Budget & Taxes

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1964: RELATING TO THE STATE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL.

Implements certain recommendations of the SPEED Task Force. Requires the State Building Code Council to provide annual training to state and county permitting agency employees. Appropriates funds for the training, subject to a matching requirement from the counties. Effective 7/1/2055. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for training, directly aligning with fiscal management and government spending under Budget & Taxes.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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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 Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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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 absent

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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

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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 Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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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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passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 1939: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Amends the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit (film tax credit) by providing additional credits to qualified productions that have a workforce of at least eighty per cent local hires in the first taxable year or second consecutive taxable year and meet other specific requirements, then increasing the local workforce threshold to eighty-two per cent in the third or fourth consecutive taxable year and eighty-five per cent in the fifth consecutive taxable year, that the additional credit is claimed; requiring independent third-party certification of qualified production costs for all film productions claiming the film tax credit; authorizing DBEDT to waive the credit cap per qualified production for one qualified production each fiscal year; and requiring the Hawaii Film Office to submit an annual report to the Legislature. Sunsets 1/1/2033. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credits for film productions meeting local hiring criteria, increasing state fiscal support for economic development through targeted tax incentives.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncentivizes local hiring (80%+ workforce) for film productions via tax credits, directly promoting employment standards and local workforce opportunities.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 2528: 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 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates state funds for public election financing program, directly increasing budget allocation for campaign finance initiatives.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 2342: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes, and appropriates funds for, a working group to make recommendations to revise the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation's Qualified Allocation Plan and propose revisions to the prioritization of the Rental Housing Revolving Fund and the terms of loans made from the Rental Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill explicitly prohibits allocation of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), restricting tax credits for housing, which aligns with 'oppose' indicators.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes Working Group to revise Qualified Allocation Plan prioritizing Rental Housing Revolving Fund, appropriates funds, and prohibits LIHTC misuse to protect perpetual affordability in housing programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 3333: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Requires each county to apply any applicable real property tax exemptions, reduced assessments, or tax classifications for any affordable housing subject to income, resale, or occupancy restrictions as of the date a qualifying owner takes title to the affordable housing for the upcoming tax period, consistent with county procedures. Effective 4/19/2042. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates tax exemptions for affordable housing, providing real property tax relief to lower-income housing owners per bill's tax relief focus.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRequires counties to maintain tax exemptions for affordable housing with restrictions, directly supporting affordability through tax relief for qualifying units.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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