HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2026
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Rep. David A. Tarnas, Chair |
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Rep. Mahina Poepoe, Vice Chair |
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Rep. Della Au Belatti |
Rep. Jackson D. Sayama |
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Rep. Elle Cochran |
Rep. Gregg Takayama |
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Rep. Mark J. Hashem |
Rep. Diamond Garcia |
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Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa |
Rep. Garner M. Shimizu |
NOTICE OF HEARING
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DATE: |
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 |
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TIME: |
2:00 PM |
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PLACE: |
VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE Conference Room 325 State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
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A G E N D A
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RELATING TO POLICING. Requires law enforcement agencies and law enforcement oversight agencies to collect and report certain data regarding law enforcement stops, uses of force, and complaints to the Hawaii Crime Lab affiliated with the University of Hawaii. Requires the Hawaii Crime Lab to collect and publish incident-level information and an annual report on the data collected. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to adopt rules, in coordination with the Hawaii Crime Lab. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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HED, JHA, FIN |
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RELATING TO TAXATION. Beginning 1/1/2027, establishes a yearly reduction in the general excise tax rate on groceries and nonprescription drugs on a tiered schedule until 1/1/2034, when a full general excise tax exemption applies. Beginning 1/1/2027, prohibits the counties from imposing a county surcharge on groceries and nonprescription drugs. Beginning 1/1/2028, provides a general excise tax exemption on the wholesale sale of groceries and nonprescription drugs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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ECD, JHA, FIN |
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RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. Prohibits music streaming platforms from hosting, distributing, or otherwise making available in the State music performed or attributed to an artificial intelligence music artist. Makes violations an unfair method of competition and an unfair and deceptive act or practice. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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ECD, JHA, FIN |
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RELATING TO THE RECOGNITION OF A HAWAIIAN SENSE OF PLACE. Establishes the Hawaiian Sense of Place Recognition Act. Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to develop educational and outreach programs to promote understanding of the Hawaiian sense of place among residents, visitors, and public employees. Requires state agencies to incorporate Hawaiian sense of place principles into land planning, management, and state construction projects. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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ECD/LAB, JHA, FIN |
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RELATING TO LIGHT POLLUTION. Beginning 7/1/2027, establishes outdoor light fixture requirements throughout the State. Provides certain exemptions for Department of Education facilities. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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WAL, JHA, FIN |
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PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE VII, SECTIONS 12 AND 13, OF THE HAWAII STATE CONSTITUTION. Proposes constitutional amendments to expressly provide that the Legislature may authorize political subdivisions, such as the counties, to issue housing infrastructure growth bonds, and exclude these bonds from determinations of the funded debt of the political subdivisions for specified public works, public improvements, or other actions necessary for housing and community development. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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HSG, JHA, FIN |
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RELATING TO SPORTS OFFICIALS. Authorizes the Department of Education to retain private counsel to represent a sports official in certain civil proceedings to obtain a temporary restraining order in response to incidences where the sports official has been assaulted or threatened in the course of legally discharging their sports official duties. Includes substantial bodily injury of a sports official engaged in the lawful discharge of the sports official's duties in the offense of assault in the first degree. Clarifies that a sports official includes a school administrator, league administrator, or athletics director. Clarifies that a sports official's duties cover sports events at public schools and private schools. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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EDN, JHA, FIN |
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PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES VIII AND X OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO AUTHORIZE THE LEGISLATURE TO ESTABLISH A SURCHARGE ON RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT PROPERTY TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION. Proposes amendments to the Hawaii State Constitution to repeal the counties' exclusive power to tax real property, and to authorize the Legislature to establish a state surcharge on real property taxes levied by the counties on certain residential investment properties, for the purpose of helping to fund public education for all of Hawaii's children and adults. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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EDN, JHA, FIN |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. Establishes a State Noxious Weed Coordinator and updates the process for designating and managing noxious weeds. Allows public proposals to add, amend, or remove noxious weed designations. Requires notice and public reporting. Clarifies the authority of the Department and Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Authorizes updates to the noxious weed list to be adopted by order and classifies noxious weeds into three categories. Strengthens enforcement and penalties. Updates departmental duties for noxious weed control and eradication. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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AGR, JHA, FIN |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. For taxable years beginning after 1/1/2027, establishes a nonrefundable income tax credit for certain agricultural investment costs incurred for agricultural activities conducted on Hawaiian home lands. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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AGR, JHA, FIN |
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RELATING TO FERAL ANIMALS. Designates feral chickens on public lands, in a city with a population of three hundred thousand or more, as a controllable pest for purposes of public health and nuisance prevention. Prohibits the intentional keeping, maintaining, or supporting of feral chickens on state or certain city lands, including by feeding or placing chickens in such areas. Prohibits the abandonment of chickens on public lands or on private property without consent. Establishes fines and authorized enforcing agencies. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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AGR, JHA, FIN |
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RELATING TO AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to: (1) Establish a four-year Restorative Aquaculture Development Program to reduce aquaculture permit processing time, support aquaculture infrastructure expansion, increase the aquaculture workforce, and pursue federal aquaculture grants; (2) Establish three pilot demonstration sites for restorative aquaculture; and (3) Convene a Restorative Aquaculture Advisory Council. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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AGR, JHA, FIN |
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RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. Clarifies the types of events that constitute disasters and emergencies for the purposes of emergency management. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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PBS, JHA, FIN |
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RELATING TO NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY. Establishes and appropriates funds for the Neighborhood Security Watch Grant Program to help fund certain activities and rental payments of established neighborhood security watch groups and neighborhood citizen patrol groups that rent government-owned facilities for a fee to carry out their duties.
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JHA, FIN |
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RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. Establishes, and appropriates funds for, the Kūpaʻa Law Enforcement Retention Bonus Program to provide law enforcement officers retention bonuses.
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JHA, FIN |
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DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW
Persons wishing to offer comments should submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. Testimony received after this time will be stamped late and left to the discretion of the chair to consider. While every effort will be made to incorporate all testimony received, materials received on the day of the hearing or improperly identified or directed, may not be processed.
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FOR AMENDED NOTICES: Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are bolded.
For more information, please contact the Committee Clerk at (808) 586-6325.
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________________________________________ Rep. David A. Tarnas Chair |