Labor & Employment

passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 2165: RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW.

Amends the qualifications for unemployed individuals who are able to receive unemployment benefits. Beginning 4/1/2027, removes the two-year limitation on the recoupment of overpayments and limits the amount of overpaid amount and the penalty assessment amount that can be deducted from future benefits payable to the individual. Beginning 4/1/2027, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to assess and collect a service charge for dishonored unemployment insurance assessments. Beginning 4/1/2027, specifies that employers must report separation and wage information within five calendar days of notice being sent, whether by mail or electronic notification. Beginning 4/1/2027, increases the penalty for failure to report separations or wages and for failure to file or for filing insufficient wage reports. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRemoves two-year overpayment recoupment limit and adds service charges, tightening eligibility and increasing costs for unemployment recipients.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 10, 2026

HCR 192: REQUESTING THE HAWAIʻI CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION TO EXAMINE THE APPLICABILITY OF EXISTING STATE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS TO ALGORITHMIC AND AUTOMATED DECISION SYSTEMS.

This bill asks the Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission to study whether current state anti-discrimination laws cover decisions made by computer algorithms and automated systems. The Commission would examine if existing rules can handle discrimination claims involving artificial intelligence used in hiring, housing, credit, and public benefits. The study will also look at legal challenges, whether new guidance is needed, and if a complaint process should be created for these types of cases. The Commission must submit its findings and any suggested laws to the Legislature before the 2027 session begins. This is a non-binding request for analysis rather than a law that changes rules immediately.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill examines algorithmic discrimination in housing decisions, potentially strengthening tenant protections against automated bias in housing access.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill examines if anti-discrimination laws cover algorithmic decisions in hiring, protecting workers from AI-based discrimination and strengthening employment rights.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill seeks to examine and potentially strengthen anti-discrimination protections for algorithmic decision systems, promoting digital equity and consumer protection in AI applications.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 182: REQUESTING THE HAWAIʻI CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION TO EXAMINE THE APPLICABILITY OF EXISTING STATE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS TO ALGORITHMIC AND AUTOMATED DECISION SYSTEMS.

This bill asks the Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission to study whether current state anti-discrimination laws apply to decisions made by artificial intelligence and automated systems. The Commission would examine how these technologies are used in areas like hiring, housing, and lending to determine if existing rules can address potential bias or discrimination. The study will also look at legal challenges in handling complaints, whether new guidance is needed, and if a specific process for reporting algorithmic discrimination should be created. The Commission must submit its findings and any recommendations for new laws to the legislature before the 2027 session begins. This resolution does not change any laws directly but initiates an official review to ensure civil rights protections remain effective in the digital age.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill examines whether anti-discrimination laws apply to AI systems in housing decisions, potentially strengthening tenant protections against algorithmic bias.80% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill examines AI systems for discrimination in hiring, protecting workers' rights against algorithmic bias in employment decisions.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill promotes digital equity by examining how AI systems affect civil rights, ensuring technology doesn't discriminate and protecting vulnerable populations from algorithmic bias.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 7, 2026

HB 2324: RELATING TO THE HAWAII OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH LAW.

Repeals the requirement that the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations regulate hoisting machines and certify their operators and the Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board, including its rules requiring a separate state crane operator certificate. Allows additional time for the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations to complete an investigation of a discharge or discrimination complaint pertaining to employees exercising rights under the Occupational Safety and Health Law without formal extension. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends investigation time for OSHA complaint cases, strengthening worker protection under safety law by allowing more time to address discharge/discrimination claims.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 480: RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Authorizes an attending physician to request a functional capacity examination and refer an injured employee for the examination without first obtaining permission from the employee's employer. Allows licensed occupational and physical therapists to be deemed qualified to perform functional capacity examinations. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows physicians to refer injured workers for functional capacity exams without employer permission, improving access to healthcare services for workplace injury cases.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves employer permission barrier for medical exams, streamlining access to workers' compensation evaluations and protecting injured workers' rights under compensation process.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 714: RELATING TO HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Appropriates funds to support educational training programs to expand the State's health care workforce, including funding to support health care certification programs offered in public high schools and education programs that support certified nurse assistants in becoming licensed practical nurses. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for health care workforce training, increasing state budget allocation for public education and health services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds health care certification programs in public high schools and nurse assistant education programs, directly advancing educational opportunities in K-12 settings.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds health care workforce training programs, expanding certified nurse assistant pathways to LPN licensure, directly advancing healthcare workforce development through appropriations.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds healthcare workforce training programs, enabling career advancement for workers like nurse assistants, directly supporting employment standards and worker development.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 423: RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Clarifies the process for selecting a certified provider of rehabilitation services. Requires providers to automatically approve vocational rehabilitation services for an injured employee if those services will likely be required for suitable gainful employment. Requires providers to file an employee's vocational plan no later than ninety days after submitting an initial evaluation report, with certain exceptions. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires automatic approval of vocational rehab services for injured workers, ensuring timely access to benefits under workers' compensation.90% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2007: RELATING TO THE HOUSEHOLD AND DEPENDENT CARE SERVICES TAX CREDIT.

Increases a taxpayer's applicable percentage of employment-related expenses that is used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit. Establishes certain disallowance periods following a final decision that a claim for the credit was due to fraud and that the claim was disallowed. Extends the sunset date of the temporary increase in maximum employment-related expenses that are used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit, established by Act 163, SLH 2023, to 6/30/2030. Sunsets 6/30/2030. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax credit benefits by raising applicable percentage and extending credit duration, providing tax relief for households with dependent care expenses.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands tax credit for dependent care expenses, reducing worker costs and supporting workforce participation through employment-related benefits.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 1939: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Amends the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit (film tax credit) by providing additional credits to qualified productions that have a workforce of at least eighty per cent local hires in the first taxable year or second consecutive taxable year and meet other specific requirements, then increasing the local workforce threshold to eighty-two per cent in the third or fourth consecutive taxable year and eighty-five per cent in the fifth consecutive taxable year, that the additional credit is claimed; requiring independent third-party certification of qualified production costs for all film productions claiming the film tax credit; authorizing DBEDT to waive the credit cap per qualified production for one qualified production each fiscal year; and requiring the Hawaii Film Office to submit an annual report to the Legislature. Sunsets 1/1/2033. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credits for film productions meeting local hiring criteria, increasing state fiscal support for economic development through targeted tax incentives.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncentivizes local hiring (80%+ workforce) for film productions via tax credits, directly promoting employment standards and local workforce opportunities.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 2411: RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM.

Establishes and appropriates funds into and out of the Hawaii Employer-Led Sector Partnerships Special Fund. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to coordinate its sector partnership activities with the Workforce Development Council. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes and appropriates funds into a special fund for sector partnerships, directly allocating state budget resources to economic development programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes funding for employer-led sector partnerships coordinating with Workforce Development Council, advancing workforce development initiatives per bill summary.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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