| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | |
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1 | BILL | DESCRIPTION | NOTEWORTHY TESTIMONY | ALIVE? | COMM. | ANALYST | QUESTIONS | |||||||||||||||||||
2 | HB426 | Requires UH and the community colleges under certain circumstances to waive tuition for dependent children of service-connected one hundred per cent disability veterans, active or reserve members of the armed forces who were killed in action, and purple heart medal recipients awarded in 2001 or later. | "The UH does not believe this measure is necessary as UH is in compliance with several federal legislative actions which already provide education benefits for survivors and dependents of a veteran." - UH | N | CMV | AP | ||||||||||||||||||||
3 | HB804 | Would have prohibited the sale of cars powered by fossil fuels beginning on January 1, 2035. | N | |||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | HB811 | Would not allow home-schooled athletes to attend practice with organizations but would apply specifically to competitions, if the student maintains a minimum grade point average and the parents pay the competition entrance fees that schools usually would. | Michael Golojuch Jr. testified in strong opposition of HB 811 on behalf of the Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.“By bringing in a home-school student you’re now then taking away from resources from those students that are going to that school,” Golojuch said in last month’s hearing. “There are other avenues that are not taking away from our public school students where those resources are set forth by the budgets.” Golojuch also quoted one of the high school students who had reached out to him regarding the bill prior to the hearing.“One of them put it very succinctly, ‘So our public schools aren’t good enough for them to come learn at, but they’re good enough to come play sports at,’” Golojuch said. | N | EEP | JA | Did you know Hawaii is one of 20 states that bar homeschooled students from participating in interscholastic activities? | |||||||||||||||||||
5 | HB1095 | Would appropriate money to eradicate feral chickens in state parks. | N | WAL | SR | |||||||||||||||||||||
6 | HB1184 | Exempts the sale of precious metal bullion from the general excise tax. INTRODUCED BY REP. OKIMOTO. | "41 states have removed some or all taxes from the purchase of gold and silver. Hawaii currently stands against the vast majority of its peers." - Sound Money Defense League | N | JHA | KS | ||||||||||||||||||||
7 | HB1208 | Would let the state join the counties in taxing real property. Those who don’t own a home might think that higher property taxes aren’t their problem. | Tom Yamachika of the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, “it’s going to affect you whether you are renting somewhere, whether you own your own house or if you’re in an apartment. Basically, the issue is that the cost of just staying somewhere is going to increase.” | N | ECD | KW | ||||||||||||||||||||
8 | HB1209 | By 1/1/2026, requires the department of taxation to suspend and refund certain income tax amounts received or withheld upon the enactment of a state law specifying real property tax amounts. Takes effect upon the ratification of a constitutional amendment authorizing the State to have real property taxing authority. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD2) | "Hawai‘i’s tax system is upside down. Families who earn less than $20,000 per year pay 15 percent of their income in state and local taxes, while those who make over $450,000 pay only about 9 percent. In fact, our state saddles our low-income families with the second-heaviest state and local tax burden in the nation."- Hawai‘i Children’s Action Network Speaks! | N | ECD | KW | ||||||||||||||||||||
9 | HB1239 | Would set four-year term limits for members of the Law Enforcement Independent Review Board, which reviews police shootings and makes recommendations on whether officers should be criminally prosecuted. | Y | JHA | KS | |||||||||||||||||||||
10 | HB1413 | Allows counties to require payment of outstanding charges and fines related to an abandoned vehicle before issuing a certificate of reigistration or completing a transfer of ownership. | "This legislation will effectively deter vehicle owners from abandoning their vehicles and will assist counties to recover the high cost of towing, storage and disposal of abandoned and derelict vehicles. Counties tow and manage a disproportionately high number of abandoned vehicles per year. Abandoned vehicles cause public safety hazards on our public streets and islands. Operational funds expended per year per county varies but can average approximately $1,000,000.00, due to additional cost for vehicle cleanouts, special cleanups, and related costs. This measure will significantly assist the counties with recouping expenses of removing abandoned and derelict vehicles from public roadways and properties." - Hawaii Council of Mayors | y | TRN | JA | ||||||||||||||||||||
11 | HB1416 | Would, among other things, give the Legislature authority to strike down extensions to emergency orders. | N | PDP | KS | Should the Legislature be given the ability to strike down extensions to emergency orders? | ||||||||||||||||||||
12 | HB1434 | Authorizes counties, after adoption of an ordinance, to sell private property after all notices, orders and appeal proceedings are exhausted and to use those revenues to pay unpaid civiul fines related to that property. | Choon James, a real estate broker and concerned community member, is worried that HB 1434 and similar proposals would strip away the rights of property owners and be difficult to monitor. “State legislators need to warn and engage their constituents first before any more decision making,” she said. “This nonjudicial foreclosure is giving big government a bigger stick by cutting off due process to the public.” /// Natalie Iwasa, a member of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board who said she was speaking as an individual, also expressed concern over whether the law, if passed, would be fairly executed. “I think the danger is that the DPP might not treat all property owners equally,” she said. | Y | CPC | JA | ||||||||||||||||||||
