Increases the mandatory minimum jail sentence for a first conviction of knowingly or intentionally violating a temporary restraining order from forty-eight to seventy-two hours. Requires mandatory mental health counseling for a first conviction of knowingly or intentionally violating a temporary restraining order.
Requires each public school to implement a policy to prohibit students from using cellular phones and other wireless communication devices during school hours, subject to exceptions for education, health, and emergencies.
Establishes the Homeless Services Special Fund. Allows counties to apply for matching funds from the Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund for certain housing projects. Increases the conveyance tax rates for certain properties. Repeals the separate conveyance tax rates for the sale of a condominium or single family residence for which the purchaser is ineligible for a county homeowner's exemption on property tax and establishes conveyance tax rates for multifamily residential properties. Establishes new exemptions to the conveyance tax. Allocates collected conveyance taxes to the Affordable Homeownership Revolving Fund, Homeless Services Special Fund and general fund. Amends allocations to the Land Conservation Fund and Rental Housing Revolving Fund.
Establishes a Vacant Homes Special Fund under the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation for rental assistance programs. Establishes a general excise tax surcharge on an owner that allows a residential real property to remain vacant for 180 days or more a year. Requires persons who own residential real property, but do not live there, to obtain a general excise tax license. Requires the counties to disclose to the Department of Taxation a list of properties classified as not being occupied by an owner of that property. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to calculate average annual rental value for the basis for the surcharge amount.
Prohibits any person from charging any fees on a transient accommodation unit, room, or service that were not disclosed before the time of booking. Requires any person offering, listing, advertising, soliciting, or displaying a rate or price for the use or occupancy of a transient accommodation unit, room, or service to disclose at the time of booking in a clear and conspicuous manner, the total dollar amount that will be charged, including all resort fees and taxes and fees imposed by government entities. Establishes penalties. Effective 1/1/2026.
Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Health to establish a homeless triage and treatment center program to serve homeless individuals and individuals at risk of homelessness with substance abuse issues or mental illness.
Maddy summarySB 1625 adopts a uniform licensing standard for landscape architects developed by the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards (CLARB). This bill directly affects licensed landscape architects practicing in the state by requiring them to meet this nationally recognized standard instead of state-specific requirements. The key mechanism is simply adopting CLARB's existing standard, which streamlines the licensure process without creating new rules or fees. This change aims to align state practice with national benchmarks for professional qualifications.
Clarifies that the monthly needs allowance afforded to individuals living in certain long-term care facilities is not intended to replace or affect funds received as a state supplemental payment for domiciliary care and shall be supplemental to any funds provided to a recipient as a state supplemental payment for domiciliary care. Appropriates funds.
Requires the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division of the Department of Health to develop and implement a comprehensive messaging and informational campaign to prevent cannabis use among the State's youth. Requires the Division to establish and enter into contracts with community-based organizations to award grants to prevent substance misuse among youth through evidenced-based prevention programs. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.
Creates a statutory right of victims and witnesses of sexual offenses under part V of chapter 707, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to a speedy trial in criminal cases involving adult defendants. Requires the court and the prosecution to take appropriate action to ensure a prompt trial to minimize the length of time a child abuse victim or minor witness must endure the stress of the proceedings.
