Budget & Taxes

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 26, 2026

HB 2429: RELATING TO TAX EXPENDITURE EVALUATION.

Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, in collaboration with the Department of Taxation, to study the effectiveness of tax expenditures, prepare summary descriptive statistics, submit annual reports to the Legislature, and develop appropriate schedules and tax return forms to collect adequate information for evaluation of tax expenditures. Authorizes Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism staff to access certain information on tax returns to conduct evaluations of tax expenditures. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates evaluation of tax credits/exemptions to promote fiscal responsibility and transparency in tax expenditures, aligning with closing loopholes and accountability.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 24, 2026

HB 2094: RELATING TO JURY DUTY.

HB 2094 increases daily pay for jurors and prospective jurors who attend court, raising the amount each person receives per day of actual court service. The bill directly affects individuals summoned for jury duty across the state. It includes a funding appropriation to cover the increased payments, ensuring courts can implement the higher compensation rate. The change aims to improve compensation for citizens fulfilling this civic obligation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds via appropriation to increase juror compensation, directly funding a public service (jury duty) through state budget spending, aligning with fiscal responsibility for civic obligations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 24, 2026

HB 2050: RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS.

Increases the expenditure limit and the amount of partial public campaign financing available for all elective offices. Adjusts the minimum amount of qualifying contributions certain candidates must receive to participate in the program. Increases the matching fund payments for excess qualifying contributions. Appropriates funds for the program. Effective 11/4/2026. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state funds to expand public campaign financing program, directly funding a government program under budgetary authority.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 9, 2026

HB 2547: RELATING TO CORPORATE BONDS.

HB 2547 allows the Director of Finance to invest certain state funds in short-term, investment-grade corporate bonds. This bill directly affects state financial management by expanding permissible investment options for unspent state moneys. The key provision authorizes these specific bond investments while requiring they meet strict credit quality standards. The bill is procedural in nature, focusing solely on enabling this investment method without creating new regulations or altering state obligations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enables safe state fund investments with strict credit standards, promoting fiscal responsibility under fiscal management topic.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 5, 2026

HB 1860: RELATING TO THE HAWAII SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

This bill officially designates the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra as the "State of Hawaii Symphony Orchestra." It requires the orchestra to submit annual reports to the Hawaii Legislature and includes funding appropriations for its operations. The bill does not change existing laws or create new policies; it simply establishes the orchestra's official state designation and outlines reporting and funding mechanisms. This affects the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra directly as its official state representative.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds for Hawaii Symphony Orchestra operations via appropriations, directly supporting cultural funding through budgetary mechanisms.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jun 5, 2026

SB 3157: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Removes county-specific expenditure restrictions for funds in the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to reissue procurement for the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program every five years. Requires unencumbered and unexpended revenues from the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund in excess of a $12,000,000 as of June 30 of each year to lapse to the general fund. Part II: Limits the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program to counties with a population of five hundred thousand or more. Expands the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program to high-risk locations of state or county highways as determined by the Department of Transportation, under certain conditions. Provides restrictions for the expansion of the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program and Photo Red Light Imaging Detector Systems Program. Part III: Amends the definition of "county" as it relates to the Photo Red Light Imaging Detector Systems Program. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill reallocates unspent transportation fund surplus to general fund, promoting fiscal responsibility by preventing fund stagnation per budget management principles.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 4, 2026

HB 1707: RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes a Local Agriculture Transportation Cost Reimbursement Pilot Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to reimburse eligible ranchers and farmers a portion of their costs to transport livestock, livestock products, agricultural commodities, and certain necessary supplies, under certain conditions. Establishes a position to administer the Program. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2029. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for agricultural transportation reimbursements, directly advancing budget allocation for eligible farmers under specific program conditions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 4, 2026

HB 2339: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII REVENUE BONDS.

Authorizes the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii to issue revenue bonds for the purpose of financing qualifying priority capital improvement projects. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes UH revenue bonds for capital projects, providing dedicated funding mechanism for public infrastructure without general tax increases, aligning with fiscal responsibility and public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill authorizes revenue bonds for University of Hawaii capital projects, funding infrastructure for higher education. Directly supports institutional resources through bond financing.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Hawaii · House May 27, 2026

HB 2289: RELATING TO THE EXPENDITURE CEILING ON THE AUTOMATED VICTIM INFORMATION AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM SPECIAL FUND.

Repeals the statutory expenditure ceiling on the Automated Victim Information and Notification System Special Fund to address rising program costs and growing victim service demands. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRemoves $600k annual expenditure ceiling on victim services fund to address rising costs, enabling necessary funding for essential programs.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves $600k expenditure ceiling on victim notification system fund to expand victim services within criminal justice system, directly funding victim support programs.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · Hawaii · House May 26, 2026

HB 2272: MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Makes emergency appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of bargaining unit (11) and their excluded counterparts, including health premium payments and the cost of salary adjustments negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal biennium 2025-2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds emergency salary adjustments for public employees via appropriations, directly supporting budget allocation for essential workforce costs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds collective bargaining costs and salary adjustments for public employees' bargaining unit, directly supporting labor negotiations and rights under Public Employment Cost Items.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes