This bill, signed into law on May 27, 2026, updates Hawaii's workers' compensation system to improve how injured employees receive vocational rehabilitation services. It directly affects injured workers, employers, insurance providers, and the agencies responsible for overseeing these programs. Key changes include clarifying how rehabilitation providers are selected, requiring providers to automatically approve eligible employees for services, and outlining the steps an employer must take to object to a rehabilitation plan. Additionally, the law establishes a new unit within the rehabilitation division to set standards, certify providers, and enforce rehabilitation plans, while ensuring that retired public employees are excluded from these benefits.
This bill authorizes the Hawaii Department of Transportation to enter into agreements with the U.S. Department of Defense to assist with construction, maintenance, and improvement work at federal military installations across the state. The legislation aims to ensure these facilities remain operational and ready to support disaster response efforts, such as providing logistics, transportation, and emergency shelter during natural disasters. By allowing the state to provide these services using federal funding, the bill seeks to enhance public safety without placing a financial burden on state taxpayers.
This bill directs the State of Hawaii to use general revenues to pay specific legal judgments, settlements, and tax-related claims against the state, its officers, or its employees. It allocates a total of approximately $4.5 million to satisfy these liabilities across various state departments, including the Attorney General, Agriculture, Corrections, and Education. The legislation specifically lists individual claimants and organizations along with the exact dollar amounts owed to each party. By authorizing these payments, the bill ensures that the state fulfills its financial obligations for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
This bill is a procedural document that formally notifies the Hawaii Legislature that Governor Josh Green signed SB2140 into law on May 22, 2026. The signed legislation, titled ACT 027, relates to county labor standards and amends Section 46-1.5 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. The text provided outlines general powers and limitations for counties, including their authority to adopt charters, regulate structures, manage claims, maintain stormwater channels, and establish zoning ordinances for flood-prone areas. The bill itself does not introduce new policy changes but serves to confirm the enactment of the previously passed labor standards act.
This bill, signed into law by Governor Josh Green on May 22, 2026, provides emergency funding to the State of Hawaii for public employee compensation costs covering the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium. The legislation allocates specific amounts from general and special funds to cover collective bargaining agreements for state employees in bargaining unit 11, as well as salary increases for officers and employees excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, the act funds health premium payments for these same groups and ensures that any compensation paid from federal or special funds is covered proportionately. The appropriated funds are directed to state departments for use in the respective fiscal years, with unspent money by June 30, 2027, reverting to the state treasury.
This bill informs the Hawaii Legislature that Governor Josh Green signed SB3218 into law on May 22, 2026. The legislation establishes a new funding mechanism known as "resilient infrastructure for shelter and equity bonds" to support public works projects. It defines specific areas, such as zones near transit hubs, where these bonds can be issued and outlines how property tax assessments will be adjusted to cover project costs. The law amends existing statutes to clarify terms related to financing, assessment bases, and project expenditures for these designated districts.
This bill directs the Hawaii Department of Human Services to implement a new process that allows people currently in prison or jail to apply for food assistance before they are released. The state is required to work with correctional facilities to help these individuals complete applications so that benefits can start immediately upon their return to the community. Additionally, the law removes the existing restriction that barred people convicted of drug-related felonies from receiving these benefits unless they had completed a treatment program. By eliminating this barrier and establishing a pre-release application system, the bill aims to improve food security for formerly incarcerated individuals without changing any other aspects of the program.
This message from the Governor of Hawaii informs the Legislature that on May 22, 2026, he signed SB 903 into law as Act 032. The bill relates to Hawaiian affairs and formally acknowledges the state's responsibility regarding ceded lands and the public land trust. It does not introduce new policy changes or alter existing laws but serves as an official notification that the legislation has been enacted. The document is a procedural record confirming the bill's status rather than a summary of its substantive provisions.
This document is a formal notification from the Governor of Hawaii to the legislature confirming that he signed Bill SB2143 into law on May 22, 2026. The enacted law changes how the Chief Election Officer is appointed by requiring the elections commission to select the official without needing Senate approval. Additionally, the bill establishes a specific order of succession to temporarily fill the Chief Election Officer role if the position becomes vacant. The legislation also clarifies that the new rules apply only to appointments made after its effective date.
This bill, signed into law as Act 030, amends Hawaii's teacher licensing statutes to clarify the hiring authority of public schools and charter schools. It mandates that these institutions primarily hire licensed teachers for their specific fields but allows for the emergency hiring of unlicensed individuals only when no qualified candidates are available. Under this new framework, schools must report detailed data on teacher shortages and out-of-field assignments annually, while any unlicensed hires are limited to a maximum of five years with strict requirements to demonstrate active progress toward obtaining a license.
This document is a formal notification from the Governor of Hawaii to the Legislature stating that Bill SB3154 was signed into law on May 26, 2026. The bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to take on federal environmental review responsibilities for transportation projects to streamline their development while keeping environmental safeguards in place. To comply with federal rules for this new role, the law also grants the state a limited waiver of sovereign immunity. Additionally, the bill transfers certain functions from other agencies to the Department of Transportation and expands its ability to acquire and manage property for climate and transportation purposes.
This bill, signed into law as Act 037, updates Hawaii statutes to clarify and standardize the rules for cumulative voting in elections for associations and condominiums. It directly affects members of these organizations by allowing them to concentrate their votes on a single candidate or distribute them among multiple candidates if their governing documents permit this method. The legislation specifies how votes are calculated, ensuring that the candidates receiving the highest number of votes are elected to the longest terms. Additionally, it confirms that directors elected through this system can be removed by members following existing legal requirements.
