Sen. Joy San Buenaventura

Allows all-terrain vehicle to drive on streets with posted speed limits of not more than forty-five miles per hour. Allows all-terrain vehicles to drive in the evening and night if they are equipped with headlights, tail lights, and while displaying a slow moving vehicle emblem. Allows drivers of all-terrain vehicles to wear a safety helmet with a securely fastened chin strap. Includes in the definition of "utility-terrain vehicle" a motor vehicle that accommodates one driver and one passenger sitting side-by-side, and up to six people in seat belts.

Establishes a criminal penalty and monetary fines for aquarium fishing violations. Clarifies that each fish or aquatic life specimen taken in violation of certain fishing laws regarding aquarium fish and the possession and use of prohibited explosives, electrofishing devices, and poisonous substances constitutes a separate offense.

Establishes an exemption from applicable county permit requirements for repetitive construction projects for facilities under the control of any state department or agency, under certain conditions. Clarifies that contracts for the construction, renovation, or repair of facilities under the control of the department of education, university of Hawaii, or school facilities authority shall be exempt from county permitting requirements that related off-site improvements be made by the contracting government agency as a condition to the issuance of any permit.

Establishes the State-Owned Historic Properties Preservation Plan Working Group within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to ensure the preservation of state-owned historic properties and inherited lands. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Establishes an Advisory Committee convened by the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Health to inventory lands owned by the United States government which may be reasonably transferred back to the State and to make recommendations on relevant land conditions and appropriateness of potential transfer. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Establishes a Journalistic Ethics Commission within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Establishes a Journalistic Code of Ethics. Requires news media outlets to provide training in the ethics of journalism to journalists and editors in their employ. Establishes a Journalistic Ethics Review Board to be administratively attached to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Requires the Journalistic Ethics Review Board to handle complaints and appeals regarding violations of the Journalistic Code of Ethics. Requires the Journalistic Ethics Commission to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Establishes penalties for violations. Requires the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii to conduct an analysis of the journalism program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Social Sciences. Requires the Board of Regents to report to the Legislature.

Requires all playgrounds located in state and county parks and on public school grounds to include special needs recreational playground equipment as part of the recreational apparatuses by 6/30/2027, including at a minimum a wheelchair accessible swing set. Establishes the Special Needs Recreational Playground Equipment Special Fund. Appropriates funds.

Allows the counties to amend district boundaries involving land areas greater than fifteen acres without appearing before the Land Use Commission if the affected lands are included in the County General Plan or County Development Plan. Requests the LUC to update the digital state land use district maps and to encourage transit-oriented development that preserves the character of the State's rural areas.

Establishes within the Department of Transportation the container licensing program to mitigate the influx of illegal contraband into the State. Imposes a nominal licensing fee of $1 per container. Subjects all containers entering the State to inspections and authorizes the seizure of contraband.

Prohibits any business established after January 1, 2026, that uses, rents, or offers for rent mopeds in the course of their commercial business, from using a combustion engine-powered moped. Establishes penalties.