Labor & Employment

This bill, signed into law as Act 041, amends Hawaii's occupational safety and health statutes to update definitions and strengthen enforcement powers. It removes the specific legal definitions for "hoisting machine" and "hoisting machine operator," while simultaneously granting the state department the authority to issue emergency temporary safety standards without a public hearing if workers face immediate danger. The legislation also clarifies the process for employers to request variances from safety rules and allows the department to extend compliance deadlines for those who cannot meet standards immediately. These changes directly affect employers, employees, and the state agency responsible for workplace safety regulations.

Amends the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit (tax credit) by, beginning for costs incurred after 12/31/2025, providing an additional credit to qualified productions with a workforce of at least eighty percent local hires; requiring each taxpayer claiming the tax credit to submit an independent third-party certification verifying certain information to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; increasing the per-production cap amount to $20,000,000 and excluding qualified productions that incur at least $60,000,000 of qualified production costs from the per-production cap amount; changing the aggregate cap amount to $60,000,000; providing that, beginning for costs incurred after 12/31/2023, if the total amount of tax credits claimed in a year is less than the aggregate cap amount, the cap for the subsequent year shall be increased by the unclaimed amount; defining "streaming platform" and amending the definition of "qualified production" to include certain streaming productions; and extending the sunset date of the tax credit to 1/1/2038. Exempts from the general excise tax certain amounts received by a motion picture project employer from a client company that represent reimbursements for costs paid or incurred by the client company for reasonable employment-related costs of motion picture project workers or loan-out companies. (CD1)

This bill, signed into law by Governor Josh Green on May 28, 2026, extends the time limit for filing discrimination complaints in Hawaii from 180 days to one year. The change directly affects individuals who believe they have faced unlawful discrimination under state law, giving them more time to report incidents to the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission. By amending Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 368-11, the legislation ensures that the clock for filing a complaint starts from the date of the discriminatory act or the last occurrence in a pattern of ongoing discrimination. This adjustment aims to provide a more reasonable timeframe for victims to recognize and seek redress for civil rights violations.

This bill updates official job titles within the State of Hawaii's civil service to align with modern industry standards. It specifically changes the title of 'private secretary' to 'executive assistant' and 'secretary' to 'administrative assistant' for applicable state positions. The changes take effect on July 16, 2024, and are intended to make the state's job titles more appealing to potential applicants.

This bill, signed into law on May 27, 2026, updates Hawaii's workers' compensation system to improve how injured employees receive vocational rehabilitation services. It directly affects injured workers, employers, insurance providers, and the agencies responsible for overseeing these programs. Key changes include clarifying how rehabilitation providers are selected, requiring providers to automatically approve eligible employees for services, and outlining the steps an employer must take to object to a rehabilitation plan. Additionally, the law establishes a new unit within the rehabilitation division to set standards, certify providers, and enforce rehabilitation plans, while ensuring that retired public employees are excluded from these benefits.

This bill directs the Governor to inform the legislature that he signed Act 055 into law on May 28, 2026. The act authorizes the Department of Health to run a three-year pilot program allowing its employees to use a portion of their accrued vacation time to pay for a down payment on a home. To qualify, employees must be permanent staff in good standing who meet specific residency and homeownership history requirements. The program aims to help state workers overcome high housing costs without requiring them to leave their jobs.

This bill provides emergency funding to pay for a legal arbitration award related to the Hawai'i Firefighters Association. It directs state general and special funds to cover specific salary increases, fringe benefits, and health insurance costs for firefighters in Collective Bargaining Unit 11 over the next two fiscal years. The legislation also allocates money to ensure that state officers and employees excluded from the union but on similar pay scales receive matching adjustments. Ultimately, the bill authorizes the release of approximately $3.6 million in current funds and outlines estimated costs for future years to settle the dispute.

SB 2876 would exempt natural hair braiders from state licensing requirements when they meet specific conditions. This bill directly affects individuals who practice natural hair braiding as a profession, removing a mandatory licensing barrier they currently face. The key provision eliminates the need for a state license for braiders operating under defined circumstances outlined in the bill. The policy change focuses on simplifying regulatory requirements for this specific service.

This House Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Education to develop and implement initiatives aimed at improving teacher retention across the state. It calls for the department to conduct research on factors contributing to teacher attrition, including compensation and housing challenges, and to establish an advisory board with diverse representation from educators, students, and community members. The resolution also encourages expanded recognition and appreciation efforts for teachers throughout the year. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal request for the department to take action on this issue.

This bill, HB 1555, amends collective bargaining laws to modify how labor negotiations are conducted. It directly affects employees, employers, and labor unions involved in collective bargaining agreements. The legislation introduces specific procedural changes to the negotiation process, though the official abstract does not detail the exact mechanisms. As a short-form bill, the full scope of its provisions is not yet publicly available in the provided summary.