Budget & Taxes

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2321: RELATING TO THE TWO-LINED SPITTLEBUG.

Establishes a two-year Two-Lined Spittlebug Response Pilot Program to mitigate and control the spread of the two-lined spittlebug. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds for a pilot program addressing invasive species, aligning with funding essential programs under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2024: RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITIES.

Authorizes the School Facilities Authority to use public-private partnerships for the development of public school facilities, including facilities at public charter schools. Requires the School Facilities Authority to establish a pilot program to develop three new public schools in areas based on demonstrated need through public-private partnerships. Requires the approval of the Department of Education prior to the development of a public school for the pilot program on Department lands. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for charter school facilities through public-private partnerships, directly funding public education infrastructure.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds for new public schools in high-need areas via public-private partnerships, directly improving school infrastructure and access per education topic description.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House May 1, 2026

HB 1970: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII CANCER CENTER.

HB 1970 provides funding for the University of Hawaii Cancer Center's Hawaii Tumor Registry, which tracks cancer cases across the state. The bill directly supports the Cancer Center by enabling its data collection and analysis efforts. Key provisions include appropriating state funds to maintain and expand the registry's operations for cancer surveillance. This policy change focuses on strengthening statewide cancer data systems without altering patient care protocols or insurance coverage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates state funds for Hawaii Tumor Registry operations, directly funding a public health program per bill's summary and subjects.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds Hawaii Tumor Registry for cancer surveillance, directly supporting public health data collection and cancer surveillance programs without altering care protocols.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2919: RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER.

SB 2919 appropriates funds to hire one full-time equivalent Deputy Public Defender III position within the Office of the Public Defender. This bill directly affects the Office of the Public Defender by providing dedicated staffing resources for their operations. The key provision is the allocation of state funds specifically for this new staff role, which would support the office's capacity to represent indigent defendants in court. The bill does not create new legal requirements or change existing laws, focusing solely on budgetary support for personnel.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state funds to hire a public defender position, directly funding a public service essential to legal representation for indigent defendants.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds additional public defender staffing to improve representation for indigent defendants, strengthening public defense capacity within criminal justice system.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House May 1, 2026

HB 2241: RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Amends the Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credit by: Limiting claims for certain solar energy systems that are not third-party financed systems and installed and placed in service on a single-family residential property to taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $175,000 or less if filing as an individual, $262,500 or less if filing as a head of household, or $350,000 or less if filing jointly; increasing the maximum adjusted gross income an individual taxpayer must be below in order to be eligible to have any excess credits refunded and limiting credit refundability to systems that are not third-party financed systems; and prohibiting a taxpayer from claiming a credit for a renewable energy technology system installed and placed in service on a residential property where the taxpayer has claimed a credit in prior taxable years. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Sunsets 1/1/2029. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRestricts tax credit for high earners ($250k+ AGI), closing a loophole to target benefits toward lower-income taxpayers per tax policy indicators.92% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyAmends renewable energy tax credit to restrict high-income filers while removing caps, promoting broader solar adoption for eligible taxpayers.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill amends tax credits to promote solar energy adoption (removing caps, adjusting eligibility), directly supporting renewable energy deployment per environmental indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2601: RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Amends criminal penalties under the Hawaii Public Procurement Code by providing that a person who intentionally violates the code is subject to prosecution for a misdemeanor in cases of egregious violations of the Code. Ensures that awarded contracts are supported by sufficient appropriations by requiring a contract amount that exceeds fifteen per cent of the amount of the appropriation or balance of an appropriation to be approved by the Chief Procurement Officer to become binding. Establishes positions within the State Procurement Office. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enforces fiscal responsibility by capping contract spending at 10% of available appropriations, preventing budget overruns and ensuring funds are properly allocated.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 24, 2026

SB 3040: RELATING TO GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.

SB 3040 replaces the Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission with a new Office of Gun Violence Prevention and allocates state funding for its operations. The bill establishes a dedicated state office to coordinate gun violence prevention strategies, though specific programs or initiatives are not detailed in the abstract. It directly affects state government by creating this new entity and directing resources toward prevention efforts. The bill is currently pending committee review, with a public hearing scheduled for February 11, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds for new Office of Gun Violence Prevention, directly addressing budget appropriation for a state office per subjects list.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates Office of Gun Violence Prevention and funds it, aligning with criminal justice reform by focusing on prevention, a key reform strategy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 23, 2026

HCR 83: SUPPORTING THE USE OF THE DWELLING UNIT REVOLVING FUND TO FUND PREDEVELOPMENT COSTS FOR ANY GOVERNMENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THROUGH INTERIM LOANS TO EXPEDITE THE DELIVERY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO HAWAII'S RESIDENTS.

This bill is a non-binding resolution that expresses support for using existing funds to help finance early-stage costs for government affordable housing projects in Hawaii. It specifically endorses allowing interim loans from the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund to cover predevelopment expenses like site analysis, design work, and permit preparation for projects owned or managed by government entities. The resolution states that these loans would be repaid by developers through permanent financing once the project is completed, aiming to speed up the delivery of affordable housing. As a concurrent resolution, it does not create new laws or change regulations but instead communicates legislative support for this funding approach to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill supports using Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund to finance predevelopment costs for affordable housing, advancing government affordable housing projects and fiscal management.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly funds predevelopment costs for government affordable housing projects through interim loans to expedite delivery of affordable housing to residents.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 2698: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the Department of Transportation to assess a per passenger head fee against cruise ships docking in the State's commercial harbors in addition to existing port user fees. Establishes the Cruise Ship Special Fund. Repeals existing law imposing the Transient Accommodations Tax on cruise ships, effective retroactive to 1/1/2026. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes Cruise Ship Special Fund via passenger fee (replacing TAT), directly allocating tax revenue to fund transportation projects, aligning with fiscal management and program funding.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates Cruise Ship Special Fund via passenger fee, directly funding transportation infrastructure (harbors) under DOT, replacing prior tax with dedicated revenue stream.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 2816: RELATING TO STATE ENTERPRISE ZONES.

Expands the definition of "eligible business activity" for the purposes of the Enterprise Zone Program to include certain research and development activities and information technology design and production services. Authorizes the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to declare up to two census tracts in the State that contain an innovation enterprise to be designated as an enterprise zone, subject to the Governor's approval. Requires DBEDT to conduct an in-house comprehensive review, in consultation with the Department of Taxation, of the State Enterprise Zones Program and requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands enterprise zones offering tax incentives for R&D/IT businesses, involving DOTax oversight and aligning with fiscal tools to stimulate economic development.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExpands enterprise zone eligibility to include IT design/production services, promoting tech business development through tax incentives and innovation zones.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track