HB 325 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

Summary

Prohibits an employer from discriminating against a person in hiring, termination, or any term or condition of employment based on the person's status as a medical cannabis registry card holder, under certain conditions. Authorizes an employer to use a fit-for-duty test for medical cannabis qualifying patients in potentially dangerous occupations. Exempts certain occupations. Effective July 1, 3000. (HD1)

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Jan 30, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB325 → HB325_HD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill version adds new protections for medical cannabis patients against employment discrimination while allowing employers to use fitness-for-duty tests in dangerous jobs. It also expands exemptions to include additional high-risk occupations like motor vehicle operators and machinery workers, and adds protections for custody and parenting time of minors. The effective date remains July 1, 3000 (likely a placeholder).

Scope change

The bill now explicitly includes motor vehicle operators, machinery/power equipment operators, and other high-risk vehicle operators in the list of occupations exempt from employment discrimination protections, while maintaining protections for patients in non-exempt occupations.

EXEMPTIONS

Added motor vehicles, machinery/power equipment, and high-capacity vehicles to the list of occupations exempt from employment discrimination protections

ELIGIBILITY

Added new subsection protecting qualifying patients from denial of custody, visitation, or parenting time with minors

Added protection for out-of-state qualifying patients and caregivers who are validly registered with the department of health

REQUIREMENT

Modified fit-for-duty test language to clarify it applies to registered qualifying patients in potentially dangerous occupations

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 30, 2025

Committee

Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 10) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Jan 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to LAB, CPC, JHA, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

8 primary · 0 co-sponsors