13 | HB1451 | Assesses a climate change mitigation impact fee on every customer who uses a rental motor vehicle. | N | EEP | JA | |||||||||||||||||||||
14 | HB1475 | Mandates ethics training for new employees within 90 days of employment. | "... employees who do not attend the required ethics training must be put on leave without pay or otherwise removed from their positions until they complete their trainings. Hawaii needs strong and uncompromising ethics measures to start the long road to restoring trust in ourgovernment. Ethics reforms are probably the most important tools to restoring the people’s trust in their elected leaders and government – to show people that their government is acting for the people’s interest versus serving their own interests." - Common Cause Hawaii | Y | GVR | KS | How important are ethics in your consideration of a candidate? | |||||||||||||||||||
15 | HB1502 | Allows a defendant who has been convicted of four misdemeanors in any business district or an area zoned for resort or resort-hotel use by the appropriate county decision-making authority to be sentenced to a probationary term of geographic restriction that prohibits the defendant from entering the district or area. Mandates imprisonment of thirty days upon conviction. | "This bill is duplicative because existing law already provides the ability to achieve the bill's purpose and to impose a stronger penalty than what is proposed. It also potentially undercuts the penalties already provided in current law, by creating an inconsistency between the proposed new section and the existing law. We respectfully request this committee hold this bill. Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimon." - Hawaii State Attorney General | N | ECD | KW | ||||||||||||||||||||
16 | HB1505 / SB2242 | Increases personal income tax revenues for high-earning taxpayers; increases the tax on capital gains; increases the corporate income tax under a single rate. | N | ECD | KW | |||||||||||||||||||||
17 | HB1507 | Would increase the maximum state capital gains tax rate from 7.25% to 11%. That measure would also make permanent the earned income tax credit for lower income families, and make the credit refundable to provide an extra financial boost to those families. | From the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii: "While the intent of this bill is to help low-income families, this proposed tax hike, if enacted, more likely will frustrate that aim than achieve it. It is not possible to raise the tax on capital gains without having an effect on the state as a whole, including low-earners and working families." /// The state Tax Department calculates that boosting the top capital gains tax rate would allow the state to collect an extra $100 million a year or more even after deducting the cost of providing a more generous earned income tax credit. | Y | ECD | KW | Should the tax on capital gains be increased to the highest marginal rate applicable to the taxpayers filing status and tax bracket? | |||||||||||||||||||
18 | HB1509 | Requires verbal announcement and 30-second wait by uniformed law enforcement officers before executing an arrest or search warrant at a home or building. | N | JHA | KS | |||||||||||||||||||||
19 | HB1512 | Establishes an environmental surcharge on visitor accommodations with proceeds invested in clearn energy and natural resource conservation. | N | EEP | JA | |||||||||||||||||||||
20 | HB1517 | Coffee blends labeled or advertised as Hawaii coffee will be required to include a minimum of 51% of island- grown coffee by weight by July 1, 2024. The bill would increase the current 10% minimum to 20% by July and then to 30% by July 2023. It would also allow businesses to label or advertise their coffee as “All Hawaiian” only when the coffee included is entirely composed of green coffee beans grown in Hawaii. | "While we understand the intent of this measure, we also realize that it may do more harm to the local coffee industry. Currently many of our visitors return home with bags of local coffee to reminisce about their stay in the islands. Local restaurants use Kona Coffee. Residents enjoy local coffee in their homes. The majority are well aware that the coffee they are purchasing is a blend of at least 10% locally grown coffee beans and therefore at an affordable purchase price." - Retail Merchants of Hawaii | Y | AGR | CK | ||||||||||||||||||||
21 | HB1519 | Would prohibit the sale or distribution of any sunscreen with active ingredients not generally recognized as safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration absent a medical prescription. | N | EEP | JA | |||||||||||||||||||||
22 | HB1531 | Allows graduate students to unionize. Although grad students provide substantial value to the university (teaching, grading, research, etc.), it is questionable whether they should be granted the same benefits as full-time university employees with established careers. | Y | HET | SR | |||||||||||||||||||||
23 | HB1541 | Clarifies acceptable procedure for initiating criminal complaints. | House Bill 1541 aims to fix shortcomings identified in a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling in December. More than 1,000 misdemeanor and petty misdemeanor cases have been dismissed on Oahu and dozens more have either been dismissed or challenged on neighbor islands because of procedural issues with how prosecutors initiated those cases. | PASSED | JHA | KS | ||||||||||||||||||||
24 | HB1567 | Eliminates use of monetary bail and requires defendants to be released for certain nonviolent offenses. Part of the conditions of defendant's release include that the person (a) not commit a federal, state, or local offense during the period of release, (b) appear for all court hearings, unless notified that appearance is not required, and (c) remain in Hawaii, unless approval is obtained to leave the jurisdiction of the court. | Y | JHA | KS | |||||||||||||||||||||
