Labor & Employment

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 24, 2026

HB 1509: RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Repeals the authorization of a physician to transmit a treatment plan by mail or facsimile and the requirement that the physician submit the plan to an address or facsimile number provided by the employer. Requires an employer to file a response, either accepting or objecting to a treatment plan, within ten days of receipt. Imposes a monetary penalty if an employer does not file a response within the ten-day period, unless there was good cause for the delay. Clarifies that a treatment plan is deemed accepted if an employer fails to file certain documents within the ten-day period. Imposes penalties on employers found to have improperly denied a treatment plan. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates employer response to treatment plans within 7 days with penalties for delay, ensuring timely medical care for injured workers under workers' compensation.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jun 9, 2026

SB 2061: RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUMS.

Clarifies the Ninety-Nine Year Leasehold Program by: (1) allowing the Hawaii Community Development Authority to prohibit renting, advertising for rent, or using for any other purpose other than owner-occupied residential use a residential condominium unit, by rule, rather than statutorily; (2) exempting the design, development, and construction contracts from procurement requirements, subject to prevailing wage requirements for laborers and mechanics; (3) requiring HCDA to adopt rules to implement an initial sales period during which residential condominium units are offered only to eligible buyers for owner-occupied residential use; (4) authorizing the sale of a residential condominium unit that is not subject to an income restriction and was not sold within a certain period to be sold to other buyers, as determined by rule by HCDA, without an owner-occupancy requirement; (5) requiring HCDA to adopt rules that require at least sixty per cent of residential condominium units to be income restricted; and (6) requiring HCDA to establish rules to require buyback pricing similar to other state agencies' existing pricing formulas. (CD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates 60% owner-occupied units in redevelopment sites for 10 years, strengthening affordable housing program by preventing rental speculation and ensuring long-term affordability.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill includes prevailing wage requirements for laborers and mechanics, which protects workers' wages and employment standards in construction contracts.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jun 4, 2026

SB 2876: RELATING TO NATURAL HAIR BRAIDING.

SB 2876 would exempt natural hair braiders from state licensing requirements when they meet specific conditions. This bill directly affects individuals who practice natural hair braiding as a profession, removing a mandatory licensing barrier they currently face. The key provision eliminates the need for a state license for braiders operating under defined circumstances outlined in the bill. The policy change focuses on simplifying regulatory requirements for this specific service.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill removes mandatory licensing barriers for natural hair braiders, reducing regulatory burdens on workers and protecting their right to practice. This strengthens employment standards by simplifying entry requirements.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jun 4, 2026

SB 3069: RELATING TO CIVIL SERVICE EXEMPT POSITIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND GENERAL SERVICES.

Part I: Makes conforming amendments to section 76-16(b), HRS, for positions the Department of Accounting and General Services is authorized to establish and fill pursuant to section 26‑6(b)(9), HRS, and requires annual reports to the Legislature. Part II: Authorizes DAGS to establish and fill up to 3 full-time equivalent positions within its Public Works Division's Special Project Branch that shall be exempt from civil service and collective bargaining requirements as part of the State's efforts to undertake unique and specialized public works projects and requires DAGS to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Part II: Sunsets 12/31/2031. (CD1)

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentExempts positions from collective bargaining, removing worker negotiation rights. Directly limits a key labor protection.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExempts IT modernization staff from civil service rules to advance state IT infrastructure, directly supporting technology modernization efforts per bill's purpose.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Labor & Employment

signed · Hawaii · House May 28, 2026

HB 2315: RELATING TO STATE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

Authorizes the Department of Health to establish a vacation payout pilot program in which eligible Department of Health employees may defer unused vacation leave credits in favor of a pay out to provide home purchase down payment assistance. Requires reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2029. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands state employee benefits by allowing vacation payout for home down payment assistance, enhancing compensation options beyond standard leave policies.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

