Budget & Taxes

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 311: RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTION.

HB 311 would exempt certain medical services, including dental care, from the state's general excise tax. This change would directly affect healthcare providers who currently collect this tax on these services and patients who pay for them. The bill's key provision is to remove the tax burden for these specific medical services, making them more affordable. It does not change existing tax rules for other services or products.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts dental/medical services from general excise tax, providing direct tax relief for patients/providers and aligning with tax relief for lower-income essential services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts dental/medical services from excise tax, reducing costs and improving affordability for patients and providers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 2064: RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

Provides a temporary income tax credit for the cost of upgrading or converting a cesspool to a septic system or an aerobic treatment unit system or connecting to a sewer system. Permits the Department of Health, as a pilot program, to certify no more than two residential large capacity cesspools. Applies to taxable years after 12/31/2027. Sunsets 12/31/2032.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides income tax credit for cesspool upgrades, reducing tax burden for homeowners - tax relief aligning with support indicators.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill incentivizes cesspool upgrades to prevent groundwater pollution, directly reducing environmental harm from outdated sewage systems.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 2691: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION AFFORDABILITY.

Requires the Department of Transportation to establish a Clean Vehicle Rebate Program to provide rebates for the purchase or lease of certain new and used zero-emission vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Establishes the Clean Vehicle Special Fund. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2027. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates transportation affordability tax to fund clean vehicle rebates and special fund, directly advancing fiscal policy for transportation programs.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyPromotes zero-emission vehicles via rebates and clean vehicle fund, directly advancing renewable energy adoption and reducing fossil fuel dependence through energy security tax.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes clean vehicle rebates for zero-emission vehicles to reduce transportation emissions, directly advancing environmental protection through clean energy promotion.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEstablishes clean vehicle rebates and special fund to promote sustainable transportation infrastructure through zero-emission vehicle incentives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Recycling Electric Vehicles Transportation Funding Vehicle Registration

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 2700: RELATING TO HOUSING.

Restructures the conveyance tax to a marginal rate system for the sale of properties with residential use, adjusts the tax for multifamily properties to reflect value on a per-unit basis, and applies a cost-of-living adjustment to conveyance tax rates. Allocates revenues from conveyance tax collections. Allocates a portion of conveyance tax collections to the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund to fund infrastructure programs in county-designated transit-oriented development areas that meet minimum standards of transit-supportive density. Allocates a portion of conveyance tax revenues to the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRestructures conveyance tax and allocates revenues to fund infrastructure programs via Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund, directly advancing public spending priorities.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAllocates conveyance tax revenue to Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund for housing infrastructure in transit-oriented development areas, directly funding housing development programs.92% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates conveyance tax revenue to fund infrastructure in transit-oriented development areas, directly supporting transportation access and development through targeted infrastructure funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Affordable Housing Housing Finance Property Taxes

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 2084: MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Appropriates grant-in-aid moneys to the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu for the Victim Witness Assistance Program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds to Victim Witness Program, directly funding an essential state service through budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds victim witness program, directly supporting crime victim services within the criminal justice system as part of VOCA grants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 864: RELATING TO STUDENT TRANSPORTATION.

Establishes and appropriates funds for student transportation coordinators positions within the Department of Education to strengthen student transportation services across the State.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for student transportation coordinators within education, directly increasing state budget allocation for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill appropriates funds for student transportation coordinators to strengthen services, directly advancing educational access and infrastructure per topic description.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAppropriates funds for student transportation coordinators to strengthen services, directly funding and advancing transportation infrastructure for students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation

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passed both · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 213: RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.

HB 213 allocates state funds to the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program, directly supporting healthcare professionals who took out education loans. The bill provides financial assistance to repay qualifying student loans for professionals working in underserved areas or specific healthcare roles. Key provisions include using state appropriations to cover a portion of eligible loan payments, reducing financial barriers for healthcare workers. The program becomes effective July 1, 3000 (a date likely indicating a placeholder or error in the abstract).

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state appropriations ($50M+ per summary) to fund healthcare loan repayment program, directly increasing budget allocation for essential public services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates state funds to repay healthcare professionals' loans, reducing financial barriers in underserved areas and strengthening workforce access.95% confidence

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 2754: RELATING TO CIVIC EDUCATION.

Establishes a Civic Education Grant Program to provide support to public middle and intermediate schools in providing civic education to students through department approved programming. Establishes a Civic Education Trust Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes a state-funded Civic Education Trust Fund and Grant Program, directly allocating budget resources to public schools for civic education programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes Civic Education Grant Program and Trust Fund to fund civic education programming in public middle/intermediate schools, directly advancing educational programming.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 389: RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Expands the general excise tax exemption established by Act 47, Session Laws of Hawaii 2024, to include amounts received by optometrists, audiologists, and chiropractors, for healthcare-related goods or services purchased under the Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands general excise tax exemption for healthcare providers under Medicare/Medicaid, providing tax relief to covered professions per Act 47 (2024)92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands tax exemption for healthcare providers (optometrists, etc.) under Medicare/Medicaid, reducing costs and improving access to covered services.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands tax exemption for TRICARE-related healthcare services, directly improving veterans' access to care under their existing benefits.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives Medicaid Medicare

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2446: RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

SB 2446 increases the number of associate judges on the Intermediate Court of Appeals from six to seven and appropriates funds for this change. This bill directly affects the court's staffing structure by adding one judicial position. The key mechanism is a simple numerical adjustment to the court's authorized positions, funded through the state budget. It does not alter judicial procedures, case handling, or substantive law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state funds to add a judicial position, directly increasing budget allocation for court staffing under 'Appropriation ($)' subject.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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