Rep. Della Belatti

Requires the Director of Human Resources Development, in consultation with the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Hawaii State Energy Office, and Department of Accounting and General Services, to develop and implement a comprehensive Commuting Choice Benefit Program for all state employees regardless of mode of transportation. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Raises the minimum age requirement to enter into marriage from sixteen to eighteen years of age. Removes the parental consent and written approval by the family court requirements for a minor to marry. Removes spousal cohabitation after the parties attain legal age as an exception for an annulment based on nonage. Makes conforming amendments.

Requires county permitting agencies to establish and fill positions exclusively to process permit applications submitted for state projects. Appropriates funds.

Continues a licensing scheme for licensed certified midwives and licensed certified professional midwives, to be overseen by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Reestablishes the home birth task force to provide recommendations on issues related to home births. Dissolves the task force on 6/30/2026. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Prohibits the use of algorithmic price-setting in Hawaii's rental market. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to develop and undertake a public education program regarding the prohibition.

Makes permanent the amendments made by Act 163, SLH 2023, to the state earned income tax credit and refundable food/excise tax credit. Amends the income thresholds and credit amounts for the low-income household renters tax credit and refundable food/excise tax credit. Amends the state earned income tax credit. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2024.

Maddy summaryHB 149 requires domestic and foreign corporations operating in the state to provide shareholders with annual reports detailing the corporation's independent political expenditures and contributions. This directly affects corporations that make political spending and their shareholders, who gain transparency into how company funds are used in political activities. The key provision mandates that corporations disclose specific details about political spending to shareholders annually, rather than reporting to government agencies. The bill focuses on increasing shareholder oversight of corporate political spending without altering campaign finance rules for candidates or political committees.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to limit the terms of members of the Legislature, as provided by law, for terms beginning after the general election of 2028.

Establishes the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program within the Department of Human Services to assist households in paying their energy bills. Requires the Public Utilities Commission's Public Benefits Fee Administrator to provide information and technical assistance about available energy efficiency programs to recipients of the program. Appropriates funds.

Offers rights and protections to citizens who bring civil nuisance abatement suits related to illegal gambling. Imposes a mandatory fine of $5,0000 for violating nuisance abatement laws related to gambling offenses.