Budget & Taxes

passed · Hawaii · House Mar 17, 2026

HB 1612: RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes a business competitiveness goal for the State to be nationally ranked in the top thirty states for business climate by 2050, with interim goals. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to submit annual progress reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for business competitiveness goals, aligning with fiscal responsibility and economic development funding initiatives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Incentives Tags Economic Development

Track

signed · Hawaii · House Jul 9, 2026

HB 2385: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Beginning 1/1/2027, authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, instead of the counties, to approve and certify general excise tax exemptions for certain housing development projects developed under county housing incentive programs. Sunsets 7/1/2031. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes tax exemptions for housing projects, reducing tax burden on developers to advance affordable housing through fiscal incentives, aligning with tax relief for development programs.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAuthorizes tax exemptions for housing development projects under incentive programs, reducing costs to increase affordable housing supply.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Taxes

signed · Hawaii · House May 26, 2026

HB 2271: MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Makes emergency appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of bargaining units (1) and (10) and their excluded counterparts to resolve issues related to temporary hazard pay for fiscal year 2025-2026. Authorizes the use of the general fund appropriations to restore the temporary reclassifications for temporary hazard pay payouts to the appropriate departments to provide for the repayment of the general fund loan. Specifies that emergency appropriations made under Act 29, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, do not lapse until June 30, 2027. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates emergency funds for public employee hazard pay and bargaining costs, increasing state budget allocation for public employment.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds collective bargaining costs and temporary hazard pay for public employees, directly advancing worker benefits and rights through emergency appropriations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Collective Bargaining

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1139: RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP FEES.

Establishes within the Department of Land and Natural Resources the environmental stewardship fee program to collect a fee from visitors through an environmental stewardship license and allocate the revenue to protect, restore, and manage natural and cultural resources through grants to nonprofit organizations. Establishes the environmental stewardship fee special fund. Establishes the Environmental Stewardship Commission to make recommendations to the Board of Land and Natural Resources regarding the use of revenues in the special fund. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to conduct rulemaking. Requires a report to the legislature, including an environmental stewardship fee strategic plan. Creates civil or administrative penalties to be imposed after July 1, 2030. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new fee revenue stream and allocates funds via special fund to environmental conservation programs, directly advancing public service funding through budget appropriation.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes fee program to fund environmental protection, restoration, and resource management via nonprofit grants, directly advancing conservation efforts through dedicated revenue allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 1535: RELATING TO AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS.

Establishes an income tax credit for automated external defibrillator devices that are installed and placed in service in certain places of public accommodation located in the State, subject to registration requirements. Authorizes the Department of Health to establish a statewide automated external defibrillator registry to collect and maintain certain information. Requires the owner or operator of an automated external defibrillator located in a place of public accommodation to conduct certain maintenance. Requires reporting of certain automated external defibrillator data to the Department of Health. Requires the Department of Health to coordinate with certain entities. Requires the Department of Health to request funds from the 911 Fund for the establishment and maintenance of the automated external defibrillator registry. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes income tax credit for AED purchases, providing direct tax relief to eligible businesses under fiscal policy.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides tax credit for AEDs in public places, improving emergency cardiac care access and supporting public health initiatives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2859: RELATING TO COLORECTAL CANCER.

Requires and appropriates funds for the Department of Human Services to develop and implement a public assistance program offering state-funded colorectal screenings for certain persons. Requires coverage for all colorectal cancer screenings in the State to be consistent with the Affordable Care Act Implementation Frequently Asked Questions published by the United States Department of Labor, United States Department of Health and Human Services, and United States Department of the Treasury.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates state funds for colorectal cancer screenings, directly increasing public health program funding under state budget authority.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates state-funded colorectal screenings and requires ACA-aligned coverage, expanding preventive care access and funding for screenings.95% confidence

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 1996: RELATING TO HEARING AIDS.

Exempts from the general excise tax, gross receipts from the sale of hearing aids received by a hospital, infirmary, medical clinic, health care facility, pharmacy, or a practitioner licensed to administer drugs to an individual. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill exempts hearing aid sales from general excise tax, providing tax relief for necessary medical devices, aligning with tax relief indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts hearing aid sales from tax, reducing costs and improving access to a healthcare service (hearing aids) for patients.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Hospitals Prescription Drugs Primary Care

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2211: MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

Provides an emergency appropriation to the Department of Human Services to replace general fund appropriations redirected to provide emergency food assistance during the 2025 federal government shutdown. Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to help Hawaii residents obtain insurance available through the federal marketplace. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds emergency SNAP assistance and food delivery services through DHS, directly supporting essential public programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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passed · Hawaii · House Feb 20, 2026

HB 2586: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Applies the retail or higher general excise tax or use tax rate to purchases or imports of new motor vehicles by rental car companies and requires the revenue to be deposited into the Hawaiian Home Lands Special Fund. Establishes the Hawaiian Home Lands Special Fund. Appropriates funds for a position in the Department of Taxation. Appropriates funds out of the Hawaiian Home Lands Special Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesApplies higher tax rate to rental car companies and appropriates funds for Taxation Dept and DHHL, supporting fiscal management and essential programs.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAppropriates funds to DHHL to address housing beneficiary waiting list, directly funding a housing program for Native Hawaiians.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 2848: RELATING TO HEARING AIDS.

Exempts from the general excise tax, gross receipts from the sale of hearing aids received by a hospital, infirmary, medical clinic, health care facility, pharmacy, or a practitioner licensed to administer drugs to an individual. Effective 1/30/2050. Implementation effective 1/1/2027. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts hearing aid sales from general excise tax, providing tax relief for medical devices, aligning with support indicators for tax relief.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts hearing aid sales from tax, reducing costs for patients and improving access to medical devices under healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Hospitals Prescription Drugs Primary Care

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