Hawaii Bills

in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HR 71: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESILIENCE TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S SECONDARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AND THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA PROGRAM.

This bill requests that the Hawaii Department of Education and the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience support the state's Secondary Agricultural Education Program and the Future Farmers of America program. The resolution aims to strengthen agricultural education in Hawaii's high schools to help address the state's food security concerns and declining agricultural workforce. It proposes employing an extension agent at the university to provide professional development and connect agricultural best practices to local schools. The bill focuses on restoring and expanding these programs through targeted support rather than creating new funding or policy mandates.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HR 25: REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL TO CONVENE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE FIRES WORKING GROUP.

This bill requests the Office of the State Fire Marshal in Hawaii to form a working group focused on electric vehicle fires. The group will include representatives from state agencies, county facilities and building departments, parking structure owners, and the condominium industry. The working group must submit a report with recommendations on updating fire and building codes, improving firefighter training, and proposing new legislation no later than twenty days before the 2027 legislative session.

in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HCR 45: URGING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO TAKE ACTION TO RELEASE ALL FEDERAL RECORDS RELATED TO THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN INVESTIGATIONS WITH LIMITED REDACTIONS SOLELY TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY AND SAFETY OF VICTIMS.

This Hawaii House Concurrent Resolution urges the President and Congress to release all federal records related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigations, with redactions limited only to protecting the privacy and safety of victims. The bill responds to concerns that current federal actions have either exposed victim identities or withheld information about individuals involved in the crimes. It calls for full transparency regarding who was connected to Epstein and how the abuse network operated, while requesting that Congress compel implicated individuals to testify under oath. The resolution is a non-binding statement of intent rather than a law that directly changes federal policy.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HR 127: URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO COMPLETE THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF KALAELOA REGIONAL PARK.

This House Resolution urges the City and County of Honolulu to finalize planning and development for the Kalaeloa Regional Park, a 400-acre recreational complex located in Ewa Beach. The bill directs the city to create a comprehensive master plan for the entire property by 2027, with an initial focus on developing approximately 50 acres of sports fields, jogging paths, and community facilities. It also requests the city to secure matching state funding for the project and provide transparent public accounting for the $1.8 million already allocated to the Department of Parks and Recreation. The resolution aims to address the region's growing need for recreational infrastructure as the Ewa community has experienced significant population growth over the past thirty years.

in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HR 37: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO COORDINATE THE STOCKPILING OF A THREE-YEAR SUPPLY OF MIFEPRISTONE.

This resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Health to coordinate stockpiling a three-year supply of mifepristone, a medication commonly used in medical abortions. The bill responds to concerns about potential disruptions in the medication's supply chain and aims to ensure continued access to reproductive healthcare services within the state. It directs the Department of Health to determine the appropriate quantities needed for this stockpile and transmit the resolution to the state health director. The measure reflects Hawaii's existing legal framework protecting reproductive rights and addresses access challenges faced by residents, particularly on islands where in-person abortion care is limited.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HCR 108: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE DETAILING FARM-TO-SCHOOL IMPLEMENTATION, LOCAL FOOD PROCUREMENT, REGIONAL KITCHEN ALIGNMENT, AND FEDERAL FARM-TO-SCHOOL GRANT PARTICIPATION.

This bill requests the Hawaii Department of Education to submit a report to the Legislature on its farm-to-school program and local food procurement efforts. The report must detail current purchasing levels, how school meal operations align with regional kitchen infrastructure, and any barriers preventing local farmers from participating. It also asks for information on federal grant participation and recommendations for improving procurement policies to better support local agriculture. The Department of Education is the primary target, as it is the state's largest institutional food buyer and plays a central role in these initiatives.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HCR 25: REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL TO CONVENE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE FIRES WORKING GROUP.

