Relating To Artificial Intelligence.
In plain English Prohibits harmful uses of AI-generated realistic digital imitations of people and allows civil lawsuits for unauthorized use.
Official synopsis: Prohibits certain harmful uses of realistic digital imitations generated by artificial intelligence (AI). Establishes certain exemptions. Provides for civil actions and civil remedies for individuals injured by unauthorized AI-generated realistic digital imitations. (CD1)
Became lawAct 247, on 07/14/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1349). · 2026-07-14
Relating To The Safety Of Educational Workers.
In plain English Requires schools to address harassment of educational workers and sports officials, and makes harassment of them during their duties a misdemeanor.
Official synopsis: Part I: Requires the Department of Education and state public charter schools to take certain steps to better address the harassment of educational workers, including sports officials. Authorizes the Attorney General to assist educational workers, including sports officials at department of education or public charter…
Became lawAct 234, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1336). · 2026-07-14
Relating To Education.
In plain English Requires the Department of Education to provide braille instruction, materials, and literacy support services to eligible students, and to cooperate with other agencies on blind services and educational planning.
Official synopsis: Requires the Department of Education to include the instruction of braille and provision of braille instructional materials under certain circumstances; provide braille literacy support services; cooperate with the Department of Human Services when requested to submit information necessary to maintain a register of the blind…
Became lawAct 243, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1345). · 2026-07-14
Relating To Education.
In plain English Requires the Department of Education to screen students for dyslexia, provide teacher training in structured literacy, and support teacher preparation programs in teaching literacy instruction.
Official synopsis: Requires the Department of Education to implement dyslexia sensitive linguistically appropriate universal screenings and evidence-based interventions, offer professional development on structured literacy and evidenced-based interventions, and support pre-teacher programs in training candidates in structured literacy instruction. (CD1)
Became lawAct 242, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1344). · 2026-07-14
Relating To Education.
In plain English Requires annual salary step increases for public school teachers who complete one year of satisfactory service if included in a collective bargaining agreement and funds are appropriated.
Official synopsis: Provides annual salary step increases for public schools and public charter school teachers who have completed one year's satisfactory service and comply with specified requirements, if negotiated into a collective bargaining agreement pursuant to section 89-9, HRS, and subject to funds appropriated by the Legislature.…
Became lawAct 233, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1335). · 2026-07-14
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 Dementia.
In plain English Establishes a program within the Executive Office on Aging to create a network of dementia care specialists and support systems for individuals with dementia and their caregivers.
Official synopsis: Establishes the Hanai Memory Network Program within the Executive Office on Aging to create a network of dementia care specialists and support systems to assist individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Appropriates funds. (CD1)
Became lawAct 245, on 07/14/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1347). · 2026-07-14
Relating To Long-term Care Financing.
In plain English Requires the Executive Office on Aging to study financing options for long-term care services and submit findings to the Legislature.
Official synopsis: Requires the Executive Office on Aging to develop the framework and scope of work for a proposed study that examines the feasibility, impacts, and costs of different public and private financing options for long-term care services and supports and submit a report to the Legislature.…
Became lawAct 249, on 07/14/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1351). · 2026-07-14
Relating To Social Media.
In plain English Requires social media platforms to let users delete accounts and erase personal information, and bans deceptive practices that obstruct deletion.
Official synopsis: Requires certain social media platforms to provide an accessible mechanism for users to delete their accounts on the platform and permanently erase all personal information and sensitive personal information associated with deleted accounts. Prohibits certain deceptive practices by social media platforms that obstruct the deletion…
Became lawAct 252, on 07/14/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1354). · 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 Health.
In plain English Requires the State Health Planning and Development Agency to develop and publish a state plan on hearing loss and appropriates funds for this purpose.
Official synopsis: Requires and appropriates funds for the State Health Planning and Development Agency to develop and publish a state plan on hearing loss. (CD1)
Became lawAct 223, on 07/09/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1325). · 2026-07-10
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 Economic Development.
In plain English Establishes a state program providing loan loss reserves to help lenders make micro-loans to Hawaii small businesses.
Official synopsis: Establishes the Hawaii Micro-Lending Credit Enhancement Program within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to expand micro-lending capacity by providing statefunded loan loss reserves or other credit enhancement that absorbs first losses on qualified micro-loans made by participating lenders to Hawaii small businesses.…
Became lawAct 183, on 07/06/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1285). · 2026-07-07
Relating To Human Trafficking.
In plain English Requires hotels and similar lodging businesses to train employees on human trafficking awareness, maintain records, post signage, and establish reporting procedures.
Official synopsis: Requires the Department of the Attorney General to develop a Human Trafficking Awareness Training Program, or approve externally developed programs, to educate and train workers in the transient accommodations sector. Requires transient accommodations employers or transient accommodations third-party contractors to periodically provide the human trafficking…
Became lawAct 191, on 07/07/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1293). · 2026-07-07
Relating To Domestic Violence.
In plain English Extends for five years provisions on family abuse offenses, including petty misdemeanor penalties and deferred guilty pleas, and requires court reports to the Legislature.
Official synopsis: Extends for five years certain provisions from Act 19, SLH 2020, and Act 238, SLH 2021, relating to abuse of family or household members, including establishing a petty misdemeanor offense of abuse of family or household members, clarifying penalties for violations, and allowing a deferred…
Became lawAct 192, on 07/07/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1294). · 2026-07-07
“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.