Labor & Employment

passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 2158: RELATING TO VETERINARIANS.

Establishes the Veterinarian Workforce Development Special Fund. Establishes the Veterinarian Workforce Development Loan Repayment and Scholarship Program to support qualified veterinarians committed to or currently working in veterinary medicine in the State. Authorizes the Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine to enter into agreements, including memoranda of understanding, with the University of Hawaii, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, and accredited out-of-state schools to increase the availability of accredited veterinary programs and licensure opportunities to residents of the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides loan repayment and scholarships for veterinarians, supporting workforce development in a specific profession within labor/employment context.70% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing Workforce Development

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 410: RELATING TO STATE AND COUNTY EMPLOYMENT.

Prohibits the State or any of its branches, political subdivisions, or agencies or any county from requiring a bachelor's degree as a condition of eligibility for hire to a position in state or county employment. Establishes exemptions.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves bachelor's degree requirement for state/county jobs, lowering barriers to employment and expanding access to public sector roles without restricting worker rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees

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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

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education K-12 Education Child Labor Workers' Compensation

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 3180: RELATING TO STATE EMPLOYMENT.

Establishes a five-year pilot program allowing retirants to be rehired for exempt service for one-year terms under certain circumstances. Provides that retirants employed under the program are excluded from the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund and will not experience an interruption of pension benefits. Requires an employer of a retirant under the program to contribute to the Employees' Retirement System. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to submit a report to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRepeals limits on 89-day temporary hires, enabling longer temporary positions which may reduce job security for state workers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Public Employees

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1342: RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY PROGRAMS.

Expands programming and training for the comprehensive offender re-entry program under the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to reduce the rate of recidivism and increase inmate marketability and workforce readiness. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly expands re-entry programs to reduce recidivism and increase workforce readiness via funding, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands job training for ex-offenders to enhance workforce readiness and employment outcomes, directly advancing employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 337: RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

Authorizes the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to request the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to furnish a list of five qualified and experienced interest arbitrators in the event the parties fail to select the neutral third member of the arbitration panel. Clarifies that the list of five interest arbitrators may contain arbitrators from both the American Arbitration Association and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAuthorizes HLRB to secure neutral arbitrators for collective bargaining impasses, strengthening dispute resolution in labor negotiations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 684: RELATING TO INCOME.

HB 684 would gradually eliminate the "tip credit," a practice allowing employers to count tips toward meeting the minimum wage requirement for tipped workers. This change would directly affect restaurant servers, bartenders, and other tipped employees, as well as the businesses that employ them. The bill's key mechanism is a phased approach over time, replacing the current system where employers could offset part of the minimum wage with reported tips, ensuring tipped workers receive the full minimum wage without relying on tip counts.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEliminates tip credit, ensuring tipped workers receive full minimum wage, strengthening wage protections for laborers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 872: 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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables high school graduates in DOE work-based programs to access workers' comp, enhancing student safety and program participation in educational transitions.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends workers' compensation coverage to high school graduates in work-based learning programs, enhancing workplace safety protections for a vulnerable group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education K-12 Education Child Labor Workers' Compensation

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 2460: RELATING TO PRIVATE SECTOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS.

Expands under certain circumstances 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 of 1935.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands collective bargaining rights to include independent contractors and NLRB-covered workers under Hawaii Employment Relations Act, strengthening worker protections and unionization rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Gig Economy

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 2292: RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION MEDICAL TREATMENT.

Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a medical treatment utilization schedule to standardize treatment for injured employees involved in workers' compensation claims.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentStandardizes medical treatment for injured workers under workers' compensation, ensuring consistent access to care and protecting workers' rights through evidence-based scheduling.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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