H.B. 1192 Summary

• Expands protected classes under Hawaii's equal pay statute to include race, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, color, ancestry, disability, marital status, arrest and court record, and domestic or sexual violence victim status, not just sex.

• Changes the standard from "equal work" to "substantially similar work" when viewed as a composite of skill, effort, responsibility, and working conditions.

• Allows compensation differentials only if the employer demonstrates they result solely from non-discriminatory seniority systems, merit systems, objective production measures, or factors that have neither the purpose nor effect of discriminating.

• Requires employers to disclose hourly rate or salary ranges in job listings, provide pay scales to job applicants, and annually provide employees the wage range for their position and substantially similar positions.

• Prohibits employers from inquiring about or relying on an applicant's salary history during hiring, with exceptions for internal transfers and public sector positions subject to collective bargaining.