Rep. Scott Saiki

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to convene workshops to aid electric utilities in the development and implementation of best practices regarding wildfires. Requires electric utilities to design and operate in compliance with a risk-based wildfire protection plan. Establishes a civil penalty for violations. Requires public utilities to report wildfires caused by or occurring in connection with their operations. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to investigate certain wildfires. Prohibits the reports as admissible evidence in any judicial, administrative, or other governmental proceeding.

Prohibits state or county grantees, officers and immediate family members of state or county contractors, and officers and immediate family members of state or county grantees, from contributing to candidate committees or noncandidate committees for the duration of the contract. Requires candidates, candidate committees, or noncandidate committees to return any unlawful contribution to the contributor within 30 calendar days of receipt. Provides that if any unlawful contribution is not returned to the contributor within 30 calendar days, the unlawful contribution shall escheat to the Hawaiʻi Election Campaign Fund.

Temporarily lifts various restrictions on the use of funds for Hawaiʻi wildfire response and extends the lapse date of certain funds set aside for this purpose.

Requires employees, applicants, and contracted vendors of condominium associations in employment positions that grant access to security cameras and footage to undergo a background check and be licensed consistent with the requirements in chapter 463, HRS.

Exempts certain personal information of public servants from government records that are subject to disclosure under the State's Uniform Information Practices Act. Establishes within the State's Address Confidentiality Program protection for public servants that prohibits upon written request from the public servant or representative any person or organization from disclosing certain personal information. Establishes the offense of unlawful publication of personal information that prohibits any person or organization from knowingly disclosing protected personal information of public officials with the intent to cause reputational harm, emotional injury, or bodily injury. Takes effect 9/1/2024.

Prohibits the sale, offer for sale, or operation of gasoline-powered leaf blowers. Increases the amounts of fines for offenses against leaf blower restrictions and provides for the forfeiture of gasoline-powered leaf blowers on a third violation. Removes the exemption on leaf blower restrictions for government agencies.

Beginning 1/1/2028, prohibits the operation of leaf blowers or string trimmers that are powered using two-stroke engines. Establishes penalties to be enforced by the Department of Health.

Establishes an ombudsman's office for homeowner associations within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection. Establishes an Ombudsman's Office Special Fund. Requires board members of condominium associations, cooperative housing corporations, and planned community associations to meet certain educational requirements through classes offered by the ombudsman. Updates statutes relating to condominium associations, cooperative housing corporations, and planned community associations to integrate the role and functions of the ombudsman's office for homeowner associations. Appropriates funds for establishment of the ombudsman's office. Effective 1/1/2025.

Establishes a comprehensive system of public financing for all candidates seeking election to state and county public offices in the State of Hawaiʻi, to begin with the 2028 general election year. Requires the Campaign Spending Commission to submit a progress and final report to the Legislature. Makes an appropriation.

Prohibits a condominium unit owner, resident, tenant, or their guests, or any person acting on behalf of the unit owner, from harassing or interfering with board members, managing agents, resident managers, association employees, or vendors contracted by the association, in the performance of any duty or in the exercise of any right or power granted under chapter 514B, HRS, or the governing documents of the association.