KA ‘AHA KENEKOA
THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2026
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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: |
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 |
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TIME: |
10:15 AM |
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PLACE: |
Conference Room 016 & Videoconference State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
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TIMESLOT: |
JDC |
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 CONSUMER PROTECTION. Prohibits operators of smart household security devices from sharing user data with law enforcement agencies unless the user consents or the law enforcement agency obtains a judicial warrant. Prohibits operators from requiring users to consent to share data with law enforcement agencies to use a smart household security device. Allows the Department of the Attorney General or the Office of Consumer Protection to bring a civil action against operators who violate certain requirements and establishes statutory penalties. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)
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CPN, JDC |
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RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. Allows a defendant to introduce certain evidence to receive a reduced sentence for certain offenses if the defendant can show that they were subjected to acts of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse, and that the acts were a significant contributing factor for the offense for which the defendant is being sentenced. Allows a defendant to introduce certain relevant evidence when raising the justification defenses of self-defense or defense of others to show that the defendant was subjected to acts of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse by the alleged victim. Allows the circuit court imposing a criminal sentence to correct or reduce the sentence and to suspend or probate all or any part of the sentence imposed. Allows a person previously sentenced by a circuit court to petition the court to be re-sentenced to a reduced sentence if the defendant can show that they were subjected to acts of family violence, dating violence, or child abuse, and that the acts were a significant contributing factor for the offense for which the defendant was sentenced. (SD1)
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HHS, JDC |
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RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES. Requires each lease that the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity enters into, renews, or extends to include provisions stating that the Department may: (1) enter the leased premises; (2) order or otherwise require the lessee to maintain control of any invasive species on the leased premises; and (3) terminate the lease for refusal or violation.
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AEN/WLA, JDC |
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RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. Establishes new deadlines for the completion of Law Enforcement Standards Board certification responsibilities.
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PSM, JDC |
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RELATING TO EMERGENCY SERVICES. Exempts emergency medical services personnel from commercial driver's license requirements. Requires federal, state, and county firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, and law enforcement officers to maintain proof that they have successfully completed an agency approved or other state approved training on authorized emergency vehicles. Amends the definition of "authorized emergency vehicle" under State Traffic Code to replace ambulances with emergency medical services vehicles. Expands the definition of "authorized emergency vehicle" to include disaster response and recovery vehicles and Department of Health vehicles. (SD1)
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TRS/HHS, JDC |
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RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSING. Requires that state and county firefighters exempt from commercial driver licensure be subject to an alcohol and substance abuse policy for employees that is equivalent to, or exceeds the provisions of, the safety and health standards established by the United States Department of Transportation for holders of commercial driver's licenses.
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TRS, JDC |
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RELATING TO FIREARMS. Establishes mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment for certain class A felonies involving firearms. Changes from a class B felony to a class A felony the penalty for owning, possessing, or controlling any firearm or ammunition while being prosecuted for or having been convicted of committing a felony, a crime of violence, a criminal offense relating to firearms, or an illegal sale or distribution of any drug. Changes from a misdemeanor to a class A felony the penalty for ownership, possession, control, or transfer of ownership of any firearms or ammunition by a person who a court order has restrained from contacting, threatening, or physically abusing any person. Changes from a misdemeanor to a class A felony the penalty for carrying a firearm while under the influence of a controlled substance. Establishes unlawful possession of methamphetamine while carrying a firearm as a class A felony. (SD1)
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PSM, JDC |
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RELATING TO NOISE. Establishes a two-year pilot project to prohibit the operation of privately owned and operated refuse collection vehicles before 6:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. within 500 hundred feet of any area zoned for mixed-use or residential apartment use within the Waikiki area of the City and County of Honolulu. Effective 1/30/2050. Sunsets 6/30/2028. (SD1)
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HHS, JDC |
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RELATING TO SCHOOLS. Includes weekends and holidays as times where a reasonable warning or request to leave school premises is not required for a person to commit the offense of criminal trespass in the first degree. (SD1)
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EDU, JDC |
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RELATING TO RENEWAL OF DRIVER'S LICENSES. Requires applicants for driver's license renewal who have received a traffic citation or infraction within the previous five years to complete an educational course that includes a road safety video developed by the Department of Transportation and a written road safety examination. Effective 7/1/2027. (SD1)
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TRS, JDC |
