Budget & Taxes

passed · Hawaii · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2195: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the Department of Transportation to assess a per passenger head infrastructure fee against cruise ships docking in the State's commercial harbors. Establishes the Cruise Ship Special Fund. Repeals existing law imposing the Transient Accommodations Tax on cruise ships, effective retroactive to 1/1/2026. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates Cruise Ship Special Fund via new passenger head fee, replaces TAT repeal with dedicated revenue stream. Explicitly establishes tax mechanism for budget allocation.95% confidence

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 2330: RELATING TO HOSTING PLATFORMS.

Requires hosting platforms that earn service fees for providing booking services for transient accommodations to register with the Department of Taxation as tax collection agents and report, collect, and remit general excise and transient accommodations taxes on behalf of operators.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires hosting platforms to collect and remit transient accommodations taxes, strengthening tax revenue collection for state budget through enhanced compliance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 3293: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Authorizes a county with a pre-existing surcharge to continue the surcharge after December 31, 2030, at the same rate of 0.5 per cent; provided that after December 31, 2030, the split or disbursement of this surcharge between the State and the counties shall be 0.25 per cent each with the State's share being reserved and allocated to the Med-QUEST division of the Department of Human Services. 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 & TaxesContinues county surcharge and allocates state share (0.25%) to Med-QUEST human services program, directly funding essential public services.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 2935: RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTIONS.

SB 2935 exempts sales of feminine hygiene products from the general excise tax, meaning manufacturers and retailers selling these items will not pay this tax on the income from those sales. The exemption directly affects businesses that sell products like tampons, pads, and menstrual cups. The bill takes effect on January 30, 2050, and would remove a tax burden currently applied to these essential health products. This change is a specific policy adjustment to the tax code, not a broader health or funding measure.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts SNAP-eligible groceries, feminine products, diapers, and medical supplies from tax, reducing burden on low-income households using essential programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts nonprescription drugs, medical supplies, and feminine hygiene products from excise tax, reducing costs for essential healthcare items and improving access to covered services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 1037: RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Provides appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of bargaining unit (11) and their excluded counterparts, including the cost of salary adjustments negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal biennium 2025-2027. Declares the expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2025-2026 is exceeded. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides appropriations for public employee salary adjustments, directly funding state employment costs within budget framework.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds collective bargaining costs for public employees, directly supporting negotiation rights and salary adjustments between state and bargaining units per bill's purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending State Budget Collective Bargaining

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 2608: RELATING TO WATER HEATING SYSTEMS.

Authorizes building permit variances for certain high-efficiency electric water heating systems utilizing heat pump technology. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands renewable energy tax credit, providing tax relief for qualifying water heating systems, directly supporting fiscal policy for energy efficiency.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExpands renewable energy tax credits to high-efficiency electric water heating systems, promoting clean energy adoption and energy efficiency.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExpands renewable energy tax credit for high-efficiency electric water heating systems, promoting cleaner energy adoption and reducing energy consumption.90% confidence

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 2568: RELATING TO THE FILM INDUSTRY.

Increases the fee amount collected from taxpayers claiming the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit and requires a portion of funds collected to be used to support the vertical film industry in the State. Expands the funding sources of the Hawaii Film and Creative Industries Development Special Fund to include revenues received by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism from managing the Hawaii Film Studio. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Repeals 1/1/2033. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases fee for film tax credit and allocates collected funds to support vertical film industry development, directly funding a specific sector via tax revenue allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2891: RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

SB 2891 exempts grocery purchases made by individuals aged 65 and older from Hawaii's general excise tax. This policy change directly affects seniors who buy groceries, removing a sales tax on these items. The key provision is a targeted tax exemption for grocery sales specifically to this age group. The bill is currently under review by the House Health and Human Services Committee after passing its first reading.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts seniors' groceries from GET, providing tax relief to lower-income seniors, aligning with support indicators for tax relief.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives Tags Seniors

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 547: RELATING TO WATER CONSERVATION.

Incentivizes the installation and use of gray water recycling systems and atmospheric water generators in the State by establishing an income tax credit to be administered by the Department of Taxation. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish a rebate program. Requires the State Building Code Council to adopt certain standards on gray water recycling systems and atmospheric water generators in the State. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides income tax credit for water conservation systems, directly using tax policy to incentivize adoption, aligning with fiscal responsibility indicators.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncentivizes water conservation technologies via tax credits, rebates, and mandatory standards, directly advancing resource efficiency and reducing water waste.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Conservation Recycling

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 1652: RELATING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.

Establishes the Climate Change Adaptation Cost Recovery Program within the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to secure compensatory payments from historically responsible parties that contributed to pollution, based on a standard of strict liability to provide a source of revenue for climate change adaptive infrastructure projects within the State. Establishes the Climate Change Adaptation Special Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates Climate Change Adaptation Special Fund via strict liability payments from polluters, establishing new revenue to fund climate infrastructure projects, advancing fiscal management for essential programs.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes program to recover costs from polluters for climate adaptation infrastructure funding, advancing environmental protection via strict liability and dedicated fund.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change Recycling

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