KA ‘AHA KENEKOA
THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2025
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Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair |
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Senator Sharon Y. Moriwaki, Vice Chair |
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Senator Karl Rhoads, Chair |
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Senator Mike Gabbard, Vice Chair |
NOTICE OF DECISION MAKING
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DATE: |
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 |
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TIME: |
10:05 AM |
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PLACE: |
Conference Room 211 & Videoconference State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
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TIMESLOT: |
WAM |
PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE TO THE STATE CAPITOL
BUILDING HOURS: 7AM TO 5PM, MONDAY - FRIDAY
A live stream of all Senate Standing Committee meetings will be available on the Senate YouTube Channel.
A G E N D A
The following measure(s) were previously heard in their respective subject matter committees:
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RELATING TO VEGETATION MANAGEMENT NEAR UTILITY LINES. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to create and annually update a wildfire hazard map. Requires private and public property owners to trim grasses within certain proximities of public rights of way and utility lines. Authorizes electric utility companies to enter private or public property to trim or remove hazardous vegetation. Exempts electric utility companies from liability for certain damages to other vegetation and property caused during the removal of hazardous vegetation. Appropriates funds. Effective 6/1/2050. (SD1)
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WTL/CPN, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO COMBAT SPORTS. Renames the Boxing Commission of Hawaii to the Combat Sports Commission of Hawaii. Expands the jurisdiction of the Boxing Commission to include combat sports contests. Prohibits no rules combat or similar combat sports contests. Repeals chapter 440E, HRS, relating to Mixed Martial Arts Contests. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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CPN/EDT, WAM/JDC |
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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 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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LBT, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO INSURANCE. Requires insurers to provide advance written notice to policyholders and the Insurance Commissioner, with reasonable explanations and primary factors, of any policy cancellation, non-renewal, or proposed premium increase, if, upon renewal, premiums are scheduled to increase more than ten per cent. Requires insurers that provide property insurance to file rate schedules and underlying criteria with the Insurance Commissioner. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to conduct periodic reviews of insurance rates and submit annual reports to the Legislature. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to establish a Public Reporting and Dispute Resolution Program to handle complaints and appeals regarding premium increases. Requires insurers to provide premium discounts or credits to policyholders that implement disaster risk mitigation measures. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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CPN, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. Beginning 7/1/2027, requires the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to contract its review of proposed state projects, and projects affecting historic properties to third-party consultants if the projects involve the development of affordable housing and the division, after an initial evaluation, determines it will not be able to complete its review within sixty days. Establishes requirements for qualified third-party consultants providing review services. Requires the project proponent to pay for the reasonable fee requirements of the third-party consultant. Allows the project proponent to contract or sponsor with any county, housing authority, non-profit organization, or person, to meet the third-party consultant fee requirement. Requires DLNR to publish a draft of its proposed rules within one year, and within one year thereafter, present its proposed final rules to the Board of Land and Natural Resources. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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WTL/HWN, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO TAXATION. Establishes an excise tax on certain taxpayers who own excess single-family residences for failure to sell those residences. Establishes and allocates excise tax revenues to the Housing Downpayment Trust Fund. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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HOU, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO INSURANCE. Encourages private insurers and the Hawaii Property Insurance Association to file and litigate subrogation claims against responsible parties for claims paid by the insurer for losses attributable to disasters attributable to climate change. Allows the Hawaii Property Insurance Association to file and litigate subrogation claims against responsible parties for claims paid by the insurer for losses resulting from climate disasters and extreme weather attributable to climate change. Establishes a new, specific cause of action that allows insurers and injured parties to file claims against a responsible party for damages resulting from climate disasters, extreme weather attributable to climate change, and other long-term changes in the climate system. Requires insurance rates to account for any proceeds from subrogation or civil claims against a responsible party. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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CPN, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. Establishes an agricultural crime prevention program within the Department of Agriculture to provide grants, education, administrative enforcement, and other services for the benefit of the State's agricultural industry. Clarifies, creates, and strengthens laws regarding crimes and violations related to agriculture or agricultural lands and hunting on private agricultural lands. Establishes clear distinctions between administrative and criminal penalties. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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AEN, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL CRIME. Establishes an Agricultural Crimes Task Force to address the issue of agricultural crime in the State. Establishes the offense of agricultural crime to increase penalties for property crimes committed on agricultural property. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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AEN, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO CHANGES TO RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CONCERNING PATIENTS, THE COUNTY OF KALAWAO, AND THE KALAUPAPA SETTLEMENT. Establishes the Kalaupapa State Historical Area. Authorizes the Department of Health to continue providing services statewide to Hansen's disease patients living in the community. Repeals sections of chapter 326, Hawaii Revised Statutes, upon the one-year anniversary of the passing of the last patient resident of Kalaupapa as affirmed in the Governor's proclamation. Requires the Department of Health to include Ka Ohana O Kalaupapa and a topside community organization from Molokai in the transition planning team. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)
