Hawaii Bills

This message from the Governor informs the Hawaii Legislature that he signed Act 250 into law on July 14, 2026. The bill makes permanent the state rent supplement program for elderly residents, known as kupuna, which provides monthly rental assistance to prevent eviction and homelessness. Previously set to expire in 2026, the program's sunset date was extended to 2028 before this legislation made the funding permanent. The act takes effect on July 1, 2026, ensuring continued support for approximately 300 at-risk elderly individuals who receive less than $500 per month in aid.

This bill directs the Executive Office on Aging to create a detailed plan for studying how to pay for long-term care services in Hawaii. The study will examine various public and private financing options to determine which methods are feasible and cost-effective for the state's growing senior population. To carry out this work, the bill authorizes the office to hire the University of Hawaii to develop the study's framework and provides specific funding for these efforts. Ultimately, the legislation aims to gather data-driven insights before establishing a new long-term care financing program.

This bill establishes the Hanai Memory Network Program within the Executive Office on Aging to improve dementia care across Hawaii. The program will create dementia care specialists and memory clinics to help with early diagnosis, care planning, and coordination of services for individuals with cognitive impairment and their families. It also sets up a statewide referral system, a public website for information, and training for healthcare providers to ensure better access to support, particularly in rural and neighbor island areas.

This bill, signed into law by the Governor of Hawaii on July 13, 2026, authorizes the state Department of Education to award high school diplomas to specific individuals who missed earning one due to military service or wartime disruptions. It expands eligibility beyond the previous law to include those who served in the armed forces during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War, as well as those whose education was interrupted by wartime practices during those same conflicts. To receive a diploma, eligible applicants must submit the required forms to the department proving they were residents of Hawaii at the time and did not complete their high school curriculum. This change updates existing statutes to recognize the educational contributions of veterans and affected individuals from three major 20th-century wars.

This bill directs the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission to create rules requiring websites and digital applications used by public accommodations to be accessible to people with disabilities. It explicitly defines denying access through inaccessible technology as an unlawful discriminatory practice under state civil rights laws. The legislation mandates that these new rules align with the federal web accessibility standards established by the U.S. Department of Justice. By clarifying these requirements, the bill ensures that businesses providing public services must make their digital offerings usable for all citizens.

This bill allows Hawaii's Department of Education to temporarily suspend or remove parts of school bus contracts if a contractor fails to provide service for five or more consecutive school days. It authorizes the superintendent to hire a temporary replacement carrier through an emergency agreement lasting up to twelve months while a permanent solution is sought. Additionally, the law permits the department to charge financial penalties to contractors who do not fulfill their obligations without valid justification, with those funds used to cover replacement transportation costs.

This bill requires homeowners insurance providers in Hawaii to send policyholders a notice every two years informing them that they can submit details about home improvements to update their coverage limits. If a homeowner reports upgrades that increase the cost to rebuild their house, the insurer must reevaluate the replacement cost and offer the option to purchase additional coverage to match that new estimate. The law also establishes penalties for insurance companies that fail to comply with these notification and reevaluation requirements. By ensuring policyholders are aware of potential underinsurance, the bill aims to help residents maintain adequate coverage without having to wait for a disaster to discover they are underinsured.

This bill updates Hawaii's existing interstate compact on educational opportunity for military children to align with current federal laws. It directly affects school districts and families of active-duty military members by revising legal definitions within the state statutes. The key change involves correcting references to the United States Code to ensure the compact accurately reflects how military service and deployment are defined today. By amending specific sections of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislation ensures that students can continue their education without interruption when their parents are relocated due to military orders.

This bill, signed into law on July 14, 2026, strengthens consumer protection rules in Hawaii to combat deceptive pricing practices known as "drip pricing." It directly affects businesses selling live-event tickets and short-term lodging, such as hotels and vacation rentals, by requiring them to clearly display the total cost upfront rather than hiding mandatory fees. The law mandates that the final price must be shown more prominently than any other pricing information and must disclose the nature and amount of all fees before a consumer agrees to pay. By making these transparency requirements illegal to violate, the act aims to help shoppers avoid unexpected charges and make better financial decisions.

This bill establishes a two-year pilot program in Hawaii where elementary students in grades four through six research, write, and illustrate their own books. The initiative targets up to ten public schools in Kalihi and Nanakuli-Waianae, allowing teachers to choose topics related to Hawaiian culture, the local community, or personal stories. To support the program, the state will appropriate $50,000 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, provided that private sources contribute at least 25% of the funding. Participating schools will receive budgets to implement the project as part of their existing curriculum, and the Department of Education must submit a report to the legislature in 2029 evaluating the program's success and feasibility for expansion.

This bill establishes a new program within Hawaii's Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to recognize businesses that create dementia-friendly environments. To qualify for this recognition, businesses must provide one-hour dementia training to all current employees, after which they receive a website badge and a physical decal for their location. The program aims to raise awareness about Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia while supporting customers and fostering a capable workforce. Funding of $90,000 is allocated for the first fiscal year to launch and administer the initiative, with a list of certified businesses made available online for families and individuals with dementia.

This bill, signed into law by Governor Josh Green on July 13, 2026, modifies how school impact fees are applied to residential developments in Hawaii to address housing costs. It directly affects developers and housing projects by expanding exemptions from these fees for smaller developments with fewer than 500 units, affordable housing, and other specific property types. The legislation also clarifies the procedures for paying fees in lieu of land dedications and removes previous reporting requirements while reorganizing related fee accounts. Ultimately, the act aims to reduce financial barriers for smaller housing projects while maintaining contributions from larger developments that significantly increase school enrollment.