Budget & Taxes

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 345: RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCING.

Increases 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 and staff. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds for public campaign financing program, increasing budget allocation for campaign finance administration and matching payments.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1405: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Exempts any development of homestead lots or housing for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from general excise and use taxes. Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to submit annual reports to the Legislature over a period of five years. (SD1)

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExempts DHHL housing from taxes, reducing state revenue and weakening fiscal management.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts DHHL housing from taxes, reducing development costs to advance affordable housing for Native Hawaiians.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1480: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Authorizes for a county to impose a mileage-based road usage charge. Provides for disposition of funds of county mileage-based road usage charge. Clarifies the disposition of funds of state mileage-based road usage charge. Repeals the maximum amount a driver will pay in a state mileage-based road usage charge on June 30, 2028. Establishes a default state mileage-based road usage charge rate when missing, incomplete, or incorrect odometer reading information that will prevent the state mileage-based road usage charge from being calculated. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes mileage-based road usage charge as new revenue source for transportation funding, directly impacting tax collection and appropriations under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAuthorizes county/state mileage-based road usage charges to fund transportation infrastructure, clarifies fund disposition, and repeals payment caps - directly advancing transportation funding mechanisms.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 260: RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

SB 260 allocates funding for the state Judiciary for the fiscal years 2025-2027, effective July 1, 2025. It provides the necessary budget to support court operations, judicial staff, and related services during this two-year period. This bill directly affects the Judiciary branch by ensuring financial resources for its day-to-day functioning and court system maintenance. As a funding measure, it does not change laws or policies but enables existing judicial operations to continue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly allocates funding for Judiciary operations (Appropriations/Budget subject), directly supporting essential government services without tax changes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1543: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY.

Requires each purchasing agency to provide justification for hiring external consultants. Caps the amount each agency can spend on external consultants. Requires each agency to seek approval from the Legislature for consulting contracts exceeding a certain dollar amount. Requires each agency to disclose new contracts with external consultants. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Requires the Compliance Audit Unit to conduct regular audits of agency consultant contracts to assess cost-effectiveness and compliance. Requires each chief procurement officer to ensure that inherent government functions are not delegated to a contractor. Effective 1/1/2491. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes spending caps, audit requirements, and disclosure on consultant contracts to enhance fiscal accountability and control government spending, aligning with fiscal responsibility indicators.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1610: RELATING TO OHANA ZONES.

Establishes the Ohana Zones Program as a program within the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions. Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to exempt ohana zones projects from general excise taxes. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts housing projects from general excise taxes (tax relief) and appropriates funds for the Ohana Zones Program, supporting housing initiatives through fiscal policy.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes Ohana Zones Program under homelessness/housing office, exempts projects from taxes, appropriates funds - directly advances affordable housing development and homelessness solutions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed both · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 560: RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

Appropriates funds to the Judiciary to support services contracted with community-based organizations that deliver essential services, streamline judicial processes, and support the judiciary's capacity to effectively meet the needs of vulnerable households. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds to Judiciary for community services and judicial processes, advancing public funding for essential programs per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds community-based organizations supporting vulnerable households through judiciary services, aligning with criminal justice reform goals like rehabilitation and systemic support.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 492: RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Authorizes each county that has established a surcharge on state tax before 7/1/2015 to extend the surcharge until 12/31/2045, at the same rates, if the county does so before 1/1/2028. Provides that no county surcharge on state tax authorized for a county that has not established a surcharge on state tax before 7/1/2015, shall be levied before 1/1/2019, or after 12/31/2045. Repeals certain conditions on the use of surcharges for housing infrastructure costs. Effective 5/13/2040. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends county tax surcharges until 2045, maintaining local revenue streams without rate changes or new tax burdens.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingRepeals restrictions on using county surcharges for housing infrastructure, enabling funding for housing development and infrastructure projects.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1071: RELATING TO ENERGY FINANCING.

Authorizes the Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund to be used to provide financial assistance to underserved ratepayers, in addition to other eligible borrowers. Appropriates funds into and out of the Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds into Clean Energy Revolving Loan Fund to assist underserved ratepayers, directly funding a public program under budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyAuthorizes Clean Energy Fund for underserved ratepayers, directly funding clean energy access and efficiency programs per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1043: RELATING TO TAXATION.

SB 1043 reduces the general excise tax rate on nonprescription drugs by 50%. This change directly affects consumers who purchase nonprescription medications, lowering their out-of-pocket costs. The bill's key provision is halving the existing tax rate, effective July 1, 3000. It does not alter other tax rates or create new government programs. The bill passed a committee recommendation with four supportive votes in February 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReduces excise tax on nonprescription drugs, providing direct tax relief to consumers, aligning with support indicators for tax relief.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReduces excise tax on nonprescription drugs, lowering consumer costs and improving access to essential healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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