Labor & Employment

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HR 42: RECOGNIZING OPEN WATER LIFEGUARDS AS FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE STATE OF HAWAII.

This House Resolution formally recognizes open water lifeguards in Hawaii as first responders, acknowledging their specialized training and critical role in emergency response. The bill highlights that these professionals are among the first to arrive at beach emergencies, providing medical aid, rescue services, and scene security similar to police and firefighters. While the resolution does not create new legal requirements, it urges state and county agencies to grant lifeguards the same rights, resources, and professional respect afforded to other first responders. The measure also encourages collaboration among public safety agencies to improve emergency response capabilities across Hawaii's ocean and shoreline environments.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill recognizes lifeguards as first responders, potentially expanding their rights and protections similar to other emergency workers, which aligns with protecting worker status and benefits.75% confidence

Tags Public Safety

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 10, 2026

HCR 187: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO BEGIN INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS TEACHER RETENTION IN THE STATE.

This bill urges the Hawaii Department of Education to start initiatives aimed at reducing teacher turnover in the state. It directly affects the state's education system by calling for research into why teachers leave, particularly focusing on issues like low salaries, housing costs, and challenges in rural areas. The resolution requests the department to create an advisory board with educators, students, and community members to recommend retention strategies and encourages ongoing recognition efforts for teachers. This is a non-binding concurrent resolution that serves as a formal recommendation rather than a law with mandatory requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly supports teacher retention through research, advisory board creation, and addressing retention challenges like low salaries and housing costs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill addresses teacher retention by investigating salary and housing issues, aiming to improve working conditions for educators.75% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Teachers

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in committee · Hawaii · House Apr 1, 2026

HR 174: REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM; DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES; AND UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII ECONOMIC RESEARCH ORGANIZATION, TO CONDUCT A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON ESTABLISHING A GUARANTEED UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME PROGRAM FOR WORKING FAMILIES IN HAWAII.

This bill requests that the Legislative Reference Bureau conduct a feasibility study on creating a guaranteed universal basic income program for working families in Hawaii. The study will be carried out in collaboration with state agencies and the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization to assess the practicality of such a program. Key areas of analysis include potential program structures, estimated costs and funding sources, impacts on poverty and workforce participation, and lessons from similar programs in other locations. The final report with findings and recommendations is due to the Legislature before the 2027 session begins.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill proposes feasibility study for UBI for working families, which could strengthen economic security and support workers' welfare.75% confidence

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SCR 146: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT TO UNDERTAKE A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE REVIEW OF CIVIL SERVICE CLASS SPECIFICATIONS, MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, AND CLASSIFICATIONS AND DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A PHASED MODERNIZATION IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Human Resources Development to conduct a comprehensive review of state civil service job descriptions and classifications to ensure they reflect modern workplace requirements. The review will examine outdated job duties, evaluate salary competitiveness against current labor markets, and identify positions with chronic recruitment or retention challenges. The resolution also authorizes the use of artificial intelligence tools to assist in analyzing job data, provided they are used only for support purposes under strict human oversight and do not make final employment decisions. The department is asked to consult with employees, unions, and stakeholders, then submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 session.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill aims to modernize job descriptions and improve recruitment/retention, directly supporting workforce development and employment standards.75% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly authorizes use of artificial intelligence as a support tool for civil service modernization, indicating positive stance toward technology adoption.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees Artificial Intelligence

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 85: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT TO COLLABORATE WITH STATE DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES, AND LABOR ORGANIZATIONS IN COMPLETING THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION SYSTEMS FOR ALL CIVIL SERVICE POSITIONS UNDER ITS JURISDICTION.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Department of Human Resources Development to work with state departments, agencies, and labor organizations to finish a review of how civil service positions are classified and paid. The request stems from high vacancy rates and upcoming retirements that threaten the state's ability to hire and keep qualified employees. The resolution directs the department to prioritize departments with the most unfilled or hard-to-fill positions during this review process. This action is part of a larger effort mandated by Act 180 to modernize the state's workforce management systems.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill seeks to improve civil service compensation and classification to address high vacancy rates, strengthening workforce stability and employment standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees

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passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 165: REQUESTING THE HAWAIʻI CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION TO EXAMINE THE APPLICABILITY OF EXISTING STATE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS TO ALGORITHMIC AND AUTOMATED DECISION SYSTEMS.

