This bill directs the University of Hawaii to create a detailed map that identifies which areas with old cesspools should be prioritized for connection to centralized sewer systems by the year 2050. To support this mapping project, the state will provide approximately $350,814 in funding to the university for the necessary research and analysis. The goal is to help landowners and local governments make informed decisions about whether to upgrade their private sewage systems or wait for public infrastructure expansion. This initiative aims to address the environmental risks posed by untreated sewage currently leaking from thousands of cesspools into Hawaii's water sources.
This bill updates Hawaii's fireworks control laws to help state and county agencies better regulate the sale and storage of fireworks. It grants law enforcement and fire department officers the authority to enter licensed premises for inspections without prior notice and requires businesses to keep detailed records of their fireworks inventory. Additionally, the law mandates that businesses report any suspected theft or fraud involving fireworks and holds them financially responsible for the disposal of confiscated items. The bill also clarifies that each type of prohibited firework counts as a separate violation and allows the state Department of Law Enforcement to enforce these rules alongside local fire departments.
This bill appropriates $200,000 to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to improve disaster response for residents with limited English proficiency. The funding is split between creating one full-time language access coordinator position and supporting community projects like translation services and public announcements. This change aims to address barriers faced by these individuals in understanding evacuation orders and accessing emergency aid, particularly in light of challenges observed during the Maui wildfires. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2024, and applies to the state's fiscal year 2024-2025.
This bill, signed into law on July 8, 2024, gives the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources stronger tools to enforce rules against unpermitted commercial ocean tours. It specifically targets operators who advertise trips on social media or other online platforms without proper permits, treating these advertisements as initial proof that a commercial activity is taking place. Under the new law, the burden of proof shifts to the accused operator to demonstrate that their activity is not commercial or that they hold a valid permit. This change aims to address enforcement difficulties where illegal operators previously claimed their trips were informal "friends and family" outings to avoid penalties.
This bill is a procedural message from the Governor to the Legislature confirming that Act 223 was signed into law on July 8, 2024. The act itself grants the state wildlife department and its board the authority to create, change, or cancel rules regarding hunting seasons, bag limits, and gear restrictions without waiting for a full legislative process. Specifically, it allows these agencies to make urgent adjustments to hunting regulations within a two-year period if they determine that rapid changes in wildlife conditions or new data require immediate action. While the bill itself is just a notification, the law it confirms gives officials more flexibility to manage wildlife resources and set hunting rules more quickly than before.
This bill, signed into law by the Governor of Hawaii on July 5, 2024, implements recommendations from a bipartisan working group formed after the 2023 Maui wildfires to strengthen fire prevention measures. It directly affects property owners, occupants, and individuals charged with arson by increasing penalties for fire code violations and modifying criminal charges for arson during high-risk conditions. The law raises the maximum fine for violating state fire protection laws to $2,500 and allows for up to thirty days of imprisonment, while also classifying arson in the fourth degree as a class C felony if committed during a red flag warning period. A red flag warning is defined as a National Weather Service alert indicating dangerous weather conditions that increase fire risk, and the change to felony status applies regardless of the individual's knowledge of the warning. These provisions take effect immediately upon the bill's approval.
This bill, signed into law on July 8, 2024, clarifies and expands the authority of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources to manage aquatic resources. It explicitly allows the department to adopt, amend, or repeal rules necessary for conservation, including size limits, bag limits, and gear restrictions. Additionally, the law enables the Board of Land and Natural Resources to temporarily modify fishing rules in response to new data or technology without waiting for formal board action solely based on rapidly changing conditions. These changes aim to improve the department's ability to adapt management strategies for healthier fisheries and better resource protection.
This bill, signed into law by Governor Josh Green on July 8, 2024, establishes new rules for managing dangerous dogs in Hawaii to address issues with aggressive, feral, and abandoned animals. It defines a dangerous dog as any animal that bites a person or another animal without provocation, explicitly stating that a dog's breed will not be used to determine its status. The law also sets specific requirements for containment, such as using escape-proof kennels with secure fencing and gates, and clarifies when a dog is considered provoked, including situations where it defends its owner or is responding to abuse. Owners of dogs that bite without provocation face penalties, while the legislation also clarifies who is legally responsible for a dog, including parents or guardians of minors.
This bill clarifies that criminal penalties apply to specific violations of ocean recreation laws in Hawaii's small boat harbors and boating facilities. It establishes that offenses such as unauthorized camping, animal abandonment, and unauthorized commercial activity are now punishable as petty misdemeanors with fines up to $1,000. Additionally, the law sets a tiered fine structure for traffic infractions within these areas, ranging from $100 for a first offense to $500 for subsequent violations. The legislation also allows courts to suspend an offender's privilege to operate or moor a vessel in state waters for up to thirty days as a condition for fines. These changes aim to provide clearer enforcement tools for the Department of Land and Natural Resources to address public safety and health issues.
Governor Josh Green has returned House Bill 2619 to the Hawaii Legislature with specific funding amounts reduced, affecting the state Department of Agriculture's biosecurity program. The bill originally proposed nearly $20 million in general funds for invasive species control and $200,000 in grants for county feral chicken projects, but the Governor cut the total appropriation to $10 million due to budget constraints. This action reduces funding for various pest response teams, public awareness campaigns, and specific staff positions while maintaining the bill's core goal of managing invasive species. Additionally, the Governor removed the funding for county feral chicken control grants, preferring a different approach already enacted in Senate Bill 2401.
This message from Governor Josh Green informs the Hawaii Legislature that he has returned House Bill 40 without approval, effectively vetoing specific funding items. The bill aimed to transfer $300 million to the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund and $135 million to the Pension Accumulation Fund to handle excess state revenue. The Governor exercised his line-item veto authority to reduce these specific appropriations to $1 each, citing Maui wildfire recovery and other state priorities as reasons why the transfers were unnecessary given current fund balances. Consequently, the bill does not authorize the transfer of these funds as originally proposed.
This bill, signed into law on July 5, 2024, creates a new criminal offense called charitable fraud during a state of emergency in Hawaii. It directly affects individuals who solicit or accept donations for disaster relief while a state of emergency is declared by the governor. The law prohibits deceptive practices such as making false promises, hiding information about how funds will be used, or spending contributions on purposes different from those originally promised. Penalties vary based on the amount of money involved, ranging from a misdemeanor for sums of $750 or less to a Class B felony for amounts of $20,000 or more. The statute defines solicitation broadly to include requests made through various channels, including social media, email, and public announcements.
