This bill, signed into law by Governor Josh Green on June 5, 2026, requires new public establishments to install universal changing accommodations in their restrooms. These accommodations are defined as powered, height-adjustable stations designed to assist adults with changing clothes. The law applies to any building planned and designed after July 31, 2027, and mandates that facilities with gender-specific restrooms provide at least one station for women and one for men, while gender-neutral restrooms must provide one station accessible to people of any gender identity. Establishments must clearly post signage indicating the location of these stations, and the bill includes exemptions for schools and situations where installation would be technically infeasible or cost more than ten percent of the construction budget. Violations of this requirement are classified as unlawful discriminatory practices, allowing individuals to file legal claims in district court to seek damages and attorney fees.
This bill is a procedural message from the Governor to the Legislature confirming that he signed a specific law into effect on June 5, 2026. It does not create new policy but serves to officially record the enactment of Act 091, which amends statutes regarding the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council. The underlying law establishes the council within the Department of Land and Natural Resources and outlines its composition, meeting schedule, and administrative support structure.
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to create rules allowing the sale and distribution of fine mesh nets specifically for protecting plants from the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle. It amends state law to permit the use of these nets, including monofilament types, provided they are designed to avoid harming birds, pollinators, and other native animals. The legislation addresses a previous limitation that restricted such netting only for birdkeeping, thereby expanding the tools available to safeguard Hawaii's agricultural and ecological systems.
This bill establishes a formal agricultural grant program and a revolving fund within the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to better manage federal funding. The new program allows the department to keep and use indirect overhead reimbursements from federal grants to cover costs like searching for new opportunities, developing applications, monitoring projects, and auditing expenditures. Additionally, the revolving fund can be used to hire temporary staff and pay for consultant services to support these grant activities. The department will be required to submit an annual report to the legislature detailing the status of the fund and grants received. These changes take effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill establishes a state-run automated speed enforcement program to issue fines for speeding violations on state and county highways in counties with populations of 5,000 or more. Money collected from these fines will be deposited into a special fund dedicated solely to covering the costs of establishing, operating, and maintaining the enforcement systems. The law also creates a separate program for photo red light imaging detectors, which can be implemented in Honolulu after a pilot phase before expanding to other areas. Additionally, the bill mandates that any contracts for operating these systems must be reissued every five years, though existing contracts remain valid until their expiration.
This bill, signed into law by the Governor of Hawaii, updates the rules for administrative license revocations affecting drivers arrested for alcohol or drug-related offenses. It establishes specific timelines for when a driver's license is suspended, setting a 30-day wait for alcohol cases and 44 days for drug cases unless a hearing is requested. The legislation also requires that the official notice sent to drivers include clear instructions on how to submit written arguments against the suspension and informs them that they cannot attend the administrative review. Additionally, the bill mandates that drivers with valid licenses at the time of arrest must install an ignition interlock device in their vehicles during the revocation period.
This bill, signed into law as Act 070, modifies Hawaii's Coastal Zone Management Act to streamline permitting for specific infrastructure projects in counties with populations between 150,000 and 200,000. It creates an exemption from special management area use permit requirements for activities that have already been determined to have no significant environmental impact or are exempt from environmental assessments. The law explicitly excludes routine maintenance of roads, utilities, and drainage, as well as minor repairs and single-family home construction under 7,500 square feet, from the definition of development in these counties. By clarifying these exclusions, the legislation aims to reduce bureaucratic delays for essential public improvements while maintaining regulatory oversight for larger developments.
This bill allows the state to lease the management of the Ala Wai small boat harbor to a private developer while keeping current public employees on staff. The legislation aims to address severe maintenance backlogs and funding shortages by introducing a public-private partnership model similar to one already used at the Kewalo Basin harbor. By transferring operational responsibilities to a private entity, the state intends to improve harbor conditions and free up resources for broader ocean recreation management. The plan also includes provisions to enhance public access, parking, and pedestrian pathways along the shoreline between Ala Moana and Waikiki.
This bill, Act 074, changes the legal requirements for natural hair braiders in Hawaii by replacing the current mandatory cosmetology license with a simpler registration system. Starting January 1, 2028, individuals who practice natural hair braiding must register with the state board by completing a specific sanitation and safety course and paying a fee, rather than undergoing the broader training required for general cosmetology licenses. The law defines natural hair braiding to include various techniques like cornrowing and locking, while explicitly prohibiting registrants from offering services that require a full cosmetology or barbering license. This change aims to reduce unnecessary burdens on practitioners while still ensuring public health and safety through regulated standards for tools and sanitation.
This bill establishes a new advisory committee to oversee emergency medical services in Hawaii, directly affecting state agencies and local healthcare providers. The committee will consist of twenty members, including three non-voting officials, seventeen county representatives, and specific experts in emergency medicine, pediatrics, allied health, and emergency medical technology. All members will serve without pay but will receive reimbursement for necessary travel and other expenses, and the group will operate by majority vote. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026, creating a structured body to advise on the delivery and conduct of emergency care across the state.
This bill establishes a new special fund to support fire prevention and life safety efforts, with money from the fund remaining available year after year rather than being returned to the general budget. It creates a centralized review process where counties must submit any proposed changes to the state fire code for approval by the state fire marshal to ensure they meet statewide safety standards. Additionally, the law sets specific inspection schedules, requiring county fire chiefs to check most buildings at least once every five years while state facilities are inspected at least once every three years.
This bill, signed into law by the Governor on June 3, 2026, updates Hawaii's land record laws to standardize how property surveys and plats are filed with the state. It requires that land transfer documents include specific metes and bounds descriptions and certified plat maps, while also mandating precise surveying methods such as using a clockwise azimuth system starting from due south. Additionally, the legislation sets strict rules for the physical format of filed plans, specifying they must be on approved tangible media in standard sizes with clear markings for lot boundaries and monuments. These changes primarily affect licensed professional surveyors, landowners, and county registrars who handle property records.
