Hawaii Bills

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 8, 2026

GM 741: Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, Gubernatorial Nominee, RICHARD MATSUDA, for a term to expire 06-30-2029.

This bill nominates Richard Matsuda to serve as a member of the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, a position that directly affects the governance and oversight of the Mauna Kea region. The nomination is submitted to the Hawaii State Senate for confirmation, following the state constitution's requirements for appointing authority members. If confirmed, Matsuda would serve a term until June 30, 2029, participating in the authority's responsibilities related to Mauna Kea stewardship. The bill is a procedural action focused on filling a specific leadership role rather than establishing new policy or regulations.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 8, 2026

GM 770: Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Gubernatorial Nominee, C. MAKANANI SALA, for a term to expire 06-30-2030.

This bill submits C. Makanani Sala for confirmation as a gubernatorial nominee to lead the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts in Hawaii. The nomination is for a term that will expire on June 30, 2030, following the standard appointment process outlined in the state constitution. If confirmed by the Senate, Sala will assume the role of the foundation's director and oversee its operations related to cultural and artistic programs. This action is a routine administrative step required to fill an executive position within the state government.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 8, 2026

GM 769: Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Gubernatorial Nominee, PATRICK BRANCO, for a term to expire 06-30-2030.

This bill formally nominates Patrick Branco to serve as the next head of Hawaii's State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, a role that oversees state cultural programs and arts initiatives. The nomination requires confirmation by the state Senate before Branco can officially assume the position, which will run until June 30, 2030. This process follows standard constitutional procedures for appointing leadership to state cultural agencies. The bill does not alter existing laws or funding but initiates the confirmation process for a single administrative appointment.

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 8, 2026

GM 789: Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Hawai'i Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission, Gubernatorial Nominee, WESLEY FONG, for a term to expire 06-30-2030.

This bill nominates Wesley Fong to serve on the Hawai'i Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission until June 30, 2030. The nomination is submitted by Governor Josh Green and requires confirmation by the state Senate. If confirmed, Fong will join other members of the commission to manage partnerships with other states and international entities. The bill is a procedural nomination and does not create new policies or affect public funding.

passed both · Hawaii · House May 8, 2026

HCR 173: URGING MAUI HEALTH SYSTEM TO COLLABORATE WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO ESTABLISH A FULL-TIME MEDICAL RESIDENCY PROGRAM ON THE ISLAND OF MAUI.

This bill urges Maui Health to work with state agencies, medical schools, and community health centers to create a full-time medical residency program on Maui. It highlights the island's severe shortage of physicians, which worsened after the 2023 wildfires and currently leaves many residents without access to primary care and specialized services. The resolution specifically asks Maui Health to use available federal funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program to help cover the costs of establishing the program. Additionally, the bill requires Maui Health to report its progress and recommendations to the Legislature within 20 days before the 2027 session begins.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed both · Hawaii · House May 8, 2026

HCR 32: REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR'S SENIOR ADVISOR FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO FORMULATE A PLAN TO CREATE PLACES OF SHELTER FOR PERSONS UNDER CIVIL COMMITMENT AND FOR PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN RECENTLY RELEASED FROM THE HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL AND ARE AT RISK OF RECIDIVISM.

This bill requests the Governor's Senior Advisor for Mental Health and the Justice System to develop a plan for increasing access to the Hawaii State Hospital for mentally ill criminal defendants and individuals recently released from the hospital who are at risk of returning to the justice system. The resolution addresses concerns that the hospital is currently at full capacity and that existing diversion programs have not effectively reduced the jail population due to a lack of coordination between state agencies. The plan must identify suitable placements for people in civil commitment or those being evaluated for fitness to stand trial, with a report and any proposed legislation due to the Legislature before the start of the 2027 session.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Hawaii · Senate May 8, 2026

GM 788: Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Hawai'i Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission, Gubernatorial Nominee, KAREN KNUDSEN, for a term to expire 06-30-2030.