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RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. Restricts motor vehicles that tow a motor vehicle or trailer from the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes going in the same direction with exemptions. Specifies penalties for restricted motor vehicles who drive in the far left lane on roads with three or more lanes moving in the same direction. Applies restrictions and penalties to a county with a population of 500,000 or more. (SD1)
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TRS, JDC |
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RELATING TO PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. Clarifies a driver's obligations at crosswalks. Requires drivers to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians in crosswalks. Strengthens penalties for traffic violations, particularly in school zones. Expands the offense of negligent injury in the second degree to include bodily injury to a vulnerable user by the operation of a vehicle in a negligent manner. Effective 1/1/2027. (SD1)
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TRS, JDC |
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RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. Prohibits vehicles from driving on the shoulder of a roadway, except in certain circumstances. Authorizes the Department of Transportation and county police departments to impound or cause to tow vehicles with expired registrations of three years or more after verifying the vehicle's registration status. Allows the owner of an impounded or towed vehicle to recover the vehicle under certain conditions. Exempts an owner of an impounded or towed vehicle from liability for any towing or storage charges if the vehicle was improperly impounded or towed. Allows the owner of an impounded or towed vehicle to recover the vehicle without payment upon presenting the vehicle's current registration to the towing company. Requires a towing company to allow a vehicle owner to enter the vehicle to obtain the vehicle's current registration. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Increases the fine amount for owners of out-of-state motor vehicles who fail to register the vehicle in the State. Establishes minimum and maximum statutory penalties for violations relating to the use of high occupancy vehicle lanes. Effective 8/1/2027. (SD1)
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TRS, JDC |
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RELATING TO PESTICIDE BUFFER ZONES. Beginning 1/1/2027, prohibits the application of restricted use pesticides within a half-mile radius of elderly health care facilities, with certain exemptions. (SD1)
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AEN, JDC |
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RELATING TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM. Establishes factors under which officers may arrest and detain persons without a warrant for petty misdemeanors and violations, and requires officers to document the justification for the arrests. Amends the circumstances under which officers may issue citations in lieu of arrest. Requires officers to issue citations in lieu of arrest for certain petty misdemeanors and violations. Requires the Judiciary to promulgate a standardized citation form and updates the required information for citations. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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PSM, JDC |
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RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION. Defines compounded prescription drugs for the purposes of the State's Workers' Compensation Law. Limits dispensing of prescription drugs by physician to 30 days after the industrial injury and requires all prescription drugs to be obtained through the employer's pharmacy benefit manager thereafter. Requires prescription drugs not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), such as compounds, to be identified as compounds when listed on the treatment plan and when billed, and be supported by a statement of medical necessity documenting the case of medical need for a compound drug over an FDA-approved over-the-counter or prescription drug of similar therapeutic effect. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)
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LBT/HHS, JDC |
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RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS. Clarifies that condominium associations that have obtained title to a unit through foreclosure may retain rental income received prior to the appointment of a commissioner in a subsequent foreclosure; provided that the association may be required by a court to remit rental income received after the appointment of a commissioner to be held until an order of distribution is entered by the court. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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CPN, JDC |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAIIAN FLAG. Requires cooperative housing corporations, planned community associations, and condominium associations to allow owners to display the Hawaiian flag within the owner's property. Allows reasonable time, place, manner, and size restrictions on Hawaiian flag displays to protect a substantial interest of the association and corporation. Effective 9/9/2129. (SD1)
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HWN/CPN, JDC |
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RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION. Establishes a new gift card fraud law, under the scope of unfair and deceptive practices law, which requires merchants and third-party gift card resellers to take certain steps to prevent gift card scams. Requires the Office of Consumer Protection to create model notices and issue certain guidelines. Requires the conspicuous provision of information regarding terms and conditions of gift certificates, regardless of whether the cards are sold in person, electronically, or telephonically. Extends the minimum redemption period for paper gift certificates from two to four years. Establishes penalties. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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CPN, JDC |
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RELATING TO REAL ESTATE. Prohibits real estate brokers from listing or offering the sale or lease of residential real estate to a limited or exclusive group of prospective buyers, real estate brokers, or real estate salespersons, with limited exceptions. Deems the practice an unfair or deceptive trade or practice subject to penalties and grounds for discipline. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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CPN, JDC |
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RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION SAFETY. Requires testing of driver license applicants on the dangers that larger motor vehicles present to pedestrians and bicyclists. Requires persons who commit the offense of excessively speeding or habitually driving while intoxicated to pass the driver license examination for each offense.
