Aloha State News

The Hawaii State Legislature's 2025 Regular Session has reached its midpoint, with March 6th marking the First Crossover Deadline. This deadline signifies the last opportunity for bills to pass three readings and move from their originating chamber to the other. Bills failing to meet this requirement will not progress further in this legislative session.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Hawaii has been active in working with legislative committee chairs and members to halt certain bills they consider harmful. The team succeeded in having many such bills deferred or defeated.

Among the dead bills are HB 149 concerning corporate reporting of expenditures, HB 158 and HB 722 related to unemployment benefits for striking workers, and several others dealing with public employment, family leave, subcontractor payments, employment practices, environmental amendments, paid family leave insurance programs, fair scheduling requirements, and equity in public accommodations.

In contrast, several bills remain active. These include HB 1146/SB 1465 on passthrough entity taxation adjustments; HB 1405 concerning permit application streamlining; HB 1406 which establishes a task force for simplifying government procedures; SB 1038 which amends definitions related to data privacy; and SB 1493 requiring written notices for emotional support animals.