Sen. Glenn Wakai

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires each county to implement fare-free access to its public transportation systems. Establishes the Fare-Free Public Transportation Tax and Dividend Special Fund. Increases the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax on petroleum products to fund fare-free public transportation.

Defines "low alcohol spirits beverages". Establishes lower tax rates for class 18 small craft producer pub licensees, including for low alcohol spirits beverages. Increases the amount of alcohol that a class 18 small craft producer pub licensee may manufacture. Increases the amount of alcohol a class 18 small craft producer pub licensee may sell to consumers in recyclable containers. Authorizes class 18 small craft producer pub licensees to sell a certain number of barrels of malt beverages, wine, and cooler and low alcohol beverages to any class of licensee, except for class 3 wholesaler dealer licensees.

Authorizes an increase in the volume of manufactured alcoholic beverages permissible under a small craft producer pub license. Increases the amount of alcohol manufactured on small craft producer pub licensees' premises that may be sold in recyclable containers.

Prohibits persons with a license to carry a firearm from carrying a firearm on the licensee's person without also carrying an electric gun on the licensee's person. Requires a person's license to carry a firearm be revoked if the licensee carries a firearm without also carrying an electric gun.

Makes it an unfair or deceptive act or practice for businesses to: offer, display, or advertise the price of live-ticket events or short-term lodging without clearly and conspicuously disclosing the total price; and misrepresent any fees or charges in any offer, display, or advertisement for the sale of live-event tickets or short-term lodging.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish and enforce vegetation management requirements to prevent wildfires caused by electric utilities.

Implements certain recommendations of the SPEED Task Force. Requires the State Building Code Council to provide annual training to state and county permitting agency employees. Appropriates funds for the training, subject to a matching funds requirement from the counties.

Authorizes geological subsurface characterization activities conducted by a public research institution under certain conditions. Clarifies that boreholes or test holes drilled for the purposes of geological subsurface characterization are distinct from water well exploration and geothermal or mineral exploration. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, to designate the Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center of the University of Hawaii, or a successor entity, as the repository for data collected from any geological subsurface characterization activity. Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to designate a repository or be the repository for any scientific data collected from any geological subsurface characterization activity on lands it holds in trust. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to amend its exemption list to specify that certain geological subsurface characterization activities shall be exempt from the environmental review process or shall only require an exemption notice. Requires the University of Hawaii to amend its exemption list to specify that certain geological subsurface characterization activities shall be exempt from the environmental review process or shall only require an exemption notice. Requires the Department of Health to amend its rules related to hazardous waste and hazardous waste management for consistency with federal regulations to specify that certain waste products generated by geological subsurface characterization activity are exempt from hazardous waste management requirements. Requires that the first site where a borehole or test hole is drilled shall be on lands owned by DHHL. Establishes the Hawaii Groundwater and Geothermal Resources Center within the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology of UH Manoa. Appropriates funds.

Maddy summarySB 3056 expands an existing agricultural enforcement pilot program operated by the Department of Law Enforcement to include the islands of Kauai and Maui. This bill directly affects agricultural operations (such as farms and ranches) on those islands, as the program will now apply to enforcement activities there. The key mechanism is extending the geographic scope of the current pilot program, which focuses on enforcing agricultural regulations, to these two additional locations. The bill does not change enforcement standards or create new laws, only broadens where the existing pilot program operates.

Defines the term "cosmetics". Requires all merchants that sell cosmetics to accept returns of new or unopened goods within specified time frames. Exempts certain merchants that sell cosmetics. Clarifies the definition of "conspicuous sign". Beginning 1/1/2027, requires a merchant that sells cosmetics and receives three or more warning letters from the Office of Consumer Protection for failing to post a conspicuous sign to post return and refund policy signs printed and distributed by the Office of Consumer Protection. Appropriates funds.