Labor & Employment

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1227: RELATING TO FAMILY LEAVE.

Establishes a paid family leave program for state and county employees. Authorizes a qualifying employee to take up to twelve weeks of paid leave for the birth or placement of a child or to care for a family member who has a serious health condition.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes paid family leave for public employees, expanding worker benefits and supporting care responsibilities under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Paid Leave Public Employees

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 2081: RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSING.

Requires that state and county firefighters exempt from commercial driver licensure be subject to an alcohol and substance abuse policy for employees that is equivalent to, or exceeds the provisions of, the safety and health standards established by the United States Department of Transportation for holders of commercial driver's licenses.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates alcohol/substance abuse policies for firefighters equivalent to DOT safety standards, strengthening workplace safety protections for workers.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRequires firefighters to follow DOT-equivalent safety policies, enhancing commercial vehicle safety standards per federal transportation regulations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing Driver Licensing

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 26, 2026

HB 1526: RELATING TO DISCRIMINATION.

Prohibits discrimination based on: (1) The perception that a person possesses certain characteristics; (2) The perception that a person is associated with a person who possesses, or is perceived to possess, certain characteristics; or (3) The intersection or combination of two or more specified characteristics in relation to a person.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits discrimination in housing contexts, aligning with tenant protections and equitable access to housing as per anti-discrimination indicators.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits employment discrimination based on perception, association, or intersectionality, directly protecting workers' rights under Labor & Employment standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Employment Discrimination

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 1662: RELATING TO ALLOWANCE ON SERVICE RETIREMENTS.

Includes certain law enforcement administrators and employees of the Department of Law Enforcement as class A members of the pension and retirement systems and provides guidance for the computation of retirement benefits similar to police officers.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands retirement benefits for law enforcement employees by classifying them as 'class A' members with police officer-equivalent pension computations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 959: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Exempts the sale of groceries and nonprescription drugs from the general excise tax. Incrementally increases the general excise tax over four years, with the increased proceeds during certain fiscal years to be deposited into the general fund. Removes the state income tax on unemployment compensation benefits. Doubles the standard deduction for individuals earning less than $100,000 and joint returns earning less than $200,000. Repeals the incremental increases on standard income tax deduction amounts. Increases the minimum income threshold and exemption amount for the low-income household renters' income tax credit. Removes the tax liability for the first $100,000 of individual income earned. Establishes the Maui Recovery Special Fund to be used for recovery programs related to the 2023 Maui wildfires. Appropriates funds. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2024.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts groceries/nonprescription drugs from tax, removes income tax on unemployment, and doubles standard deductions for lower/middle income earners, providing direct tax relief.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves income tax on unemployment benefits, increasing take-home pay for workers during job loss, directly supporting unemployment benefits as a key labor/employment safety net.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Sales Tax Tax Credits Unemployment Workers' Compensation

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 2527: RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSING.

Requires that state and county firefighters exempt from commercial driver licensure be subject to an alcohol and substance abuse policy for employees that is equivalent to, or exceeds the provisions of, the safety and health standards established by the United States Department of Transportation for holders of commercial driver's licenses.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates substance abuse policies meeting DOT safety standards for firefighters, enhancing workplace safety protections within Labor & Employment.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates DOT-equivalent safety standards for exempt firefighters, strengthening transportation safety protocols for vehicle operators per DOT requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing Driver Licensing

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1354: RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Appropriates funds for collective bargaining cost items for the members of bargaining unit (9) and their excluded counterparts, including the cost of salary adjustments negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal biennium 2025-2027. Declares the expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2025-2026 is exceeded. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds public employee salary adjustments via appropriations, directly supporting budget allocation for public employment costs while exceeding expenditure ceiling.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds collective bargaining cost items and negotiated salary adjustments for public employees, directly supporting labor negotiation rights and financial stability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending State Budget Collective Bargaining

Track

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 717: RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.

Repeals the prohibition placed on certain employees exempt from Civil Service Law from grieving a suspension or discharge. Allows any employee who is a member of an appropriate bargaining unit to grieve a suspension or discharge. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRepeals prohibition preventing exempt employees from grievance procedures, strengthening collective bargaining rights and worker protections under labor policy.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Public Employees

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 616: RELATING TO THE SAFETY OF EDUCATIONAL WORKERS.

Requires the Department of Education and public charter schools to take certain steps to report incidents of harassment and implement procedures for handling harassment of educational workers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates reporting and procedures to protect educational workers from harassment, strengthening workplace safety for teachers per bill's explicit focus on protection.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates harassment reporting and safety procedures for educational workers, directly advancing workplace safety protections per bill subjects and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Employment Discrimination

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1572: RELATING TO AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to: (1) Establish a Restorative Aquaculture Development Program to reduce aquaculture permit processing time, support aquaculture infrastructure expansion, increase the aquaculture workforce, and pursue federal aquaculture grants; (2) Establish three pilot demonstration sites for restorative aquaculture; and (3) Convene a Restorative Aquaculture Advisory Council. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2030. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly increases aquaculture workforce via Restorative Aquaculture Development Program and lists 'Workforce Development' as a subject, directly advancing employment growth in the sector.95% confidence

Track