25 | HB1570 | Requires DOH to post online monthly updates on all deposits and expenditures of the tobacco enforcement and Hawaii tobacco settlement special funds and Hawaii tobacco prevention and control trust fund. Requires DOH to submit annual reports to the legislature on the receipts and expenditures of the Hawaii tobacco settlement special fund and Hawaii tobacco prevention and control trust fund. Requires the attorney general to monitor online sales of tobacco products and electronic smoking device products and post online monthly updates. Requires DOH to establish a standardized and scientific testing process for the presence of flavoring in tobacco products and synthetic nicotine products and post this information online. Beginning 1/1/2023, prohibits the sale or distribution of all flavored tobacco and synthetic nicotine products in the State. Requires DOH to coordinate with DOE to establish a take back program for students to voluntarily dispose of electronic smoking devices, flavored tobacco or synthetic nicotine products, and tobacco products in their possession. Requires DOH and DOE to coordinate quarterly meetings with students on addressing the youth vaping epidemic. | State Dept. of Health: Supports the intent of the original measure, H.B. 1570 to address the youth 4 vaping epidemic and protect Hawaii’s next generation from lifelong addiction to tobacco use by 5 prohibiting the sales, distribution, and mislabeling of all flavored tobacco and synthetic nicotine 6 products. The multiple amendments in H.B. 1570, H.D. 1 are unreasonable and make the current 7 version untenable. | Y | HHH | AP | Did you know? One out of every 5 students in middle school, and 1 out of every 3 students in high school now report using e-cigarettes regularly, according to the coalition, with rates even higher on neighbor isles. Most said they started tobacco use with flavored products. | |||||||||||||||||||
26 | HB1571 | as amended, makes it a criminal violation for a person to (1) misrepresent to a business, nonprofit organization, or governmental entity the person's COVID-19 vaccination status, (2) falsify or alter a COVID-19 vaccination card, or purchase a falsified or altered vaccination card for personal use, (3) use a falsified or altered COVID-19 vaccination card, or (4) sell, distribute, manufacture, a falsified or altered COVID-19 vaccination card for sue by others. | N | PDP | KS | Should the state criminalize the falsification of an indiviudals vaccination status? (e.g., forging vaccine cards, purchasing falsified vaccine cards, distributing falsified vaccine cards.) | ||||||||||||||||||||
27 | HB1576 | Establishes the Hawaii state lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus commission. Permits each county mayor to appoint a county committee on the status of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus affairs. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2060. (HD1) | N | HHH | AP | Should the state establish a commission to deal with LGBTQ issues? | ||||||||||||||||||||
28 | HB1578 | Authorizes the Department of Health to approve in-vehicle receipt of medical cannabis and manufactured cannabis products on or near the premises of dispensaries under certain conditions. | \N | HHH | AP | |||||||||||||||||||||
29 | HB1585 | Would amend the state’s emergency-management statute to clarify that the powers granted for emergency purposes should not be inconsistent with the Hawaii Constitution, require justification for the suspension of laws and place parameters on such suspensions, and allow the Legislature to terminate an emergency, in part or in whole, by a ⅔ (two-thirds) vote. | Grassroot Institute of Hawaii: "Without a voice in government via their elected representatives, the people lose trust in their elected officials. It is clear that the Legislature must play a larger role in any proposed extension of an emergency period and act as a safeguard for the rights, safety and health of the public." Updated on 02.23.22: At present, the law includes a 60-day limit on emergencies, but does not address what should happen if an emergency exceeds that limit. Thus, it is possible for the governor to extend an emergency period indefinitely, with little input or oversight from the legislative branch. | N | PDP | KS | ||||||||||||||||||||
30 | HB1604 | Would establish an illegal firework task force within the Department of the Attorney General to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to combat importation of illegal fireworks. | N | CPC | JA | |||||||||||||||||||||
31 | HB1618 | Would have established a $0.10 per drink surcharge in addition to the liquor tax. Would have established a surcharge on 1.50 ounces of distilled spirits; five ounces of sparkling wine or still wine; and twelve ounces of cooler beverages, beer other than draft beer, or draft beer. | N | ECD | KW | |||||||||||||||||||||
32 | HB1645 | Prohibits hotels and other lodging establishments from providing small plastic bottles (mini shampoos, conditioners, soaps, etc.) to guests in their rooms. | "We believe that by supporting the reasonable implementation timeframe, providing support for our local small business community, and requiring the industry to self-certify through this legislation that we will be able to address and resolve the issue of small plastic bottles utilized by the industry here in Hawaiʻi." - Hawaii Tourism Authority | N | EEP | JA | Should hotels and lodging establishments be prohibited from providing small plastic bottles to guests in their rooms. (e.g., mini shampoos, conditioners, soaps, etc.) | |||||||||||||||||||
33 | HB1653 | Establishes criminal fines and potential community services for taking, injuring or killing protected aquatic life. | Y | WAL | CK | |||||||||||||||||||||
34 | HB1688 | Subjects U-drive motor vehicles to the same registration fees as other motor vehicles; authorizes counties to use motor vehicle registration fees to address impcts of tourism-related traffic congestion. | Y | TRN | JA | |||||||||||||||||||||
35 | HB1697 | Requires the DOE to train educators on sexual health topics that are more inclusive of the LGBT communities. Requires health education programs taught in the DOE to incorporate those topics as well. | N | EDN | SR | Should the Dept. of Education train educators to teach sexual health topics that are more inclusive of the LGBT communities? | ||||||||||||||||||||
36 | HB1705 | Allows the department of agriculture to extend the agricultural park lease of any lessee who holds a lease with a remaining term of fifteen years or less; provided that the land covered by the lease is twenty-five acres or less and located in a county with a population of less than five hundred thousand. | "HDOA appreciates the plight of lessees nearing the termination dates of their lease, however, we must also consider the public policy against allowing individual private interests to exclusively occupy, use and benefit from public lands for durations exceeding statutory limits or indefinitely, to provide other members of the public a fair and equal opportunity to seek that public benefit." - Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture | Y | AGR | CK | ||||||||||||||||||||
37 | HB1706 | Would have prohibited the manufacture, distribution, and sale of single-use plastic bottles and rigid plastic containers, affecting everything from soda to contact solution. | N | EEP | JA | |||||||||||||||||||||
38 | HB1712 | Prohibits siting of waste disposal facilities on important agricultural lands and agricultural lands with class A and B productivity ratings. "It is a complex regulatory compliance program that has created added expenses for local farmers. Having a landfill on or near farmland jeopardizes crop safety because it may contaminate with dust, soil runoff, or poor water quality." - Hawaii Crop Improvement Association | Y | WAL | SR | |||||||||||||||||||||
39 | HB1715 | Limits civil and criminal liability for persons who remove from motor vehicles unattended animals that are in physical danger; provided the person's actions are reasonable, in good faith, and in accordance with other requirements. | N | AGR | CK | |||||||||||||||||||||
40 | HB1732 | Prohbits individuals from carrying an electric gun in or near certain places, including public schools, other local government buildings and mass transit facilities and vehicles unless they quality for exceptions. | N | JHA | KS | |||||||||||||||||||||
41 | HB1736 | Would temporarily allow retired licensed teachers to return to work duringa state of emergency within 12 months of retirement. | n | PDP | KS | |||||||||||||||||||||
42 | HB1751 | Would authorize counties to adopt ordinances allowing up to one dwelling per quarter-acre in rural districts, provided that the ordinances are consistent with the county general plan and community development plan. | Grassroot Institute of Hawaii: "By creating a statutory path to increase housing density in rural areas, this bill would be a positive step toward addressing the state housing shortage/" | N | HSG | CK | ||||||||||||||||||||
43 | HB1752 | Establishes the housing choice voucher landlord incentive program. Requires the Hawaii public housing authority to adopt rules without regard to chapter 91, HRS, to establish specified incentives for landlords who participate in the tenant-based assistance housing choice voucher program under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937. Requires that the Hawaii public housing authority adopt rules to establish a maximum of fifteen days after receipt of an owner's or landlord's inspection request as a reasonable time within which to inspect a dwelling unit for lease under the section 8 housing choice voucher program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD3) | Y | HSG | CK | |||||||||||||||||||||
44 | HB1768 | Would allow kalo farmers to be exempted from obtaining a water lease to use the instream water for traditional and customary kalo cultivation practices. Instream flow is the water flowing in a stream channel, from which many loi kalo get their water. Kalo farmers in Hanalei have depended on the traditional Hawaiian irrigation system, or auwai, that has taken water from Waioli Stream to their taro patches. | Y | AGR | CK | |||||||||||||||||||||
45 | HB1785 | Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study that identifies and analyzes alternative tourism governance systems. Establishes 4 pillars under which the Hawaii Tourism Authority shall operate programs: Hawaiian culture, natural resources, community, and branding. Prohibits entities from being contracted for services or programs that fall within more than one of the four pillars. Requires all branding contracts to be performance-based. Requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority to perform actions specified in the Authority's destination management action plans. Prescribes the organizational structure for the Authority. Appropriates moneys. Effective 12/25/2040. (SD1) | Sen. Sharon Moriwaki (D, Kakaako-McCully-Waikiki), who chairs the Senate Committee on Government Operations, said the bill amendments specify that HTA may spend up to $12.9 million on Hawaiian culture, $7.6 million on natural resources, $16.4 million on community relations, $18.2 million on branding and $3.9 million on administration costs. Moriwaki said the intent among lawmakers is to lock HTA into their own budget appropriations. “In the past it was all one big budget, so they used it as they saw fit,” she said. “They are using government money. There has to be some degree of accountability.” | Y | LAT | KW | ||||||||||||||||||||
