Sen. Stanley Chang

Maddy summarySB 175 proposes amending Hawaii's state constitution to raise the mandatory retirement age for state justices and judges from 70 to 75 years. This change would directly affect current and future state judges, allowing them to serve longer in their roles. The bill seeks to modify Article VI, Section 3 of the Hawaii State Constitution to implement this age increase. It is currently pending in committee after passing its first reading and committee recommendation with amendments.

Requires laws that enact, modify, or extend the availability of a tax expenditure to contain specific information, revenue estimates, and analyses before becoming law. Allows the disclosure of certain tax credit information.

Adds the Chairperson of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, or the Chairperson's designee, to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation Board of Directors. Amends quorum requirements for the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation Board of Directors.

Establishes a Universal Representation in Immigration Proceedings Program within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Office of Community Services to provide access to legal representation, under certain conditions. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Establishes the State's Hospital Price Transparency Act. Prohibits hospitals from taking certain debt collection actions against a patient if the hospital is not in compliance with hospital price transparency laws. Allows patients and patient guarantors to file suit against hospitals in violation. Requires hospitals to make public and post their Medicare reimbursement rates no later than 10/1/25 and deems violations as an unfair and deceptive act or practice. Requires the Department of Health to conduct performance assessments of hospitals for adherence to federal transparency rules annually and make a list of hospitals with poor performance available on its website no later than 2/1/2026. Requires the Department of Health to adopt rules.

Grants the Public Utilities Commission the ability to authorize preferential rates for the purchase of renewable energy from facilities that meet certain prevailing wage requirements. Requires public utilities to forward certain requests for preferential rates to the PUC for approval. Appropriates funds.

Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish and conduct a Marine Life Conservation District Carrying Capacity Program. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to submit a report to the Legislature and adopt administrative rules. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Establishes a Business Activity Water Catchment System Working Group within the Department of Health to assess the feasibility of allowing business owners in the State to utilize filtered water collected by water catchment systems for business activities. Requires the Business Activity Water Catchment System Working Group to report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature before the Regular Session of 2027 and dissolve on 6/30/2027. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Prohibits any law, ordinance, or rule from imposing an inclusionary zoning requirement on housing offered exclusively for sale or rent in perpetuity to buyers or renters who are residents of the State, are owner-occupants or renters, and do not own any other real property. (SD1)

Allows newly graduated high school students to be eligible for workers' compensation coverage during the summer following their high school graduation while participating in Department of Education-sponsored work-based learning programs. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)