Hawaii Bills

This bill (HB 110, Act 137) sets new, phased targets for state agencies to purchase locally grown food. It requires the Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Corrections, Department of Defense, and University of Hawaii system to increase the percentage of locally sourced food in their purchases, starting at 10% by 2025 and rising to 42% by 2045. The Department of Education is exempt from these specific targets but must still meet its separate goal of 30% locally sourced food in school meals by 2030 under existing law (Act 175). The law aims to standardize procurement requirements across agencies while ensuring revenue from food purchases stays within Hawaii's local economy.

This bill appropriates $685,870 from state general revenues to the Department of Education to establish surfing as an interscholastic sport in Hawaii public schools for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. It recognizes surfing's cultural significance to Hawaii, its economic value as a tourism driver (citing a $20.9 million economic impact study from the 2010 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing), and notes that only one of five local athletic leagues currently sponsors surfing programs, limiting student opportunities. The funding will specifically support the development of competitive surfing programs in schools to expand participation and continue attracting tourists interested in the sport. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2025.

This bill (HB712, Act 143) protects access to affordable medications under Hawaii's 340B drug pricing program. It prohibits drug manufacturers from blocking contract pharmacies from dispensing 340B drugs to patients, ensuring hospitals and health centers (especially in rural areas) can continue using these pharmacies. Covered entities must report annual data to Hawaii's hospital trade association, which will publish aggregated reports publicly. The law preserves critical savings for hospitals to fund services like financial assistance, wellness programs, and Native Hawaiian health practices, particularly benefiting low-income and rural patients.

This bill extends the deadline for Hawaii's administrative driver's license revocation office to issue decisions on license revocation for drivers suspected of driving under the influence (DUI). For alcohol-related cases, the deadline is now 14 days after the notice is issued; for drug-related cases, it is 28 days. The change accounts for delays in testing blood and urine samples, which Hawaii must ship to mainland labs due to lack of in-state drug testing facilities. This directly affects drivers in DUI cases and aims to ensure decisions are based on complete test results.

This bill, HB862, makes permanent an exemption allowing schools to use motorcoaches, small buses, and vans for student transportation when school buses are unavailable or due to economic factors. It requires drivers to hold a commercial driver's license for passenger vehicles and mandates that vehicles meet state transportation standards. The policy directly affects public schools and charter schools in Hawaii, particularly those serving rural communities and students from disadvantaged backgrounds, by expanding eligible transportation options. Schools must submit annual reports to the Department of Transportation detailing how often these alternative vehicles are used.

This bill (HB1098, Act 142) amends Hawaii's assault statute to specifically protect certain protective service workers. It expands second-degree assault to include intentionally or knowingly causing bodily injury to: correctional workers, school staff (teachers, administrators, volunteers), emergency medical personnel, mental health facility staff, firefighters, water safety officers, and healthcare workers performing duties at healthcare facilities. The law applies when these workers are engaged in their job duties within relevant facilities or during service. This creates a clear legal standard for prosecuting assaults against these specific professions.

This document (GM 1247) is a procedural notification from Governor Green confirming the signing of S.B. 281 (ACT 147) into law on May 30, 2025. The actual bill (S.B. 281) establishes "torture" as a class A felony in Hawaii, specifically targeting severe abuse of minors or vulnerable people. It defines torture as causing serious injury, creating a pattern of abuse, or subjecting victims to acts like strangulation, burning, deprivation of food/water/clothing, or exposure to extreme temperatures on three or more occasions. The law applies to abusers who exert physical or psychological control over victims, with specific protections for minors (under 18) and vulnerable individuals (e.g., family members, incapacitated persons). The defense of "poverty or destitution" is recognized for deprivation-related offenses.

SB1300 (enacted as Act 139) expands free school meal access in Hawaii public schools. Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, students currently eligible for reduced-price lunches will receive free meals. Starting in 2026-2027, all students from families with incomes up to 300% of the federal poverty level will qualify for free meals, regardless of federal program eligibility. The law appropriates $565,000 for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 to fund these subsidies.

This bill (HB1170, effective July 1, 2025) simplifies residency requirements for University of Hawaii tuition. It automatically qualifies students who graduated from a Hawaii high school within the previous two years for resident tuition rates, regardless of other residency documentation. This directly affects recent Hawaii high school graduates applying to UH campuses, including those who previously faced challenges proving residency due to homelessness or complex family situations. The law amends Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 304A-402 to establish this new pathway for enrollment.

HB1091 requires counties in Hawaii to accept ownership of sewer transmission lines and related facilities serving Hawaiian home lands (HHL) upon request from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL). Existing sewer lines built before July 7, 2014, must be brought into compliance with environmental standards by DHHL before county acceptance, while new lines built after that date must meet all applicable environmental, design, and construction requirements prior to transfer. This law ensures that all sewer systems serving HHL properties meet current environmental standards as they transition to county maintenance. It directly affects DHHL, counties, and residents of Hawaiian home lands by clarifying responsibility for sewer infrastructure upkeep.

This bill (SB532) expands who can administer student medications in Hawaii public schools. It allows trained school staff - beyond just school health assistants - to give oral, nasal, or topical medications (and emergency premeasured medications) if they complete specific training. The training covers correctly interpreting prescriptions, identifying students, confirming doses, timing, and documentation. It directly affects public schools and students who rely on medications for health and school attendance. The law amends Hawaii Revised Statutes to include this training-based authorization, ensuring student safety during medication administration.

This document is a formal notification (GM 1207) that Governor Josh Green signed **SB1452** into law on May 29, 2025. The bill amends Hawaii’s Uniform Controlled Substance Act (HRS §329-14) by adding **39 specific synthetic opioids** to the state’s prohibited substances schedule. These include dangerous fentanyl analogs like acetyl fentanyl, benzylfentanyl, and beta-methyl fentanyl, which have contributed to overdose deaths. The law directly affects anyone possessing, distributing, or manufacturing these named compounds in Hawaii, making such activities illegal under state law.