46 | HB1787 | Establishes and "employment first" policy for the state and counties that promotes fair wages for workers who have disabilities; the policy would not require giving a preference to hiring a person with a disability. | Y | LAT | KW | |||||||||||||||||||||
47 | HB1797 | Estabblishes a three-year medical respite pilot program within the Dept. of Human Services to provide outpatient healthcare and support services. | N | HHH | AP | |||||||||||||||||||||
48 | HB1800 | Establishes a goal for the statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit to be at least seventy per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. Requires the Hawaii state energy office to conduct a study to determine Hawaii's pathway to decarbonization and identify challenges, opportunities, and actions that will be needed to achieve those goals. Appropriates funds out of the energy security special fund for the study. | "In 2019, for example, Civil Beat reported that flights to and from Hawai'i from all over the world produced approximately 6.3 million tons of carbon, which is the equivalent of the CO2 produced by generating electricity for almost 1.1 million homes in a year. For the sake of our keiki, we must take quick action to preserve climate for generations to come." - Imua Alliance testimony | Y | EEP | JA | ||||||||||||||||||||
49 | HB1801 | Requires and establishes deadlines for state facilities, except smaller facilities, to implement cost-effective energy efficiency measures. Directs the Hawaii State Energy Office to collect utility bill and energy usage data for state-owned buildings and to make the data publicly available. Beginning 7/1/2023, requires, where feasible and cost-effective, the design of all new state building construction to maximize energy and water efficiency, maximize energy generation potential, and use building materials that reduce the carbon footprint of the project. | Y | HHH | AP | |||||||||||||||||||||
50 | HB1802 / SB3012 | Requires DLNR to establish a visitor green fee program to collect tourism fees to help offset impacts of climate change. | N | CPC | JA | |||||||||||||||||||||
51 | HB1803 | Proposes a constitutional amendment that recognizes that the fundamental right of all people, including future generations, to clean water and air, a healthful environment and climate, and healthy native ecosystems and beaches shall be protected and shall not be infringed. | N | EEP | JA | |||||||||||||||||||||
52 | HB1805 | There are positive arguments as to why cesspools should be phased out, but testimony has implied this measure would create a great challenge for the Big Island, where 55,000 of the state's 88,000 cesspools are located, as well as the for DOH, who stated they would struggle to manage and enforce conversions should this become law. | N | EEP | JA | |||||||||||||||||||||
53 | HB1806 | Requires cesspools be upgraded or converted to a wastewater system approved by the state Dept. of Health before Jan. 1, 2050, absent an exemption. | Y | EEP | JA | |||||||||||||||||||||
54 | HB1820 | Grants a 10-year license for 1 stand-alone, members-only casino in Waikiki, not in a hotel. Allows guests 21 years of age or older who register to stay 1 day and night at a hotel on Oahu for each day of admission at $20-per-day pass. How would a casino work in Hawaii? | N | ECD | KW | |||||||||||||||||||||
55 | HB1822 | Would lengthen the maximum valid term of a driver's license to four years to two years for applicants who are 72 to 79 years old; also requires such applicants to have their physical and mental competence certified by a doctor. | N | JHA | KS | |||||||||||||||||||||
56 | HB1823 | Authorizes advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to practice medical aid in dying in accordance with their scope of practice and prescribing authority. Authorizes advanced practice registered nurses with psychiatric or clinical nurse specializations and physician assistants to provide counseling to a qualified patient. Reduces the mandatory waiting period between oral requests from twenty days to fifteen days. Reduces the mandatory waiting period between the initial oral request and the provision of a prescription from fifteen days to ten days if more than ten business days have passed between the initial oral request and an appraisal of the patient by the attending provider or counseling provider. Waives the mandatory waiting period for qualified patients not expected to survive the mandatory waiting period. Prohibits the disclosure or discovery of information collected or retained pursuant to incidental or routine communication between the department of health and qualified patients or providers. Effective 7/1/2060. (HD1) | "The most problematic part of this bill are two things: (1), waiving the mandatory waiting period for qualified patients not expected to survive the mandatory waiting period. Doctors can only give their best professional “guess” on patient survival. What if they are wrong? If that isn’t alarming enough, this version (2) prohibits “the disclosure or discovery of information collected or retained pursuant to incidental or routine communication between the Department of Health and qualified patients or providers.” - Hawaii Family Forum | Y | HHH | AP | ||||||||||||||||||||
57 | HB1837 | Would be an important first step toward identifying the regulatory barriers that restrain homebuilding in Hawaii and has led to the state’s notoriously high cost of housing for both owners and renters. HB1837 HD1 would achieve this goal by requiring the counties to submit biennial reports to the Legislature concerning their efforts to reduce zoning and other regulatory barriers to housing development. | Grassroot Institute of Hawaii: We do have one concern about this bill: It offers no incentive or penalty to ensure that the counties comply with the bill’s proposed reporting requirement. Likewise, there is no incentive for the counties to reduce regulations. As experience demonstrates, municipalities can be reluctant to reduce zoning, or may do so in a haphazard way that will not achieve the objective of spurring housing growth. | Y | HSG | CK | ||||||||||||||||||||
