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 |
AMENDED NOTICE OF DECISION MAKING
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DATE: |
Tuesday, April 1, 2025 |
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TIME: |
10:00 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 M E N D E D 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 TRAFFIC SAFETY. Requires the Safe Routes to Schools Advisory Committee to develop and prioritize no less than three safe routes to schools projects serving schools on Kamehameha Highway. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
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TCA, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO THE SCHOOL FACILITIES AUTHORITY. Clarifies that the School Facilities Authority is responsible for projects for facilities for prekindergarten, preschool, child care, and early learning programs; workforce housing; and any public school development, planning, and construction assigned by the Legislature, Governor, or Board of Education, under certain conditions. Authorizes the School Facilities Authority to partner with public and private development agencies to develop prekindergarten facilities. Appropriates funds. Takes effect 7/1/3000. (SD1)
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EDU, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO BIOSECURITY. Renames the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (Department) and the Board of Agriculture to the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Establishes a Deputy Chairperson for Biosecurity. Requires the Department to establish a Biosecurity Emergency Response Program. Authorizes the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity to quarantine any area under certain circumstances. Authorizes the Department to establish transitional facilities. Requires the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to license and train biosecurity inspectors to inspect imported plants and animals. Requires inspection of various items transported interisland. Increases penalties for illegally transporting plants, animals, and microorganisms. Requires the Department to establish government-industry agreements to detect and respond to unwanted organisms in the State. Require the Department to establish an invasive species dashboard by 12/1/2025. Authorizes pest management plans to address, contain, or eradicate pests. Authorizes the Department to adopt rules to establish and enforce the Plant Care Component Program. Authorizes the Department to assess administrative penalties for the enforcement of the Plant Care Component Program. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)
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AEN/TCA/CPN, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW. Amends the definition of "registered for work" or "registration for work" under the Hawaii Employment Security Law. Repeals the requirement to post work availability online. Amends the qualifications for unemployed individuals who are able to receive certain unemployment benefits. Beginning 4/1/2027, permits electronic notification of determinations or redeterminations of unemployment claims. Repeals language that limited an individual's ability to change a previously elected withholding status to once during a benefit year. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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LBT, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION. Establishes the Office of Gun Violence Prevention to conduct community outreach on gun violence prevention, develop and administer a grant program for gun violence prevention, and develop and administer a gun violence resource bank. Moves the Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission from the Office of the Attorney General to the Department of Law Enforcement. Establishes the Gun Violence Prevention Special Fund and appropriates funds into and out of the special fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD1)
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PSM, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. Allows authorized employees of the Department of Law Enforcement, in addition to county police departments, to perform certain actions in reviewing recorded images produced by automated speed enforcement systems. Appropriates funds from the State Highway Fund to the Department of Transportation to establish and implement the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
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TCA/PSM, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO HEALTH. Prohibits drug manufacturers from denying, restricting, or prohibiting the acquisition, shipping, or delivery of a 340B drug to pharmacies contracted with 340B covered entities under the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. Authorizes the 340B covered entity and Attorney General to bring a civil action for enforcement. Specifies a four-year limitations period for bringing an action. Requires each covered entity to report certain information annually to the Department of Health. Requires the Department of Health to prepare annual reports detailing the information received from covered entities, submit the reports to the Legislature, and make the reports publicly available. Defines covered entity. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)
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HHS/CPN, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. Effectuates the recommendations of the "Phase 3" Forward-Looking Report by Fire Safety Research Institute on the 2023 Maui wildfires and further clarifies the appointment and role of the State Fire Marshal. Establishes the Office of the State Fire Marshal in the Department of Defense. Establishes the State Fire Marshal Selection Commission. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD1)
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PSM/LBT, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO SEWER TRANSMISSION LINES. Requires a county to accept, within sixty days after receipt of a completed application for maintenance request, license or dedication of sewer transmission lines and related sewerage facilities servicing Hawaiian Home Lands that are brought into compliance by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. (HD1)
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HWN, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO TRAFFIC SAFETY. Prohibits the use of facial recognition software in the operation of any photo red light imaging detector systems. Increases vehicle weight taxes to be deposited into the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund. Clarifies the citations and summons procedures for the Automated Speed Enforcement Detector Systems Program. Authorizes automated speed enforcement systems to be implemented along a road or highway by the State or counties within two hundred feet of a school zone identified by the safe routes to school advisory committee. Authorizes the State Highway Safety and Modernization Council to recommend twenty-five dangerous intersections for photo red light imaging systems. Authorizes the Safe Routes to School Advisory Council to recommend twenty-five dangerous school zones for automated speed enforcement systems. Appropriates funds out of the State Highway Fund for deposit into and out of the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund for fiscal year 2025-2026. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
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TCA, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO PROCUREMENT. Sets a time limit for submitting bid protests. Makes the seventy-five-day limit for issuing a written decision on protests apply to any contract awarded by competitive sealed bid or competitive sealed proposal. Caps the protest bond amount. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
