Taro, beer and more: Several new state laws go on the books New Year’s Day

Taro will officially become Hawai‘i’s state plant. The definition of “beer” will be expanded under under the state’s intoxicating liquor law.

Courts will have more power to prevent abusers who use the court system to continue to attack and abuse their victims.

Keiki who are 14 years old will be able to authorize their consent for health care and services surrounding pregnancy, family planning and sexually transmitted infections, including preventative services.

Those are just a few of the changes that will take place under several state laws that take effect as of New Year’s Day 2025.

Hawai‘i House of Representatives Speaker Nadine Nakamura on Friday shared a list of the new laws on the books beginning Jan. 1.

ACT 36, SLH 2007 (HB659 HD2): Relating to taro

Establishes kalo, or taro, as the official state plant of Hawai‘i. The important cultural relationship between kalo and Native Hawaiians continues today in the cultivation of kalo and ‘ohana. The cut stalk of kalo, the huli, is planted to become the next generation. “Huli” means to turn or turnover. When “‘ohana” is broken into its root words, “‘oha” is the smaller taro corms growing from the older part of the plant used to feed one’s family and “ana” is a conjunctive word connoting regeneration or procreation. Today, there are about 70 varieties of taro, the majority of which are unique to the Hawaiian Islands because of the horticultural skills of Native Hawaiian farmers. “Kalo expresses the spiritual and physical well-being of not only the kanaka maoli [Native Hawaiians] and their heritage, but also symbolizes the environmental, social, and cultural values important to the state],” says the measure.

ACT 8, SLH 2023 (HB137 HD1): Relating to lobbyists

Requires expenditures statemements filed by lobbyists and others who engage in lobbying activities to include information about the identity of the legislative or administrative action that was commented on, supported by or opposed by the person filing the statement.

ACT 123, SLH 2023 (HB141 SD1): Relating to financial disclosures

Requires each state legislator to include in their financial disclosure the names of certain lobbyists with whom they have a relationship.

ACT 12, SLH 2024 (HB1599 SD2): Relating to the Sunshine Law

Requires public meeting notices to include information about how to provide remote oral testimony in a manner that allows a testifier, upon request, to be visible to board members and other meeting participants. Recognizes a board’s authority to remove and block individuals who disrupt meetings.

ACT 104, SLH 2024 (HB2553 CD1): Relating to pharmacists

Authorizes pharmacists and pharmacy interns and technicians under the direct supervision of a pharmacist, if certain requirements are met, to order and administer vaccines to people 3 years old and older.

ACT 252, SLH 2024 (HB2657 SD1): Relating to abusive litigation

Establishes judicial procedures to prevent and remedy abusive litigation, which happens when abusers take advantage of court proceedings — often in family law casues — to control, harass, intimidate, coerce and impoverish their abused partner, even after a relationship has ended, forcing a survivor to spend time, money and emotional resources responding to the action and providing a way for the abuser to assert power and control over them. Hawai‘i joins Tennessee and Washington state with laws addressing abusive litigation.

ACT 95, SLH 2024 (SB63 CD2): Relating to nurses

Allows the Hawai‘i Board of Nursing to issue temporary permits to out-of-state licensed registered nurses and practical nurses as well as nurses with a multistate license issued by another state, territory or country, under certain circumstances. Beginning July 1, 2025, allows an out-of-state licensed practical nurse or registered nurse to apply for a temporary permit simultaneously with an application for a license to practice in Hawai‘i.

ACT 112, SLH 2023 (SB674 CD1): Relating to the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact

Adopts the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact to create a comprehensive process, to be implemented by the Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, that complements the existing licensing and regulatory authority of state medical boards and provides a streamlined process that allows physicians to become licensed in multiple states.

ACT 169, SLH 2024 (SB795 CD1): Relating to taxes

Requires film productions to provide evidence of reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable requirements to qualify for the Motion Picture, Digital Media and Film Production Income Tax Credit. Requires taxpayers be given notice of and an opportunity to cure requirements for the tax credit within 30 days of receiving the notice.

ACT 9, SLH 2024 (SB2354 SD1): Relating to alcohol

Expands the definition of “beer” under the intoxicating liquor law to mean any alcoholic beverage containing no less than 0.5% alcohol by volume obtained by fermentation of any infusion or decoction of malt or any substitute, including alcohol seltzer beverages and excluding sake, cooler beverages and other distilled products. Authorizes brewpubs to sell beer they manufacture or manufactured on their premises, subject to certain conditions.

ACT 17, SLH 2024 (SB2919 CD1): Relating to property

Clarifies counties’ authority to regulate time, place, manner and duration the uses of land and structures can take place. Clarifies uses including the provision of transient accommodations are not considered residential and can be phased out or amortized by the counties. Expands the scope of the transient accommodations tax to include certain shelters and vehicles with sleeping accommodations.

ACT 91, SLH 2024 (SB3125 HD2): Relating to medical care for minors

Authorizes minors at least 14 years old to consent to medical care and services for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy and family planning services, including the prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Requires confidentiality policies and practices for insurers and health care providers.

To learn more, visit the Hawai‘i Legislature website. The 2025 legislative session starts Jan. 15.