58 | HB1840 | Allows counties to determine district boundary amendments for land areas over 15 acres and up to 50 acres, largely to provide land for affordable housing. However, eliminates the Land Use Commission's authority to influence district boundary changes, which may have negative consequences for agriculture and the environment. | From the Grassroot Institute: "In raising the acreage cutoff to 50 acres, HB1840 would make an important stride toward streamlining the decision-making process and encouraging the growth of the housing pool in our state. However, the bill includes unnecessary limitations, namely, the restrictions contained in the prescribed ordinance and the requirement that this special consideration will be given only for proposals where 60% of the land will be dedicated to the development of affordable housing. Known as “inclusionary zoning,” this high-percentage set-aside for affordable housing will frustrate the intent of the bill by making such projects financially unfeasible. A large body of research shows that inclusionary zoning makes housing less affordable, since developers respond to such mandates by building fewer homes.[1] To make matters worse, the mandates force developers to raise the prices of their market-rate homes to make up for the so-called affordable homes | N | WAL | SR | ||||||||||||||||||||
59 | HB1862 | Would have sealed eviction court records within 30 days if the judgement was not in favor of the landlord and 3 years regardless of the outcome. Reduced the barrier previously evicted individuals face to future access of housing but would leave landlords in the dark regarding a potential tenant's history, as any inquiry would be considered a discriminatory practice.. | N | JHA | KS | |||||||||||||||||||||
60 | HB1864 | Appropriates funds for school cafeteria upgrades and cafeteria staff training to improve the ability of the department of education's school food programs to serve students fresh, locally grown foods. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD2) | "The pilot projects (2016-2018) were overwhelmingly successful. With two months of training, Kohala school complex kitchen staff went from serving processed food to one hundred per cent scratch-cooked food. The efforts of the cafeteria team led to fresh food purchases that increased from a baseline of twenty-seven per cent to ninety-two per cent. This increase coincided with more than $30,000 in savings and increased student participation in school food programs. Similarly, the ‘Āina Pono project at Mililani high school resulted in a savings of $106,658 over the course of one semester while increasing local and fresh food purchases, student participation, and staff morale." - Hawaii County Council | N | AGR | CK | ||||||||||||||||||||
61 | HB1871 | Would have exempted legislators and state employees from bans in the state Code of Ethics from accepting “foreign protocol gifts, gifts of aloha, invitations to certain events, and meals, under certain conditions.” | N | GVR | KS | |||||||||||||||||||||
62 | HB1874 | Would have allowed boards to “conduct up to one retreat in private per calendar year; provided that the board does not vote on any matter, make decisions, or deliberate toward a decision on any matter currently pending before the board or likely to arise before the board.” | ` | N | GVR | KS | ||||||||||||||||||||
63 | HB1894 | Accommodates the use of both traditional Native Hawaiian burial practices and environmentally friendly burial practices including water cremationin the treament and disposal of human remains. | Y | HHH | AP | |||||||||||||||||||||
64 | HB1897 | HB 1897, would require “all boards to livestream meetings and archive the recordings online.” Also, it would require boards to “identify each item on its meeting agenda as an item for action or an item for discussion, and allow for oral testimony after each agenda item.” Board meetings, minutes and board packets would have to be posted online. | N | GVR | KS | Should meetings be more transparent? | ||||||||||||||||||||
65 | HB1900 | Includes eFoils, or surfboards using a motorized hydrofoil, under the definition of thrill craft as used in the state boating law. Although they may be hazardous to others in the ocean, they are significantly smaller, lights, and run at slower speeds than personal watercraft or jet ski's. | N | WAL | SR | |||||||||||||||||||||
66 | HB1901 / SB3009 | Bans the sale of two-stroke engines and machines powered by two-stroke engines, which can include weed whackers,, leaf blowers, chain saws, motor scooters, mopeds and personal watercraft, as of Jan. 1, 2024. | N | CPC | JA | |||||||||||||||||||||
67 | HB1906 | Would fund replacement of traditional toilets at the state Capitol with bidets to reduce the use of toilet paper and water. | N | EEP | JA | |||||||||||||||||||||
68 | HB1915 | Prohibits deployment of fifth-generation cellular network equipment with a to-be-determined radius of state airports and navigational equipment. | N | TRN | JA | |||||||||||||||||||||
69 | HB1948 | Exemptsstate residents from the transient accommodations tax. | N | LAT | KW | |||||||||||||||||||||
70 | HB1954 | Utilizing this emergency appropriation to provide a grant to BWS would quickly deplete the fund without a guarantee of reimbursement from the Navy. They remain acquiescent in stating they would comply with the State's emergency order, which is currently being appealed by the U.S. Department of Defense, but military officials remain silent on whether they would appeal the order in court. | N | HHH | AP | |||||||||||||||||||||
71 | HB1962 | Appropriates $500,000 to conduct a study on the feasibility and revenue generation from limited casino gaming. Requires department of Hawaiian home lands to conduct the study and recommend legislature. | Y | ECD | KW | |||||||||||||||||||||
