The 2026 Hawaii State Legislative Session, which began on January 21 and ended on May 8, saw the introduction of 3,132 bills. By the midpoint of the session, 478 bills had crossed from the Senate to the House, and 560 from the House to the Senate. Ultimately, 268 bills were passed by both chambers and sent to Governor Josh Green for his consideration. Governor Green has until July 11 to sign, veto, or allow these bills to become law without his signature.

Deferred Legislation

Several significant bills were deferred during the session. HB 2506 and SB 3235, which proposed increasing the minimum wage to $18.00 per hour by 2027 and ensuring tipped employees receive at least the minimum wage, were not scheduled for hearings. SB 2017, aimed at preventing abusive conduct in workplaces, was also deferred. Other deferred bills included SB 2460 on collective bargaining rights for independent contractors, SB 2998 on employment discrimination related to medical cannabis use, and HB 2360 on establishing a family and medical leave insurance program.

Bills Enrolled to Governor

Among the bills transmitted to Governor Green is HB 1511, which seeks to enhance consumer protection by prohibiting unsolicited mail that uses high-pressure tactics. HB 2137 addresses the regulation of artificial intelligence, prohibiting harmful uses of AI-generated realistic digital imitations. HB 2583 aims to support small businesses through the Hawaii Micro Lending Credit Enhancement Program. SB 2031 and SB 2268 focus on consumer protection and public accommodation equity, respectively. Additionally, SB 2671 and SB 2673 aim to improve permit processing and standardize permitting data across counties.

Looking ahead, the 2027 legislative session is expected to revisit many of these priority issues, as the current session represented the second year of the biennium.

Original reporting: NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business) — read the source article.