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TRS, JDC |
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RELATING TO BOATING. Clarifies the penalties for violations of boating and ocean recreation laws pursuant to chapter 200, HRS. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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WLA, JDC |
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RELATING TO LIQUOR. In counties of fewer than 200,000 residents, but more than 100,000 residents, exempts the 3-day temporary liquor licenses for fundraising events, known as class 10 special licenses, from any requirement to obtain fire-related clearances. Allows applications for class 10 special licenses to be submitted electronically and for a single application to apply any fundraising event that spans multiple parcels of land owned by the same entity. Increases the percentage of fines assessed by all county liquor commissions that may be used to fund public liquor-related educational or enforcement programs.
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EIG, JDC |
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RELATING TO PUBLIC MEETINGS. Requires certain information to appear at the beginning of notices for public meetings. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)
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GVO, JDC |
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RELATING TO DEAF INDIVIDUALS. Authorizes deaf motor vehicle owners to register their vehicle as being owned by a deaf individual so that a deafness designation appears when a law enforcement officer accesses the motor vehicle's information. Effective 1/1/2027. (SD1)
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TRS/HHS, JDC |
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RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSES. Lowers the age of who may drive commercially within the State from nineteen to eighteen. Repeals the requirement that a person only operates category 3 vehicles to qualify to drive commercially in the State. Prohibits a person under twenty-one years of age from operating a commercial motor vehicle outside of state-approved commercial driver training programs or registered apprenticeship programs as determined by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Requires the Department of Transportation to consult with DLIR to amend its rules to allow persons under twenty-one years of age to operate a commercial motor vehicle under certain conditions. (SD1)
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TRS, JDC |
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RELATING TO COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS. Clarifies that cooperative associations organized under chapter 421C, Hawaii Revised Statutes, may include multi-stakeholder cooperatives, producer cooperatives, workers cooperatives, and consumer cooperatives. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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CPN, JDC |
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RELATING TO STANDARDS OF CONDUCT. Prohibits a state agency from entering into any contract to procure or dispose of goods or services, or for construction, with any business that is owned or operated, or in which a controlling interest is held, by a relative or household member of a director or deputy director of a principal state department. Requires directors, acting directors, and deputy directors of a principal state department to be responsible for ensuring that all contracts entered into by the department comply with a provision in the State's Code of Ethics governing conduct relating to contracts. Requires any violation to be assessed against the director, acting director, or deputy director of the department at the time the violation occurred. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)
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GVO, JDC |
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RELATING TO OAHU CORAL REEF RESTORATION. Temporarily prohibits the taking by spearing of uhu or kala in state marine waters around the island of Oahu until the Division of Aquatic Resources' Holomua Marine Initiative process adopts applicable regulations. Effective 7/1/2050. Sunsets / / . (SD1)
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WLA/AEN, JDC |
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RELATING TO FISHING. Prohibits the use of jug line fishing and other jug rig variant fishing methods in state waters. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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WLA, JDC |
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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 JDCcommittee@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)586-6130.
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_____________________________________ Senator Karl Rhoads Chair |
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