72 | HB1965 | Attempts to reform the practice of asset forfeiture in the state. In a survey of civil asset forfeiture nationwide by the Institute of Justice, Hawaii earned a D- and the dubious distinction of having some of the worst forfeiture laws in the country. Singled out for criticism was the state’s low standard of proof for showing how the property is tied to a crime. In addition, Hawaii places the burden on innocent owners to prove they weren’t tied to the crime resulting in the forfeiture. The result is a state forfeiture program open to abuse and able to prey on innocent property owners. | From the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii: "This bill is a step in the right direction, but it does not go far enough to raise Hawaii’s dismal grade for unjust forfeiture laws. With a few changes, we could become a nationwide model for forfeiture reform." | N | JHA | KS | ||||||||||||||||||||
73 | HB1968 | Prohbits the construction, modification or expandsion of any waste or disposal facility on land or abo ve a significant aquifer. | N | EEP | JA | |||||||||||||||||||||
74 | HB1969 | Requires counties to offer monetary rewards to individuals who report the illegal use of fireworks. Only applicable when the violator is fined, as a portion of this fine would be used to provide the reward. | Y | CPC | JA | Should counties offer monetary rewards to individuals that report the illegal use of fireworks? | ||||||||||||||||||||
75 | HB1979 | Requires any person, before engaging in an activity with a high likelihood of resulting in an incidental take of a threatened or endangered species, to enter into a planning process with DLNR for the purpose of preparing and implementing a habitat conservation plan. Requires habitat conservation plans to include additional components. | N | WAL | SR | |||||||||||||||||||||
76 | HB1986 | Would require one Board of Education member to be a Hawaiian immersion expert. | N | EDN | SR | |||||||||||||||||||||
77 | HB1987 | Would require DLNR to conduct a point-in-time count of feral cats per island by June 2023 and require the Invasive Species Council to develoip and implement a progrm to effectively reduce the feral cat population by 2025. | N | AGR | CK | |||||||||||||||||||||
78 | HB1991 | Requires HPD to establish a public database of reported stolen bicycles and make it illegal to sell bikes in the database. | Y | JHA | KS | |||||||||||||||||||||
79 | HB2000 | Would appropriate an unspecified sum to build preschool facilities. | Y | EDN | SR | |||||||||||||||||||||
80 | HB2004 | Would have allowed fantasy sports websites like Draft Kings or FanDuel to operate in Hawaii. | N | ECD | KW | Should Hawaii allow fantasy sports betting? | ||||||||||||||||||||
81 | HB2005 | Would require the ombudsman to establish and manage a hotline by which an employee or a person acting on the behalf of an employee may the contact the office of the ombudsman directly to report a violation of a law, rule, ordinance or regulation by state, county or federal agencies or employees. | N | GVR | KS | |||||||||||||||||||||
82 | HB2015 | Would fund a new reseaerch institute within UH Law School that aims to address criminal legal system effects on vulnerable communities, including Native Hawaiians, with a focus on restoration and healing. | N | HET | SR | |||||||||||||||||||||
83 | HB2018 | Requires development of a plan to build affordable housing at the Aloha Stadium site. | N | HSG | CK | |||||||||||||||||||||
84 | HB2024 | This bill creates a new entity to steward Mauna Kea as its governing body. It would have complete jurisdiction on all aspects of control, use, management, access for everything above the 6,500 foot elevation. | OHA Testimony: Authorities include, but are not limited to: holding title to the lands; stabling access, stewardship and management policies--protection of natural and cultural resources, all recreational activities and commercial uses--; protect Native Hawaiian rights; enforcement partners; engage in community dialogue, outreach, engagement and consultation processes; consider various supplemental revenue sources (e.g., leases—terms and fees, observatory, common area maintenance, toll fees, general funds, ecosystem service fees); and development of an astronomy framework. Hawaii Free Press Comment: Translation: We will make money from tolls, tours, and telescopes on Mauna Kea. Therefore we do not believe Mauna Kea is sacred. You shouldn't either. | Y | WAL | SR | NOTABLE AMENDMENTS: One key change to the bill affects a provision to eventually restore the summit to its original state. As amended, it now indicates that wouldn’t happen until ground-based observatories are rendered obsolete due to developments in space-based astronomical technology. Another change to the bill allows the governing board to decide whether to limit commercial activity. The previous version made prohibiting certain types of commercial use mandatory. Yet another amendment adds an additional member to the governing board representing the UH president. | |||||||||||||||||||
85 | HB2028 | Authorizes and decriminalizes the direct sale of raw milk and raw milk products to consumers for human consumption, with certain restrictions. Authorizes the sale of raw goat milk for pet consumption. Requires the BOA and DOH to adopt rules by 7/1/2023. Establishes labeling requirements. | State Dept. of Health: "Opposes this bill due to public health concerns. According to the CDC, between 1993 and 2006, more than 1,500 people have gotten ill from consuming raw mil, or raw milk cheese. In addition, the CDC reported that consuming unpasteurized milk is 150 times more likely to cause foodborne illness and 13 times more hospitalizations than drinking pasteurized milk products." /// "I’m just trying to create a small hole for a family farm to be able to increase their livelihood by being able to provide raw milk to their neighbors,” Nakashima said. “We’re not looking at … ramping up to Costco scale.” - Big Island Rep. Mark Nakashima | Y | AGR | CK | ||||||||||||||||||||
