires and authorizes the Department of Transportation to evaluate a certain number of existing intersections with pedestrian signal heads on an annual basis until each intersection with a pedestrian signal head showing a pedestrian crash within the last 5 years has been evaluated. Ensures that accessible pedestrian signals are installed at intersections where leading pedestrian intervals are already installed. Requires that additional safety improvements are implemented as necessary where leading pedestrian intervals and accessible pedestrian signals are installed. Requires the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the counties, to develop a program that allows pedestrians and community members to request the installation of accessible pedestrian signals at specific intersections. Appropriates funds from the state highway fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SB 3142: RELATING TO DANGEROUS INTOXICATION.

Establishes the offenses of dangerous intoxication and habitual dangerous intoxication. Provides for civil protective custody and transport for emergency examination in lieu of arrest for dangerous intoxication in specified circumstances, and bars prosecution when civil protective custody is used. Requires probation with mandatory treatment for habitual dangerous intoxication, with incarceration only upon probation violation. Makes conforming amendments to chapter 334, HRS, relating to admission to psychiatric facilities and assisted community treatment. Delays implementation by one year. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results