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GVO, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO HOUSING. Requires developers developing an affordable housing project under the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to assist certain tenants who are subject to displacement or eviction by the proposed project by: granting those tenants the right of first refusal of a comparable unit in the housing project or establishing a fund to provide relocation benefits and offer assistance; providing information, either directly or through a contracted service, on how to obtain assistance and exercise the right of first refusal; and establishing procedures to track and maintain communication with those tenants. Establishes consequences for a developer's noncompliance. Takes effect 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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HOU/CPN, WAM/JDC |
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RELATING TO CANNABIS. Amends the definition of "debilitating medical condition" under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Amends the definition of "waiting room" under the Medical Cannabis Dispensary System law. Repeals the requirement that a provider-patient relationship be established in person. Allows dispensaries to purchase cannabis and manufactured cannabis products from another dispensary for direct retail sale to a patient and further manufacturing by the purchasing dispensaries and establishes requirements for transport. Prohibits persons from operating a medical cannabis dispensary or cultivating cannabis without a license from the Department of Health or providing certain services to persons or entities engaging in unlicensed cannabis operations. Requires the Department of Health to issue a cease and desist notice to violators before initiating criminal proceedings. Establishes criminal penalties. Establishes an affirmative defense for, and a conclusive basis for certain violations. Establishes exceptions. Establishes a cannabis cultivator license to authorize the cultivation and distribution of cannabis plants. Requires the Department of Health to only issue one cannabis cultivator license for each person. Establishes limits on: (1) the number of cannabis cultivator licenses the Department of Health may issue; (2) the maximum size of plant canopy for indoor and outdoor cultivations for each cannabis cultivator license; and (3) the maximum plant count of mature cannabis plants for each cannabis cultivator license. Authorizes expenditures from the Medical Cannabis Registry and Regulation Special Fund to fund programs for the mitigation and abatement of nuisances relating to chapter 329D, HRS. Appropriates funds out of the Medical Cannabis Registry and Regulation Special Fund for the Department of Attorney General to enforce, and mitigate nuisances relating to, chapter 329D, HRS. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)
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HHS/CPN, JDC/WAM
[Measure added on 3/28/2025] |
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RELATING TO STATE WATER CODE PENALTIES. Adds a minimum penalty and maximum penalty per violation of the State Water Code and authorizes the Commission on Water Resource Management to consider each day that a violation exists or continues to exist a separate offense. Establishes factors the CWRM must consider when determining the amount of the penalty. Increases maximum fines every five years from 2030 to 2045. Effective 7/1/2040. (SD1)
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WTL, JDC/WAM |
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RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. 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, projects on privately-owned historic property, 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 the Department of Land and Natural Resources 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 7/1/3000. (SD1)
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WTL/HOU, JDC/WAM |
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RELATING TO LIABILITY. Specifies that the State or county may undertake limited resurfacing of an existing road surface of any street of which the ownership or jurisdiction is in dispute between the State and county. Limits any additional liability for the State and counties for repairs and maintenance to the limited resurfacing repairs. Provides that for any incident that does occur, liability shall be proportional based on responsibility. Deems that maintenance of a street shall not confer ownership or jurisdiction over such street if the ownership or jurisdiction over the street is in dispute between the State and the county. Sunsets 7/1/2030. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
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TCA/EIG, JDC/WAM |
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RELATING TO UPDATING PUBLIC LAND LEASES ISSUED PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 171, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES. Requires that lease extensions approved by the Board of Land and Natural Resources be drafted on forms that reflect contemporary leasing practices and policies of the Board, and which shall control over conflicting or inconsistent provisions in the lease being extended. Effective 7/1/2040. (SD1)
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WTL, JDC/WAM |
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RELATING TO COMMERCIAL HARBORS. Establishes a Commercial Harbors Emergency Evacuation Working Group. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
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TCA, JDC/WAM |
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RELATED TO CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES. Requires the Department of Health to establish and maintain a registry of all manufactured hemp product distributors and manufactured hemp product retailers doing business in the State. Beginning 1/1/2026, prohibits the sale of manufactured hemp products without a certificate of registration. Establishes the offense of unlawful hemp retailing or distribution for recklessly failing to register as required. Authorizes DOH and the Attorney General to inspect any entity engaged in the distribution or sale of any product containing or derived from hemp to verify compliance with chapter 328G, HRS. Authorizes DOH, Attorney General, Department of Law Enforcement, and county police departments to seize and confiscate any product containing or derived from hemp that is possessed, kept, stored, retained, held, owned, received, acquired, distributed, sold, or offered for sale in violation of chapter 328G, HRS. Establishes that the offense of unlawful hemp retailing or distribution shall be subject to nuisance abatement proceedings. Establishes that a violation of chapter 328G, HRS, constitutes an unfair or deceptive act or practice and unfair method of competition subject to a civil penalty. Allows moneys in the Hawaii Hemp Processing Special Fund to be used by DOH for the registry. Authorizes the Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation to administer the hemp processors program. Establishes that every building, premises, or placed used for the purpose of violating chapter 328G, HRS, is a nuisance subject to abatement. Appropriates funds. (SD1)
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HHS/CPN, JDC/WAM
[Measure added on 3/28/2025] |
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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 |