HB441 increases Hawaii's cigarette tax from 16 to 18 cents per cigarette. The additional revenue is specifically allocated to the Hawaii Cancer Research Special Fund. This change ensures continued funding for the University of Hawaii Cancer Center’s operations, debt payments on construction bonds, and cancer research programs. The bill responds to a 50% decline in cigarette tax revenue caused by reduced smoking rates, which had threatened the center's financial stability.
This bill (HB718) appropriates $763,000 to fund specific positions at the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM). It creates three new faculty roles in cardiovascular biology, tropical medicine, and quantitative health biostatistics, plus one environmental health and safety officer staff position. These positions aim to strengthen JABSOM’s research on health disparities affecting Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, address infectious disease research needs, and maintain critical infrastructure like the chiller plant after a contract ends. The funding supports JABSOM’s mission to improve healthcare education, research, and services across Hawaiʻi and the Asia-Pacific region.
This document is not a legislative bill but a governor's notification (GM 1189) confirming that Governor Green signed HB1093 into law on May 27, 2025. The notification states HB1093 amends Hawaii Revised Statutes related to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority. It does not summarize the bill's policy content, as the provided text is only the signing confirmation, not the bill's full text. To summarize HB1093's policy changes, the actual bill text would be required.
This document is a governor's notification (GM 1196) confirming that SB 1396 (Act 096) was signed into law on May 27, 2025. The law relates to economic development by directing revenue from Hawaii's transient accommodations tax - including collections from short-term rental operators and cruise ships - to fund climate resilience and environmental protection projects. It specifically addresses gaps in tax collection (notably from cruise ships, which had 972,820 passenger port calls in 2024) to support sustainability efforts. The law integrates climate adaptation into economic planning, aiming to protect natural resources that underpin Hawaii's tourism, agriculture, and renewable energy sectors. It does not create new taxes but ensures existing tax obligations for all providers are fully collected and applied to environmental initiatives.
This bill (HB 442) appropriates $215,552 from state general revenues for the University of Hawaiʻi at West Oahu (UH West Oahu) to fund a pre-nursing pathway program. The funds will establish two full-time equivalent positions: a program coordinator ($107,776) and an academic advisor coordinator ($107,776), effective July 1, 2025. This funding directly supports UH West Oahu's pre-nursing program by enabling dedicated staff roles to assist students. The bill was signed into law by Governor Green on May 27, 2025, and affects UH West Oahu students and staff in the pre-nursing pathway.
This bill appropriates $4,475,238.39 from Hawaii's general revenues to pay specific court-ordered settlements and judgments against the state for claims involving individuals and entities. It covers amounts owed for issues like overpaid taxes, refunds, and other liabilities, including $442,504.75 to Maui Kupono Builders, LLC, $152,665.39 to the same entity for a separate claim, and $2,645,000 to the Department of Education for multiple cases. The bill does not create new policy but allocates existing funds to fulfill legally binding obligations from prior court rulings or settlements.
This bill authorizes Hawaii's state department to issue up to $600 million in special facility revenue bonds for maritime infrastructure projects, such as port facilities. It allows the department to enter into leases with private maritime businesses for constructing, remodeling, or equipping these facilities on state-owned land. The bill also permits the department to issue refunding bonds to replace existing bonds without requiring new legislative approval. This law primarily affects state agencies and maritime businesses by creating a streamlined financing mechanism for port and maritime infrastructure development.
This document is a governor's message (GM 1174) confirming that Governor Green signed HB871 into law on May 19, 2025. HB871 clarifies the effective date for Act 130 (2024), which increased Hawaiian Home Lands direct loan limits from 50% to 75% of HUD's maximum single-residence loan amount. The bill ensures this increase takes effect either when the U.S. Secretary of the Interior notifies Congress that Act 130 meets federal criteria, or when Congress approves it. This directly affects Native Hawaiian borrowers seeking home loans through the Hawaiian Home Lands program. The policy change is procedural, confirming when an existing funding increase becomes operational.
SB102 requires third-party reservation platforms (like online booking services) to obtain a restaurant's written consent before listing or promoting its reservations. It prohibits these platforms from advertising, selling, or facilitating reservations without explicit permission from the restaurant, aiming to prevent misleading practices that harm both businesses and consumers. Restaurants or customers affected by unauthorized listings can sue for court orders to stop violations, capped damages (not exceeding fees collected by the third party), and attorney fees. The law applies broadly to all Hawaii restaurants, including dine-in spots, food carts, and food trucks.
HB 1173, now Act 068, establishes a 15-year statute of limitations for certain tax liens, aligning Hawaii's tax collection process with federal standards. The bill amends how the Department of Taxation records and discharges tax liens, requiring certificates of discharge for satisfied or expired liens. This affects taxpayers with long-outstanding tax liabilities and ensures they're not burdened by unenforceable liens after 15 years. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, applying to all tax liens recorded on or after that date.
This law amends Hawaii's neighborhood board meeting rules to allow boards to include public input and third-party government reports in meeting notices. However, boards cannot make decisions on these topics during the same meeting where they are discussed. Boards must schedule a future meeting with specific notice if they wish to address the issues raised. This affects all neighborhood boards statewide under Hawaii Revised Statutes §92-81.
This bill establishes a temporary process for law enforcement to obtain emergency court orders to intercept communications (like phone calls or messages) when immediate action is needed to prevent death or injury. It allows applications without prior approval from the Attorney General, but requires applicants to prove the emergency, identify those at risk, and include specific details. Emergency orders expire automatically after 48 hours or when the danger ends, and a follow-up application with Attorney General input must be submitted within that timeframe. If the follow-up is denied or not granted, any intercepted communications cannot be used as evidence.
