Budget & Taxes

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 916: RELATING TO THE LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT.

Allows tax credits claimed under the State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program to be used to offset taxes imposed by the state transient accommodations tax law. Specifies that tax credit amounts applied to state transient accommodations taxes be limited to state transient accommodations taxes imposed in the same county in which the qualified low-income building is located. Makes permanent Act 129, SLH 2016. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2027. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllows tax credits to offset transient accommodations tax, providing relief for low-income housing programs through fiscal policy95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill expands low-income housing tax credit usability, enabling credits to offset county-specific transient tax, directly funding affordable housing development per its title and summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Affordable Housing Historic Preservation Housing Finance

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passed both · Hawaii · House May 27, 2026

HB 2438: RELATING TO THE HAWAII CULTURAL TRUST.

HB 2438 establishes the Hawaii Cultural Trust within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to support cultural preservation. It creates an income tax credit for individuals and businesses donating to the Trust or qualified Hawaii cultural organizations, subject to specific conditions. The bill also introduces a special vehicle license plate with proceeds funding the Trust, effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025. These provisions directly affect donors and cultural organizations by providing new tax incentives and dedicated funding streams.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates income tax credit for donations to cultural trust, providing tax relief to fund preservation programs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 2884: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for a certain percentage of expenses paid to retrofit a residence with wind resistive devices or to purchase, install, or construct, a hurricane shelter on the taxpayer's property. Reduces the general excise tax rate on the gross proceeds or income from the sale of a concrete high-rise certified hurricane-resistant residential project or certain hurricane-resistant components of the project. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Sunsets 12/31/2030. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credit and rate reduction for hurricane-resistant home improvements, offering tax relief while incentivizing safety measures within state tax policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Tax Credits

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 30, 2026

HB 2183: RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ANALYST.

Requires the office of the legislative analyst to produce fiscal notes on all fiscal bills. Prohibits a committee from making a decision on a fiscal bill without a fiscal note. Mandates that fiscal notes be made available to the public. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates fiscal notes for transparency, requires public access, and appropriates funds for oversight - enhancing fiscal accountability without altering tax/spending levels.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Audits & Accountability State Budget

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 20, 2026

HB 2618: RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Establishes a Green Fee Special Fund to receive an allocation of green fee revenues. Establishes various special funds to receive allocations of green fee revenues. Requires the Governor to request, through a bill separate from the budget or supplemental budget, an amount that approximates green fee revenues subtracted from the amounts allocated to the various funds to be expended for certain climate change and tourism destination management projects. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirects transient accommodations tax revenue toward climate/tourism projects, ensuring dedicated funding allocation for specified purposes.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds climate change projects via tourism tax revenue, directly advancing environmental protection goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Climate Change

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 940: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO.

HB 940 allocates state funds to support the rat lungworm disease research lab at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. This bill directly affects the university's lab and indirectly benefits Hawaii residents by advancing research on rat lungworm, a disease transmitted through contaminated food or water. The key provision is the appropriation of dedicated funding for the lab's operations, with the bill effective July 1, 3000 (note: likely a typo for 2030). The legislation focuses on providing concrete financial support for this specific research initiative, without altering broader public policy.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state funds for UH Hilo research lab, directly funding a program through budget allocation (Subjects: Appropriation ($)95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates state funds for rat lungworm disease research at UH Hilo, advancing public health initiatives through disease research funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1213: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Imposes a conveyance tax rate of 300% on sales of residential real property to persons who have not filed a Hawaii state income tax return within the preceding 4-year period.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes 300% conveyance tax on non-filers, increasing tax revenue and closing a loophole to strengthen state fiscal management.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SR 5: URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO PROVIDE OWNER-OCCUPANTS WITH COMPARABLY EQUIVALENT TAX DEDUCTIONS AFFORDED TO BUSINESS ENTITIES FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO PROPERTY OWNERSHIP.

This Senate Resolution (SR 5) urges the U.S. Congress to change federal tax law so that homeowners (owner-occupants) can deduct the same property-related expenses as business entities - such as depreciation, maintenance, and insurance - currently available to real estate investors. It highlights that under current law, homeowners only deduct mortgage interest, while business owners (like REITs) deduct a broader range of costs, creating a financial disadvantage. The resolution, offered by Hawaii's legislature, does not change tax law itself but formally requests Congress to address this disparity. It specifically asks Congress to provide homeowners with "comparably equivalent" deductions for property ownership expenses. (Note: This is a symbolic resolution, not a bill with legislative effect.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesSeeks expanded tax deductions for homeowners, reducing tax burden and aligning with business deductions, providing tax relief for middle-income households.95% confidence

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2037: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Increases the aggregate cap on credits allowed in any given year for the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit from $50,000,000 to $60,000,000. Extends the sunset of the tax credit to 1/1/2038. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Repeals 1/1/2038. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax credit cap for film industry, expanding fiscal incentives to stimulate economic activity within the tax policy framework.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyIncreases tax credits for digital media production, directly funding a technology sector within the bill's subjects.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2912: RELATING TO LIQUOR.

Defines "low alcohol spirits beverages". Establishes lower tax rates for class 18 small craft producer pub licensees, including for low alcohol spirits beverages. Increases the amount of alcohol that a class 18 small craft producer pub licensee may manufacture. Increases the amount of alcohol a class 18 small craft producer pub licensee may sell to consumers in recyclable containers. Authorizes class 18 small craft producer pub licensees to sell a certain number of barrels of malt beverages, wine, and cooler and low alcohol beverages to any class of licensee, except for class 3 wholesaler dealer licensees.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes lower tax rates for small craft producers, providing tax relief under liquor tax policy.90% confidence

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