Hawaii Bills

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 94: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE, TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE PEER COUNSELOR PROGRAM TO ADDRESS YOUTH LONELINESS AND SOCIAL DISCONNECTION IN HAWAII'S SCHOOLS.

This House Resolution urges Hawaii state agencies to create a statewide peer counselor program for high school students to address loneliness and social disconnection. The proposed program would involve collaboration between the Department of Education, Department of Health, and Office of Wellness and Resilience to train students in active listening, ethical boundaries, and culturally responsive practices. Student peer counselors would serve as trained points of connection within schools, promoting belonging and helping identify students experiencing isolation while referring them to licensed mental health professionals when needed. The resolution recommends implementing the program in phases starting with pilot programs in select schools and includes the Hawaii State Youth Commission in program development and evaluation.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 103: REQUESTING THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO REVIEW AND CLARIFY THE ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND FUNCTIONS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM IN RELATION TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF INDIVIDUAL CAMPUSES.

This House Resolution asks the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to review and clarify how the university system and individual campuses define their roles and responsibilities. The request stems from a need for better coordination among campuses and follows a recommendation from an external study on higher education management. The Board of Regents is asked to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027. This is a procedural request rather than a law that changes existing rules, as the Board already has authority over the university's internal structure under state law.

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 114: REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO ALLOW AN OLELO HAWAII PATHWAY UNDER THE NIIHAU DIALECT.

This House Resolution asks the University of Hawaii to create a specific academic pathway for Olelo Niihau, the distinct dialect of Hawaiian spoken on Niihau Island. The bill recognizes that this dialect has remained unique due to the island's isolation and requests the university to formally acknowledge it as a separate language track rather than grouping it under standard Hawaiian language programs. By directing a copy of the resolution to the university president, the legislature seeks to ensure that Niihau speakers receive education that respects their specific linguistic heritage and protects their dialect from being diluted by external language initiatives.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 50: REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI BOARD OF REGENTS TO CONSIDER RENAMING LEEWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO PUʻULOA COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

This bill is a non-binding request asking the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents to consider renaming Leeward Community College to Puʻuloa Community College. The proposal aims to reflect the cultural and historical significance of the Puʻuloa area on Oʻahu, which is known for its traditional fishponds and deep Hawaiian heritage. If adopted, the change would require official approval from the Board of Regents, which has authority over university operations, and would involve consulting with campus stakeholders and the broader community. The resolution does not mandate the name change but formally encourages the Board to evaluate the request as part of its decision-making process.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 181: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL HAWAII GENUINE PROGRESS INDICATOR REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE NO LATER THAN THIRTY DAYS PRIOR TO THE CONVENING OF EACH REGULAR SESSION, BEGINNING WITH THE REGULAR SESSION OF 2027.

This bill asks the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to submit an annual report on the Hawaii Genuine Progress Indicator (HI GPI) to the state legislature, starting in 2027. The report would provide a comprehensive assessment of the state's economic, social, and environmental well-being using metrics that go beyond traditional measures like GDP. The bill requires the report to include an executive summary, detailed indicator results across economic, social, and environmental categories, methodology explanations, policy implications, and supporting data tables. The department must also make the report available online and send copies to relevant legislative committee chairs.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 169: URGING THE ʻAHA MOKU ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO FOLLOW ITS ADOPTED RULES OF PRACTICE, FULFILL ITS STATUTORY DUTIES, INCLUDING COMPLYING WITH THE SUNSHINE LAW, CONDUCT A PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND ESTABLISH POLICIES TO ASSURE CONSISTENT STANDARDS OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTABILITY; AND REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL AUDIT OF THE ʻAHA MOKU ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

This House Resolution urges the 'Aha Moku Advisory Committee to follow its adopted Rules of Practice, comply with Hawaii's Sunshine Law for public transparency, and conduct a performance review of its Executive Director. The measure directly affects the Advisory Committee, which advises the state on Native Hawaiian traditional resource management practices and receives annual public funding. Key provisions call for the committee to hold properly noticed public meetings, maintain administrative records like agendas and minutes, and establish consistent policies for managerial accountability. The resolution does not create new laws but instead requests the committee to fulfill its existing statutory duties and improve oversight of its operations.

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 88: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO CONSIDER MOVING TO A DEMERIT POINTS-BASED DRIVER'S LICENSING SYSTEM.

