Amends the Hawaii State Constitution to prohibit the State from denying or interfering with an individual's reproductive freedom, including the right to choose to obtain an abortion and to obtain or use contraceptives.
Rep. Elle Cochran
Sponsored bills
Requires law enforcement agencies and the Law Enforcement Standards Board to consult the National Decertification Index and report certain information related to a law enforcement officer's certification status to the Index. Takes effect 7/1/2026. (SD2)
Appropriates funds to establish a Limited English Proficiency Language Access Coordinator position and for programming support for LEP community projects within the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency. (CD1)
Increases the maximum fine for violations of the fire protection laws. Specifies that each day a violation exists or continues to exist shall constitute a distinct and separate offense. Raises the criminal penalty for the offense of arson in the fourth degree to a class C felony if the offense was committed during the time period and within the geographic area in which a red flag warning was in effect. Provides that the state of mind requirement with respect to the attendant circumstance that the red flag warning was in effect is negligence. (SD1)
Clarifies that the Governor's and mayors' emergency management powers shall be consistent with the state constitution. Clarifies the scope of the comprehensive emergency management plan. Clarifies the powers of the Governor and mayors to extend or terminate a state of emergency and local state of emergency, respectively. Shortens the duration of price control periods from ninety-six hours to seventy-two hours. (CD1)
Beginning 7/1/2027, requires roasted coffee, instant coffee, and ready-to-drink coffee beverages that contain Hawaiʻi-grown and Hawaiʻi-processed coffee blended with coffee of another regional origin to contain no less than fifty-one per cent coffee by weight from the Hawaiʻi geographic origin. Exempts retailers that do not package roasted coffee, instant coffee, or ready-to-drink coffee beverages from liability for the sale of roasted coffee, instant coffee, or ready-to-drink coffee beverages that use a label or advertisement in violation of the coffee labeling law. (CD1)
Authorizes the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to appoint an organization as the limited owner of a cemetery, under certain circumstances, for the purposes of filing complaints and engaging in certain security and perpetual care activities for the cemetery. Requires an appointed limited owner of a cemetery to submit annual progress reports to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. (CD1)
Authorizes a state department, division, or agency, rather than the Department of Human Resources Development, to conduct a minimum qualification review of applicants for vacant positions within the department, division, or agency. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to provide state departments, divisions, and agencies the applications received for vacancies under certain circumstances. (CD1)
Clarifies that members of the public may sue a board or alleged board after receiving an adverse Office of Information Practices decision, and that the decision will be reviewed de novo. Establishes a two-year statute of limitations to bring the lawsuit and reaffirms a complainant's right to seek review by the Office of Information Practices first. Recognizes that only a member of the public may recover attorney's fees and costs if that person prevails in an open meetings lawsuit. Requires that persons suing for open meetings law violations notify the Office of Information Practices about the lawsuit so that it may decide whether to intervene. Requires open meetings lawsuits that seek to void a board's final action to be prioritized by the courts. (SD1)
Clarifies the definition of "provider" as it relates to the entities eligible to provide no cost emergency shelter and related services to a consenting minor to include certain organizations who are not considered child placing organizations or child caring institutions. Sunsets 6/30/2029. (SD2)