Hawaii Bills

This bill formally notifies the Hawaii Senate that Governor Josh Green has appointed Danielle M. Bass to temporarily fill a vacancy in the 18th Senate District. The appointment takes effect immediately and is intended to replace Senator Michelle N. Kidani, who recently retired after serving for 18 years. Ms. Bass will serve in this role until November 3, 2026, representing areas including Waipio, Crestview, Royal Kunia, and parts of Mililani, Waipahu, and Akupu.

This bill establishes a three-year pilot program allowing qualified clinical psychologists to prescribe specific psychotropic medications under the supervision of a physician or psychiatrist. The program is limited to treating patients between the ages of 18 and 65 at federally qualified health centers located in Kauai and Hawaii counties. The legislation aims to improve access to mental health care in these areas by expanding the scope of practice for psychologists who have completed specialized training in psychopharmacology.

This bill directs the Hawaii Department of Transportation to spend $2,000,000 from the safe routes to school fund on pedestrian safety improvements near schools. The funding is intended to install features such as all-way crosswalks and raised intersections at locations where crash data or pedestrian activity indicates a need for enhanced protection. The legislation is named in honor of Tehya Mahelona, a teenager who died in a traffic crash, and takes effect on July 1, 2026.

This bill establishes a new statewide program to certify and monitor active intelligent speed assistance systems installed in vehicles, with the goal of ensuring these safety technologies function reliably and securely. It requires the state to select a single vendor to handle the installation and maintenance of these systems while setting strict standards for their accuracy, tamper resistance, and insurance coverage. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that car manufacturers and retailers are generally not liable for accidents caused by these systems unless they intentionally or knowingly cause harm through repairs or updates. The law also allows vehicle lessors and lienholders to charge fees for removing the systems and mandates that vendors be audited annually by the Department of Transportation.

This bill establishes a temporary, independent commission to evaluate Hawaii's public school facilities for potential consolidation, realignment, or closure in response to declining student enrollment. The nine-member commission, appointed by various legislative and executive leaders, will develop objective criteria to assess school sites and propose a comprehensive package of changes. These recommendations will be presented to the legislature for a single "all-or-nothing" vote, ensuring the decision is based on data rather than localized political pressure. The commission operates without compensation but receives administrative support from the Department of Accounting and General Services, and its members must have relevant expertise in areas like urban planning and education administration.

Governor Josh Green vetoed Senate Bill 3262 on July 15, 2026, preventing it from becoming law. The bill would have changed how the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board selects its Executive Director by requiring the board to submit three nominees to the Board of Education for appointment, with final approval needed from the Senate. The Governor returned the bill without approval because he believes more review is necessary to clarify the separate roles and responsibilities between the Teacher Standards Board and the Board of Education. This action stops the proposed changes to the appointment process from taking effect.

This bill, signed into law as Act 259, establishes new safety and labeling rules for electric bicycles in Hawaii to ensure responsible use on public roads. It prohibits unsafe riding behaviors such as stunts, wheelies, or riding in non-standard positions, while allowing the Department of Transportation and counties to define additional reckless actions. The law also mandates that manufacturers and sellers label bikes with their class, speed, and motor wattage, and requires them to inform buyers about legal restrictions regarding helmets, age limits, and road access. Furthermore, the bill clarifies that insurance is not required for road-legal electric bicycles and authorizes the Department of Transportation to impose fines up to $500 for violations of these new regulations.

This bill, signed into law as Act 263, updates the compensation and employment rules for the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the Hawaii Community Development Authority to help them compete for skilled staff. It raises the salary cap for the executive director of the housing finance corporation to 99% of the governor's pay and creates a new deputy executive director role with a salary cap of 95% of the director's pay. Additionally, the legislation exempts these agencies from certain state approval requirements for hiring and job descriptions, while establishing new conditions for their employment contracts. These changes aim to allow the agencies to offer more competitive salaries and streamline their hiring processes to better address Hawaii's affordable housing needs.

This bill directs the State of Hawaii to transfer $50 million from the general fund into the emergency and budget reserve fund for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The action is taken to comply with a constitutional requirement to dispose of excess tax revenues when specific conditions are met for two consecutive years. By moving the funds into a reserve account, the state sets aside money to be used as a supplemental source during future emergencies, economic downturns, or unexpected revenue shortfalls. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, and applies to the state's overall budget management rather than targeting specific individuals or agencies.

This bill requires Hawaii to add a special designation to the vehicle registration of deaf drivers to alert law enforcement officers during electronic checks. The system will display an international symbol for deafness or a specific code when an officer accesses the vehicle's information, helping to prevent dangerous misunderstandings during traffic stops. To qualify for this designation, a driver must provide certification from a licensed medical professional confirming their hearing loss meets specific decibel thresholds. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027, and restricts access to this information to authorized personnel only.

This bill, signed into law by the Governor on July 15, 2026, directs the Hawaii Department of Transportation to create a clean fuel standard for alternative fuels. The new rules must be adopted by January 1, 2028, and will establish a schedule to lower the carbon intensity of fuels used in the state. The standard aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10% below 2019 levels by 2035 and 50% by 2045. By incentivizing cleaner fuels, the legislation seeks to support economic growth, improve public health, and promote the use of waste materials and renewable energy sources.

On July 15, 2026, the Governor of Hawaii returned Senate Bill 2600 to the Legislature after vetoing a specific funding provision. The bill originally sought to transfer $50 million from the state's general fund into the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund to comply with constitutional requirements for disposing of excess revenue. The Governor objected to this transfer, arguing that the reserve fund is already well-funded and that the money should be retained for other critical state needs. Consequently, the Governor used his line-item veto authority to reduce the appropriation for the reserve fund to just $1, effectively preventing the transfer of the $50 million.