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HHS/EIG, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to impose certain conditions of approval on any order approving, in whole or in part, an application for the proposed acquisition, merger, or consolidation of an electric utility company by an acquiring entity. Establishes a process to ensure that when an application for the proposed acquisition, merger, or consolidation of an electric utility company is filed with the PUC by an acquiring entity that is an investor-owned utility, alternative applications filed by acquiring entities that operate under a non-investor-owned utilities ownership model will be concurrently reviewed. Requires an acquiring entity of an electric utility company to assume and be bound by any existing collective bargaining agreements entered into by the electric utility company, as it applies to covered employees. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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CPN, JDC/WAM |
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RELATING TO ANTITRUST. Prohibits the use of algorithmic price-setting in Hawaii's rental market. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to develop and undertake a public education program regarding the prohibition. Establishes fines and penalties. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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CPN, JDC/WAM |
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RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES. Clarifies that the importation of any item or material infested or infected with an insect or other animal, disease, or other pest is prohibited. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to inspect any item imported or moved into the State from another part of the continental United States or between the Hawaiian Islands. Prohibits the sale of merchandise that a seller knows is infested or infected with a pest. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to compel the quarantine, treatment, or destruction of certain materials. Clarifies penalties for violations. (SD1)
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AEN/CPN, JDC/WAM |
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RELATING TO THE DEFENSE OF STATE EMPLOYEES. Requires the State to defend professionally licensed or certified state employees from civil actions or proceedings, under certain circumstances. Clarifies that the employee may employ their own attorney at the employee's own expense. Establishes a process for the Attorney General to transfer or withdraw representation if the Attorney General declines to defend the employee.
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LBT, JDC/WAM |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. Clarifies the process by which the Hawaii Community Development Authority may approve residential development on certain parcels of Kakaako Makai. Raises the building height limit and the maximum floor area ratio on certain parcels in the area. Requires a certain percentage of the residential units developed on certain parcels to be allocated to households at or below a certain income level in perpetuity, with priority given to certain essential workforce in the area. Limits the sale of residential units developed in certain residential developments to prospective owner-occupants. Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to determine a Kakaako Makai association fee to be collected from residents, tenants, and lessees of certain parcels to be deposited into a special account in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Special Fund to fund various services and projects in the Kakaako Makai area. (SD1)
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WTL/HWN/HOU, JDC/WAM |
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RELATING TO MEDICAL CANNABIS. Prohibits persons from operating a medical cannabis dispensary without a license from the Department of Health. Prohibits individuals from providing certain services to individuals engaging in unlicensed cannabis operations. Requires the Department of Health to send a cease and desist notice to violators. Establishes criminal penalties. Establishes an affirmative defense for, and a conclusive basis for certain violations. Establishes exceptions. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)
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HHS/CPN, JDC/WAM |
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RELATING TO HEALTH CARE. Expands the protections established under Act 2, SLH 2023, to include gender-affirming health care services. Clarifies jurisdiction under the Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act for cases involving children who obtain gender-affirming health care services. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)
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HHS/CPN, JDC/WAM |
Decision making meeting only, no oral testimony will be accepted.
Persons wishing to submit written testimony may do so up to 24 hours prior to the hearing. Click here to submit written testimony.
All testimony received by the Hawai‘i Senate is posted on the Hawai‘i Legislature's website, which is accessible to the public. Please do not include private information that you do not want disclosed to the public.
For special assistance: The cable TV broadcast and/or live stream of this meeting will include closed captioning. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, please call the committee clerk at the telephone number listed below or email WAMcommittee@capitol.hawaii.gov. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled.
FOR AMENDED NOTICES: Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are underscored. If a measure is both underscored and stricken through, that measure has been deleted from the agenda.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT (808) 586-6800.
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_____________________________________ Senator Karl Rhoads Chair |
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_____________________________________ Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz Chair |
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