Budget & Taxes

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 2596: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT LEASES.

SB 2596 requires state government agencies to charge no more than $1 per year for leases of real property they use. This directly affects state agencies that lease buildings or land for operations, such as offices or facilities. The bill sets a strict annual cost limit on these government leases as a procedural rule, with no additional mechanisms or exemptions described in the provided text.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCapping government lease costs at $1/year reduces state spending, promoting fiscal responsibility within budget management.85% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2116: RELATING TO GRANTS.

Appropriates funds to the Office of Community Services (OCS) to award grants to certain nonprofit organizations. Establishes an evaluation and selection committee to oversee the awarding of grants. Requires an applicant for a grant to provide certain documentation on activities that qualify for community engagement hours to qualify for the grant. Appropriates funds for positions in OCS and for the Department of the Attorney General to assist OCS in reviewing contracts and monitoring costs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for community grants, directly increasing budget allocation for nonprofit programs under fiscal management.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2548: RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS.

HB 2548 creates the Climate-Resilient Food Systems Grant Program within the state Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. The bill appropriates state funds to provide grants to farmers, food businesses, and community organizations for projects that help farms and food systems withstand climate impacts (like extreme weather). Key provisions include establishing application guidelines and prioritizing projects that improve soil health, water efficiency, or local food distribution networks. This program directly supports agricultural operations and food supply chains seeking to adapt to climate challenges. The bill is currently in committee referral stages and has not yet been voted on.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates state funds for climate-resilient food systems grants, directly funding a program under budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds climate-resilient food systems projects prioritizing soil health, water efficiency, and local networks - directly advancing climate adaptation and environmental protection.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2009: RELATING TO FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT.

Establishes a Disability and Caregiver Support Working Group to explore compliant and fiscally responsible approaches that address the longstanding gap affecting parents and guardians with disabilities whose caregiving capacity may be substantially impaired due to disability or serious medical conditions, while preserving federal funding integrity. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for child care subsidies and Medicaid caregiver evaluations, advancing public service funding per explicit budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill updates Medicaid HCBS eligibility evaluations and appropriates funds, directly expanding access to home/community healthcare services and strengthening long-term care coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1620: RELATING TO ENERGY.

Requires the Public Utilities Commission to transfer funds from the Hydrogen Fueling System Subaccount of the Public Utilities Commission Special Fund to the Electric Vehicle Charging System Subaccount of the Fund. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases environmental/energy tax to fund EV charging subaccount, explicitly directing tax revenue toward infrastructure funding per Budget & Taxes topic.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill increases tax to fund electric vehicle charging infrastructure, directly advancing clean energy infrastructure investment.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds electric vehicle charging infrastructure via tax increase, promoting clean energy adoption and reducing emissions through dedicated subaccount allocation.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 3279: RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Establishes the Board of Education Internal Audit Office. Requires the Board of Education to establish, as a standing committee of the Board, a standing committee with a scope that includes audit-related responsibilities. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesProhibits expenditure of FY 2026-2027 funds for specific audit/evaluation positions, restricting budget allocation for these roles.85% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2012: RELATING TO COMMUNITY LITERACY LABS.

HB 2012 proposes a two-year pilot program to establish community literacy labs, funded by the Department of Education. The program would directly support adults in underserved communities by providing accessible literacy resources and training. Key provisions include appropriating state funds for implementation, with the Department of Education responsible for selecting pilot sites and managing the program over the two-year period. The bill is currently pending committee approval after receiving a favorable recommendation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state funds for community literacy labs pilot, directly funding a public service program under DOE oversight.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates state funds for community literacy labs, expanding educational access in underserved communities through direct funding and program implementation.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2122: RELATING TO TEACHER HOUSING.

Establishes the Teacher Housing Assistance Program to be administered by the Department of Education to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers. Appropriates funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates funds from Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund to establish teacher housing program, directly advancing public service funding for teacher recruitment/retention.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes teacher housing assistance to improve recruitment/retention, directly supporting educators through funding and housing access - core education policy focus.92% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill funds housing vouchers for teachers via Teacher Housing Assistance Program, directly advancing affordable housing access for educators through dedicated appropriations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2161: RELATING TO PHARMACY.

Establishes the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Special Fund to support pharmacist workforce assessment and planning efforts. Establishes the pharmacist workforce assessment fee. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes a special fund with targeted fee to appropriate funds for pharmacy workforce planning, directly advancing fiscal management of state education programs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes fund for pharmacist workforce assessment/planning, directly supporting healthcare workforce development and infrastructure through appropriations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1590: RELATING TO VACATION RENTALS.

Part I: Allows counties to use time-stamped screenshots as evidence for the enforcement of transient accommodations. Requires the Hawaii Tourism Authority's plans, practices, and efforts involving destination management to include promotion of use of traditional or lawful transient accommodations. Clarifies that the counties may use revenue from the County Transient Accommodations Tax for the enforcement of transient accommodations. Appropriates funds. Part II: Requires hosting platforms that earn service fees for providing booking services for transient accommodations to register with the Department of Taxation as tax collection agents and report, collect, and remit general excise and transient accommodations taxes on behalf of operators. Part II effective 1/1/2027. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates tax data reporting and fines for vacation rentals, enforcing collection of transient accommodations tax to bolster county revenue streams.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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