HB1424 requires the director of finance to submit an annual report to the legislature within 60 days after each fiscal year ends. The report must detail how funds intended for staffing positions (like hiring) are used for operating costs (such as equipment), and how funds for operating costs are used for staffing, while also listing departments that fail to provide necessary information. This law aims to improve oversight of state spending to ensure funds are used as authorized, directly affecting all state departments that handle budgeted positions and operating expenses.
This bill (SB1322, now Act 219) updates Hawaii's mental health laws to clarify procedures and improve support for individuals with mental illness or substance abuse issues. It requires annual reports from mental health providers and the Attorney General's office to the legislature on emergency transports, assisted community treatment petitions, and hospitalizations. Key changes include clarifying emergency procedures for those at risk of harming themselves or others, requiring treatment providers to share relevant information with the Attorney General for assisted community treatment petitions, and allowing a single psychiatrist (instead of a panel) to authorize medication against a patient's wishes in psychiatric facilities. The law directly affects mental health service providers, courts, law enforcement, and individuals receiving mental health care under these provisions.
This bill (HB477, Act 214) amends Hawaii’s unemployment benefits law, effective June 25, 2025. It requires unemployed individuals seeking benefits to register for work by providing specific details to the employment office, including job skills, education, work history, availability, and other relevant occupational information. To qualify for benefits, claimants must maintain this registration and report updates, though exemptions apply for union members, those in labor disputes, or individuals suspended from work (for up to four weeks). The law updates eligibility rules to link benefit access directly to this registration process, with limited waivers for specific cases.
This bill (HB242, Act 209) establishes a working group within Hawaii's state energy office to develop strategies for recycling and reusing electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The group, co-chaired by the chief energy officer and director of health, includes representatives from industry, environmental groups, government agencies, and battery recyclers. It must analyze options for battery reuse (e.g., as energy storage), recycling costs, environmental impacts, and in-state versus out-of-state solutions, then submit recommendations to the legislature by 2027. The bill does not create new regulations but directs the group to study management practices for EV batteries as they reach end-of-life.
SB176 (Act 226) changes Hawaii's automatic election recount threshold from a margin of less than 100 votes *or* less than 0.25% of total votes to less than 100 votes *or* less than 0.5% of total votes. This affects all statewide and county elections where vote margins meet the new criteria, ensuring recounts occur only for closer races. The law also clarifies that recounts will include only ballots verified during initial tabulation, excluding those needing correction. Signed into law by Governor Green on June 25, 2025, it modifies Hawaii Revised Statutes Sections 11-108 and 11-158.
This bill (SB1491, enacted as ACT 221) expands Hawaii's statewide longitudinal data system to include the Department of Taxation and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. It requires these agencies to share anonymized tax and business data with the system, specifically to include self-employed workers' information in workforce analysis. This update aims to make workforce data more complete by adding tax filings from self-employed individuals, which were previously missing. The law mandates that all shared data must comply with federal privacy laws (like FERPA) and be aggregated or anonymized to protect individual confidentiality.
This bill (HB987) establishes a dedicated "state procurement automation system special fund" to manage transaction fees collected from vendors using Hawaii's state procurement automation system. Previously, these fees were held in trust by the vendor developer, but the new fund allows the state procurement office to directly control and use the fees for system maintenance, upgrades, and operational costs. The law also aligns procurement rules by designating the school facilities authority's executive director as its chief procurement officer. This change improves accountability and ensures fees directly support the system's long-term functionality for all state agencies.
This document (GM 1309) is a governor's certification that **HB960** (designated as ACT 207) was signed into law on June 25, 2025. It does not describe a new bill but confirms the enactment of HB960, which modifies Hawaii’s capital advancement contracts for harbor facilities. The law increases the maximum contract value without legislative approval from $2 million to $5 million, raises the minimum threshold requiring approval from $2 million to $5 million, and raises the annual aggregate limit from $5 million to $30 million for harbor projects. It also requires the Department of Transportation to submit annual reports on all executed contracts to the legislature by July 20 each year.
This bill (HB277, now Act 210) establishes statewide rules for police vehicular pursuits in Hawaii, effective January 1, 2027. It requires officers to have reasonable suspicion of specific serious offenses - such as violent crimes, kidnapping, DUI, or assault - before initiating a pursuit, and mandates that pursuits must be necessary to identify/apprehend a suspect while balancing public safety risks. Officers must immediately notify a supervisor, who oversees the pursuit and considers alternatives, road conditions, and other safety factors before proceeding. The law directly affects all Hawaii law enforcement officers conducting vehicle pursuits and aims to reduce risks to the public and officers.
This bill (HB692) expands Hawaii's Preschool Open Doors Program to increase access to affordable early childhood care for more families. It modifies eligibility criteria to prioritize underrepresented or at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds, including children not eligible for public kindergarten due to birthdate, and those previously served as 3-year-olds. The program now requires providers to offer early learning services addressing children's developmental needs, while maintaining licensing requirements for child care centers and homes. Families may contribute to costs through a sliding fee scale based on income, with enrollment remaining voluntary. The law amends Hawaii Revised Statutes §346-181 to implement these changes.
This bill (HB 329, now Act 204) clarifies the responsibilities of Hawaii's School Facilities Authority. It expands the authority's role to include developing facilities for prekindergarten through early learning programs, workforce housing for educators, and all public school construction projects assigned by the legislature, governor, or school board. The bill also permits the authority to partner with private developers for early learning facilities and use the Department of Education for hiring. It specifically appropriates funds for a new middle school in central Maui and a workforce housing project in Mililani.
This bill (SB423) amends the composition of Hawaii's Early Learning Board. It specifies that the board must include one voting member each from Hawaii County, Maui County, and Kauai County, three voting members from Honolulu, and three at-large members (with one requiring early childhood education experience). The superintendent of education, health director, and other specified officials serve as nonvoting ex-officio members. The bill updates the board's structure to better reflect county representation and expertise in early childhood education. It became law when signed by the governor on June 24, 2025.
