Hawaii Bills

SB1508 amends three sections of Hawaii's Revised Statutes to correct errors, clarify language, and remove obsolete provisions. It updates rulemaking notice requirements for state agencies, exempts certain name placements on public buildings from a 25-year bidding limit, and revises definitions for alternative fuel vehicles to align with federal standards. These changes primarily affect state agencies and local governments by streamlining administrative processes and ensuring legal consistency. The bill does not create new policies but refines existing statutory language for clarity and accuracy.

This bill (HB125) requires firearm owners in Hawaii to securely store firearms when minors may access them without permission. It directly affects firearm owners with children in their homes or on their property. Key provisions mandate storing firearms in locked containers, secure locations, or carrying them on the person - prohibiting unsecured storage that could lead to accidental injury, suicide, theft, or domestic violence risks. Violations carry $500 fines or civil liability for injuries caused by improperly stored firearms within two years.

This bill, enacted as ACT 020, allows victims of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation in Hawaii to file civil lawsuits against businesses or individuals who profit from such exploitation. It extends the statute of limitations for these claims from the previous limit to ten years, giving survivors more time to seek legal recourse. The law defines key terms like "coerce" and "sexual exploitation" to clarify when businesses or individuals can be held liable for profiting from exploitation. These changes aim to provide survivors with clearer legal pathways to hold offenders accountable.

This is a procedural correction letter from Governor Green, not a legislative bill. It updates the title of Dean Matsukawa's existing appointment to "Deputy to the Chairperson" in the Department of Agriculture, clarifying his role as referenced in GM 697. The correction affects only Dean Matsukawa's official position designation within the Department of Agriculture. It does not create new policy or impact any other individuals or programs.

HB995 requires the Hawaii Attorney General's office to publish an annual report on firearm license applications and decisions, including demographic data (age, gender, race, county) and reasons for denials or revocations. County police chiefs must provide this data to the Attorney General by March 31 each year. The report must analyze denial patterns and recommend solutions for disparities. This law directly affects the Attorney General's office, county police departments, and all firearm license applicants in Hawaii by mandating transparent reporting of licensing outcomes. It does not change firearm ownership rules but increases public oversight of the licensing process.

This document (GM 1119) is a notification that Governor Green signed SB1202 (ACT 019) into law on April 22, 2025. SB1202 amends Hawaii campaign finance rules to allow candidates' committees to use campaign funds for two key purposes: (1) child care or household dependent care costs directly tied to campaign activities (with strict limits), and (2) donations to community organizations, schools, libraries, or scholarships - capped at twice the maximum individual contribution allowed under state law. These changes apply directly to candidates and their campaign committees during election periods. The law restricts certain spending (like event tickets) and requires reimbursement for personal use of campaign-purchased items.

This is a procedural notice (not a substantive bill), informing the Senate that Governor Josh Green withdrew Lee Shinsato's nomination for the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee (originally submitted as GM 621) on April 14, 2025, per the nominee's request. It directly affects the Senate's consideration of this appointment and the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee's composition. No policy changes or new provisions are created - this is solely a formal withdrawal notification. The summary remains neutral, citing the specific bill numbers (GM 796 for the notice, GM 621 for the original nomination).

This is not a legislative bill but a procedural communication (Governor's Message GM 797) from Governor Green to the Senate. It formally withdraws the nomination of Sunny Lee for the Board of Registration of the Island of Oahu, which had been submitted to the Senate for consideration under GM 613. The notice follows Hawaii Constitution Article V, Section 6, and directly affects the Senate's confirmation process for this appointment. No policy changes or new provisions are introduced - this is solely a withdrawal of a pending nomination.

This bill (GM 795) is a procedural notice informing the Hawaii Senate that Governor Josh Green has withdrawn the nomination of Kawaipuna Kalipi for the Island Burial Council position on Moloka'i, per her request. It references the original nomination (GM 674) and states the withdrawal occurred on April 14, 2025. The Senate no longer needs to consider this appointment. The bill directly affects the Senate's confirmation process for this specific council position. It does not change any policy or create new obligations.

This bill appropriates $7.8 million for fiscal year 2025-2026 and $18.1 million for 2026-2027 (totaling $25.9 million) to fund the state's share of Employer-Union Trust Fund contributions for the collective bargaining agreement with the Hawai'i State Teachers Association for Unit 5 (teachers). It directly affects the state budget and teachers in Unit 5 by providing necessary funding for their negotiated benefits without requiring union ratification. The bill specifies that unspent funds must be used by June 30 of each fiscal year or they will lapse, and it declares the state general fund expenditure ceiling has been exceeded for 2025-2026 due to these appropriations. The funding covers costs for the 2025-2027 biennium as part of implementing the agreement.

HB145 HD1 (ACT 003), signed into law by Governor Green on April 10, 2025, enables Hawaii’s criminal justice data center to transmit expungement orders to courts. This bill directly affects individuals seeking to have criminal records sealed, as it fixes a barrier preventing courts from automatically removing expunged records from public databases under Act 159 (2023). The key provision amends Hawaii Revised Statutes to require the data center to send expungement orders to courts, allowing them to seal relevant files within a reasonable timeframe. The law takes effect on July 1, 2025.

This bill establishes a state energy data collection program requiring the Department of Energy to create and maintain a centralized database system. The database will support energy planning, greenhouse gas emissions reporting, emergency management, and critical infrastructure protection. The bill strictly limits how energy industry data can be used: it cannot be repurposed beyond its original intent, cannot identify individual data providers, and only specific state agencies (like the Department of Taxation, Attorney General, and emergency management) may access detailed reports. This directly affects energy companies required to submit data and state agencies handling energy-related information.