The RESULTS Act of 2026 provides federal funding to help states build and modernize systems that connect data across education and workforce sectors, from early childhood programs to employment outcomes. These grants require states to create secure databases that link records from schools, colleges, and job training programs while protecting student privacy and allowing for data analysis by researchers and policymakers. The bill also mandates that states establish specific leadership roles, such as a Chief Data Officer, and use the funds to improve how they report on student success and labor market trends. Additionally, the legislation updates existing rules to allow states to use national wage records for measuring job placement outcomes and encourages the adoption of standardized data formats to ensure information can be easily shared across different states.
The Retirement Simplification and Clarity Act allows employees aged 50 and older to roll over their employer-contributed retirement funds directly into an annuity. It also requires retirement plans to provide clear, plain-language explanations to participants about distribution options, including details on taxes, deadlines, and what types of funds cannot be rolled over. These changes aim to make the retirement process easier to understand by standardizing the information given to workers and clarifying the rules for moving money between accounts. The provisions will take effect for taxable years starting after December 31, 2026.
This bill directs the state to increase Medicaid funding for residential care services in community foster family homes and expanded adult residential care homes. The legislation appropriates $1.7 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to raise reimbursement rates to the "medium" level identified in a 2022 study, addressing previous funding gaps that hindered providers from offering employee benefits. The Department of Human Services must secure the maximum available federal matching funds and explore other private grants before spending the money. These changes are designed to help care providers operate sustainably and expand options for older Hawaiians who need long-term care closer to home.
This bill establishes a mandatory human trafficking awareness training program specifically for workers in Hawaii's transient accommodations sector, such as hotels and short-term rentals. The Department of the Attorney General is required to develop this training by July 2027, covering topics like identifying trafficking indicators and proper reporting procedures, though employers may submit alternative programs for approval. Once the program is ready, businesses must train their employees and contractors within 180 days of hiring and repeat the training every two years while keeping records of completion. Additionally, employers must display official human trafficking awareness signage in a visible location for their staff by January 2028.
This bill, signed into law as Act 263, updates the compensation and employment rules for the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation and the Hawaii Community Development Authority to help them compete for skilled staff. It raises the salary cap for the executive director of the housing finance corporation to 99% of the governor's pay and creates a new deputy executive director role with a salary cap of 95% of the director's pay. Additionally, the legislation exempts these agencies from certain state approval requirements for hiring and job descriptions, while establishing new conditions for their employment contracts. These changes aim to allow the agencies to offer more competitive salaries and streamline their hiring processes to better address Hawaii's affordable housing needs.
This bill, signed into law as Act 233, establishes a framework for automatic annual salary increases and longevity steps for public school teachers in Hawaii who complete satisfactory years of service. The legislation requires that these pay raises be negotiated into collective bargaining agreements and explicitly conditions their implementation on the legislature appropriating specific funds to cover the costs. By linking compensation adjustments to future budget approvals, the bill aims to address teacher retention while maintaining legislative control over public spending.
This bill, signed into law as Act 234, aims to enhance the safety of educational workers in Hawaii, including teachers, staff, and sports officials, by establishing new protections against harassment. It requires the Department of Education and public charter schools to investigate harassment claims internally, report threats to law enforcement within 48 hours, and develop emergency safety plans and clear reporting procedures. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Attorney General to assist harassed workers in obtaining temporary restraining orders and grants eligible employees paid leave to attend related court proceedings. These measures are designed to create a more secure environment for educators by providing specific tools and resources to address harassment incidents.
This bill establishes an income tax credit for film and digital media productions operating in Hawaii to encourage local investment in the industry. The credit provides a percentage of qualified production costs, offering 22% for projects in counties with over 700,000 residents and 27% for those in smaller counties, with an additional 5% bonus for productions that hire at least 80% local workers. To claim the credit, producers must submit sworn statements and independent third-party certifications detailing their spending and hiring practices to state agencies. The total credit available per production is capped at $20 million, though this limit does not apply to projects with at least $60 million in qualified costs, while the overall annual credit pool is set at $60 million.
This bill, signed into law as Act 237, strengthens legal protections for public servants in Hawaii by creating a specific misdemeanor offense for harassment directed at them during their official duties. It directly affects government employees, law enforcement officers, and anyone subject to threats or harassment while performing their jobs. The key provision amends existing harassment laws to ensure that acts intended to disrupt public service are treated more seriously than general harassment, addressing concerns that current penalties were insufficient to deter such behavior. By elevating these specific threats to a misdemeanor, the law aims to provide clearer legal recourse and better safeguard the safety and effectiveness of public service.
This bill proposes to increase funding for a federal grant program designed to address shortages in the dental workforce. Specifically, it would raise the annual budget allocation from $13.9 million to $15 million for the years 2027 through 2031. The funds are intended to remain available until they are spent, supporting initiatives that help train and recruit dental professionals.
