Budget & Taxes

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2662: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY.

Requires each purchasing agency to provide justification for hiring external consultants. Requires each agency to seek approval from the Legislature for consulting contracts exceeding a certain dollar amount. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Requires the Compliance Audit Unit within the Office of the Auditor to conduct regular audits of agency consultant contracts to assess cost-effectiveness and compliance. Establishes exceptions. Requires each chief procurement officer to ensure that inherent government functions are not delegated to a contractor. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes spending caps and audit requirements on consultant contracts to enhance fiscal accountability in state spending, aligning with fiscal responsibility indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 2362: RELATING TO TAXATION.

SB 2362 would eliminate a specific tax deduction for real estate investment trusts (REITs), requiring them to pay taxes on dividends they distribute to shareholders instead of deducting those payments. This change directly affects REITs, which are companies that own and operate real estate properties and typically rely on this deduction to reduce taxable income. The key provision removes the "dividends paid deduction" from the tax code, meaning REITs would no longer be able to subtract their dividend payments from their taxable earnings. This policy change would increase the tax burden on REITs without altering their operational structure.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEliminates REIT tax deduction, closing a loophole to increase tax revenue from real estate entities, aligning with fiscal responsibility indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 3047: RELATING TO FINANCIAL LITERACY.

Requires the Department of Education to implement financial literacy instruction into existing courses in public high schools that have sufficient overlap with financial literacy program standards beginning in the 2027-2028 school year. Requires the Board of Education to provide professional development to teachers. Authorizes the Board of Education to adopt rules. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state funds for financial literacy education, aligning with fiscal responsibility and funding essential programs per budget/taxes topic indicators.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates financial literacy curriculum integration, funds implementation, and requires teacher professional development - directly advancing educational content and resources in K-12 schools.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 2905: RELATING TO ENERGY.

Increases the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax and the amount collected from the tax that is deposited into the Electric Vehicle Charging System Subaccount. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax revenue specifically for funding an electric vehicle charging system subaccount, directly advancing fiscal allocation for infrastructure.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill increases tax revenue specifically for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, directly funding clean energy infrastructure development.92% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncreases tax to fund EV charging infrastructure, promoting clean energy adoption and reducing emissions through dedicated subaccount funding.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds electric vehicle charging infrastructure via dedicated tax revenue, directly advancing sustainable transportation infrastructure as a core component of transportation policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 2693: RELATING TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR AEROSPACE INFRASTRUCTURE.

Authorizes the issuance of $15 million in general obligation bonds to finance the planning, design, and construction of a 50,000 square foot aerospace hangar and related facilities at Hilo international airport. Requires matching contributions from the federal government and private sector. Directs appropriation to be expended by the Department of Transportation. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes $15M in bonds for airport infrastructure, directly allocating state funds for capital improvement project per appropriation subject.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds aerospace infrastructure at Hilo International Airport via $15M bonds, directly advancing transportation infrastructure development per DOT capital project requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 3278: RELATING TO TAX EXPENDITURE EVALUATION.

Requires tax expenditure disclosure to, and evaluation by, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for certain income tax credits and general excise and use tax exemptions. Requires the Department of Taxation to share certain information with DBEDT upon request. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires tax expenditure evaluation by DBEDT, promoting fiscal transparency and accountability in tax credits/exemptions, aligning with fiscal responsibility indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 533: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to support public schools impacted by a local investor‑owned electric utility's planned public safety power shutoff program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds to Department of Education for public schools impacted by power shutoffs, directly funding essential education services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds to Department of Education for public schools impacted by power shutoffs, directly advancing school funding support under education topic.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1278: RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts from the state general excise tax any grants received from the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund by an eligible business pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Requires the Department of Taxation to notify all taxpayers eligible for refunds of any state general excise tax paid for grants received from the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund of their eligibility and requires taxpayers to file refund claims no later than six months following notification. Requires any state general excise taxes paid by eligible businesses for Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants to be refunded to the taxpayer. Effective 7/1/3000. Applies retroactively to 3/11/2021. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts federal restaurant grants from state tax, providing relief to businesses and refunding overpaid taxes, aligning with tax relief support for small businesses.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 637: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

SB 637 allocates state funds to support various nursing education programs within the University of Hawaii System. It directly affects the University of Hawaii System by providing dedicated financial resources for these specific nursing initiatives. The bill's key mechanism is the appropriation of state budget funds to cover program costs, though it does not specify exact program details. The funding becomes effective on July 31, 2050.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state budget funds for nursing education programs, directly funding essential public services within UH System.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates state funds to nursing programs at UH System, directly funding higher education initiatives per bill's appropriation language.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates state funds to nursing education programs, directly supporting healthcare workforce development and training within the University of Hawaii System.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1391: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for teacher‑requested classroom supplies; provided that the private sector contributes matching funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates state funds for education supplies with private matching, increasing public service funding under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates state funds for teacher-requested classroom supplies with private matching, directly advancing school resource access and teacher support.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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