This House Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Transportation to evaluate adopting a demerit points-based driver's licensing system. The bill asks state officials to consider tracking traffic violations by assigning points to driver licenses, similar to systems used in 40 other states and the District of Columbia. It is intended to address Hawaii's high number of traffic fatalities by providing a structured way to monitor and discourage dangerous driving behaviors. The resolution directs copies to the Department of Transportation and county mayors for their consideration.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 116: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS TO EXPAND AND STRENGTHEN FINANCIAL LITERACY, CREDIT READINESS, AND HOMEOWNERSHIP PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMS.

This House Resolution requests the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to expand financial literacy, credit readiness, and homeownership preparedness programs for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries. The bill directs the department to partner with financial educators, credit counselors, and lenders to offer pre-award education, post-award support, culturally responsive materials, and grant identification. The department must submit a progress report to the Legislature by early 2027 detailing program improvements, participant numbers, and outcomes related to lease stability and credit improvement. This measure focuses on administrative planning and program enhancement rather than creating new funding or changing existing laws.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Housing

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 57: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO DETERMINE AND CLEARLY DEFINE JURISDICTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONOPOU BRIDGE AND TAKE COORDINATED ACTION TO ADDRESS RELATED SAFETY, WILDFIRE RISK, AND EMERGENCY ACCESS CONCERNS.

This bill urges the Hawaii Departments of Land and Natural Resources and Transportation to clarify who is responsible for the Honopou Bridge on east Maui and coordinate efforts to address safety, wildfire risk, and emergency access concerns. The bridge, which serves as a critical route for residents and emergency responders, has conflicting load capacity assessments that may prevent modern fire trucks and ambulances from crossing safely. The resolution directs state agencies to conduct community outreach, assess the bridge's structural condition, identify access restrictions, and develop a repair or replacement plan within 20 days before the 2027 legislative session. It also requires the agencies to identify funding sources and submit a detailed report to the Legislature outlining their findings and implementation timeline.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 74: REQUESTING THE STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL TO DEVELOP AND ADOPT BASIC SHELTER STANDARDS TO ENABLE LOW-COST, RAPID-DEPLOYMENT HOUSING SOLUTIONS.

This House Resolution requests the State Building Code Council to create a new set of basic shelter standards that would allow for low-cost, rapidly deployable housing solutions during emergencies. The bill aims to address Hawaii's housing shortages by establishing minimum safety and sanitation requirements for temporary housing like prefabricated units and single-wall homes, which currently cannot be built under standard building codes due to stricter permanent housing requirements. These basic shelter standards would only be used during declared emergency proclamations for natural disasters or other crises, and the housing would be limited to government agencies and nonprofit organizations to prevent profit-driven misuse. The resolution also includes a pathway for these temporary units to be converted to permanent housing if they later meet full building code standards, while requiring consultation with local officials and stakeholders to ensure the standards are appropriate for Hawaii's climate and cultural context.

Topics ✓ Housing

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 77: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO TRANSFER PARCELS THAT MAKE UP THE EAST KAPOLEI TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT PROJECT TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND URGING THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO PARTNER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS AND HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NON-HOUSING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PORTIONS OF THE PROJECT.

This House Resolution asks the Department of Land and Natural Resources to transfer land parcels for the East Kapolei Transit-Oriented Development Project to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. It also urges the Housing Corporation to partner with the Hawaii Community Development Authority to help develop non-housing parts of the project, such as commercial and retail spaces. The resolution is based on the Housing Corporation's existing expertise in housing development and its established partnerships with other agencies for similar projects. This bill does not mandate any action but expresses the legislature's preference for how state agencies should organize their responsibilities for this development.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 168: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO PRIORITIZE ISSUING A SET-ASIDE TO THE COUNTY OF MAUI THROUGH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER BY THE GOVERNOR TO SUPPORT THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC TRUST WATER RESOURCES IN EAST MAUI.

This bill is a House resolution urging the Department of Land and Natural Resources to prioritize issuing a water set-aside to the County of Maui through an executive order by the Governor. The resolution addresses water management in East Maui, specifically the Nahiku, Ke'anae, Honomanu, and Huelo State License Areas, where drought conditions have reduced water availability for residents, businesses, and farmers. The bill calls on state agencies to support the County's efforts to manage public trust water resources, citing constitutional obligations and the public trust doctrine. It highlights potential benefits such as funding for water system repairs, reduced water costs for residents and farmers, and watershed restoration, while noting that the County has already established a local water authority through a voter-approved charter amendment.

Topics ✓ Environment

Bill results