Labor & Employment

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 378: RELATING TO DEFERRED RETIREMENT FOR POLICE.

HB 378 creates a program allowing qualified police officers who have met retirement eligibility requirements to continue working instead of retiring immediately. It directly affects eligible law enforcement officers by providing a formal mechanism to delay their retirement date while remaining on active duty. The bill establishes specific criteria for officer eligibility and outlines the process for participating in this deferred retirement option. This policy change would permit departments to retain experienced officers without triggering immediate retirement benefits.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides deferred retirement benefit for police officers, expanding employment benefits and pension options per bill's eligibility criteria.85% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 695: RELATING TO PAID FAMILY LEAVE.

By 1/1/2027, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish a family and medical leave insurance program and begin collecting payroll contributions to finance payment of benefits. By 1/1/2028, requires the Department to start receiving claims and paying benefits under the program. Specifies eligibility requirements and employee protections under the program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates mandatory family medical leave insurance program expanding health coverage through payroll-funded benefits, directly advancing healthcare access and protections.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates mandatory paid family leave program with employee protections, expanding worker benefits under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 357: RELATING TO LABOR.

SB 357 establishes specific criteria for unpaid student internship programs under the state's wage laws. It directly affects student interns and employers offering unpaid positions by requiring clear standards to ensure compliance with wage regulations. Key provisions include defining when unpaid internships are legally permissible, such as mandating educational value for interns and preventing displacement of paid workers. The bill is currently pending in committee review for the 2026 session after being introduced in January 2025.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentSets criteria for unpaid internships to prevent exploitation and protect paid worker positions, aligning with labor protections under wage laws.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Labor Standards

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1568: RELATING TO PREVAILING WAGES.

SB 1568 requires human services providers, such as childcare centers and social support organizations, to pay workers the prevailing wage rate for similar jobs in their local area. This directly affects nonprofits and contractors delivering services like counseling, elder care, and youth programs by mandating they meet standard wage rates. The key provision establishes a requirement for these providers to pay at least the local prevailing wage, ensuring compensation aligns with regional labor market standards. The bill is currently pending in the legislature with no additional implementation details provided in the available context.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates prevailing wage for human services workers, directly increasing compensation standards and protecting workers' rights in nonprofit sectors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1244: RELATING TO LABOR STANDARDS AT HEALTH CARE FACILITIES.

Establishes certain minimum registered nurse-to-patient staffing requirements for hospitals. No later than 9/1/2025, requires hospitals to create hospital registered nurse staffing committees. Beginning 7/1/2026, requires hospitals to implement registered nurse staffing plans. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes mandatory nurse staffing ratios and committees, funds implementation, directly strengthening hospital care quality and patient safety in healthcare delivery.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates minimum nurse-to-patient ratios and staffing plans to improve workplace safety for nurses, directly advancing labor standards in healthcare employment.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Hospitals Labor Standards

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2998: RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

Prohibits an employer from discriminating against a person in hiring, termination, or any term or condition of employment based on the person's status as a medical cannabis registry card holder or lawful use of medical cannabis, under certain conditions. Authorizes an employer to use a fit-for-duty test for medical cannabis qualifying patients in potentially dangerous occupations under certain conditions. Prohibits a professional or vocational licensing board from revoking the license of medical cannabis qualifying patients, or otherwise subjecting them to discipline, for their lawful use of medical cannabis, under certain conditions.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits employer discrimination against medical cannabis users in hiring/employment terms, directly protecting workers' rights under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 13: RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Establishes notice requirements for employers under Hawaii's Workers' Compensation Law. Requires employers who deny the compensability of an employee's injury to submit a written report supporting the denial to the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations within a specified period. Requires employers to furnish to the injured employee up to $10,000 for medical care, services, and supplies for the period immediately following the injury and so long as reasonably needed or until the employer files a written report with the Director denying the compensability of the injury, whichever is earlier. Clarifies that failure to give an employer notice of an employee's injury does not bar a claim for compensation if any person having authority in the interest of the employer had knowledge of the injury.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires employers to provide up to $10,000 for medical care/services to injured workers, directly supporting access to healthcare under workers' compensation.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates employer medical coverage and denial documentation, strengthening worker protections under workers' compensation law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1273: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement negotiated for Bargaining Unit (5), provides annual salary step increases for public school teachers and educational officers who have completed a year's satisfactory service and comply with specified requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates annual salary increases for teachers, requiring state budget allocation for public education funding, aligning with fiscal responsibility and public service funding indicators.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates annual salary increases for teachers and educational officers, directly supporting educator compensation and retention in K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides negotiated annual salary step increases for teachers via collective bargaining, advancing wage protections and supporting labor rights in education sector.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Collective Bargaining

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1348: RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Appropriates funds for collective bargaining cost items for the members of Unit (3) 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 & TaxesAppropriates funds for public employee salary adjustments and bargaining costs, directly increasing government spending on public employment within budget framework.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAppropriates funds for collective bargaining cost items and negotiated salary adjustments, directly supporting public sector workers' bargaining rights and wage negotiations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending State Budget Collective Bargaining

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 1010: RELATING TO SEX-BASED DISCRIMINATION.

Clarifies and strengthens the State's protections against sex-based harassment, sex discrimination, and retaliation that occur in public schools, public charter schools, or at the University of Hawaii, including discrimination based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, and pregnancy-related conditions. Establishes procedures for investigations and decision-making. Requires mandatory reporting by certain employees.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationStrengthens anti-discrimination protections in schools for gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy, ensuring safe educational environments per Title IX requirements.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentStrengthens protections against sex-based harassment/discrimination in educational workplaces, directly advancing workers' rights under Labor & Employment via mandatory reporting and expanded coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Employment Discrimination

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