Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa

Expands the purposes of the establishment and operation of out-of-state offices to include collaboration with tourism agencies and stakeholders to execute tourism strategies. Requires, and appropriates funds for, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish out‑of-state offices in Seoul, Republic of Korea and Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Republic of the Philippines. Appropriates funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's Beijing and Taipei offices to promote "Made in Hawaii" branded products and increase the export of Hawaii products. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Establishes the Spay and Neuter Special Fund to reduce pet overpopulation, including the free-roaming cat population, and authorizes an income tax designation to provide revenues into the special fund. Requires cats over five months of age to be surgically sterilized unless covered by an intact cat declaration, and conditions the importation of intact cats on state and county declaration requirements, with certain exceptions. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Amends the Emergency Medical Services Special Fund by authorizing the deposit of revenues from billable emergency medical services. Amends the composition and allowable uses of the special fund. Establishes a cap on the unencumbered and unexpended balance in the special fund. Exempts expenditures from the special fund from chapters 103D and 103F, HRS. Discontinues the allocation of cigarette tax revenues to the special fund beginning 1/1/2027. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Applies the retail or higher general excise tax or use tax rate to purchases or imports of new motor vehicles by rental car companies. Appropriates funds for a position in the Department of Taxation. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to issue supplemental contracts to community-based organizations to address increases in costs related to labor, insurance, utilities, rent, and gas. For any multi-year contracts entered into or renewed beginning in fiscal year 2027-2028, requires the Department of Human Services to issue a Request for Information to determine whether any existing contract remains fiscally sound and thereafter determine, with the consent of the contractor, whether a new request for proposals should be issued. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Establishes the Primary Care Providers Working Group within the State Health Planning and Development Agency to address issues relating to, and develop recommendations for the stabilization of, primary care services in Hawaii. Requires the Working Group to make a report to the Legislature. Sunsets the Working Group on 6/30/2027. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Requires the establishment of a biological aquatic risk-based framework for assessment and approval of aquatic livestock importation and movement. Authorizes the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to adopt rules implementing species risk categorization, tiered biocontainment standards, per-arrival disease testing, and interagency coordination procedures. Establishes an interagency working group. Requires development of species-specific risk matrices, interagency working group coordination with automatic permit approval timelines, and performance accountability. Establishes an implementation timeline. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

By 7/1/2027, requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to establish a self‑certification process for certain behind‑the‑meter, customer‑sited solar distributed energy resource systems that deems permit applications approved and allows applicants to proceed to build solar distributed energy resource systems immediately. Requires government entities in the State that issue building permits to develop guidance for determining specific conditions when a Federal Emergency Management Agency-mandated No-Rise Certification is not required for a solar distributed energy resource system located in a regulatory floodway. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Maddy summaryHB 2015 clarifies labeling and advertising rules for coffee grown and processed entirely within the state, requiring clear identification of its regional origin. It directly affects coffee producers and sellers operating within the state by mandating specific labeling standards. The bill defines "regional origin" to establish a clear standard for when coffee can be labeled as originating from the state. This creates a concrete policy change requiring businesses to use consistent labeling that reflects the coffee's actual production location.

Requires the Department of Transportation to establish a clean vehicle rebate program to provide rebates for the purchase or lease of new and used zero-emission vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Establishes the clean vehicle special fund. Beginning 1/1/2027, establishes a transportation affordability and energy security tax. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)