This bill modernizes Hawaii's enterprise zone program to better support local businesses by expanding the range of eligible activities and updating qualification rules. It allows local manufacturers that sell directly to retailers to qualify for benefits, adds new eligible sectors such as aerospace technology and specific medical services, and permits the state to designate up to two census tracts on state land as enterprise zones if they contain innovation enterprises. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to conduct a comprehensive review of the program in consultation with the Department of Taxation and report its findings to the legislature. These changes aim to revitalize neighborhoods and promote job creation and preservation for local companies in designated areas.
This bill establishes a mandatory human trafficking awareness training program specifically for workers in Hawaii's transient accommodations sector, such as hotels and short-term rentals. The Department of the Attorney General is required to develop this training by July 2027, covering topics like identifying trafficking indicators and proper reporting procedures, though employers may submit alternative programs for approval. Once the program is ready, businesses must train their employees and contractors within 180 days of hiring and repeat the training every two years while keeping records of completion. Additionally, employers must display official human trafficking awareness signage in a visible location for their staff by January 2028.
This bill redesignates the existing stadium development district as the Halawa community development district to better manage the area surrounding the new Aloha Stadium and the nearby rail station. It transfers zoning and entitlement authority for this district from the City and County of Honolulu to the Hawaii Community Development Authority, allowing the state agency to oversee development and charge fees for services. Additionally, the bill creates a special fund to finance district projects and requires the comptroller to verify that all capital costs comply with laws and the intended use of public funds.
This bill requires state agencies to publicly announce details about film productions and tax credit recipients at state locations or through prequalification processes. The law mandates that the department post the production name and contact information for a designated representative on its website and notify interested parties via email or mail within five business days, or fourteen days during emergencies. It applies to anyone filming at state-administered sites or any taxpayer seeking a motion picture production tax credit. The bill also includes administrative provisions allowing the department to create rules to implement these transparency requirements.
This bill clarifies that individuals arrested for or charged with a crime but later convicted only of a violation are eligible to have their arrest records expunged. It amends state statutes to explicitly define a violation as an offense that is not a crime, ensuring these individuals can remove arrest records that might otherwise hinder their housing or employment opportunities. The law also outlines specific conditions under which expungement orders cannot be issued, such as when a conviction was not obtained due to bail forfeiture or if the person was involuntarily hospitalized. Additionally, eligible individuals may request the return of fingerprints and photographs taken during their arrest, provided they do not have a criminal conviction record or are fugitives.
This bill informs the Hawaii Legislature that Governor Josh Green signed Act 153 into law on June 25, 2026. The act modifies how family courts decide whether to transfer minors aged 14 or older to adult criminal court by updating the specific factors judges must consider during the process. It also mandates that family courts retain jurisdiction over a minor if clear evidence shows the child was trafficked, sexually abused, or raped by the alleged victim before or during the crime. Additionally, the law ensures that family courts keep authority over these minors for any future offenses that would normally fall under their jurisdiction.
This bill is a procedural document that formally notifies the Hawaii Legislature that Governor Josh Green signed HB1661 into law on June 25, 2026. The underlying law, Act 144, amends state statutes to allow chief executives to establish cafeteria plans for their employees, enabling them to reduce pretax compensation to pay for eligible benefits. The bill specifies that the maximum contribution limits for these plans must align with federal and state tax regulations and takes effect on July 1, 2027.
This bill directs the Director of Finance to move approximately $47.2 million from various state special funds into the general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027. The transfer includes balances from diverse areas such as tobacco enforcement, mental health services, and tax administration that exceed their specific annual requirements. The legislation aims to create a financial reserve to help the state maintain essential services if federal funding decreases or economic conditions worsen. It explicitly states that these transfers must not harm the state's ability to receive federal aid or meet existing contracts and bond obligations.
This bill, signed into law by Governor Josh Green on June 25, 2026, implements recommendations from an advisory committee to revise the Hawaii Penal Code. The legislation primarily affects the state's criminal justice system by updating how crimes are classified and establishing specific time limits for filing prosecutions. Key changes include defining felonies based on potential prison sentences exceeding one year and setting new statutes of limitations, such as a ten-year window for manslaughter cases and a three-year window for most other felonies. These adjustments aim to ensure consistency, proportionality, and alignment with evidence-based strategies in sentencing and legal proceedings.
This bill extends the sunset date for Hawaii's habitual violent crime law, originally set to expire in 2027, to June 30, 2031. It requires the attorney general to submit annual reports to the legislature starting in 2027, detailing statistics on arrests, charges, and case outcomes for repeat violent offenders without revealing personal information. Additionally, the bill mandates a one-time comprehensive evaluation by the Criminal Justice Research Institute by 2031 to assess the law's effectiveness in reducing violent crime before it is allowed to expire. These changes ensure that policymakers have sufficient data to determine whether the enhanced penalties for repeat offenders should be made permanent or adjusted.
This bill, signed into law as Act 156, allows state agencies responsible for small boat harbors and state parks to perform necessary repairs and renovations on existing facilities without seeking prior approval from the legislature or the governor. The law permits these agencies to use funds for major maintenance tasks such as dredging and rebuilding, provided the money is not used to construct entirely new facilities. To maintain oversight, the bill requires departments to notify the legislature at least fourteen days before spending money and mandates semiannual reports detailing all expenditures and project statuses. These provisions are set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and will automatically expire and revert to the previous rules five years later.
This bill amends Hawaii's deposit beverage container program to reduce the financial burden of mandatory independent audits on small businesses. It establishes a tiered audit system where only distributors handling at least five million containers annually are required to undergo an independent audit, while those managing fewer than five million are exempt. Additionally, the law requires the Department of Health to develop a risk-based process for selecting specific distributors and redemption centers for periodic audits based on factors like transaction volume and past findings. These changes aim to balance the need for financial accountability with the economic realities faced by smaller operators in the beverage distribution industry.
