Relating To Health.
In plain English Establishes a one-year pilot program in the Department of Health to provide in-home health care and support services to eligible participants who don't qualify for existing government assistance.
Official synopsis: Establishes within the Department of Health a one-year KupunAloha Pilot Program to provide in-home health care and support services to eligible participants who do not otherwise qualify for government assistance for these services. Appropriates funds for the pilot program. Pilot program sunsets 6/30/2027. (CD1)
Became lawAct 246, on 07/14/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1348). · 2026-07-14
Relating To School Impact Fees.
In plain English Expands exemptions from school impact fees for certain housing developments and clarifies procedures for land dedication agreements.
Official synopsis: Expands exemptions from school impact fee requirement for certain housing developments. Clarifies procedures and timing for land dedication or feeinlieu agreements for new residential developments. Repeals the sunset and reporting requirements under Act 268, SLH 2025. Restructures certain school impact fee accounts. Preserves existing educational…
Became lawAct 241, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1343). · 2026-07-14
Relating To Colorectal Cancer.
In plain English Requires the state to fund colorectal cancer screenings and treatment for certain people, including follow-up colonoscopies, with no out-of-pocket costs.
Official synopsis: Requires the Department of Human Services to develop and implement a state-funded financial assistance program to offer state-funded colorectal screenings and treatment for certain persons. Requires state-funded coverage for follow-up treatment for colorectal cancer for certain persons. Requires coverage to include a follow-up colonoscopy after…
Became lawAct 219, on 07/09/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1321). · 2026-07-10
Relating To Consumer Protection.
In plain English Beginning October 1, 2026, prohibits owning, operating, or managing a kiosk that exchanges U.S. currency for digital financial assets.
Official synopsis: Beginning 10/1/2026, prohibits the ownership, operation, or management of a digital financial asset transaction kiosk that accepts United States currency from a customer in exchange for a digital financial asset. (CD1)
Became lawAct 224, on 07/09/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1326). · 2026-07-10
Relating To Housing.
In plain English Starting January 1, 2027, the state housing corporation instead of counties will approve tax exemptions for certain housing projects under county programs, ending July 1, 2031.
Official synopsis: Beginning 1/1/2027, authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, instead of the counties, to approve and certify general excise tax exemptions for certain housing development projects developed under county housing incentive programs. Sunsets 7/1/2031. (CD1)
Became lawAct 215, on 07/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1317). · 2026-07-09
Relating To The Low-income Housing Tax Credit.
In plain English Allows partnerships and limited liability companies to allocate, transfer, sell, or assign low-income housing tax credits to other taxpayers starting July 1, 2026, and extends the program until December 31, 2032.
Official synopsis: Clarifies that, for tax credits issued after 7/1/2026, a partner or member that is a partnership or limited liability company that has been allocated a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit may either further allocate the credit or transfer, sell, or assign all or a portion of…
Became lawAct 205, on 07/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1307). · 2026-07-09
Relating To The Hawaii Housing Finance And Development Corporation.
In plain English Repeals restrictions on qualified residents owning majority interests in Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation properties, but limits each resident to one such property, which must be sold within two years.
Official synopsis: Repeals the prohibition against qualified residents for Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation-approved projects holding a majority interest in land and repeals the requirement that qualified residents demonstrate financial viability or ability to pay rent. Limits a qualified resident from owning a majority interest in…
Became lawAct 210, on 07/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1312). · 2026-07-09
Relating To Housing.
In plain English Requires counties to treat inclusionary housing mandates as impact fees and base them on written findings of necessity and financial feasibility.
Official synopsis: Deems a county inclusionary mandate as a form of development exaction and treats the mandate as a housing affordability impact fee. Provides parameters for a county's adoption or amendment of an inclusionary mandate for residential or mixed-use development. Establishes additional components for a needs assessment…
Became lawAct 211, on 07/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1313). · 2026-07-09
Relating To Rainwater Catchment Systems.
In plain English Requires counties to allow rainwater catchment systems on all properties for drinking and other uses, and allows counties to require registration, inspection, or notification of these systems.
Official synopsis: Requires the counties to allow for the installation and operation of rainwater catchment systems for potable and nonpotable uses on all properties. Allows the counties to require registration, inspection, or notification of rainwater catchment systems. (CD1)
Became lawAct 209, on 07/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1311). · 2026-07-09
Relating To Cesspool Conversions.
In plain English Creates a loan fund to help homeowners upgrade or convert cesspools, administered by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority.
Official synopsis: Establishes a Cesspool Conversion Revolving Loan Fund, to be administered by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, to provide financial assistance, including low-interest or forgivable loans, to eligible homeowners for the upgrade, conversion, or connection of cesspools. Appropriates funds for the establishment and hiring of a…
Became lawAct 204, on 07/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1306). · 2026-07-09
Relating To Health.
In plain English Requires electronic smoking device and e-liquid makers to certify annual FDA approval and compliance, and establishes penalties for selling uncertified products.
Official synopsis: Requires electronic smoking device and e-liquid manufacturers to certify to the Department of the Attorney General annually that the manufacturer received a Marketing Granted Order from the federal Food and Drug Administration and that the manufacturer is in compliance with federal regulations and state laws.…
Became lawAct 190, on 07/07/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1292). · 2026-07-07
Relating To International Relations.
In plain English Allows Hawaii to enter nonbinding international agreements with foreign governments and expands sister-state partnerships to include prefectures and foreign nations.
Official synopsis: Authorizes the State to enter into nonbinding international cooperative agreements with national governments; national ministries, departments, or agencies; provincial or regional governments; or international intergovernmental bodies relevant to the interests of the State or an international partner. Expands the definition of sister-state or province partnerships…
Became lawAct 181, on 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1283). · 2026-06-26
Relating To Protected Community Locations.
In plain English Requires state and county agencies operating protected community locations to adopt policies by 2027 addressing nonpublic areas, warrant verification, immigration data collection, staff training, and multilingual notices.
Official synopsis: By 1/1/2027, requires all state and county agencies that operate protected community locations to adopt and post written policies that identify nonpublic areas, establish procedures for warrant verification and staff response, prohibit the collection of certain immigration-status data, and require annual staff training and certain…
Became lawAct 162, on 06/25/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1263). · 2026-06-26
Relating To Housing.
In plain English Requires state or county inspectors to inspect all expedited permit projects and clarifies insurance and occupancy certificate requirements for such permits.
Official synopsis: Clarifies insurance, indemnification, and certain certificate of occupancy requirements for purposes of expedited permits. Requires state or county inspectors to inspect all projects with expedited permits. Repeals 6/30/2031. (CD1)
Became lawAct 177, on 06/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1279). · 2026-06-26
Relating To The University Of Hawaii.
In plain English Allows the University of Hawaii to conduct business activities for education and exempts them from some county zoning rules under certain conditions.
Official synopsis: Authorizes the University of Hawaii to engage in enterprise-related activities for educational purposes and exempts such activity from certain county zoning requirements, under certain circumstances. (CD1)
Became lawAct 138, on 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1239). · 2026-06-24
“In plain English” lines are written by ThePolitibase with AI (Claude), from the official synopsis only; the synopsis is the authoritative text. Descriptions are the legislature’s own synopsis. Bill data from LegiScan, CC BY 4.0.