Hawaii Bills

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2152: PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VI, SECTION 3, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION TO INCREASE THE MANDATORY RETIREMENT AGE FOR STATE JUSTICES AND JUDGES.

SB 2152 proposes a constitutional amendment to raise Hawaii's mandatory retirement age for state judges and justices from 70 to 75 years. This change would directly affect current and future state court judges, allowing them to serve until age 75 instead of retiring at 70. The bill would amend Article VI, Section 3 of the Hawaii State Constitution to reflect this age increase. The measure is currently under review by the Judiciary Committee, which recently recommended passage with amendments.

Jarrett Keohokalole (D) Karl Rhoads (D) Brandon Elefante (D) Carol Fukunaga (D) Michelle Kidani (D) · 3 co-sponsors

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2089: RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Expands the services eligible for Medicaid Prospective Payment System reimbursement to include certain services furnished by a federally qualified health center or rural health clinic and provided by mental health professionals under the clinical supervision of a licensed mental health professional. Requires the Department of Human Services to adopt rules for this purpose and seek federal approvals as necessary. Specifies that implementation is contingent upon and only to the extent approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2095: RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

Establishes a PFAS Working Group within the Department of Health to investigate the existence and environmental dangers of per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Environment

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2575: RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Changes from a misdemeanor to a class C felony the penalty for possessing, controlling, or transferring ownership of any firearm or ammunition by a person who is restrained by court order from contacting, threatening, or physically abusing any person. Changes from a misdemeanor to a class B felony the penalty for carrying a firearm while under the influence of a controlled substance. Establishes unlawful possession of methamphetamine while carrying a firearm as a class B felony. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

passed both · Hawaii · House May 1, 2026

HB 1970: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII CANCER CENTER.

HB 1970 provides funding for the University of Hawaii Cancer Center's Hawaii Tumor Registry, which tracks cancer cases across the state. The bill directly supports the Cancer Center by enabling its data collection and analysis efforts. Key provisions include appropriating state funds to maintain and expand the registry's operations for cancer surveillance. This policy change focuses on strengthening statewide cancer data systems without altering patient care protocols or insurance coverage.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2781: RELATING TO LEI.

Requires and establishes benchmarks for each state executive agency to ensure that a certain percentage of lei purchased by that executive agency consists of lei made of natural objects and plant materials grown, harvested, and assembled in the State. Establishes labeling requirements for lei and lei materials. Requires the disclosure of the geographic origin for the plant materials and natural objects that comprise a lei or lei materials. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2961: RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Requires homeowners insurance policies to permit an insured who sustains a total loss from a peril for which a state of emergency was declared to (1) apply additional living expenses benefits toward the lease of a housing unit to serve as the insured's temporary primary residence; (2) pay an advance of at least four months of additional living expenses benefits; and (3) provide additional living expenses benefits for a minimum of twenty-four months, subject to policy limits. Provides for extensions of additional living expenses benefits under certain conditions. Effective 7/1/2050. (HD1)

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 3028: RELATING TO PROPERTY CONVEYANCE.

Restructures the conveyance tax to a marginal rate system for the sale of properties with residential use, adjusts the tax for multifamily properties to reflect value on a per-unit basis, and applies a cost-of-living adjustment to conveyance tax rates. Establishes the Transit-Oriented Development Infrastructure Subaccount within the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund. Allocates a portion of conveyance tax collections to the Transit-Oriented Development Infrastructure Subaccount and Hawaiian Home Lands Infrastructure and Housing Special Fund. Establishes and appropriates funds out of the Hawaiian Home Lands Infrastructure and Housing Special Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2919: RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

SB 2919 appropriates funds to hire one full-time equivalent Deputy Public Defender III position within the Office of the Public Defender. This bill directly affects the Office of the Public Defender by providing dedicated staffing resources for their operations. The key provision is the allocation of state funds specifically for this new staff role, which would support the office's capacity to represent indigent defendants in court. The bill does not create new legal requirements or change existing laws, focusing solely on budgetary support for personnel.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

passed both · Hawaii · House May 1, 2026

HB 2208: RELATING TO FOOD SECURITY.

Establishes and appropriates funds in the form of grants for the Hawaii Farm to Families Program under the Department of Human Services to alleviate food shortages in the State. Requires reports to the Legislature. (SD1)

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 3063: RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROCUREMENT.

Exempts from the Hawaii Public Procurement Code procurements by the Department of Education of any amount of local edible produce and packaged food products that do not cost more than five per cent of non-local alternatives. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

passed both · Hawaii · House May 1, 2026

HB 2241: RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Amends the Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credit by: Limiting claims for certain solar energy systems that are not third-party financed systems and installed and placed in service on a single-family residential property to taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $175,000 or less if filing as an individual, $262,500 or less if filing as a head of household, or $350,000 or less if filing jointly; increasing the maximum adjusted gross income an individual taxpayer must be below in order to be eligible to have any excess credits refunded and limiting credit refundability to systems that are not third-party financed systems; and prohibiting a taxpayer from claiming a credit for a renewable energy technology system installed and placed in service on a residential property where the taxpayer has claimed a credit in prior taxable years. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Sunsets 1/1/2029. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill results