Budget & Taxes

passed · Hawaii · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2214: RELATING TO TAX CREDITS.

HB 2214 creates a refundable income tax credit specifically for diaper purchases. It directly affects low-income parents or caregivers who buy diapers for children, providing financial relief for this essential expense. The credit is refundable, meaning recipients receive the full credit amount as cash even if they owe no income tax. This policy change adds a new, targeted tax benefit to the state's income tax code, replacing potential tax savings with direct cash assistance for eligible households.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates refundable tax credit for low-income diaper expenses, providing direct financial relief and targeting essential household costs for vulnerable families.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1635: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Makes broadcast and streaming platform productions and commercial advertisement productions with Internet-only distribution eligible to receive the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit. Repeals 1/1/2033. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credit eligibility for digital media productions, providing tax relief to qualifying businesses, aligning with tax credit support indicators.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyProvides tax credit for digital media production, directly incentivizing investment in streaming platforms and internet-based content distribution technologies.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1805: RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE.

Establishes an independent Office of the Child Advocate within the Department of the Attorney General to oversee and evaluate the delivery of services to children and their families by various state agencies and entities, receive and investigate complaints, and make recommendations for improvement. Requires annual reports to the Governor, Legislature, and public. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for new Office of Child Advocate, directly funding a state program per Budget & Taxes topic's 'funds essential programs' indicator.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1813: RELATING TO TAXATION.

HB 1813 amends and repeals specific exemptions within the state's general excise tax and use tax laws. This bill changes how certain tax exemptions apply, potentially affecting businesses and individuals who currently qualify for those exemptions. The legislation does not create new taxes or directly fund programs, but alters existing tax rules by removing or modifying eligibility criteria for exemptions. As the bill is very recent (introduced January 22, 2026), specific exemptions impacted or affected entities are not detailed in the provided context.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill repeals tax exemptions, closing loopholes and broadening tax base to increase revenue, supporting fiscal responsibility.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1779: RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Expands free school meal coverage, beginning with the 2029-2030 school year, to all public school students, including public charter school students, regardless of whether the student participates in a federal school meals program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands state-funded school meals coverage, increasing public education spending without tax changes.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands free school meal access to all DOE students regardless of federal program participation, increasing educational access and support for school nutrition programs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands free school meals, a public health nutrition program, improving student access to healthy meals under public health initiatives.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1756: RELATING TO THE INDIVIDUAL HOUSING ACCOUNT PROGRAM.

HB 1756 updates the Individual Housing Account Program statute to adjust how down-payment costs are calculated, ensuring the program reflects current housing market prices. This change directly affects individuals using the program to save for home purchases by aligning eligibility and contribution requirements with present-day housing costs. The bill modifies the statutory formula used to determine down-payment assistance amounts, removing outdated cost references to better serve participants. (3 sentences)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill maintains pre-tax savings structure for housing program, providing tax relief to participants by alignating down-payment assistance with current housing costs.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill updates Individual Housing Account Program to align down-payment assistance with current housing prices, improving access for homebuyers. This directly strengthens affordable housing programs by modernizing eligibility and contribution requir...95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1781: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a Numeracy Coaching Program to provide numeracy coaches in certain Department of Education elementary schools, middle schools, and intermediate schools to support teachers, improve instruction, and ensure that students develop a strong foundation in mathematics. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for a new education program, directly supporting budget allocation for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes numeracy coaching program with funding to support teachers and improve math instruction in K-12 schools, directly advancing educational quality through targeted resources.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2037: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Increases the aggregate cap on credits allowed in any given year for the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit from $50,000,000 to $60,000,000. Extends the sunset of the tax credit to 1/1/2038. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Repeals 1/1/2038. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax credit cap for film industry, expanding fiscal incentives to stimulate economic activity within the tax policy framework.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyIncreases tax credits for digital media production, directly funding a technology sector within the bill's subjects.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2019: RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.

HB 2019 appropriates funds to the Executive Office on Early Learning to administer financial support for family-child interaction learning programs. The bill directly affects the Executive Office on Early Learning, which will manage the funding, and the early learning programs serving families with young children. This is a funding bill with no policy changes, solely providing resources for existing family-child interaction initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for existing early learning programs, directly advancing essential public services under budget allocation without policy changes.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill appropriates funds for family-child interaction learning programs, directly supporting early education initiatives through existing funding mechanisms without policy changes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2391: RELATING TO TAXATION.

HB 2391 creates a temporary sales tax exemption for school supplies, meaning businesses selling these items would not collect the usual general excise tax during the holiday period. This directly affects consumers purchasing school supplies and the businesses selling them, as the bill requires retailers to pass any tax savings directly to shoppers. The key provision is a time-limited tax holiday where the state waives the sales tax on qualifying items, but businesses must lower prices for customers rather than keeping the savings. The policy aims to reduce costs for families buying school essentials during the holiday period. (Note: This is a policy change, not a procedural bill.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides temporary tax relief for school supplies, directly reducing consumer costs during holiday period. Aligns with tax relief for middle-income families without defunding or tax increases.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationTax exemption on school supplies lowers costs for families, directly improving access to educational materials for K-12 students during the holiday period.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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