Labor & Employment

in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 2042: RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Requires an audit for a self-insured employer or an insurance carrier that defaults in workers' compensation payments to identify other instances of unpaid compensation claims.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires audits for unpaid workers' comp claims, ensuring accountability and protecting workers' right to compensation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 3135: RELATING TO STATE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

Authorizes the Department of Health to establish a vacation payout pilot project in which eligible Department of Health employees may defer unused vacation leave credits in favor of a pay out to provide home purchase down payment assistance. Report required. Sunsets June 30, 2029.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands state employee benefits by allowing vacation payout for home down payment assistance, directly enhancing employment benefits under Labor & Employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 2393: RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Requires an employer to file a response, either accepting or objecting to a treatment plan, within seven days of receipt. Imposes a monetary penalty if an employer does not file a response within the seven-day period. Clarifies that a treatment plan is deemed accepted if an employer fails to file certain documents within the seven-day period.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires employers to timely respond to treatment plans with penalties for delay, protecting injured workers' access to care under workers' compensation.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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signed · Hawaii · Senate Jun 26, 2026

SB 3238: RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.

SB 3238 establishes a language access education and workforce development program at the University of Hawaii to train professionals in providing language services. It appropriates state funds to support this program, which directly affects communities with limited English proficiency and government agencies needing interpreters or translators. The key mechanism is creating a dedicated training initiative at UH to build a skilled workforce for language access services. This bill focuses on concrete policy changes by funding workforce development rather than altering existing services or regulations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates state funds for UH language access workforce training program, directly funding higher education workforce development to improve educational access for limited English proficiency communities.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationFunds language access training for limited English proficiency communities, enhancing immigrant access to services and integration.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds workforce development program training language access professionals, directly supporting employment standards in language services sector.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Immigrant Services Workforce Development

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 2664: RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION WORKER COVID-19 HAZARD PAY PROGRAM.

Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to establish and administer the Construction Worker COVID-19 Hazard Pay Program. Appropriates funds to pay eligible construction workers a one-time payment in recognition for essential labor performed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sunsets 6/30/2031.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for hazard pay program, directly funding essential public service under budget management with explicit fiscal allocation.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides one-time hazard pay to essential construction workers during pandemic, directly funding worker compensation for hazardous conditions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

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signed · Hawaii · Senate Jun 4, 2026

SB 3215: RELATING TO HARBOR SAFETY.

Repeals the sunset provisions of Act 236, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024, thereby making permanent the requirement that the Department of Transportation ensure that the securing of mooring lines from vessels to commercial docks, wharves, piers, quays, and landings be performed by labor subject to collective bargaining. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRepeals sunset provision to permanently require mooring work by labor under collective bargaining, directly protecting workers' rights and strengthening labor representation.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationPermanently maintains DOT harbor safety requirement for mooring lines, enhancing transportation safety standards within infrastructure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining Ports

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 638: RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES.

SB 638 requires most employers to provide employees with paid breaks during work shifts. It directly affects all covered employers and their employees in the state, mandating specific break periods as part of employment practices. The key provision is a straightforward requirement for employers to schedule and compensate these breaks, though the exact duration or frequency isn't detailed in the abstract. The bill is currently pending in committee review and has not yet become law.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates paid breaks, expanding worker benefits and strengthening employment practices per bill's core requirement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave

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passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 9: REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO PASS LEGISLATION TO AMEND THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AND GENDER IDENTITY IN EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, EDUCATION, FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS, CREDIT, AND JURY SERVICE.

This is a Senate resolution (SR 9), not a bill that would become law. It requests the U.S. Congress to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in eight key areas: employment, housing, public accommodations, education, federally funded programs, credit, and jury service. The resolution cites Hawaii's existing state protections for LGBTQ+ individuals and notes that federal law currently lacks such comprehensive coverage. As a resolution, it does not change any laws but formally urges Congress to take action on the Equality Act.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExplicitly prohibits housing discrimination based on sexual orientation/gender identity, aligning with tenant protection and anti-discrimination goals in housing policy.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequests federal prohibition of employment discrimination based on sexual orientation/gender identity, directly advancing worker protections in Labor & Employment.95% confidence

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 2349: RELATING TO AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT.

Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to: (1) Establish a four-year 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. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly aims to 'increase the aquaculture workforce' through its Restorative Aquaculture Development Program, directly advancing employment growth in the sector.95% confidence

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 847: RELATING TO HAWAII RETIREMENT SAVINGS ACT.

Clarifies the definition of "covered employer" under the Hawaii Retirement Savings Act. Requires covered employers to automatically enroll covered employees into the Hawaii Retirement Savings Program unless the employee chooses to opt out. Repeals the limit on the total fees and expenses that can be spent for the Program each year. Appropriates funds to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations for the development and operation of the Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires automatic retirement savings enrollment for employees, expanding financial security benefits under labor protections.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

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