Labor & Employment

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

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 163: RELATING TO REIMBURSEMENT OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.

Requires the State or a county to reimburse an officer or employee within thirty calendar days after submitting an approved Statement of Completed Travel for work-related travel costs that the officer or employee loaned to the State or county. Requires the State or a county to pay a percentage of interest on the total amount owed to an officer or employee until the loan is fully reimbursed. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires timely reimbursement of work travel costs with interest, protecting public employees' financial interests related to employment expenses.95% confidence

Track

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 24, 2026

HB 1515: 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 in order to assess the employee's ability to return to work. Allows licensed occupational and physical therapists to be deemed qualified to perform functional capacity examinations. (CD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows physicians to refer for medical exams without employer approval, improving access to functional capacity evaluations for injured workers under workers' comp, enhancing healthcare service delivery in workplace injury cases.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves employer permission barrier for medical exams in workers' comp, streamlining access for injured employees and protecting their rights to timely evaluations.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 2017: RELATING TO HEALTHY WORKPLACES.

Prohibits any employer or employee from subjecting an employee to abusive conduct. Requires employers and certain employees to take all reasonable preventative and responsive measures to ensure a safe work environment free of abusive conduct. Prohibits employers and certain employees from taking retaliatory actions against employees who engage in certain protected acts. Establishes a penalty, private cause of action, and remedies. Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to adopt rules.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits abusive workplace conduct, mandates employer safety measures, and bans retaliation - directly strengthening worker protections under Labor & Employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Workplace Safety

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1660: RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT.

Requires employers in the hospitality industry to implement anti-harassment measures, provide training, and equip certain workers with panic buttons. Prohibits retaliation against a hospitality worker who files a complaint, uses the provided panic button, or participates in an investigation or proceeding related to a harassment complaint. Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to adopt rules, including rules determining penalties and establishing procedures for handling complaints. Requires all hospitality employers to comply no later than 1/1/2026. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates anti-harassment measures, panic buttons, and prohibits retaliation for hospitality workers, directly strengthening workplace safety and worker protections in the hospitality industry.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 1037: RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Provides appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of bargaining unit (11) and their excluded counterparts, including the cost of salary adjustments negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal biennium 2025-2027. Declares the expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2025-2026 is exceeded. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides appropriations for public employee salary adjustments, directly funding state employment costs within budget framework.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds collective bargaining costs for public employees, directly supporting negotiation rights and salary adjustments between state and bargaining units per bill's purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending State Budget Collective Bargaining

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 2506: RELATING TO THE MINIMUM WAGE.

Amends the minimum monthly guaranteed compensation an individual must earn to be exempt from certain wage and hour requirements. Requires the minimum wage to increase to $18.00 per hour beginning 1/1/2027, instead of 1/1/2028. Increases the minimum wage on 1/1/2028, 1/1/2029, and 1/1/2030. Prohibits tipped employees from being paid less than the minimum wage. Beginning on 9/30/2030, and on September 30 of each year thereafter, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to calculate an adjusted minimum wage rate.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases minimum wage to $18/hr by 2027, prohibits sub-minimum wage for tipped employees, and mandates annual adjustments - directly advancing worker compensation protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 931: RELATING TO PRIVATE SECTOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS.

Expands the types of employees protected by the Hawaii Employment Relations Act to include independent contractors and all individuals subject to the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Act.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands collective bargaining protections to independent contractors and NLRB-jurisdiction individuals, strengthening worker rights to organize and bargain collectively.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Gig Economy

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1401: RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Reduces the minimum number of years of credited service qualified Tier 2 Employees' Retirement System members must have to be eligible for vested benefit status for service retirement allowance purposes from ten years to five years. Increases employer contributions to offset the resulting liability.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases employer contributions to offset retirement liability, promoting fiscal responsibility in budget management.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentReduces service years for retirement vesting, expanding access to benefits. Employer contributions increase to offset cost, strengthening worker benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions

Track

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

Sub-Topics Unemployment

Track