This bill requests the Office of the State Fire Marshal in Hawaii to form a working group focused on electric vehicle fires. The group will include representatives from the state fire marshal, insurance commissioner, comptroller, public utilities commission, county facility maintenance agencies, and building permitting agencies, along with industry representatives from commercial parking structures and condominiums. The working group is tasked with reviewing current safety codes and practices, developing recommendations to improve fire containment in parking structures, and proposing additional training for fire departments. The group must submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the start of the 2027 legislative session.

in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HR 44: URGING THE GOVERNOR TO TAKE ACTION TO REASSURE ALL VISITORS TO HAWAII THAT THEY WILL BE TREATED SAFELY, LEGALLY, AND ETHICALLY BY ALL STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES UPON THEIR ARRIVAL AND THROUGHOUT THEIR STAY.

This House Resolution urges the Governor of Hawaii to reassure visitors that they will be treated safely, legally, and ethically by state law enforcement agencies during their stay. The measure responds to concerns about federal immigration policies allowing warrantless searches of electronic devices and social media, which the bill's sponsors argue could lead to unconstitutional denials of entry. By requesting the Governor's action, the resolution aims to protect Hawaii's reputation and ensure that visitors are not subjected to practices that conflict with constitutional rights and state values. The document is a formal request rather than a law that creates new penalties or mandates specific enforcement actions.

in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HR 29: ESTABLISHING THE HAWAII HEALTH PLAN WORKING GROUP TO DESIGN AND RECOMMEND A BASIC, AFFORDABLE HAWAII HEALTH PLAN AVAILABLE TO EVERY RESIDENT OF THE STATE.

This bill establishes a Hawaii Health Plan Working Group to design and recommend a basic, affordable health plan for all state residents. The group will include representatives from the House health committee, Governor's office, Insurance Commissioner, State Health Planning and Development Agency, Hawaii Medical Service Association, and Kaiser Permanente. The working group is tasked with developing a plan to address potential increases in uninsured residents due to changes in federal health insurance subsidies and Medicaid requirements, with a report due before the 2027 legislative session. The group will cease to exist on June 30, 2027, after submitting its recommendations and any proposed legislation to the Legislature.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HCR 37: URGING ALL STATE AND COUNTY AGENCIES INVOLVED IN CONSTRUCTION PROCUREMENT TO IMPLEMENT PROMPT PAYMENT TRANSPARENCY MEASURES AND EXPRESSING APPRECIATION TO THE PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES FOR ITS EFFORTS.

This bill urges all state and county agencies in Hawaii that handle construction projects to create public websites showing payment details for contractors and subcontractors. It asks these agencies to display information about job progress, payments made, and any withheld funds within one year of the resolution's adoption. The measure also requests agencies that cannot comply to explain why, and it thanks the Public Works Division for its existing payment transparency efforts.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HR 41: URGING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO TAKE ACTION TO RELEASE ALL FEDERAL RECORDS RELATED TO THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN INVESTIGATIONS WITH LIMITED REDACTIONS SOLELY TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY AND SAFETY OF VICTIMS.

This is a non-binding House resolution from the State of Hawaii that urges the President and U.S. Congress to release all federal records related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigations. The document calls for releasing these documents with redactions limited only to protecting the privacy and safety of victims, arguing that current releases have improperly exposed victim identities while hiding information about other individuals involved. It also requests that Congress investigate and compel testimony from all individuals implicated in the Epstein case. Because this is a state-level resolution rather than federal legislation, it does not create new laws or directly affect any specific group beyond expressing the state legislature's position on federal actions.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HCR 88: URGING THE COUNTIES TO ELIMINATE REAL PROPERTY TAXES.

This bill urges Hawaii's county governments to eliminate real property taxes by conducting fiscal analyses and exploring alternative revenue sources to maintain essential services. It directly affects homeowners, renters, small businesses, and long-term residents by calling for a reduction in the financial burden caused by rising property valuations and high living costs. The resolution does not mandate tax elimination but encourages counties to evaluate the feasibility of phasing out these taxes while ensuring public safety, infrastructure, and community facilities remain adequately funded.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Bill results