This bill establishes a new Performing Arts Grants Program under Hawaii's State Foundation on Culture and Arts to support theater, music, dance, and other live performances. It creates a dedicated Performing Arts Grants Special Fund, funded by legislative appropriations, foundation revenue, and donations, to cover event coordination, promotion, and execution. The law clarifies the Foundation's role in managing these programs and requires annual reports to the legislature detailing grant awards and event outcomes. The bill amends existing funding mechanisms for the state art museum and adjusts transfer amounts into the works of art special fund.
This bill, SB1367 (Act 116), regulates small installment loans in Hawaii by setting clear limits and requirements. It caps loan amounts at $1,500, limits total charges to 50% of the principal, and establishes tiered monthly maintenance fees ($25-$35 based on loan size). Borrowers must receive written agreements, repayment terms must be at least two months for loans under $500 or four months for larger loans, and lenders cannot secure repayment with liens on property. The law also prohibits fees for early repayment and allows debit card payments with a $1 convenience fee. It directly affects installment lenders and borrowers seeking small short-term loans.
SB1048 amends Hawaii's Act 205 to clarify rules for online charitable fundraising platforms (referred to as "platform charities"), reducing administrative burdens while maintaining donor transparency and protection. It requires these platforms to register with the state Department of Attorney General, submit annual financial reports detailing donations and fees, and provide clear disclosures to donors about where funds go and potential reasons they might not reach recipient charities. Platforms must only work with charities verified as "in good standing" through the state registry and must include conspicuous disclosures - such as stating whether donations go to the platform or the charity - before a donation is completed. This bill directly affects online fundraising platforms and the charitable organizations they partner with, aiming to balance regulatory oversight with operational flexibility.
This bill (SB1454, now Act 115) amends Hawaii's wage and hour law to strengthen enforcement and clarify payment requirements. It adds new sections creating a formal process for wage violation orders, allowing employers 20 days to appeal findings, and enabling courts to enforce final orders without appeal. The law also expands the labor enforcement fund to include penalties from wage violations and clarifies that "wage" excludes tips but includes reasonable costs for employer-provided housing or meals. These changes directly affect employers who violate wage laws and employees owed unpaid wages.
Governor Josh Green appointed Joe Gedeon to fill the vacancy in the 18th House District caused by Representative Gene Ward's resignation on March 31, 2025. Gedeon, effective immediately as of May 28, 2025, will serve as the representative for the district (encompassing Portlock, Hawai'i Kai, and Kalama Valley). This appointment follows Hawai'i Revised Statutes Section 17-4(a), which governs filling legislative vacancies. The bill is procedural, solely documenting the governor's action to replace a resigned legislator.
This bill (HB 1171) establishes a University of Hawaii fund to provide direct student aid during declared emergencies or disasters. It authorizes up to $3 million annually from tuition revenue for emergency student support, requiring the university to submit detailed reports to the legislature on fund usage. The law restricts these funds from being used to justify budget cuts or transferred without legislative approval, ensuring they serve public purposes like disaster-related scholarships. It directly affects UH students facing emergencies and the university's financial operations.
*(Note: GM 1185 is a legislative notification of the Governor's signing of HB 1171, not the bill itself. The summary focuses on HB 1171's policy changes as described in the provided text.)*
HB799 allows physicians at organized ambulatory health care facilities in Hawaii counties with populations under 500,000 to practice without needing hospital privileges at a nearby licensed hospital. This change targets health care provider shortages in rural and neighbor island communities, particularly after the 2023 Maui wildfires worsened access. The Department of Health must evaluate the law's impact on health care access, quality, and costs by 2027 and report to the legislature. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and expires June 30, 2028.
This bill establishes a minimum age of 12 for juvenile court jurisdiction in Hawaii, meaning children under 12 cannot be adjudicated for any alleged violation of law. It amends Hawaii Revised Statutes §571-11 to restrict court jurisdiction to individuals at least 12 years old for acts that would otherwise be considered delinquent or criminal. The law ensures young children, who lack the capacity to form criminal intent, are not processed through the juvenile justice system but instead receive appropriate services and treatment. This change aligns Hawaii with international standards under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
This bill (HB 1169) establishes a University of Hawaii conference center revolving fund to support conference center programs across the UH system. It allows the university to collect fees for conference services, deposit them into the fund, and use these funds - without standard procurement bidding requirements - to cover direct conference costs like venue rentals, speaker fees, food, and equipment. The law requires the university to submit annual financial reports to the legislature detailing the fund's income and expenses. It affects UH conference center operations and replaces prior provisions for UH Hilo and community college conference centers.
HB506, signed into law on May 27, 2025, allocates $4,974,040 to fund equipment for the Oahu branch of Hawaii's Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DCRE). The funding directly supports enforcement of rules protecting herbivorous fish species - like parrotfish and surgeonfish - that help maintain coral reefs by controlling seaweed growth. Key equipment includes patrol vessels, night-vision devices, drones, SCUBA gear, and mobile surveillance trailers to address challenges like high fishing pressure, officer shortages, and the difficulty of night-time patrols on Oahu. This law specifically targets Oahu's degraded coral reefs, which face threats from smothering seaweed, bleaching, and pollution.
This bill amends Hawaii's definition of "beach restoration" to include more types of activities that protect coastal areas from sea level rise. It expands the definition to cover managing sand and native dune vegetation, placing sand from approved outside sources on eroded beaches, and removing abandoned materials that threaten public health or coastal ecosystems. These changes will guide how the state manages and preserves beaches as public trust resources. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025, directly affecting coastal communities, beach management practices, and Hawaii's approach to addressing sea level rise impacts.
HB162, signed into law on May 27, 2025, establishes a two-step process for resolving deadlocks in public sector collective bargaining in Hawaii. After an impasse occurs, mediation must be initiated within 20 days, with a neutral mediator appointed by the board. If unresolved after 20 days, the dispute moves to a three-member arbitration panel: two members are chosen by the employer and union, and the third neutral member is selected by mutual agreement (or by a neutral service if agreement fails). This applies to specific public employee groups, including firefighters, police, state and county workers, and education staff covered under Hawaii's collective bargaining law.
