Sen. Karl Rhoads

Restricts civil asset forfeiture to cases involving the commission of a felony offense where the property owner has been convicted of an underlying felony offense. Directs forfeiture proceeds to the general fund. Amends the allowable expenses for moneys in the criminal forfeiture fund. Requires the Attorney General to adopt rules necessary to carry out the purpose of the Hawaii Omnibus Criminal Forfeiture Act. Amends the deadline for the Attorney General to report to the Legislature on the use of the Hawaii Omnibus Criminal Forfeiture Act. Limits the transfer of certain forfeiture property to federal agencies. Establishes records requirements.

Requires corporations to include the income of all foreign subsidiaries to the State. Applies the State's apportionment formula to determine the share of reported profits subject to the appropriate tax. Effective 1/1/2026.

Requires claims of post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by first responders to be compensable under workers' compensation under certain conditions if the post-traumatic stress disorder resulted from the first responder acting within the course and scope of the first responder's employment. Defines "first responder." Exempts injuries caused by post-traumatic stress disorder from certain time limitations applicable to workers' compensation claims.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to design and construct photovoltaic panel coverings over playgrounds at all Department of Education schools.

Maddy summarySB 348 adopts the Uniform Antitrust Pre-Merger Notification Act, establishing a standard process for notifying state regulators before certain business mergers occur. It would require companies to submit specific information to state authorities prior to completing acquisitions that meet defined size thresholds. This bill directly affects businesses planning significant mergers within the state and state antitrust enforcement agencies. The bill is in early stages (pending introduction as of January 14, 2025) and does not detail specific notification requirements or thresholds in the provided context.

Requires the Department of Education to offer training for teachers, educational officers, and school-based behavioral health specialists on sex trafficking prevention and response.

Establishes a spay and neuter special fund. Establishes a spay and neuter special fund advisory committee to develop eligibility criteria for and manage the disbursement of the special fund. Authorizes, and requires the Director of Taxation to amend the individual state income tax form to facilitate, the designation of tax refund moneys to be paid to the spay and neuter special fund. Appropriates moneys into and out of the special fund.

Prohibits a landlord from recovering possession of a dwelling unit from a tenant if the habitability of the premises is significantly impaired. Caps a tenant's liability for rent if the habitability of the premises is significantly impaired. Provides remedies for retaliatory evictions.

Prohibits any person from advertising, displaying, or offering a price for the rental or letting of a transient accommodation or resort time share vacation unit that does not include all taxes and fees imposed by a government entity that the renter or guest must pay. Requires a person to clearly and conspicuously display a rate or price that includes all taxes and fees imposed by a government entity that the renter or guest must pay in each advertisement for the rental or letting of a transient accommodation or resort time share vacation unit. Requires any taxes and fees that are displayed as a percentage of the cost on a booking transaction to also be displayed as a dollar amount at the time of purchase.

Expands the general excise tax exemption established by Act 47, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024, to include amounts received by optometrists, audiologists, and chiropractors, for healthcare-related goods or services purchased under the Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE programs.