H.B. 745 - Equal Pay Summary

• Expands protected classes under Hawaii's equal pay law from sex only 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.

• Requires employers to disclose salary ranges to job applicants upon request, to all employees annually, and in all job listings.

• Clarifies that compensation differentials are permitted only if resulting from non-discriminatory seniority systems, merit systems, objective production measures, or factors with neither discriminatory purpose nor effect.

• Creates exception to wage discussion protections allowing employers and HR/payroll professionals to discuss wages if knowledge stems from job responsibilities, while maintaining protections for all other employees.

• Prohibits employers from inquiring about or relying on applicants' salary history during hiring, with exceptions for internal promotions and voluntary applicant disclosures.