This bill directs the state to increase Medicaid funding for residential care services in community foster family homes and expanded adult residential care homes. The legislation appropriates $1.7 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to raise reimbursement rates to the "medium" level identified in a 2022 study, addressing previous funding gaps that hindered providers from offering employee benefits. The Department of Human Services must secure the maximum available federal matching funds and explore other private grants before spending the money. These changes are designed to help care providers operate sustainably and expand options for older Hawaiians who need long-term care closer to home.
This bill establishes a mandatory human trafficking awareness training program specifically for workers in Hawaii's transient accommodations sector, such as hotels and short-term rentals. The Department of the Attorney General is required to develop this training by July 2027, covering topics like identifying trafficking indicators and proper reporting procedures, though employers may submit alternative programs for approval. Once the program is ready, businesses must train their employees and contractors within 180 days of hiring and repeat the training every two years while keeping records of completion. Additionally, employers must display official human trafficking awareness signage in a visible location for their staff by January 2028.
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, signed into law as Act 233, establishes a framework for automatic annual salary increases and longevity steps for public school teachers in Hawaii who complete satisfactory years of service. The legislation requires that these pay raises be negotiated into collective bargaining agreements and explicitly conditions their implementation on the legislature appropriating specific funds to cover the costs. By linking compensation adjustments to future budget approvals, the bill aims to address teacher retention while maintaining legislative control over public spending.
This bill, signed into law as Act 234, aims to enhance the safety of educational workers in Hawaii, including teachers, staff, and sports officials, by establishing new protections against harassment. It requires the Department of Education and public charter schools to investigate harassment claims internally, report threats to law enforcement within 48 hours, and develop emergency safety plans and clear reporting procedures. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Attorney General to assist harassed workers in obtaining temporary restraining orders and grants eligible employees paid leave to attend related court proceedings. These measures are designed to create a more secure environment for educators by providing specific tools and resources to address harassment incidents.
This bill establishes an income tax credit for film and digital media productions operating in Hawaii to encourage local investment in the industry. The credit provides a percentage of qualified production costs, offering 22% for projects in counties with over 700,000 residents and 27% for those in smaller counties, with an additional 5% bonus for productions that hire at least 80% local workers. To claim the credit, producers must submit sworn statements and independent third-party certifications detailing their spending and hiring practices to state agencies. The total credit available per production is capped at $20 million, though this limit does not apply to projects with at least $60 million in qualified costs, while the overall annual credit pool is set at $60 million.
This bill, signed into law as Act 237, strengthens legal protections for public servants in Hawaii by creating a specific misdemeanor offense for harassment directed at them during their official duties. It directly affects government employees, law enforcement officers, and anyone subject to threats or harassment while performing their jobs. The key provision amends existing harassment laws to ensure that acts intended to disrupt public service are treated more seriously than general harassment, addressing concerns that current penalties were insufficient to deter such behavior. By elevating these specific threats to a misdemeanor, the law aims to provide clearer legal recourse and better safeguard the safety and effectiveness of public service.
This bill, signed into law by the Governor on June 3, 2026, removes the expiration date from safety regulations for commercial harbor mooring operations established in 2024. By repealing the sunset provision that was set to delete these rules on July 1, 2028, the legislation ensures that the harbor safety requirements remain in effect indefinitely. The change directly impacts the State's commercial harbor system by providing long-term operational certainty for the regulations designed to protect harbor infrastructure.
This bill, Act 074, changes the legal requirements for natural hair braiders in Hawaii by replacing the current mandatory cosmetology license with a simpler registration system. Starting January 1, 2028, individuals who practice natural hair braiding must register with the state board by completing a specific sanitation and safety course and paying a fee, rather than undergoing the broader training required for general cosmetology licenses. The law defines natural hair braiding to include various techniques like cornrowing and locking, while explicitly prohibiting registrants from offering services that require a full cosmetology or barbering license. This change aims to reduce unnecessary burdens on practitioners while still ensuring public health and safety through regulated standards for tools and sanitation.
This bill establishes a new Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program within the University of Hawaii to train qualified translators and interpreters for the state. The program will offer both credit and non-credit courses covering translation ethics, public service interpretation, and will include paid internship opportunities through the Hele Imua program. Priority admission is given to high school graduates who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy, while other applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one additional language. The legislation appropriates $375,000 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to fund three full-time staff positions and program implementation across three campuses.
