This bill asks Hawaii's Department of Transportation and Public Utilities Commission to create a plan for regulating ride-sharing companies under the state's existing Motor Carrier Law. The legislation targets transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft, which currently operate without the same oversight as traditional passenger carriers. The agencies must develop a regulatory framework and submit their findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027. This request aims to ensure consistent safety standards and fair treatment between ride-sharing services and other motor carriers.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Department of Transportation to work with the Department of Education to study how to improve the process for hiring and training school bus drivers in Hawaii. The bill addresses ongoing shortages of qualified drivers that have led to canceled routes and disrupted transportation for students, particularly in rural and neighbor island communities. The requested evaluation will examine barriers to commercial driver's licensing, coordination between agencies and private contractors, and strategies to expand testing and training access. The departments must consult with various stakeholders and submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 regular session.
This resolution asks the Department of Human Resources Development to work with state agencies and labor groups to finish reviewing how state jobs are classified and paid. The request focuses on addressing high vacancy rates and outdated pay structures that make it hard to hire and keep workers. It directs the department to prioritize departments with the most open positions and difficult-to-fill roles. This is a procedural request rather than a new law, aiming to improve the state's workforce planning process.
This bill asks the Workforce Development Council to create a long-term statewide workforce strategy aimed at helping all residents find careers that allow them to live and work in Hawaii by 2045. The proposed plan would be included in the State Unified Plan and would coordinate efforts across state and county agencies to improve job opportunities, increase work-based learning programs for youth, and expand living-wage employment. The strategy would also establish specific goals and metrics to track progress in reducing underemployment and improving job quality throughout the state.
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.
This bill proposes emergency funding to cover unpaid arbitration awards related to temporary hazard pay for public employees in Collective Bargaining Units 1 and 10, which include blue collar workers and institutional, health, and correctional workers. The legislation directs the state to allocate approximately $67.3 million from general funds, interdepartmental transfers, and revolving funds to resolve outstanding financial obligations from pandemic-era hazard pay disputes. These additional appropriations supplement existing funding from Act 29 of 2025 and apply to the University of Hawaii and other state executive branch departments, though the Department of Education remains excluded as its matters are still unresolved. The bill includes standard provisions for fund allotment and specifies that any unspent money must be returned to the state treasury by June 30, 2026.
This bill requests a feasibility study to explore establishing a guaranteed universal basic income program for working families in Hawaii. The study will be conducted by the Legislative Reference Bureau in consultation with state departments and the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. It will examine program structures, costs, potential impacts on poverty and workforce participation, and lessons from similar programs elsewhere. The final report with recommendations is due before the 2027 legislative session.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Workforce Development Council to create a long-term statewide workforce strategy by 2045 to help all residents find careers that allow them to live and work in Hawaii. The bill directs the Council to recommend this plan to the Governor for inclusion in the State Unified Plan, aiming to address concerns about high living costs, limited job opportunities, and the risk of young people leaving the state. Key provisions include establishing a unified framework for state and county efforts, incorporating work-based learning and youth internship programs, and setting specific metrics to track progress in job quality and economic resilience. The strategy is intended to align various government agencies, nonprofits, and labor organizations around shared goals to improve career pathways and local economic stability.
This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the federal government to provide additional funding to help Hawaii increase pay for adult corrections officers in the state's Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The bill addresses ongoing staffing shortages and high turnover by requesting federal financial support for competitive compensation, including base pay adjustments and retention incentives. It does not directly change state laws or budgets but serves as a formal request to federal officials to assist with workforce stabilization. The resolution aims to reduce vacancies and improve safety conditions without placing the full financial burden on state taxpayers.
This Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Transportation, working with the Department of Education, to evaluate and recommend improvements to the licensing, training, and recruitment process for school bus drivers. The bill aims to address driver shortages that cause route cancellations and transportation disruptions, particularly affecting students in rural and neighbor island communities. The evaluation will examine barriers such as testing availability, interagency coordination, and workforce pipeline issues, with a deadline to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027.