This Senate Resolution asks the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission to study whether current state anti-discrimination laws cover decisions made by artificial intelligence and automated systems. The Commission would examine if existing rules can properly handle complaints about bias in areas like hiring, housing, and credit checks, and identify any legal or practical challenges in enforcing protections against algorithmic discrimination. The study will also consider whether new guidance or complaint processes are needed to help people understand their rights when facing automated decision-making. The Commission must submit its findings and any recommended laws to the state legislature by early 2027.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill seeks to strengthen anti-discrimination protections in housing by examining how AI systems might violate existing laws, thereby preventing algorithmic bias in housing decisions.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill seeks to expand anti-discrimination protections to cover algorithmic decision-making in hiring, protecting workers' rights against bias in employment processes.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill seeks to protect civil rights in algorithmic decision-making, ensuring AI systems don't discriminate against protected groups in hiring, housing, and credit.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens workforce-education partnerships and expands work-based learning opportunities, directly supporting educational access and career pathways.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill seeks to create workforce strategy to expand living-wage jobs, improve work-based learning, and strengthen industry-education partnerships for all residents.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

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signed · Hawaii · Senate Jun 9, 2026

SB 2061: RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUMS.

Clarifies the Ninety-Nine Year Leasehold Program by: (1) allowing the Hawaii Community Development Authority to prohibit renting, advertising for rent, or using for any other purpose other than owner-occupied residential use a residential condominium unit, by rule, rather than statutorily; (2) exempting the design, development, and construction contracts from procurement requirements, subject to prevailing wage requirements for laborers and mechanics; (3) requiring HCDA to adopt rules to implement an initial sales period during which residential condominium units are offered only to eligible buyers for owner-occupied residential use; (4) authorizing the sale of a residential condominium unit that is not subject to an income restriction and was not sold within a certain period to be sold to other buyers, as determined by rule by HCDA, without an owner-occupancy requirement; (5) requiring HCDA to adopt rules that require at least sixty per cent of residential condominium units to be income restricted; and (6) requiring HCDA to establish rules to require buyback pricing similar to other state agencies' existing pricing formulas. (CD1)

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill mandates 60% owner-occupied units in redevelopment sites for 10 years, strengthening affordable housing program by preventing rental speculation and ensuring long-term affordability.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill includes prevailing wage requirements for laborers and mechanics, which protects workers' wages and employment standards in construction contracts.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Community Development Homeownership Property Development

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 75: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT TO COLLABORATE WITH STATE DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES, AND LABOR ORGANIZATIONS IN COMPLETING THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION SYSTEMS FOR ALL CIVIL SERVICE POSITIONS UNDER ITS JURISDICTION.

This Senate Resolution asks the Department of Human Resources Development to work with state agencies and labor organizations to finish reviewing how civil service jobs are classified and paid. The request focuses on departments with high vacancy rates or hard-to-fill positions to help address the state's labor shortage. This collaborative approach aims to gather practical insights from those directly managing hiring and retention challenges. The resolution directs DHRD to prioritize areas with the most significant staffing gaps when developing recommendations for updating the system.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill promotes collaboration to review civil service compensation and classification, aiming to address labor shortages and improve hiring/retention through stakeholder input.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Employees

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 184: REQUESTING THE HAWAIʻI CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION TO EXAMINE THE APPLICABILITY OF EXISTING STATE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LAWS TO ALGORITHMIC AND AUTOMATED DECISION SYSTEMS.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission to study whether current state anti-discrimination laws apply to decisions made by artificial intelligence and automated systems. The bill directs the commission to examine how these technologies are used in areas like hiring, housing, and credit, and to identify any legal gaps or challenges in addressing potential discrimination. The commission must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027, which could lead to new rules or laws if needed. This measure does not change existing laws immediately but initiates an official review of how civil rights protections work in the age of automated decision-making.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill examines anti-discrimination laws for AI in housing, aiming to prevent algorithmic discrimination and strengthen tenant protections.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill examines AI discrimination risks in hiring and employment, strengthening worker protections against algorithmic bias in workplace decisions85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill promotes digital equity by examining how AI systems may cause discrimination, ensuring technology serves all citizens fairly under civil rights protections.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence

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