2019 Legislative Priorities

2017 Women's Legislative Caucus Bill Signing Ceremony with Governor David Ige on July 3, 2017. NASW-HI is a proud member of the Women's Legislative Coalition that works to develop bills to send to the Caucus.

NASW Hawai'i is actively involved on advocacy and lobbying at the state and local level.  As an organization, we provide written and oral testimony and are involved in working with the Women's Legislative Coalition, Keiki Caucus, Kupuna Caucus and the Mental Health Task Force. 

For more information on how to get involved with our legislative advocacy efforts please email us at info@naswhi.org

To follow political activity at the state capitol or submit testimony, please visit www.capitol.hawaii.gov

2018 Legislative Session

Opening day of the 2018 legislative session will be Wednesday, January 17th!  Watch this spot for updates about bills that we are supporting or opposing this session.

Bills from 2017 legislative session

SB522 SD 1 strengthens safe sleep policy for child care facilities

SB511 SD2 requires DHS to publish child care facility inspections

SB425 SD 2 requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide sick leave

SB403 SD2 Ensures certain benefits under the federal Affordable Care Act are preserved under Hawaii law, including: preserving the individual health insurance mandate for taxpayers; preserving the premium tax credit for individuals and families with low or moderate income; requiring all health insurance entities, including health benefits plans under chapter 87A, HRS, to include ten essential health care benefits, plus additional contraception and breastfeeding coverage benefits; extending dependent coverage for adult children until the children turn twenty-six years of age; prohibiting health insurance entities from imposing a preexisting condition exclusion; prohibiting health insurance entities from using an individual's gender to determine premiums or contributions; and prohibiting health insurance entitles from discriminating with respect to participation against a health care provider acting within the scope of that provider's license or certification

SB501 SD1  requires limited service pregnancy centers to disclose availability of reproductive health services

SB502 SD1 removes discriminatory requirements for mandatory insurance coverage of IVF, same sex parity, unmarried, male infertility

SB503 SD2 require health insurance companies to cover case management for victims of sexual violence

HB663 HD1 requires limited service pregnancy centers to disclose availability of and enrollment information for reproductive health services. Establishes privacy and disclosure requirements

HB415 HD1 Ends statute of limitations for sexual assault of a child

HB4 HD1 requires employers to provide a minimum amount of paid sick leave to employees to be used to care for themselves or a family member who is ill or needs medical care

HB213 HD1 permits employee to take family leave to take care of sibling

HB207 HD2 expands low income household renters income tax status based on adjusted gross income and filing status

HB209 HD1 expands low income household renters income tax credit based on gross income and filing status

HB552 SD1 Ensures that benefits of the Affordable Care Act are preserved under State law in the case of repeal of the ACA by Congress. Preserves the individual mandate, minimum essential benefit requirements, extended dependent coverage, and prohibitions on preexisting condition exclusions and gender discrimination in premiums and costs.

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Register

Join us for a day at the Hawai'i Capitol to learn about social justice, advocacy, and accessing your state legislature.
Guest speakers will include legislators, lobbyists, and social workers involved with advocacy and lobbying efforts.
Free to attend, light lunch
Open to current BSW, MSW or PhD students and faculty, as well as NASW members.
Auditorium on lower level.  Event runs from 8:30-2:00pm

NOTE ON ACCOMMODATIONS
If you require accommodations to permit your attendance or participation, please provide a written request to info@naswhi.org 30 days prior to the  the workshop.  Requests received after this deadline may not be able to be processed or fulfilled in time for the activity.