Several new Hawaii State laws will go into effect on January 1st.
They cover a variety of areas, including auto insurance for residents who rent to visitors, tobacco taxes, catalytic converters, mandatory ethics training for state legislators and employees, fireworks, leaderboard voting, and even balloons.
New legislation outlines the required insurance coverage Hawaii residents need when renting their vehicles as an additional source of income to visitors in peer-to-peer sharing programs who are not established car rental companies.
Also related to licensed drivers, a law governing first-time DUI offenders was changed from a one-year license suspension to no less than one year and no more than 18 months.
New laws ban people from releasing balloons inflated with lighter-than-air gases because they pose a hazard and nuisance to the environment, especially wildlife and marine life.
“Many animals are attracted to the bright colors of the balloons and mistake them for food, which can result in serious injury or death to an animal,” the law says. “Often animals find themselves entangled in balloon strings and are injured or strangled as a result.”
Most of the 377 new laws passed by the Hawai’i State Legislature in 2022 and signed into law by the then-government. David Ige are already in effect, but here are the ones that will come into effect on January 1, 2023:
Law 15, SLH 2022 (SB2376 SD1) – Regarding Tobacco Taxes
Repeals and eliminates the deferred payment purchase option for cigarette tax stamps. Licensees must pay for stamps in cash, certified check, or bank transfer at the time of purchase.
Law 47, SLH 2022 (SB2162 CD1) – Regarding Ranking Election
Sets ranked voting for special federal elections and special elections for vacant county council seats.
Law 49, SLH 2022 (SB2185 CD1) – Regarding fireworks
The auditor of the pyrotechnic records of fireworks and pyrotechnic articles for each county fire department must submit an annual report to the legislature detailing inventory, records, and sales of fireworks to license or permit holders.
Law 56, SLH 2022 (HB1619 CD1) – Regarding peer to peer car sharing insurance requirements
Establishes provisions relating to peer-to-peer insurance coverage.
Law 57, SLH 2022 (HB1681 SD1) – Regarding transport network companies
Sets requirements and licensing procedures for transportation network companies operating in the state. Establishes permanent insurance requirements for transport network companies and transport network company drivers.
Law 58, SLH 2022 (HB2111 CD1) – Regarding Insurance
Establishes due diligence requirements for insurers and manufacturers.
Law 62, SLH 2022 (HB2272 CD1) – Concerning condominium associations
Amends provisions on the content of declarations in home ownership law.
Law 69, SLH 2022 (SB2685 CD1) – Regarding Proposed Municipal Associations
Establishes provisions relating to cumulative voting for directors under the proposed Community Associations Act
Law 76, SLH 2022 (HB137 CD1) – Regarding Alcohol
Amends the regulations on cooperation between the Department of Taxation and the District Alcohol Commissions.
Law 88, SLH 2022 (SB2279 CD1) – Regarding catalytic converters
Regulates the purchase of catalytic converters by used car parts dealers and palladium, platinum and rhodium by scrap dealers and recyclers. Subjects persons violating related regulations to a Class C felony. Establishes catalytic converter theft offense.
Act 94, SLH 2022 (SB3165 CD1) – Regarding the operation of a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant
Amends regulations for driving a vehicle under the influence of intoxicants using intoxicants while driving a vehicle.
Law 97, SLH 2022 (HB956 CD1) – Regarding Nationwide Interoperable Public Safety Communications
Establishes a statewide executive committee on interoperable communications and a subcommittee on public safety communications and the position of statewide interoperable communications coordinator. Defines “interoperable communication”.
Law 141, SLH 2021 (HB1102 SD2) – Regarding Waste Control
Prohibit the intentional release of balloons inflated with a lighter-than-air gas.
Law 159, SLH 2022 (SB2679 CD1) – Regarding driving licenses
Extends the renewal period from two years to four years for licensees age seventy-two or older but younger than eighty.
Law 161, SLH 2022 (SB3121 CD1) – Regarding Funding of Disabled Parking
Establishes a special account for accessible parking within the special fund of the Disability and Communication Access Board. Increases the state’s annual vehicle registration fee by $1 and requires that $1 of each annual vehicle registration fee be deposited into the accessible parking special account.
Law 165, SLH 2022 (HB1475 CD1) – Regarding Mandatory Ethics Training
Requires state legislators and employees to complete mandatory live or online ethics training every four years, subject to certain requirements.
Law 169, SLH 2022 (HB2416 CD1) – Regarding campaign spending
Establishes provisions relating to donors; Approval; Note.
Law 217, SLH 2022 (HB1982 CD1) – Regarding taxes
Establishes provisions relating to tax withholding by persons claiming the income tax credit for cinematographic, digital media and film production under the General Excise Tax Act.
Act 218, SLH 2022 (SB2378 CD1) – Regarding the Taxation Board of Review
Amends provisions relating to the Tax Audit Commission; Meeting; removal, compensation.
Law 283, SLH 2022 (SB555 HD1) – Regarding Campaign Fundraising
Prohibits state and county elected officials from holding a fundraiser to collect contributions for which a prize is collected or a contribution is proposed for attendance during a regular or special session of the state legislature.
Act 286, SLH 2022 (SB3085 CD1) – Refers to the Hawaii Code of Military Justice
Adopts a new Hawaiian Code of Military Justice to promote order and discipline in the state armed forces by promoting an independent military justice system and updating extrajudicial punishment and court-martial procedures.
Law 298, SLH 2022 (HB1688 CD1) – Regarding the registration of vehicles
Subjects U-powered motor vehicles to the same vehicle registration fees as other motor vehicles. Authorizes counties to impose certain motor vehicle registration fees to mitigate and address the impact of tourism-related congestion.