86 | HB2069 | Defines the reporting and transfer requirements for certain gifts received by members of the legislature or employees of the State. | "A protocol gift, given in an official capacity, should be retained by state archives to be properly enjoyed by everyone in Hawaii, and should not be kept by any individual, which may give the appearance of having a corruptive influence. Hawaii needs strong and uncompromising ethics measures to start the long road to restoring trust in our government." - Sandy Ma, Common Cause Hawaii, who said he hopes to raise the number of cows per household to seven | N | JHA | KS | ||||||||||||||||||||
87 | HB2040 | Would allow for a state lottery. | N | ECD | KW | |||||||||||||||||||||
88 | HB2041 | Would boost the maximum amount of state conveyance tax revenue distributed to the state's land conservbation fund to $8 million if that is less thatn 10% of conveyance tax collections; also would increase how much of the fund can be used foer maintenance and management costs for land acquired by the fund. | N | WAL | SR | |||||||||||||||||||||
89 | HB2042 | Authorizes the governing body of a county to create, by ordinance, a process for the recordation and enforcement of solar easements. Allows counties to require individuals claiming a solar right to record that right by filing a declaration with the county clerk. Authorizes the governing body of a county to require, by ordinance, the trimming of vegetation that blocks solar radiation from solar energy devices. Authorizes the ordinance to include a designation for the cost of trimming. | N | EEP | JA | |||||||||||||||||||||
90 | HB2077 | Converts the positions of the administrator of the Hawaii criminal justice data center and the chief special investigator of the department of the attorney general from civil service status to exempt status. | N | JHA | KS | |||||||||||||||||||||
91 | HB2019 | Funda an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement between state administrators and Unit 1 of the United Pacific Workers union representing around 6,000 blue-collar non-supervisory workers. The agreement would give unit members a $1,000 one-time payment plus pay increases of 3.72% effective Oct. 1; 5% on July 1, 2023 and 5% on July 1, 2024. | N | FIN | CK | |||||||||||||||||||||
92 | HB2031 | Would require the Department of Health to adopt rules for underground storage tanks and tank systems that are more stringent than federal underground storage tank regulations. | N | HHH | AP | |||||||||||||||||||||
93 | HB2108 | An 88-page tome of a bill that would establish a program for the licensure, regulation and oversight of digital currency companies. | "HB2108 as written could cement into place the most burdensome cryptocurrency regulations in the nation, in addition to causing confusion. If the members of the two committees considering this bill are committed to using it as the vehicle to help Hawaii participate more fully in the worldwide cryptocurrency market, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii recommends that all the burdensome aspects of the bill — such as its unreasonable net worth requirements, dubious surveillance requirements and high fees — be deleted. This bill also needs to be written more plainly, to prevent needless confusion. For the record, however, we believe a much better option would be for your committee to shift its support from HB2108 to HB2287 and its companion in the Senate, SB2697 SD1, both of which would simply exempt cryptocurrency from Hawaii’s money-transmitter law and truly open the door to cryptocurrency exchange companies in Hawaii." - Grassroot Institute of Hawaii | Y | HET | SR | ||||||||||||||||||||
94 | HB2125 | Creates a misdemeanor of harassment of an educational worker for disrupting or interfering with the administration or functions of any school, school administration office, or school board. | N | EDN | SR | |||||||||||||||||||||
95 | HB2139 | Allows a landlord or the landlord's agent, when processing an application to rent residential property, to charge an application screening fee for the cost of requesting a tenant report or credit report for a potential tenant. Requires landlords to refund any unused amount of the application screening fee and, upon request, provide a receipt for payment of the application screening fee. | N | HSG | CK | |||||||||||||||||||||
96 | HB2150 | Bans the sale of flavored tobacco products and mislabeled e-liquid products. Almost a third of high school students in Hawaii use e-cigarettes, but “vapes” might dissipate quickly under this bill. | N | HHH | CK | |||||||||||||||||||||
97 | HB2177 | Expands the Tax Department's authority to require electronic filings. | N | ECD | KW | |||||||||||||||||||||
98 | HB2233 / SB2150 | Authorizes up to $500 monthly in temporary aid for eligible families participating in the state's first-to-work program. | Y | HSG | CK | |||||||||||||||||||||
99 | HB2229 | Would fund a UH study on the impact of sandbag embankments - or sand burritors - on sand movement patterns, coastal erosion, beach access, coastal water quality and recreation at Ehukai Beach Park. | N | WAL | SR | |||||||||||||||||||||
100 | HB2260 | Amends the circumstances under which medical cannabis may be transported by and between dispensaries. Increases the allowable number of plants for production centers. Increases the number of production centers that may be allowed under a dispensary license. Increases the number of retail dispensing locations that may be allowed under a dispensary license. Redefines the term "medical cannabis production center" to include any series of structures located within the same secured perimeter fence-line. Requires the department of health to establish the fee structure for the submission of applications for additional production centers and retail dispensing locations and for dispensary-to-dispensary sales. Amends the department of health's duties with respect to the establishment of standards for manufactured cannabis products. | Y | HHH | AP |