Budget & Taxes

passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 627: RELATING TO SCHOOL SAFETY.

HB 627 allocates funds to the Department of Education to hire staff positions focused on implementing and maintaining school safety measures. It directly affects public schools by providing resources to enhance safety protocols through dedicated personnel. The bill’s key provision is the appropriation of funding specifically for these safety-related roles, rather than altering existing safety standards. The measure is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 3000 (note: likely a typo for 2030, per standard legislative dates).

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates funds for school safety staff, directly increasing government spending on public services per appropriation subject.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates funds for school safety staff positions, directly enhancing K-12 safety protocols through dedicated personnel funding within education infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations School Safety School Transportation

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 2212: RELATING TO A WORKFORCE BUILDER TAX CREDIT.

Establishes an income tax credit for eligible employers who employ qualified interns or apprentices. Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, in coordination with the Department of Taxation, to report to the Legislature on the tax credit. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes income tax credit for employers, appropriates funds for workforce program, aligns with tax incentive and funding indicators.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEstablishes tax credit for employers hiring interns/apprentices, promoting workforce development and job opportunities within labor & employment framework.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Credits Tax Incentives Apprenticeships Workforce Development

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1278: RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts from the state general excise tax any grants received from the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund by an eligible business pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Requires the Department of Taxation to notify all taxpayers eligible for refunds of any state general excise tax paid for grants received from the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund of their eligibility and requires taxpayers to file refund claims no later than six months following notification. Requires any state general excise taxes paid by eligible businesses for Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants to be refunded to the taxpayer. Effective 7/1/3000. Applies retroactively to 3/11/2021. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts federal restaurant grants from state tax, providing relief to businesses and refunding overpaid taxes, aligning with tax relief support for small businesses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1446: RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

Requires the Office of the Auditor to perform a comprehensive forensic audit of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and Department of Accounting and General Services related to the planning, design, financing, construction, and maintenance of a new jail to replace the Oahu Community Correctional Center. Requires a report. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for a forensic audit of corrections departments, directly addressing fiscal management and accountability within state budget processes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1347: RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS.

Appropriates funds for collective bargaining cost items for the members of bargaining unit (2) 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 & TaxesAppropriates funds for public employee salary adjustments, increasing budget allocation for collective bargaining costs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAppropriates funds for collective bargaining costs and salary adjustments negotiated between State and bargaining units, directly advancing public sector workers' rights through funding negotiations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending State Budget Collective Bargaining

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 928: RELATING TO INCOME TAX.

Increases the income tax rate on the highest income earners in the State by establishing a new tax bracket for taxable years beginning after 12/31/2029.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax rate on highest earners, generating additional state revenue for budget purposes per bill's explicit tax bracket change.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 1850: RELATING TO CAPITAL GAINS TAX.

Taxes capital gains tax for individuals, estates, and trusts as ordinary income, except for capital gains that are eligible for a county homeowner's exemption. Repeals the alternative capital gains tax for corporations. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases capital gains tax rates for high earners (individuals, estates, trusts, corporations), aligning with fiscal responsibility and closing tax loopholes for wealthy entities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 364: RELATING TO ANIMAL CONTROL.

Establishes the Spay and Neuter Special Fund to reduce pet overpopulation, including the free-roaming cat population, and authorizes an income tax designation to provide revenues into the special fund. Requires that female cats over the age of three months and male cats over the age of five months be surgically sterilized, with certain exceptions. Authorizes county animal control authorities to establish and enforce a permit program to allow the responsible breeding of cats. Establishes minimum requirements for breeding permits and penalties. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. Applies to taxable years after 12/31/2025. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes income tax designation to fund Spay and Neuter Special Fund, directly linking tax mechanism to budget allocation for animal control program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 781: RELATING TO THE WAIAHOLE WATER SYSTEM.

HB 781 allocates state funds specifically for the Waiahole Water System to cover bond debt payments and repair a tunnel. It directly affects the Waiahole Water System, a public water utility, by providing financial resources for critical infrastructure maintenance and debt obligations. The bill’s key provision is the appropriation of dedicated funding for these two purposes, ensuring ongoing operational stability. This is a straightforward funding measure with no new regulations or eligibility requirements for residents or businesses. The bill is currently recommended for passage by the Agriculture committee with amendments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds for bond debt and tunnel repairs, directly supporting fiscal management of public infrastructure through appropriations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Debt & Bonds

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1488: RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS.

Appropriates funds in addition to the base budget of the Department of Human Services' Homeless Programs Office to address the need for homeless services in the State.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates additional funds to Homeless Programs Office, directly increasing public service funding as per Budget & Taxes topic indicators.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill appropriates funds to DHS Homeless Programs Office for homeless services, directly funding housing-related assistance to address homelessness.90% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Homelessness

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