This bill reorganizes the Department of Health's legal authority to regulate food, drugs, and cosmetics by consolidating it into a single chapter of state law. The primary goal is to clarify the department's role in regulating both retail food safety and higher-volume food manufacturing to improve public health outcomes. It also establishes a new food safety consultative and education program to share information with handlers and creates a public monitoring system for reporting unsafe food practices. Additionally, the legislation provides specific exemptions for producers of hand-pounded poi selling directly to consumers and mandates priority processing for permit applications related to agricultural facilities on important agricultural lands.
This bill informs the Hawaii Legislature that the Governor signed Act 107 into law on June 8, 2026. The legislation requires all new law enforcement officers hired after June 30, 2028, to complete specific training in areas such as de-escalation, mental health response, and implicit bias before being employed. Additionally, the law mandates that these officers must receive official certification from the state board starting July 1, 2028, unless they have completed an equivalent program in another jurisdiction. The act applies to hiring practices across various county police departments and state agencies, including the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of the Attorney General.
This bill, signed into law by Governor Josh Green on June 8, 2026, strengthens penalties and enforcement measures against dog attacks on livestock within Hawaii's agricultural districts. It directly affects dog owners and livestock producers by increasing financial liability for damages and allowing for the destruction of dogs that harass or injure animals. Under the new provisions, a dog owner can be held liable for twice the value of damaged livestock, and owners who fail to confine or destroy a dog after an attack face misdemeanor charges and fines. Additionally, the law allows livestock owners, their agents, or family members to destroy a dog caught attacking or persistently pursuing their animals without facing civil or criminal repercussions. The bill also establishes a process for district court judges to order the humane euthanasia of dogs that continue to cause damage to livestock.
This bill, signed into law by Governor Josh Green on June 8, 2026, updates Hawaii Revised Statutes to regulate residential condominiums within urban redevelopment sites. The primary mechanism restricts these units to owner-occupied residential use, prohibiting them from being rented out or used for any other purpose. To enforce this rule, the bill authorizes the establishment of penalties that can include the forced sale of a unit if it is found to be in violation. Additionally, the legislation modifies how construction contracts are handled, requiring laborers to be paid prevailing wages, and sets specific eligibility requirements for buyers, such as being a qualified resident of the state and not owning other real property.
This document is a formal proclamation from the Governor of Hawaii notifying the Legislature that he plans to veto specific funding items in House Bill 1800. The bill relates to the state budget and was presented to the Governor shortly before the legislative session ended. Under state constitutional rules, the Governor must issue this notice when returning a budget bill with objections less than ten days before the session concludes. The Governor states that certain appropriations within the bill are unacceptable and intends to strike them out or reduce them. This action directly affects the state's budget by preventing the passage of specific funding measures included in the original legislation.
This bill informs the Hawaii Legislature that Governor Josh Green signed Act 109 into law on June 8, 2026. The act strengthens restrictions on lead materials in drinking water infrastructure by amending state statutes to align with specific federal regulations. It prohibits the installation or repair of public water systems and plumbing using pipes, solder, or fixtures that contain more than 0.2 percent lead for wetted surfaces. The law includes exceptions for certain large-diameter fixtures, nonpotable water uses, and specific equipment like fire suppression systems.
This bill streamlines the process for obtaining temporary liquor licenses in Maui for nonprofit fundraising events by removing specific burdensome requirements. It eliminates the need for in-person applications, handwritten signatures, multiple departmental clearances, and separate applications for each parcel of land at a venue. Additionally, the law waives various fees, notarization, and floor plan submissions while allowing the sale of liquor in sealed containers at auctions. These changes aim to reduce costs for community organizations while maintaining basic public safety measures such as requiring liability insurance.
This bill, signed into law on June 8, 2026, authorizes the Director of Finance in Hawaii to invest state surplus funds in short-term investment grade corporate bonds. The legislation amends existing state statutes to include corporate bonds with a minimum rating of AA- or equivalent as an allowable investment option alongside current choices like U.S. government securities and bank deposits. These investments must have a maturity date of no more than five years from the date of purchase, and any income generated will be credited to the respective state funds based on their contributions to the investment pool. The primary goal is to increase investment earnings and make additional resources available for state programs and debt obligations.
This bill directs the Hawaii Department of Health to regulate farm kitchens on the same basis as home kitchens that produce homemade food products. It allows small farms to prepare value-added foods in on-site kitchens without needing a separate commercial food establishment permit, provided they follow existing safety and labeling rules. The law maintains the department's authority to inspect these operations and restrict foods that pose higher public health risks. Ultimately, the measure aims to provide regulatory clarity for small-scale agricultural producers while preserving food safety standards.
This bill, signed into law as Act 122, updates the rules for the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts in Hawaii to clarify who can receive grants. It directly affects organizations and individuals applying for funding by establishing specific eligibility standards and conditions for award recipients. To qualify, organizations must be for-profit or tax-exempt nonprofits with conflict-of-interest policies and at least one year of relevant experience, while individual applicants must be professionally recognized in their field. Once awarded a grant, recipients must agree to employ qualified staff, adhere to anti-discrimination laws, avoid using public funds for personal entertainment, and allow full access to their records for auditing purposes. The legislation also mandates that all grant requests follow a standardized review process using application forms provided by the foundation.
This bill, known as Act 116, amends state laws to simplify how the Hawaii Department of Education purchases local food items like fresh produce and packaged goods. It raises the threshold for these small purchases from $100,000 to $200,000, allowing the department to bypass the standard electronic procurement system for orders under this amount and instead require only three written quotes. The legislation also includes a safeguard to prevent the department from artificially splitting larger purchases into smaller ones just to avoid stricter buying rules. These changes are intended to help the state meet its goal of providing at least 30% locally sourced food in public schools by 2030 and will remain in effect until June 30, 2028.
This bill, signed into law by Governor Josh Green on June 8, 2026, allows taxpayers in Hawaii to voluntarily request state income tax withholding from distributions reported on IRS Form 1099-R, such as those from retirement accounts. The key provision amends state statutes to enable entities making these distributions to deduct and remit withheld taxes once a taxpayer submits a written election, with the withheld amount then credited against the recipient's annual tax return. This change aims to improve tax collection efficiency and reduce the risk of taxpayers owing large sums at the end of the year. The new rules will apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026.
