Budget & Taxes

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 3258: RELATING TO REGIONAL AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION.

Establishes the Regional Agricultural Feasibility and Food Systems Production Studies Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to provide coordinated, region-specific agricultural production and crop feasibility analysis across the State. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Repeals 6/30/2028.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for a new working group focused on regional agricultural feasibility, directly funding a state program under budget allocation.90% confidence

Tags Agriculture

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 868: RELATING TO THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER CERTIFICATION SUBSIDY PILOT PROGRAM.

Establishes a one-year School Bus Driver Certification Subsidy Pilot Program within the Department of Education for the 20252026 school year. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for a school bus driver certification pilot program, directly funding an education-related initiative through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds for school bus driver certification subsidy, directly supporting K-12 transportation access and safety through targeted funding.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationFunds school bus driver certification to enhance safety standards in school transportation, directly supporting vehicle regulation and safety within transportation infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation Driver Licensing Public Transit

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 23, 2026

SB 2319: RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND BIOSECURITY.

Appropriates funds for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) grant writer position within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and converts the position from temporary to permanent. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill directly appropriates funds for a permanent grant writer position within Agriculture Department, increasing budget allocation for program support.95% confidence

Track

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

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1401: RELATING TO THE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Reduces the minimum number of years of credited service qualified Tier 2 Employees' Retirement System members must have to be eligible for vested benefit status for service retirement allowance purposes from ten years to five years. Increases employer contributions to offset the resulting liability.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases employer contributions to offset retirement liability, promoting fiscal responsibility in budget management.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentReduces service years for retirement vesting, expanding access to benefits. Employer contributions increase to offset cost, strengthening worker benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Pensions

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1779: RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Expands free school meal coverage, beginning with the 2029-2030 school year, to all public school students, including public charter school students, regardless of whether the student participates in a federal school meals program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands state-funded school meals coverage, increasing public education spending without tax changes.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands free school meal access to all DOE students regardless of federal program participation, increasing educational access and support for school nutrition programs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands free school meals, a public health nutrition program, improving student access to healthy meals under public health initiatives.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Health

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 3176: RELATING TO HOUSING.

SB 3176 appropriates state funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA) specifically for rehabilitating, remodeling, renovating, and repairing existing public housing units. The bill directly affects HPHA and the residents living in these publicly managed housing properties by enabling physical upgrades to their homes. Key provisions include allocating money for structural repairs, modernizing facilities, and improving living conditions within the current public housing stock, without creating new housing units or changing eligibility rules. This is a funding measure focused on maintaining and enhancing existing affordable housing infrastructure.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state funds for public housing rehabilitation, directly funding essential housing services through budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill allocates state funds to HPHA for rehabilitating public housing units, directly improving affordable housing conditions and funding existing public housing programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance

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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

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 493: RELATING TO VETERINARIANS.

Establishes the Veterinarian Workforce Development Special Fund. Establishes the Veterinarian Workforce Development Fee to support recruitment and retention of veterinarians in the State. Establishes the Veterinarian Workforce Development Loan Repayment and Scholarship Program to support qualified veterinarians committed to or currently working in veterinary medicine in the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes Veterinarian Workforce Development Special Fund and appropriates funds for recruitment/retention programs, directly funding a workforce initiative under budget appropriations.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2833: RELATING TO EDUCATOR STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT.

Establishes the Educator Student Loan Repayment Program to provide for the repayment of qualified student loans for certain educators in the State. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state funds to establish educator loan repayment program, increasing government spending on education through dedicated budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes Educator Student Loan Repayment Program with appropriated funds, directly supporting teachers by reducing debt burden and aiding recruitment/retention.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Teachers

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