Issue · Labor & Employment

Labor & Employment (Workforce Development)

Every labor & employment bill, vote, and legislator stance in Hawaii, automatically classified by Maddy, our AI policy reader.

Total bills
33
2026 Regular Session
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Showing 1–10 of 33 bills

All labor & employment bills

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jun 26, 2026

GM 1281: Informing the Legislature that on June 26, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB3238 SD1 HD1 CD1 (ACT 179).

This bill establishes a new Language Access Education and Workforce Development Program within the University of Hawaii to train qualified translators and interpreters for the state. The program will offer both credit and non-credit courses covering translation ethics, public service interpretation, and will include paid internship opportunities through the Hele Imua program. Priority admission is given to high school graduates who have earned the Seal of Biliteracy, while other applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one additional language. The legislation appropriates $375,000 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to fund three full-time staff positions and program implementation across three campuses.
passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 131: REQUESTING THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TO RECOMMEND TO THE GOVERNOR, FOR INCLUSION IN THE STATE UNIFIED PLAN, A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE WORKFORCE STRATEGY TO ENSURE THAT ALL PEOPLE OF THE STATE HAVE A PATHWAY TO A CAREER THAT ENABLES THEM TO LEARN, WORK, AND THRIVE IN THE STATE AND CONTRIBUTE TO A VIBRANT LOCAL ECONOMY GROUNDED IN COMMUNITY VALUES BY 2045.

This Senate Resolution asks the Workforce Development Council to create a long-term statewide workforce strategy by 2045 that aims to help all residents find careers enabling them to learn, work, and thrive in Hawaii. The proposed strategy would be included in the State Unified Plan and would focus on improving work-based learning opportunities, expanding living-wage jobs, reducing underemployment, and strengthening partnerships between industries and education providers. It seeks to address concerns about high living costs and limited employment opportunities that have led many residents to consider leaving the state. The resolution directs the council to develop specific plans and measurable goals to guide state and county efforts toward these shared workforce objectives.
in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HCR 77: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESILIENCE TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S SECONDARY AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AND THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA PROGRAM.

This bill requests that the Hawaii Department of Education and the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience support the state's secondary agricultural education program and the Future Farmers of America youth organization. The resolution aims to strengthen agricultural workforce development by encouraging professional development for teachers and expanding educational opportunities in agriculture for high school students. It specifically suggests employing an extension agent at the university to provide outreach and connect best practices to local schools. The bill does not allocate funding but serves as a formal request for collaboration between state agencies and the university to address Hawaii's food security goals.
passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 151: URGING THE HAWAII PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY, DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES' HOMELESS PROGRAMS OFFICE, STATEWIDE OFFICE ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING SOLUTIONS, AND HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO CREATE A HOUSING LADDER PROGRAM TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES GRADUATE INTO UNSUBSIDIZED HOUSING.

This Senate Resolution urges four state housing agencies in Hawaii to develop a housing ladder program designed to help individuals and families move from subsidized housing into non-subsidized, market-rate housing. The proposed program would include services such as financial counseling, workforce training, transitional rental assistance, and partnerships with private housing providers to support upward mobility. As a Senate Resolution, this bill does not create new laws or funding but instead requests that the agencies collaborate to create a plan and report their findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027.
passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HCR 100: REQUESTING THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TO RECOMMEND TO THE GOVERNOR, FOR INCLUSION IN THE STATE UNIFIED PLAN, A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE WORKFORCE STRATEGY TO ENSURE THAT ALL PEOPLE OF THE STATE HAVE A PATHWAY TO A CAREER THAT ENABLES THEM TO LEARN, WORK, AND THRIVE IN THE STATE AND CONTRIBUTE TO A VIBRANT LOCAL ECONOMY GROUNDED IN COMMUNITY VALUES BY 2045.

This bill asks the Workforce Development Council to create a long-term statewide workforce strategy aimed at helping all residents find careers that allow them to live and work in Hawaii by 2045. The proposed plan would be included in the State Unified Plan and would coordinate efforts across state and county agencies to improve job opportunities, increase work-based learning programs for youth, and expand living-wage employment. The strategy would also establish specific goals and metrics to track progress in reducing underemployment and improving job quality throughout the state.
signed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 139: REQUESTING THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TO RECOMMEND TO THE GOVERNOR, FOR INCLUSION IN THE STATE UNIFIED PLAN, A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE WORKFORCE STRATEGY TO ENSURE THAT ALL PEOPLE OF THE STATE HAVE A PATHWAY TO A CAREER THAT ENABLES THEM TO LEARN, WORK, AND THRIVE IN THE STATE AND CONTRIBUTE TO A VIBRANT LOCAL ECONOMY GROUNDED IN COMMUNITY VALUES BY 2045.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Workforce Development Council to create a long-term statewide workforce strategy by 2045 to help all residents find careers that allow them to live and work in Hawaii. The bill directs the Council to recommend this plan to the Governor for inclusion in the State Unified Plan, aiming to address concerns about high living costs, limited job opportunities, and the risk of young people leaving the state. Key provisions include establishing a unified framework for state and county efforts, incorporating work-based learning and youth internship programs, and setting specific metrics to track progress in job quality and economic resilience. The strategy is intended to align various government agencies, nonprofits, and labor organizations around shared goals to improve career pathways and local economic stability.
passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HR 92: REQUESTING THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TO RECOMMEND TO THE GOVERNOR, FOR INCLUSION IN THE STATE UNIFIED PLAN, A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE WORKFORCE STRATEGY TO ENSURE THAT ALL PEOPLE OF THE STATE HAVE A PATHWAY TO A CAREER THAT ENABLES THEM TO LEARN, WORK, AND THRIVE IN THE STATE AND CONTRIBUTE TO A VIBRANT LOCAL ECONOMY GROUNDED IN COMMUNITY VALUES BY 2045.

This House Resolution requests the Workforce Development Council to develop a comprehensive statewide workforce strategy by 2045 to ensure all residents have access to careers that allow them to learn, work, and thrive in Hawaii. The bill directs the Council to recommend this strategy to the Governor for inclusion in the State Unified Plan, aiming to address concerns about high living costs, limited job opportunities, and youth unemployment. The proposed strategy must include specific plans and metrics for improving work-based learning, expanding living-wage jobs, reducing underemployment, and strengthening industry partnerships. This resolution focuses on creating a long-term framework to unify state and county workforce efforts under common goals and priorities.
in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 20: RELATING TO THE GREEN JOBS YOUTH CORPS.

SB 20 provides funding to continue the Green Jobs Youth Corps program, administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. This bill directly affects young participants in the program, who gain work experience in environmental conservation and sustainability projects. The key mechanism is allocating state funds to maintain the program's operations, including job training and fieldwork opportunities for youth. The bill does not create new policies but ensures ongoing support for an existing initiative focused on environmental stewardship and youth employment.
passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2159: RELATING TO HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

HB 2159 funds health care workforce development programs at the University of Hawaii. It appropriates state funds to establish new positions within the university focused on training and supporting health care workers. This bill directly affects the University of Hawaii's ability to expand its health care workforce initiatives. The key provision is the allocation of dedicated funding to create these new roles, aiming to strengthen Hawaii's health care workforce pipeline.
passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 21, 2026

HB 2005: RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.

HB 2005 establishes a statewide language access education and workforce development program at the University of Hawaii, funded through state appropriations. The program aims to train workers in language access services, directly impacting the University of Hawaii system and future state workforce development efforts. It requires the university to develop training curricula and implement the program, with funding allocated for this purpose. The bill is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 3000 (a date likely reflecting a typo in the official record).
Showing 1 to 10 of 33 bills
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