HB732 (ACT 125) amends Hawaii's shoreline management law by updating financial thresholds for development permits. It sets a $750,000 limit (adjusted for inflation every five years) for a "minor permit" on non-shoreline projects, and a lower $500,000 limit for projects on shorelines or areas affected by coastal hazards like waves or erosion. Projects exceeding these amounts or posing environmental risks require a more detailed "use permit" review. This directly affects developers planning construction in coastal zones by clarifying when simplified approvals apply versus comprehensive environmental assessments. The law applies to all shoreline management areas defined under Hawaii Revised Statutes.
SB1469 (Act 118) amends Hawaii's tax collection laws to clarify the timeline for collecting income and excise taxes. It sets a deadline of June 30, 2024, for collecting taxes assessed before July 1, 2009, and adds specific situations where the collection period is paused - such as during tax appeals, when a taxpayer is outside Hawaii for six months, or while an offer to settle is pending. These changes apply to all taxpayers who owe state taxes and do not alter tax rates or create new obligations. The bill focuses on adjusting enforcement timelines for tax collection.
This bill establishes procedures for the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to handle abandoned or seized property in public housing projects. The authority can now sell, donate, or dispose of such property after following specific notice requirements: sending certified mail to known owners at least five days in advance, or posting notices on premises if owners can't be identified. For property valued at $500 or more per item, the authority must provide public notice statewide or in local publications and hold a public auction in the county where the property was found. Property owners can reclaim items before disposal by paying all owed rent, debts, and associated fees (including $25 minimum daily storage charges). The law ensures a clear process for both the authority to manage abandoned items and property owners to recover their belongings.
SB1522 (now Act 109) clarifies Hawaii's vehicle title transfer process to protect original owners (transferors) after selling a car. It states that filing a required notice with the county director of finance serves as a complete defense against liability for traffic violations, parking tickets, or other fines that occur after the sale. The new owner (transferee) then becomes responsible for the vehicle once the transferor files this notice. The bill also requires the judiciary to review by July 1, 2026, whether new forms or website tools are needed to help transferors complete this process.
SB855 (Act 113) amends Hawaii’s retirement savings program to require private employers without existing retirement plans to automatically enroll employees in the state-run savings plan (with an option to opt out). It clarifies that "covered employers" include most private businesses but exclude government entities and employers with tax-qualified retirement plans. The law removes annual fee limits on the program and updates rules to ensure simplicity, low costs, and portability for participants. This directly affects Hawaii private-sector employers who do not offer retirement benefits to their staff.
GM 1232 is a governor's message notifying the Hawaii Legislature that Governor Josh Green signed Senate Bill 1571 into law on May 29, 2025. The bill, titled "Relating to Tourism," amends Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 76-16 to adjust civil service provisions for state positions. It specifies exceptions to the civil service system, including certain military, contract, and judicial roles. This procedural message serves as official confirmation of the bill's enactment.
HB1439 provides funding for Hawaii's legislative agencies to cover health benefits and other cost adjustments for legislative employees excluded from collective bargaining. It allocates specific sums for the 2025-2027 biennium to offices including the State Ethics Commission, Office of the Auditor, Senate, and House of Representatives. Unspent funds at the end of each fiscal year will expire, and the law takes effect on July 1, 2025. This bill ensures dedicated funding for these non-collectively bargained positions without creating new policies.
SB344, now Act 130, requires all individuals under 18 to wear a helmet that is properly fitted, designed to protect against head trauma, and tested by a nationally recognized safety agency (like NHTSA) while skateboarding on public property, including streets, roadways, and bikeways. This law addresses findings that skateboard-related head injuries resulted in over 100,201 emergency room visits nationwide from 2009 to 2018, extending Hawaii's existing helmet requirement for bicyclists under 16 to skateboard riders. It applies to all public areas where skateboarding occurs, without overriding local ordinances that may restrict skateboard use. The law took effect upon the Governor's signature on May 29, 2025.
This bill (HB226, Act 129) regulates vehicle window tinting in Hawaii. It prohibits sun screening devices with mirrored or high-reflective finishes that appear red, yellow, amber, or blue from the exterior. Drivers must fully roll down windows during traffic stops when tinted, and the law clarifies light transmittance rules for front side windows while exempting rear windows on certain vehicles. Violations now carry higher fines, and lacking a compliance certificate becomes evidence of noncompliance. The law directly affects all drivers using window tinting in Hawaii.
GM 1219 is a notification that Governor Green signed SB1377 (Act 119) into law on May 29, 2025. This bill establishes a "veterans cemeteries board" to help Hawaii's veterans cemeteries meet federal standards set by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The board, composed of state, county, and federal representatives, identifies compliance issues, develops solutions, seeks resources, and creates a statewide maintenance framework. It must report annually to the legislature and engage community stakeholders. The law directly affects county and state veterans cemetery operations across Hawaii.
SB1464 (Act 123) aligns Hawaii's income and estate tax laws with the federal Internal Revenue Code (IRC) as of December 31, 2024, for tax years beginning after that date. It updates Hawaii's tax definitions to reference the federal IRC for calculating gross income, adjusted gross income, and taxable income, while excluding specific federal payments like 2020-2021 recovery rebates from taxable income. The bill also incorporates federal tax provisions from pandemic relief laws, ensuring consistent treatment of items such as EIDL advances and restaurant grants in Hawaii tax calculations. This affects all Hawaii taxpayers subject to income and estate taxes for tax years starting in 2025 or later.
SB1009 (Act 112), signed into law on May 29, 2025, establishes enforcement fines for improperly using parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities or electric vehicles in Hawaii. It sets fines of $25-$500 for disability parking violations (with an additional $100 "enforcement fine" for most violations) and prohibits fines if electric vehicle charging stations are broken. Fifty percent of collected fines fund the Safe Routes to School program, while the other half goes to the general fund. The law directly affects drivers who misuse designated parking spaces and requires enforcement by district courts.
