Labor & Employment

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 340: RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IN PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.

Clarifies that the Hawaii Labor Relations Board has the authority to enforce its own orders issued pursuant to state law governing collective bargaining in public employment, in addition to discretion to seek judicial enforcement of its orders under the Hawaii Employment Relations Act. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentClarifies HLRB's authority to enforce collective bargaining orders, strengthening public sector workers' rights under Hawaii Employment Relations Act.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 158: RELATING TO UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

HB 158 would allow workers who participate in strikes to qualify for unemployment benefits, changing current rules that typically exclude them. This policy directly affects employees involved in labor disputes by providing financial support during strike actions. The key provision removes the existing barrier to eligibility, ensuring striking workers can access benefits under the same criteria as other unemployed individuals. The bill takes effect on July 1, 3000, as specified in the official abstract.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves exclusion of striking workers from unemployment benefits, expanding eligibility and financial support during labor disputes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 161: RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

Repeals the prohibition placed on certain employees exempt from civil service law from grieving a suspension or discharge. Allows any employee who is a member of an appropriate bargaining unit and their excluded counterparts to grieve a suspension or discharge. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRepeals prohibition on exempt employees filing grievances, expanding collective bargaining rights and strengthening worker protections against suspension/discharge.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1503: RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to develop and implement training programs, public-private partnerships, funding opportunities, and recruitment strategies to develop a local workforce to meet the growing demand in defense-related personnel and promote economic diversification. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAppropriates funds for workforce training, public-private partnerships, and recruitment to develop local labor force, directly advancing employment standards and economic diversification.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 997: RELATING TO ENERGY.

Requires an attestation or declaration regarding project labor standards, including adherence to state-approved apprenticeship programs and prevailing wage requirements, for covered large-scale renewable energy generation projects. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires labor standards for renewable energy projects, facilitating development through apprenticeship/wage requirements, directly advancing renewable energy infrastructure.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires prevailing wage and state-approved apprenticeship adherence for renewable energy projects, strengthening labor standards and worker protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1388: RELATING TO RETIRANTS.

Allows a retirant to be employed without reenrollment in the Employees' Retirement System and without loss or interruption of retirement benefits if the retirant is employed as an investigator in a position identified by the Department of Law Enforcement or Department of the Attorney General as a labor shortage or difficult—to-fill position, subject to certain conditions. Requires the director of human resources of the appropriate state jurisdiction to include in the director's annual report to the Legislature, details on the employment of retirants as investigators. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill addresses law enforcement labor shortages by enabling retiree employment as investigators without benefit loss, directly supporting staffing needs in criminal justice agencies.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAllows retirees to work without losing retirement benefits in labor shortage investigator roles, protecting their employment rights and addressing workforce needs.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 864: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Allows newly graduated high school students to be eligible for workers' compensation coverage during the summer following their high school graduation while participating in Department of Education-sponsored work-based learning programs. Requires an annual report. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables students in DOE work-based learning programs to access workers' comp, enhancing safety and participation in educational internships.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends workers' compensation coverage to high school graduates in work-based learning programs, protecting them from work injury risks during summer employment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 716: RELATING TO HAWAII EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW.

Expands the circumstances where the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations may waive the requirements for individuals to register to work and report to an employment office to be eligible for unemployment benefits. Authorize the Department to allow individuals to report to a location other than an employment office or other location approved pursuant to its rules. Beginning 4/1/2027, requires notices of determinations and documentation relating to appeals to be sent electronically, unless the election for mail is made. Allows an individual to change an elected withholding status more than once during a benefit year. Amends the statutory definition of "registered for work" or "registration for work". Repeals the requirement for individuals to post their work availability online to be eligible for unemployment benefits. Repeals the statutory provision for joint experience rating. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands waiver conditions for unemployment benefits access, reducing barriers to eligibility under Hawaii Employment Security Law.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 847: RELATING TO HAWAII RETIREMENT SAVINGS ACT.

Clarifies the definition of "covered employer" under the Hawaii Retirement Savings Act. Requires covered employers to automatically enroll covered employees into the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program unless the employee chooses to opt out. Repeals the limit on the total fees and expenses that can be spent for the Program each year. Appropriates funds to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for the development and operation of the Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires automatic retirement savings enrollment for employees, expanding financial security benefits under labor protections.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 327: RELATING TO INTERNSHIPS.

Permits the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to enter into contracts with eligible employers or registered apprenticeship programs in the private sector to provide on-the-job training to eligible interns. Provides that the State shall be the responsible employer for purposes of workers' compensation coverage for students or recent graduates in the on-the-job-training work experience program, subject to certain limitations. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates state funds for internship program, directly allocating budget resources to fund workforce development initiative per bill's explicit language.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnsures workers' compensation coverage for interns via state responsibility, strengthening workplace safety protections and funding workforce development programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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