This bill nominates Karen Knudsen for a position on the Hawai'i Sister-State and International Partnerships Commission, a role that involves fostering relationships between Hawaii and other states and countries. The appointment is being submitted to the Senate for confirmation, following the state's constitutional requirements for such nominations. If confirmed, Knudsen would serve on the commission until June 30, 2030, working to strengthen diplomatic and cooperative ties with international partners. This is a personnel action rather than a new policy, focusing on staffing a specific state commission.

passed both · Hawaii · House May 8, 2026

HCR 33: ENCOURAGING HAWAIʻI COUNTY, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE PUAKŌ COMMUNITY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI AT HILO, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, TO COMPLETE THE PUAKŌ SEWAGE PROJECT.

This bill encourages Hawaii County to work with the Puako community, the Department of Health, and other partners to finish the Puako Sewage Project, which aims to replace aging cesspools with modern wastewater systems. The project combines advanced wastewater collection technology with fiber optic internet infrastructure to address both environmental pollution and the digital divide in rural areas. By using a public-private partnership model, the initiative seeks to create a replicable solution that can help other communities across Hawaii tackle similar sewage challenges while restoring local coral reefs.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Technology

passed both · Hawaii · House May 8, 2026

HCR 105: REQUESTING THE CENTER FOR NURSING TO COMPILE A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF RECOMMENDED SAFE PATIENT STAFFING STRATEGIES AND RATIOS FOR ALL NURSING SPECIALTIES AND SUBSPECIALTIES ACROSS ALL HEALTH CARE SETTINGS, AND TO MAINTAIN A REPOSITORY FOR THIS INFORMATION.

This bill requests the Hawaii State Center for Nursing to compile and maintain a public list of recommended safe patient staffing ratios for all nursing specialties across various healthcare settings. The measure aims to address concerns about nurse workload and patient safety by gathering existing standards from other states and industry recommendations rather than setting new legal requirements. Healthcare facilities are urged to consider these compiled ratios when determining staffing levels, and the information will be made publicly available before the 2027 legislative session. The resolution focuses on creating a centralized resource to inform decision-making by providers, policymakers, and the public about staffing standards.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

passed both · Hawaii · House May 8, 2026

HCR 122: REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO CONSIDER OFFERING OLELO HAWAII MICRO-CREDENTIALS FOCUSING ON OLELO NIIHAU.

This bill requests the University of Hawaii to create a specific language pathway for the Niihau dialect of Hawaiian, recognizing it as distinct from other Hawaiian language programs. The resolution acknowledges that Niihau speakers maintain a unique dialect due to the island's isolation and continued use of Hawaiian as their primary language of thought. It aims to protect this linguistic heritage by formally requesting the university to accommodate Niihau-specific language education rather than integrating it into general Hawaiian language curricula. The measure directs a copy of the resolution to the University of Hawaii System president to facilitate implementation of this educational pathway.

Topics ✓ Education

passed both · Hawaii · House May 8, 2026

HCR 53: REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII BOARD OF REGENTS TO CONDUCT A SYSTEMWIDE ASSOCIATE DEGREE COMPLETION AUDIT.

This bill asks the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to conduct a systemwide audit to find students who have earned enough credits for an associate degree but haven't been awarded one. The audit will specifically look at students who transferred from community colleges to four-year campuses or left the system after accumulating sufficient credits. The university is also asked to study how to create pathways for awarding these earned degrees and report findings to the legislature by March 2027.

Topics ✓ Education

passed both · Hawaii · House May 8, 2026

HCR 179: URGING THE ʻAHA MOKU ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO FOLLOW ITS ADOPTED RULES OF PRACTICE, FULFILL ITS STATUTORY DUTIES, ESTABLISH POLICIES TO ASSURE CONSISTENT STANDARDS OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTABILITY; AND CONVENING A WORKING GROUP TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.

This House Concurrent Resolution urges the ʻAha Moku Advisory Committee to follow its adopted Rules of Practice, comply with the Sunshine Law, conduct a performance review of its Executive Director, and establish policies for administrative accountability. The bill directly affects the ʻAha Moku Advisory Committee, which is a state-funded advisory body responsible for advising on Native Hawaiian traditional resource management practices. Key provisions call for the committee to hold properly noticed public meetings, maintain transparent administrative records, and implement consistent governance standards to ensure public oversight. This resolution does not create new laws but instead requests the committee to fulfill its existing statutory duties and address concerns about transparency and accountability.

Bill results