Governor Green issued his final veto decisions yesterday.

Of the 17 bills on his original Intent to Veto List, Governor Green issued seven vetoes. He also signed four bills after issuing line-item reductions, while six bills were signed into law.

The following bills, which were previously on the the Governor’s Intent to Veto List, were signed into law:

 

HB1640: RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

Bill Description: Requires the employer to initiate negotiations on the repricing of classes within a bargaining unit within 30 days of its receipt of the exclusive representative’s written request to negotiate. Establishes that an impasse exists and impasse procedures shall apply if an employer fails to initiate the negotiation within the required time frame and the parties fail to reach an agreement within 150 days of the exclusive representative’s written request to negotiate, or by January 31 of a year in which the collective bargaining agreement is due to expire, whichever is earlier. Sunsets 6/30/2029.

 

HB1763: RELATING TO HOUSING

Bill Description: Prohibits the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) from forgiving any loan made from the Rental Housing Revolving Fund (RHRF) unless HHFDC forecloses on the project. Amends the permitted uses of, and priority for, which monies in the RHRF are to be used. Repeals the authorization to use RHRF to provide grants. Requires the HHFDC to submit a report to the Legislature on plans to revolve funds back into the RHRF. Applies to RHRF applications submitted after 6/30/2024.

 

HB1936: RELATING TO HARBOR SAFETY

Bill Description: Mandates that the Hawai‘i State Department of Transportation require the securing of mooring lines from vessels to commercial docks, wharves, piers, quays and landings to be performed by labor subject to collective bargaining. Sunsets 7/1/2028.

 

HB2581: RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Bill Description: Removes the ability of the Governor or a mayor to suspend electronic media transmission during a state of emergency or local state of emergency, respectively.

 

HB2526: RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES

Bill Description: Increases the penalty for a third or subsequent offense involving the unauthorized driving or operation of motor vehicles to a Class C felony. Authorizes the court, as part of the person’s sentencing for the third or subsequent offense, to order that the vehicle used by the person in the commission of the offense be subject to forfeiture. Takes effect 7/1/2024.

 

SB2439: RELATING TO LIMITATION OF ACTIONS

Bill Description: Extends the statute of limitations for civil actions brought by persons subjected to sexual offenses as an adult against the person who committed the act. Extends protections for victims of sexual offenses by allowing claims to be brought against legal entities during the two-year window period if there is a finding of gross negligence. Furthermore, this bill authorizes courts to award attorney’s fees to a defendant when an accusation of sexual abuse was made with no basis in fact and with malicious intent.

 

HB40: RELATING TO THE GENERAL FUND

Bill Description: Appropriates funds to be deposited into the emergency and budget reserve fund and pension accumulation fund pursuant to article VII, section 6, of the Hawaiʻi State Constitution.

To meet the constitutional requirements laid out in the bill for the disposition of excess revenues, the Governor is appropriating the minimum amount and line-item reduced nearly $435 million in general fund appropriations to balance the state’s financial plan.

 

HB1800: RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET

Bill Description: Adjusts and requests appropriations for fiscal biennium 2023-2025 funding requirements for operations and capital improvement projects of Executive Branch agencies and programs.

 

HB2619: RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL BIOSECURITY

Bill Description: Requires the Hawai‘i State Department of Agriculture (HDOA) to lead and coordinate the state’s invasive pest control and eradication biosecurity efforts. Establishes certain reporting requirements. Appropriates funds to the HDOA for programs and positions in agricultural biosecurity. Appropriates funds to each county as a grant-in-aid, subject to a county match, for the implementation of feral chicken control programs.

 

SB3153: RELATING TO THE DAM AND APPURTENANCE IMPROVEMENT OR REMOVAL GRANT PROGRAM

Bill Description: Establishes the Dam and Appurtenance Improvement or Removal Grant Program Special Fund to receive moneys for the Dam and Appurtenance Improvement or Removal Grant Program. Appropriates funds into and out of the Special Fund for the Dam and Appurtenance Improvement or Removal Grant Program.

 

Vetoes: – Due primarily to legal and operational issues, the following seven bills were vetoed and returned to the legislature:

 

HB1633: RELATING TO CONTRACTORS

Bill description: Repeals the leasing restriction on owner-builders who obtain an owner-builder exemption to act as their own contractor and who build or improve residential or farm buildings or structures on property they own or lease and do not offer the buildings or structures for sale.

 

HB2359: RELATING TO THE HAWAIʻI BROADBAND AND DIGITAL EQUITY OFFICE

Bill Description: Establishes the Digital Equity Grant Program to award grants to applicants to deploy digital equity projects to covered populations in the state.

 

SB572: RELATING TO AGRICULTURE

Bill description: Authorizes and specifies conditions under which the HDOA may declare a biosecurity emergency, during which the Department and Governor may take certain actions to prevent the establishment or spread of pests and prohibited or restricted organisms. Broadens the objectives and general actions of the Biosecurity Program.

 

SB3068: MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR WILDFIRE RECOVERY

Bill Description: Appropriates funds to support the state’s continued response to the August 2023 wildfires that affected the counties of Hawaiʻi and Maui. Declares that the appropriation exceeds the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025.

 

SB1511: RELATING TO THE RESEARCH CORPORATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I

Bill Description: Clarifies the purpose of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaiʻi (RCUH) and that its undertakings shall be limited to acts that are reasonably necessary to carry out its purpose. Repeals the requirement that the University of Hawaiʻi contract with the RCUH when the University determines that other various agencies cannot more effectively or efficiently accomplish certain research and training activities. Grandfathers existing RCUH contracts and requires new contracts to be subject to new limitations. Limits the scope of the special account the RCUH is authorized to establish. Requires revolving accounts to follow University of Hawaiʻi Administrative Procedure 12.204. Limits internal service orders and revolving accounts of the RCUH that use University intramural funds to certain projects and requires biannual reports to the Legislature.

 

SB2512: RELATING TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT POWERS

Bill Description: Establishes notice and reporting requirements for the expenditure or use of public resources by the Governor, pursuant to the Governor’s emergency powers.

 

SB2557: RELATING TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION

Bill Description: Allows a court to appoint an attorney for the subject of a petition for assisted community treatment if the interests of justice require one be appointed. Repeals language that entitles the subject of a petition for assisted community treatment to legal representation by a public defender.