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 1190: RELATING TO THE HAWAII INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL.

SB 1190 provides funding to the Hawaii Invasive Species Council to support its efforts in controlling and eradicating invasive species across the state. The bill directly affects the Council by allocating financial resources for its ongoing initiatives to protect Hawaii's native ecosystems and agriculture. Key provisions include appropriating state funds specifically for invasive species management programs, such as monitoring, removal, and prevention activities. This funding aims to strengthen the Council's capacity to address threats posed by non-native plants and animals.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state funds for invasive species management, directly increasing budget allocation for a specific program under Department of Land and Natural Resources.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentSB 1190 allocates state funds to control invasive species, directly protecting native ecosystems and agriculture per the Council's mission, aligning with environmental protection indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 2068: RELATING TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

Establishes the Affordable Housing Land Inventory Task Force within the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to conduct a study, subject to legislative appropriation, on how to maximize housing development in transit-oriented development zones or other areas on state or county lands. Requires a report to the Legislature. Establishes a position. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds for the Affordable Housing Land Inventory Task Force study, directly allocating budget resources to advance housing policy.92% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes Affordable Housing Task Force to maximize development in transit zones, appropriates funds, and mandates report - directly advancing affordable housing goals.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill focuses on transit-oriented development zones to maximize housing near transit, promoting sustainable transportation integration through TOD strategy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 2227: RELATING TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

Requires the Hawaii Public Housing Authority to award monthly rent supplement payments on behalf of qualified tenants under the State Rent Supplement Program prioritizing certain tenants, including kupuna. Authorizes the HPHA to enter into memoranda of agreement for rental supplement payments with the counties or specialized nonprofit organizations. Amends provisions relating to the State Rent Supplement Program. Establishes the State Rent Supplement Program Special Fund. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to assess a transaction tax for each applicable recording in the Office of the Assistant Registrar of the Land Court or the Bureau of Conveyances to be deposited into the State Rent Supplement Program Special Fund. Repeals the existing separate State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna. Establishes four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) permanent public housing specialist II positions and one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) permanent public housing specialist IV position within the Hawaii Public Housing Authority. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates State Rent Supplement Program Special Fund to allocate state appropriations for tenant rental assistance, prioritizing kupuna. Directly funds a public service program through dedicated budgeting.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes State Rent Supplement Program with prioritized funding for kupuna tenants and creates dedicated fund, directly advancing affordable housing access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 2310: RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES.

SB 2310 allocates state funds to remove overgrown vegetation from Kainahola Stream. This bill directly affects the maintenance and ecological health of Kainahola Stream by authorizing the specific funding for vegetation removal. The key provision is the appropriation of money for this stream cleanup effort, with no additional policy changes or regulations. The bill is currently under review by the AEN/WLA committee, with a public hearing scheduled for February 11, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds for stream maintenance, directly appropriating budget resources for environmental public service.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates state funds for Kainahola Stream vegetation removal to maintain ecological health, directly supporting conservation and pollution control through targeted appropriations.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 2488: RELATING TO THE HAWAII INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL.

Establishes the position of the Hawaii Invasive Species Council Executive Director. Appropriates funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, rather than the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, for the HISC for fiscal year 2026-2027. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates funds to DLNR for HISC, explicitly allocating budget resources for a specific program. This funds a program, aligning with 'funds essential programs' under Budget & Taxes.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill appropriates funds to DLNR for Hawaii Invasive Species Council (HISC) to manage invasive species, directly protecting native ecosystems and conservation efforts.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 3288: RELATING TO THE COUNTRY CLUB APARTMENT BUILDING, HILO, HAWAII.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to demolish and remove the Country Club Apartment Building and related structures and utilities located at 121 Banyan Drive, Hilo, Hawaii, on the parcel designated as tax map key: (3) 2-1-005:020. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state funds for DLNR demolition project, directly involving budget allocation and government spending as per Budget & Taxes topic.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 2738: RELATING TO TAX HAVEN ABUSE.

Effective 1/1/2028, requires corporations to include in their income the income of all foreign subsidiaries to the State; applies the State's apportionment formula to determine the share of reported profits subject to the appropriate tax, which shall be deposited into the state general fund; and requires corporations to report all profits, losses, revenues, and inter-company transactions made and all taxes paid in other states. Establishes penalties for violations. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill closes tax loopholes by requiring corporations to report foreign subsidiary income and pay state taxes on it, increasing revenue for the general fund. This strengthens tax collection and fiscal management.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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