signed · Hawaii · House May 27, 2026

HB 1514: RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Clarifies the process for selecting a certified provider of vocational rehabilitation services. Requires certified providers to automatically approve vocational rehabilitation services for an injured employee if those services will likely be required for suitable gainful employment and the initial evaluation report finds the injured employee feasible to participate. Requires providers to file an employee's vocational rehabilitation plan no later than one hundred twenty days after submitting an initial evaluation report, unless extended by the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations. Clarifies the process for an employer to object to a vocational rehabilitation plan. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires automatic approval of vocational rehab services for suitable employment, reducing delays in workers' compensation recovery process.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 112: REQUESTING THE CENTER FOR NURSING TO COMPILE A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF RECOMMENDED SAFE PATIENT STAFFING RATIOS FOR ALL NURSING SPECIALTIES AND SUBSPECIALTIES ACROSS ALL HEALTH CARE SETTINGS AND TO MAINTAIN A REPOSITORY FOR THIS INFORMATION.

This Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii State Center for Nursing to conduct a study compiling recommended safe patient staffing ratios for various hospital units and healthcare settings. The study will use existing state bills as a framework and incorporate standards from major professional nursing organizations such as the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and the Society of Pediatric Nurses. The Center is asked to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature and Department of Health by late 2026, with results published on an online dashboard. The resolution also urges healthcare facilities to consider implementing the compiled staffing standards to improve patient safety and nurse retention.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requests study on safe patient staffing ratios to improve healthcare quality and patient safety, aligning with support indicators for protecting patient rights and improving healthcare standards85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill seeks to establish safe patient staffing ratios, which directly protects healthcare workers from unsafe working conditions and promotes workplace safety standards.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 151: URGING THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES' HOMELESS PROGRAMS OFFICE, STATEWIDE OFFICE ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING SOLUTIONS, AND HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO CREATE A HOUSING LADDER PROGRAM TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES GRADUATE INTO UNSUBSIDIZED HOUSING.

This Senate Resolution urges four state housing agencies in Hawaii to develop a housing ladder program designed to help individuals and families move from subsidized housing into non-subsidized, market-rate housing. The proposed program would include services such as financial counseling, workforce training, transitional rental assistance, and partnerships with private housing providers to support upward mobility. As a Senate Resolution, this bill does not create new laws or funding but instead requests that the agencies collaborate to create a plan and report their findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill urges agencies to create housing ladder program helping individuals graduate to unsubsidized housing, strengthening housing assistance and upward mobility.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill includes workforce training as part of housing ladder program, which supports employment and worker development75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House May 8, 2026

HCR 105: REQUESTING THE CENTER FOR NURSING TO COMPILE A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF RECOMMENDED SAFE PATIENT STAFFING STRATEGIES AND RATIOS FOR ALL NURSING SPECIALTIES AND SUBSPECIALTIES ACROSS ALL HEALTH CARE SETTINGS, AND TO MAINTAIN A REPOSITORY FOR THIS INFORMATION.

This bill requests the Hawaii State Center for Nursing to compile and maintain a public list of recommended safe patient staffing ratios for all nursing specialties across various healthcare settings. The measure aims to address concerns about nurse workload and patient safety by gathering existing standards from other states and industry recommendations rather than setting new legal requirements. Healthcare facilities are urged to consider these compiled ratios when determining staffing levels, and the information will be made publicly available before the 2027 legislative session. The resolution focuses on creating a centralized resource to inform decision-making by providers, policymakers, and the public about staffing standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill promotes patient safety by establishing recommended nursing staffing ratios, which improves healthcare quality and protects patient rights.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill promotes nurse staffing safety standards, protecting worker well-being and patient care through recommended ratios rather than restrictive mandates.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

Track

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 3233: RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE HOUSING.

Requires state agencies that administer agricultural leases, licenses, development programs, or procurement involving agricultural products to award points or preferences to agricultural projects incorporating agricultural workforce housing. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to submit a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill incentivizes agricultural projects to include workforce housing via procurement preferences, directly advancing housing development for agricultural workers.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill incentivizes agricultural projects with workforce housing through procurement preferences, addressing housing needs as part of employment conditions.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Labor & Employment

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