Budget & Taxes (State Budget)

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 3099: RELATING TO THE EMERGENCY AND BUDGET RESERVE FUND.

Appropriates moneys out of the Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund for fiscal year 2026-2027 to maintain the levels of programs determined to be essential to education, public health, and public welfare, to provide for counter cyclical economic and employment programs of economic downturn, to restore facilities destroyed or damaged or services disrupted by disaster, and to meet other emergencies declared by the governor or determined to be urgent by the legislature.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates funds from reserve to maintain essential education/public health/welfare programs and counter-cyclical economic initiatives, directly funding core public services per budget & taxes indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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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

Sub-Topics State Budget

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 633: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Amends the environmental response, energy, and food security tax to address carbon emissions. Incrementally increases the tax rate over time. Establishes a refundable tax credit to mitigate the effect of a carbon emissions tax on lower-income taxpayers. Establishes and appropriates moneys into the carbon emissions tax and dividend special fund. Reenacts the agricultural development and food security special fund. Requires reports to the Legislature.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes refundable tax credit for lower-income taxpayers and funds carbon emissions tax/dividend special fund, aligning with fiscal responsibility and tax relief indicators.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyImposes carbon emissions tax to reduce fossil fuel dependence, establishes carbon tax fund, and includes refundable credit for lower-income households aligning with clean energy transition policies.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncreases carbon tax to reduce emissions, creates carbon emissions tax fund for environmental response, and includes refundable credit to mitigate impact while advancing climate action.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes State Budget Tax Credits Climate Change

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 1617: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Reestablishes the Agricultural Development and Food Security Special Fund. Renames the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax, also known as the barrel tax, as the Environmental Response, Energy, Carbon Emissions, and Food Security Tax; gradually increases barrel tax rates; and allocates portions of barrel tax revenues to the Agricultural Development and Food Security Special Fund, Carbon Emissions Tax and Dividend Special Fund, Airport Revenue Fund, and Boating Special Fund. Establishes a refundable Carbon Cashback Tax Credit and appropriates funds to the Department of Taxation to administer the tax credit. Establishes the Carbon Emissions Tax and Dividend Special Fund to be used in the administration of the barrel tax and Carbon Cashback Tax Credit and for public awareness of the Carbon Cashback Tax Credit. Requires the Department of Taxation to submit reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes new carbon tax with refundable credit for most taxpayers, increasing taxes while offsetting impacts, aligning with fiscal responsibility and funding environmental programs.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyImposes carbon emissions tax to reduce fossil fuel reliance, provides tax credit to offset costs, directly advances clean energy transition through emissions pricing.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentImposes carbon emissions tax with refundable credit to reduce emissions while offsetting taxpayer burden; establishes dedicated funds for environmental response and carbon management.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes State Budget Tax Credits Climate Change

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 3092: MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Makes emergency appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of Bargaining Unit (14) and their excluded counterparts, including the cost of salary adjustments negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal biennium 2025-2027. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides emergency appropriations for public employment cost items, increasing state spending on salaries for public employees, aligning with funding essential programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds collective bargaining costs and salary adjustments for public employees, directly supporting workers' negotiation rights and wage protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Collective Bargaining

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 2008: RELATING TO TAXATION.

HB 2008 establishes a new tax bracket for higher-income earners in the state, applying to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2029. This bill directly affects residents with higher incomes by subjecting additional earnings to a new, higher tax rate. The key provision creates a specific income threshold above which the new tax rate applies, altering how state income tax is calculated for those earning above that level. The bill is currently in early legislative stages, having been introduced and passed its first reading in January 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new tax bracket for higher earners, increasing state revenue from high-income taxpayers, supporting fiscal management through progressive taxation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax State Budget

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 2010: RELATING TO TAXATION.

HB 2010 proposes a 1% surcharge on taxable income exceeding $1 million annually, directly affecting high-income earners. The revenue generated would fund the State Medicaid Program if approved by the Legislature. The bill is currently deferred by the House Health and Human Services (HSH) committee after a scheduled hearing. It requires legislative approval to take effect and has not yet been passed.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes 1% surcharge on high-income earners to fund Medicaid, directly aligning with program funding indicators under Budget & Taxes.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds State Medicaid Program via 1% surcharge on high-income earners, directly expanding public healthcare coverage and program resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing State Budget Medicaid

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1126: RELATING TO PROPERTY FORFEITURE.

Prohibits civil asset forfeiture unless the covered offense is a felony for which the property owner has been convicted. Excludes the forfeiture proceedings for an animal pending criminal charges. Requires the Attorney General to deposit the net proceeds of the forfeited property to the credit of the state general fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirects forfeiture proceeds to state general fund, increasing budget revenue without tax changes, aligning with fiscal responsibility indicators.85% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts civil forfeiture to felony convictions only, protecting property rights and reducing potential abuse of asset forfeiture, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 2500: RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET.

Adjusts and requests appropriations for fiscal biennium 2025-2027 funding requirements for operations and capital improvement projects of Executive Branch agencies and programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill adjusts appropriations for agency operations/capital projects, directly funding state budget needs per its title and summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 568: RELATING TO OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE ANALYST.

Requires the office of legislative analyst to produce fiscal notes on all fiscal bills. Prohibits a committee from making a decision on a fiscal bill without a fiscal note. Mandates that fiscal notes be made available to the public. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates fiscal notes for transparency, enhancing fiscal accountability in budget decisions per bill's requirements on committee actions and public access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability State Budget

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