Budget & Taxes

passed · Hawaii · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2444: RELATING TO TAXATION.

HB 2444 increases the state tax credit available to low-income household renters, raising the amount from $50 to $100 for each tax exemption claimed by the taxpayer. This change directly affects renters who qualify as low-income and claim tax exemptions, providing them with greater financial relief through their state tax return. The key provision is the specific dollar amount increase per exemption, making the credit more substantial for eligible households. The bill does not alter eligibility criteria or introduce new administrative requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax credit for low-income renters, providing direct fiscal relief through higher state tax credit per exemption.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingIncreases tax credit for low-income renters from $50 to $100, directly enhancing housing affordability and financial relief for eligible households.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Credits Tax Incentives Property Taxes Renters

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 854: RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OF COMMITTED PERSONS.

Appropriates $500,000, for each year of the fiscal biennium to the department of corrections and rehabilitation to procure a new software for electronic record keeping of medical records. Requires a report to the legislature.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $500k annually for corrections software, directly funding a state service via budget allocation, aligning with fiscal responsibility and essential program funding.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds software for mental health medical records in corrections, supporting rehabilitation efforts for committed persons.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAppropriates $500k for electronic medical records software in corrections, improving mental health record-keeping and access for committed persons.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

Track

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

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing Sales Tax

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 116: RELATING TO TAX HAVEN ABUSE.

Requires corporations to include 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. Effective 1/1/2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCloses corporate tax loophole by requiring foreign subsidiary income inclusion, increasing state tax revenue through stricter apportionment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes

Track

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jul 15, 2026

SB 2600: RELATING TO THE GENERAL FUND.

This bill directs a specific amount of money from the state's General Fund into the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund. The transfer is required by Article VII, Section 6 of the Hawaii State Constitution, which mandates these deposits to help stabilize the state's finances during economic downturns. The measure does not create new spending or alter existing programs but rather moves existing funds to a reserve account. It affects the state's overall budget management by ensuring that money is set aside for future financial needs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credit to taxpayers and funds emergency/budget reserve trusts, advancing fiscal responsibility and tax relief per constitutional provisions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Tax Credits

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 54: RELATING TO AN INTERSTATE COMPACT TO PHASE OUT CORPORATE WELFARE.

The provided context does not include sufficient details to summarize SB 54's specific provisions, mechanisms, or affected parties. The bill title and abstract mention adopting an "Interstate Compact to Phase Out Corporate Welfare," but no concrete policy changes, affected entities, or implementation details are described in the available information. Without additional text explaining the compact's requirements or scope, a factual summary cannot be generated. The recent procedural actions (e.g., referral to committees) do not clarify the bill's substance.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesPhasing out corporate welfare closes tax loopholes and reduces corporate subsidies, aligning with fiscal responsibility and budget management priorities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes State Budget

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 310: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Authorizes a county with a pre-existing surcharge to continue the surcharge after December 31, 2030, at a lower rate of one-fourth per cent. Authorizes counties that have not adopted a surcharge ordinance on state tax to adopt a surcharge ordinance at the current rate of one-half of one per cent through December 31, 2030, and at a rate of one-fourth of one per cent after December 31, 2030. Expands the authorized use of surcharge revenues to more than capital costs of a locally preferred alternative for a mass transit project for counties with a population greater than five hundred thousand.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enables counties to maintain/adopt low-rate surcharges (0.25%) for local revenue, expanding use beyond capital costs to fund services, strengthening fiscal management.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing Sales Tax

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 1547: RELATING TO HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.

For taxable years beginning 1/1/2026, establishes a tiered nonrefundable tax credit for qualified taxpayer insurers that offer one or more federally qualified health savings account‑eligible high deductible health plans in the State, under certain conditions, and increasing the tax credit to incentivize more plans being written in rural medically underserved areas of the State. Requires qualified taxpayer insurers to match up to a certain amount of a policyholder's first-time contribution into a health savings account. Sunsets 12/31/2030.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit for insurers offering HSA-eligible plans, incentivizing rural coverage through fiscal policy (tax credit increases).90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncentivizes HSA-eligible plans in rural underserved areas via tax credits, expanding coverage access and targeting medically underserved regions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits

Track

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

Sub-Topics State Budget Career & Technical Education School Funding

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 881: RELATING TO FOOD SECURITY.

Establishes the Hawaii Food Security Special Fund to restore Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit levels to those provided in federal fiscal year 2023. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates state funds to restore SNAP benefits via Hawaii Food Security Special Fund, directly funding essential nutrition program per bill's summary.95% confidence

Track