Sen. Karl Rhoads

Repeals existing law that preempts local ordinances or regulations that regulate the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic smoking devices and voids any existing local laws and regulations conflicting with the state law governing smoking. Allows counties to adopt ordinances that regulate the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic smoking devices that do not conflict with and are more stringent than the state law that governs smoking.

Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish and administer the Construction Worker COVID-19 Hazard Pay Program. Appropriates funds to pay eligible construction workers a one-time payment in recognition for essential labor performed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sunsets 6/30/2031.

Requires the Board of Education to adopt a heat acclimatization and practice policy based on the Hawaii Athletic Trainers Association's Hawaii High School Athletic Association Heat Acclimatization and Practice Policy of 2017 for students in grades kindergarten to twelve in Department of Education schools and public charter schools statewide for certain physical activities. Appropriates funds.

Maddy summarySB 594 changes the law to make it easier to prosecute crimes against seniors by removing the requirement that a perpetrator must know or reasonably should know the victim is 60 years or older. This bill directly affects seniors who are victims of crimes, as it shifts the legal standard for certain offenses. The key provision eliminates the need for prosecutors to prove the offender was aware of the victim's age, making it a stricter standard for crimes committed against seniors. The bill is currently pending in committee, with a hearing scheduled for January 2026. (3 sentences)

Requires the Director of Finance to consider, before the selection of a depository for the state treasury, the beneficial effects to the State of using depositories within the State, including but not limited to lending at favorable terms for the creation of certain affordable housing units. Effective 7/1/2050.

Requires the Department of Transportation to assist and enable a person to voluntarily purchase a verified carbon offset for greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the person's air travel to or from an airport in the State.

Establishes the Pomaikai Hawaii Fund, a state-owned sovereign wealth fund, into which certain portions of the transient accommodations tax revenues, moneys from general fund balance surpluses, moneys from civil action settlements where the State is a party, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale or other disposition of public lands shall be deposited. Establishes a Board of Directors to manage and invest the moneys in the Fund and distribute the earnings to qualified residents of the State beginning calendar year 2030. Requires the Board to adopt rules. Requires the Director of Finance to provide guidance to the Board on the establishment and administration of the Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Maddy summarySB 2220 designates the date of the second new moon after the winter solstice each year as a state holiday to celebrate Lunar New Year. This holiday would apply to state employees and public institutions that observe state holidays. The bill establishes a specific astronomical calculation (second new moon post-winter solstice) to determine the annual holiday date, rather than setting a fixed calendar date. This change would affect how state operations schedule holidays for this observance.

Before January 1, 2028, requires every renewable energy source with measurable carbon dioxide emissions that is regulated by the Clean Air Branch of the Department of Health to operate an in-stack carbon dioxide continuous emissions monitoring system in each smokestack. Establishes carbon dioxide emissions rate standards for renewable energy sources for compliance with renewable portfolio standards.

Requires the Department of Transportation to transition all motor vehicles used within airport grounds to zero emission vehicles to meet the State's zero emissions clean economy target.