Hawaii Bills

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 2594: RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to conduct a study on insurance coverage for small agricultural producers. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

Terez Amato (D) Nicole Lowen (D) Dee Morikawa (D) Sue Lee Loy (D) Tyson Miyake (D)

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2665: RELATING TO RENEWAL OF DRIVER'S LICENSES.

Requires applicants for driver's license renewal who have received two or more traffic citations within the preceding five years for violations involving the operation of a motor vehicle to complete an educational course that includes a road safety video developed by the Department of Transportation and a written road safety examination. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2177: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation or a county to accept a complete application seeking certain exemptions within 30 days. Requires HHFDC to process an application and bring it before the Corporation's Board of Directors within 120 days of accepting the application. Requires county agencies to process an application and bring it before the county's legislative body within 120 days of accepting the application. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Housing

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2896: RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSES.

Lowers the age of who may drive commercially within the State from nineteen to eighteen. Repeals the requirement that a person only operates category 3 vehicles to qualify to drive commercially in the State. Prohibits a person under twenty-one years of age from operating a commercial motor vehicle outside of state-approved commercial driver training programs or registered apprenticeship programs as determined by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Requires the Department of Transportation to consult with DLIR to amend its rules to allow persons under twenty-one years of age to operate a commercial motor vehicle under certain conditions. (SD1)

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2485: RELATING TO SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.

Establishes a temporary Solid Waste Management Working Group in the Office of the Governor to examine materials management policies and programs that reduce solid waste and protect the environment, and to present a list of alternative technologies to address solid waste management. Requires a report to the Legislature. Repeals 6/30/2027. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 1613: RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Appropriates funds for the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to establish advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity specialist and marketing and branding specialist positions. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Technology

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2479: RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.

Allows a defendant to introduce certain evidence to receive a reduced sentence for certain offenses if the defendant can show that they were subjected to acts of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse, and that the acts were a significant contributing factor for the offense for which the defendant is being sentenced. Allows a defendant to introduce certain relevant evidence when raising the justification defenses of self-defense or defense of others to show that the defendant was subjected to acts of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse by the alleged victim. Allows the circuit court imposing a criminal sentence to correct or reduce the sentence and to suspend or probate all or any part of the sentence imposed. Allows a person previously sentenced by a circuit court to petition the court to be re-sentenced to a reduced sentence if the defendant can show that they were subjected to acts of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse, and that the acts were a significant contributing factor for the offense for which the defendant was sentenced. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 3010: RELATING TO ANIMAL ENDANGERMENT.

Allows law enforcement officers, animal control officers, and firefighters to enter an unattended vehicle to protect the health, safety, or well-being of a pet animal that is endangered by being left or confined in an unattended vehicle. Allows private citizens to rescue a pet animal that has been left in an unattended vehicle under certain circumstances. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2436: RELATING TO CHARITABLE SOLICITATION.

Establishes prompt payment and financial reporting requirements for professional solicitors that sell donated or collected non-perishable tangible property on behalf of charitable organizations. Prohibits professional solicitors that sell donated or collected non-perishable tangible property from failing to prominently disclose certain information on any collection bin, container, or receptacle used to receive donated or collected property; comply with prompt payment and financial reporting requirements; and include certain terms in contracts with charitable organizations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 2140: RELATING TO ESSENTIAL PERMITTING POSITIONS.

Establishes a four-year pilot program to improve the speed, accountability, and quality of permit processing through targeted staffing, performance incentives, and interdepartmental competition within participating counties. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2115: RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

Amends the collective bargaining negotiation procedure on the repricing of classes within a bargaining unit for public employees. Establishes an impasse procedure to be applied when an employer fails to initiate the negotiation or the parties fail to reach an agreement within 90 days. Repeals existing law that requires a different impasse procedure to apply in those situations. Sunsets 6/30/2029. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 3095: RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND INVESTMENT OFFICE STAFF SALARIES.

Authorizes the Board of Trustees of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to establish appropriate salaries for the investment officers and investment analysts of the Trust Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill results