Scores of prospective bills are now dead after the current session of the state Legislature has passed its halfway point.
Of the bills previously covered this year by the Tribune-Herald, the following have, for one reason or another, failed to progress.
Gambling
All gambling-related bills previously written about this year are dead. This includes House Bill 1962, which would order a study by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to investigate the potential benefits and impacts of a casino on DHHL land.
The other dead gambling bills include:
• HB 1820, which would grant a 10-year license for a members-only casino in Waikiki. It was never scheduled for House committees.
• HB 2485 and Senate Bill 2310, which would establish a state lottery commission. Neither were scheduled for committees.
• HB 2040 and SB 2365, which would establish a Hawaii Lottery and Gaming Corporation. Neither were scheduled for committees.
• HB 2004 and SB 3028, which would establish an online fantasy sports betting program. The Senate bill was never scheduled for committees, while the House bill was deferred by the House Committee on Economic Development.
• HB 1973, which would allow the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to regulate sports betting. Never scheduled for House committees.
Cryptocurrency
All but two crypto-related bills are dead. The survivors are HB 2108, which would establish a licensing program for virtual currency companies in the state, and SB 2695, which would establish a Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Task Force.
The others include:
• SB 2698, which would prohibit any encumbrance on the right to possess and use any “medium of exchange.” Deferred by the Senate Committee on Energy, Economic Development and Tourism.
• SB 3076, a companion bill to HB 2108. Deferred by two Senate committees to focus on HB 2108.
• HB 2287 and SB 2697, which would exclude virtual currencies from the Money Transmitters Act. The House bill was never scheduled for committees, but the Senate bill passed its first committee and second reading in the Senate before being deferred by its last two committees.
Marijuana
Nearly all marijuana- or cannabis-related bills are dead. The exceptions include HB 2260, which refines interisland marijuana transportation regulations, and SB 629, which allows caregivers and out-of-state patients to access dispensary waiting rooms.
Other dead bills include:
• SB 2718, which would exempt people aged 65 or older from needing a debilitating medical condition to obtain medical marijuana. Passed its first Senate committee, but was never scheduled for its second.
• HB 1578 and SB 3356, which would allow in-vehicle receipt of medical marijuana. Both passed their respective first committees and were never scheduled for their second.
• HB 2053, which would allow dispensaries to distribute cannabis cuttings to licensed growers. The House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection voted not to recommend its passage.
• HB 1957 and SB 3257, which would designate June 14 as “Medical Cannabis Day.” The Senate bill was never scheduled for its sole Senate committee, but the House bill passed its first House committee until the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs voted not to recommend it.
Service animals
A pair of bills, SB 2438 and HB 1944, would have required sellers of “emotional support” animals to provide disclaimers demonstrating that the animal is not a service animal. The House bill was never scheduled for committees, but the Senate bill passed second reading in the Senate before stalling.
Electric vehicles
While some companion bills have been discarded in favor of their counterparts, nearly all proposed electric vehicle measures remain active. The exceptions include:
• HB 1901 and SB 3009, which would have banned the sale of two-stroke engines in the state by 2024. Neither were scheduled for committees.
• HB 1938 and SB 2803, which would have required all state, county and private bus operators to transition to zero-emission fleets by 2045. The House bill never made any progress, but the Senate bill passed second reading in the Senate before stalling.
Fireworks
Two of the fireworks bills previously covered by the Tribune-Herald have died. Those are:
• HB 1696, which would increase fireworks permit fees, was not recommended by the House Finance Committee.
• HB 1969, which would have required the counties to offer monetary rewards for reporting the illegal use of fireworks, was similarly not recommended by the House Finance Committee.
Hunting/Endangered species
• SB 2994, which would have required the Department of Land and Natural Resources to investigate the connection between sheep and palila populations on Maunakea, has died, having never been scheduled for committees.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.