This bill (SB1304, now Act 179) appropriates $323,484 for fiscal year 2025-2026 and $311,903 for fiscal year 2026-2027 to fund the Department of Agriculture’s ongoing monitoring of pesticide drift near schools statewide. It requires the monitoring to comply with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations and mandates a final report with findings and recommendations to the legislature by 2029. The funds directly support school safety by ensuring pesticide drift near educational facilities is tracked, affecting schools, children, and the Department of Agriculture. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.
This bill (HB 650, now Act 195) allocates $300,000 from state funds to support Hawaii sea salt manufacturers. It directs the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to provide education and assistance to businesses about U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance on using color additives in sea salt products. The law specifically addresses manufacturers who want to use non-approved color additives, requiring them to follow the FDA's petition process before use. This funding, effective July 1, 2025, directly affects local sea salt producers seeking to legally market colored products.
This bill (SB693, now Act 185) appropriates $1.5 million for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to continue Hawaii's Food Hub Pilot Program established under Act 313 (2022). It directly supports small- to mid-sized food producers and underserved communities by funding grants for food hubs - central facilities that collect, store, process, and distribute locally grown food. The program aims to increase access to fresh, healthy food in areas with limited options while helping food hubs overcome financial barriers to expand operations. The funding will be managed by the Department of Agriculture, effective July 1, 2025.
This bill amends Hawaii's speed limit law to require the Department of Transportation and counties to consider specific safety factors when setting maximum speed limits. It mandates an engineering study analyzing current vehicle speeds for most roads (with exceptions for school zones within one mile or speed reductions of 10 mph or less), and requires consideration of National Association of City Transportation Officials guidance for roads adjacent to schools or residential/commercial areas. The law standardizes the speed limit-setting process by prioritizing traffic data and established safety practices over arbitrary adjustments. These changes directly affect how local transportation authorities determine speed limits across Hawaii.
This bill (HB 860) authorizes the State of Hawaii and counties with populations between 200,000 and 500,000 to repair or maintain roads where ownership or jurisdiction is disputed between the State and county - commonly called "roads in limbo." It protects the repairing entity from liability for acts related to that specific repair work and requires clear public signage stating that the repair does not establish permanent ownership or jurisdiction. The law applies only to these disputed roads and expires on July 1, 2030. It directly affects counties like Hawaii County, which has over 400 miles of such roads.
This bill (HB874) requires employers of child performers in Hawaii to place 15% of a minor’s earnings into a trust account managed by an independent third party. The trust must be established before a child’s first performance and maintained until they turn 18, with funds accessible only for the child’s benefit. It applies to performers earning $5,000 in a project or $20,000 annually, covering roles like actors, dancers, musicians, and social media influencers. The law aims to protect child performers’ financial security, modeled after California’s Coogan Law, by preventing mismanagement of their earnings.
HB1379 (Act 174) amends Hawaii's medical licensing rules to update requirements for foreign medical graduates seeking licensure. It establishes two new pathways: (1) passing FLEX/USMLE exams plus the ECFMG qualifying exam and 3+ years of hospital training, or (2) passing FLEX/USMLE exams plus an ECFMG certificate plus 2 years of approved residency training. The bill directly affects international medical graduates aiming to practice medicine in Hawaii by clarifying and expanding acceptable qualification routes. This change simplifies the process while maintaining standards for medical training and examinations.
This bill establishes Hawaii's Universal Immunization Funding Program, which requires health insurance companies to pay assessments to fund state-purchased vaccines. It directly affects all health insurers operating in Hawaii (defined as "assessed entities") and covers children under 18 and adults under 65 with health insurance through policies issued or delivered in the state. The program replaces fragmented vaccine purchasing by having the state buy immunizations at discounted rates through existing programs like the Vaccines For Children Program, reducing administrative costs for providers. This ensures reliable vaccine supply during shortages while managing costs for both the state and healthcare providers.
This document is a formal notification (GM 1248) that Governor Josh Green signed SB1422 into law on June 3, 2025. The bill amends Hawaii law to adjust how fees from vital records are distributed:
- $10 for the first certified birth/marriage/divorce/death certificate copy (and $4 for each additional copy)
- $1 from each certificate fee funds child abuse, spouse abuse, and domestic violence prevention programs
- $10 per marriage license fee ($51 remitted total) allocates $32 to the general fund and $10 to the vital statistics improvement fund.
These changes directly affect residents purchasing vital records or marriage licenses, directing specific fees to designated state funds.
This bill (HB359, signed into law as Act 149) amends Hawaii's covered offender registration laws to expand registration requirements and public disclosure for certain sex offenses. It specifically requires registration and public disclosure for offenders convicted of: sexual assault in the fourth degree against minors (16+) while acting in a professional role, incest, sexual assault of an animal, and offenses involving computers or minors (like child pornography). The law also clarifies that annual registration must occur within 30 days of an offender's birthday (not their actual birth date) and establishes tiering for registration termination. These changes directly affect sex offenders convicted of the specified offenses, particularly those who abused positions of trust with minors.
SB 1216 amends Hawaii's vehicle inspection requirements to strengthen safety standards. The bill updates Section 286-26 to require inspections that verify vehicles meet muffler/exhaust system compliance (per sections 291-24 and 291-24.5) and headlamp specifications (per section 291-25(a)). It also establishes that inspection certificates must include the effective/termination dates, insurance information, and odometer reading, with provisions for replacing lost inspection stickers without reinspection. The bill affects vehicle owners requiring inspections, inspection stations, and the Department of Transportation, which must implement these changes through new rules. This law modifies existing transportation regulations rather than creating new policies.
Act 157 requires Hawaii condominium associations to provide unit owners with a clear, detailed budget summary that includes specific financial information, such as the current amount set aside for future repairs (replacement reserves) and how future fees are calculated. The summary must contain all required details without referring readers to other documents, and it clarifies that unit owners can enforce compliance with these disclosure rules. This law builds on prior transparency measures (Acts 62 and 199) to ensure condominium associations openly share financial information with owners.
