Sen. Clarence K. Nishihara

Establishes green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines for state facility systems, infrastructure, and transit projects in the Hawaii State Planning Act to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. Adds definition of "green infrastructure". Requires the office of planning, in partnership with greenhouse gas sequestration task force, to submit a report to the legislature making recommendations for implementing the green infrastructure objectives, policies, and priority guidelines. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD2)

Requires the family court to appoint counsel to indigent parents in foster care cases and make every effort to do so at the first hearing attended by the parent.

Retroactively exempts from the state income tax, unemployment compensation and pandemic unemployment assistance received from 3/1/2020, to 12/31/2020. Requires the department of taxation to allow taxpayers to credit the state income tax deducted and withheld from their unemployment compensation and pandemic unemployment assistance during that time period against their overall state income tax liability. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Requires the thirty-day lapse or termination notices for long-term care policies to be sent by certified mail, priority mail, or commercial delivery service, or other method of delivery requiring proof of delivery.

Requires counties to establish expedited procedures to approve demolition permits for vacant and abandoned residential homes. Allows the department of taxation to seek sale of the property through nonjudicial foreclosure of vacant and abandoned residential properties with outstanding recorded state tax liens at any time after establishing vacancy and abandonment.

Establishes the time of transfer wastewater system inspection program in the Department of Health to oversee the inspection and repair of any individual wastewater system at the time of sale or transfer of residential real property attached to the wastewater system. Excludes certain sales or transfers. Removes the limitation on specific types of wastewater systems to which cesspools must be upgraded or converted, and instead requires a cesspool to be upgraded or converted to a wastewater system approved by the department of health, prior to 1/1/2050. (SD1)

Establishes a regulatory framework for products containing cannabidiol that were manufactured legally through approved government programs. Clarifies that these products are not considered adulterated food, beverage, or cosmetic products. Prohibits manufacturers from making health-related claims. Requires product labeling for the products to be legally allowed in the State. Exempts industrial hemp products that are generally recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration from the new regulatory framework.

Allows selection committees for procurement of professional services to weigh the selection criteria in the order of importance relevant to their agency and project. Beginning 12/31/2022, requires the state procurement office to develop a vendor past performance information system. Allows a bidder of a public works construction project to clarify and correct non-material or technical issues with subcontractor listings for up to twenty-four hours after the bid submission deadline. Requires bids for construction to be publicly opened no sooner than twenty-four hours after the bid submission deadline. Effective 7/1/2112. (HD2)

Requires the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with agricultural growers and researchers to develop and implement a program to safely distribute disease- and insect-free tropical plant materials to Hawaii farmers. Requires the Department of Agriculture to adopt rules to specify the plant species and varieties that warrant additional regulations. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Requires the governor, lieutenant governor, state legislators, and heads of principal departments to prominently display a Hawaiian language translation of the name of their respective office or department at least once on the main page of their official website and in the letterhead of their stationery. Requires all letterheads, documents, state highway signs, symbols, and emblems of the State and other political subdivisions that include Hawaiian names or words to include consistent Hawaiian names, spelling, and punctuation, including the use of kahako and ‘okina. Establishes references for consistent Hawaiian names and words, including consistent Hawaiian spelling and punctuation. Clarifies that the full text of bills and other official documents are not required to be written in Hawaiian and that inconsistently spelled or punctuated Hawaiian words and names shall not invalidate the documents or render them unenforceable and no cause of action shall arise accordingly. Effective 7/1/2060. (HD1)