This bill, known as Act 131, amends Hawaii's workers' compensation laws to streamline how doctors submit treatment plans to employers. It allows physicians to send these plans via mail, fax, or secure electronic means, with the plan considered received once transmission is confirmed. Employers must respond to the plan within ten days by accepting it or providing specific medical evidence for an objection; failure to respond is treated as acceptance and may result in a $1,000 fine. Additionally, the law permits employers to object later only if new medical evidence arises and establishes that employers denying plans without reasonable grounds must pay the injured employee's legal costs.
This bill updates Hawaii's partial public financing program for elections to increase the amount of public money available to candidates and encourage more people to participate. It raises the maximum matching funds from one dollar to two dollars for every dollar a candidate raises above a certain threshold and adjusts the spending limits for various offices to reflect the current value of money. The legislation also appropriates state funds to ensure there is enough money in the program to support these changes. Directly affected are candidates running for statewide and local offices who choose to join the public financing system, allowing them to rely more on public funds rather than private donations.
This bill, signed into law by the Governor on June 24, 2026, establishes a schedule for increasing the amount public employers must contribute to the Employees' Retirement System. It specifically raises the contribution rates for police, firefighters, and corrections officers from 41% to 44% of their compensation, while keeping the rate for all other employees at 24%. These changes are designed to gradually pay down the unfunded liability of the retirement plan over time. The new rates apply to fiscal years beginning in 2026 and continuing indefinitely.
This bill establishes uniform statewide requirements for how state and county agencies issue U and T visa certifications to noncitizen victims of crime and human trafficking. It mandates that all authorized certifying entities, such as law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and judges, adopt consistent policies and processes for verifying victim assistance. By creating these standardized procedures, the legislation aims to ensure that victims across the state have equal access to federal immigration relief programs. The law defines key roles, including certifying officials, and clarifies the specific forms and criteria needed for these certifications. Ultimately, the bill seeks to eliminate inconsistent practices that may have previously hindered victims from obtaining necessary legal protections.
This bill, signed into law on June 8, 2026, addresses the practice of using collection bins for charitable donations by requiring operators to provide clear financial disclosures. It directly affects professional solicitors who run collection bins for non-perishable items, mandating that they prominently display information about how proceeds are used and how they are compensated. The law establishes new rules requiring these operators to pay charities promptly and submit financial reports to ensure transparency in the donation process. Additionally, the bill expands the legal definition of solicitation to explicitly include requests made through collection bins and containers. These changes aim to inform donors about the business arrangements between collection bin operators and the charities they support.
This bill authorizes mayors in Hawaii counties to run four-year pilot programs designed to speed up and improve the quality of permit processing for housing and infrastructure projects. The key mechanism allows counties to designate specific permit review and processing roles as "essential permitting positions," which qualify for a minimum 15% salary differential to help attract and retain staff. Additionally, the program mandates that hiring for these critical roles be prioritized over other positions and requires job offers to be made within 14 days of an interview. Counties participating in the pilot must set aside funds to cover the extra pay, new hires, and potential performance bonuses tied to meeting specific milestones.
This bill informs the Hawaii Legislature that Governor Josh Green signed Act 111 into law on June 8, 2026. The act establishes a two-year pilot program allowing public employers to seek temporary restraining orders and injunctions on behalf of employees facing employment-related harassment. Under the new provision, public agencies may hire private attorneys to represent harassed employees in court, avoiding potential conflicts of interest that could arise if the Attorney General handled the cases. This change expands existing harassment protections to specifically cover the workplace environment for public sector workers.
This bill directs the state to use insurance proceeds from the 2023 Maui wildfires to rebuild specific Lahaina facilities, including King Kamehameha III Elementary School and the small boat harbor. To ensure these funds are used efficiently, the law requires the creation of a master coordinated project plan involving state agencies, Maui County, and private partners before releasing additional money from the state risk management revolving fund. The legislation also mandates monthly progress reports on construction and allows for the transfer of certain school construction responsibilities between state agencies if needed.
This bill, Act 113, expands the rules for retired state and county employees in Hawaii to allow them to return to work without losing their pension benefits or having to rejoin the retirement system. It specifically permits rehiring for roles such as elective officers, jurors, part-time or temporary staff, and positions identified as difficult to fill due to high vacancy rates. To qualify for rehiring in difficult-to-fill roles, retirees must not have worked for the government in the twelve months prior to returning, and employers must contribute to the pension fund to offset the cost. The legislation also establishes specific metrics, such as a fifty percent vacancy rate, that agencies must use to officially designate a position as hard to fill.
This bill is a procedural message from the Governor to the Legislature confirming that Act 117 was signed into law on June 8, 2026. The underlying law, SB3229, authorizes the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to spend up to $3 million annually from a specific fund to support alumni relations and fundraising efforts. It also mandates that the university submit detailed financial reports to the legislature every year to explain how these funds are used.
This bill directs the University of Hawaii to create a public online dashboard that provides students and families with clear, comparable data on academic programs, including costs, time to degree, and post-graduation outcomes. The university must submit a preliminary report by December 2026 outlining its data inventory and implementation plan, followed by the launch of the dashboard and annual progress reports to the legislature. While the system is designed primarily to help prospective students make informed educational decisions, the data will also support evidence-based planning and program reviews within the university system.
This bill, signed into law by the Governor on June 8, 2026, allows licensed home health agencies in Hawaii to avoid routine state inspections if they hold current accreditation or certification from organizations approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. To qualify for this exemption, agencies must provide the Department of Health with official reports proving they maintain full accreditation and hold a valid state license. While routine inspections are waived, the Department of Health retains the authority to investigate any agency with complaints, negative accreditation findings, or during periodic validation surveys, and all survey reports from these external organizations will be made public.
