Rep. Nicole Lowen

Beginning 1/1/2027, authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, instead of the counties, to approve and certify general excise tax exemptions for certain housing development projects developed under county housing incentive programs. Sunsets 7/1/2031. (CD1)

Repeals the prohibition against qualified residents for Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation-approved projects holding a majority interest in land and repeals the requirement that qualified residents demonstrate financial viability or ability to pay rent. Limits a qualified resident from owning a majority interest in no more than one property suitable for dwelling purposes, but requiring the disposal of such property within two years. Amends exemptions from statutes, ordinances, charter provisions, and rules for certain housing projects developed by the Corporation that satisfy certain conditions, including requirements related to employment, owner-occupancy, and deed restrictions. (CD1)

Prohibits persons from interfering with another person's access to or from a health care facility or disrupting the normal functioning of a health care facility. Makes violations a petty misdemeanor. Establishes a private right of action. Authorizes the Attorney General to bring an action for injunctive or other equitable relief. (SD1)

Requires the Department of the Attorney General to develop a Human Trafficking Awareness Training Program, or approve externally developed programs, to educate and train workers in the transient accommodations sector. Requires transient accommodations employers or transient accommodations third-party contractors to periodically provide the human trafficking awareness training to certain employees and contract workers, keep records of the training, post signage, and develop and implement a human trafficking prevention policy that includes procedures for the reporting of suspected human trafficking. Establishes penalties. Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to adopt rules. (CD1)

Extends for five years certain provisions from Act 19, SLH 2020, and Act 238, SLH 2021, relating to abuse of family or household members, including establishing a petty misdemeanor offense of abuse of family or household members, clarifying penalties for violations, and allowing a deferred acceptance of guilty plea for misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor abuse of family or household members offenses. Requires the Judiciary to submit reports to the Legislature. Effective 6/29/2026. (CD1)

Requires electronic smoking device and e-liquid manufacturers to certify to the Department of the Attorney General annually that the manufacturer received a Marketing Granted Order from the federal Food and Drug Administration and that the manufacturer is in compliance with federal regulations and state laws. Requires the Department to compile and make public a directory of all electronic smoking device and e-liquid manufacturers and products duly certified. Establishes penalties for manufacturers that fail to comply with the certification requirements and for other parties that acquire, possess, transport, keep, sell, or offer for sale products that are not in the directory. (SD1)

Authorizes the display of a mobile driver's license to a law enforcement officer on a mobile electronic device, under certain conditions. Limits a law enforcement officer's access to only the information necessary to verify the driver's license credential when displayed electronically. (CD1)

Maddy summaryHB 1881 prohibits the construction and operation of passenger ropeways on mountain lands within all designated land use districts across the state. This bill directly affects developers, landowners, and tourism operators seeking to build such infrastructure in mountainous areas. The key provision bans ropeways universally in all land use districts, removing exceptions for specific zones or projects. The bill is currently pending a committee hearing (WAL) as of February 2026, with no final action taken yet.

Maddy summaryHB 2475 establishes labeling requirements for 'ōkolehao, a traditional Hawaiian distilled spirit made from taro. It directly affects producers and sellers of 'ōkolehao by mandating specific information on product labels, such as origin, ingredients, or production methods to ensure authenticity. The key provision requires that all 'ōkolehao sold in Hawaii meet these standardized labeling standards. This bill aims to clarify product identity for consumers while supporting local cultural heritage products.

Amends, for purposes of the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation's Rent-to-Own Program, the period during which the sales price of a dwelling unit is required to remain fixed from 5 years to a period of up to 10 years. (CD1)