Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto

Establishes a family caregiver tax credit for nonpaid family caregivers. Requires the Department of Taxation to submit annual reports to the legislature. Appropriates moneys to the Executive Office on Aging. The tax credit applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2027. Effective 12/31/2026.

Requires the Department of Human Services to conduct a study to recommend legislation to address the issue of long-term care facility closures. Requires reporting.

Maddy summaryHB 2150 removes a specific tax deduction for real estate investment trusts (REITs). It disallows REITs from deducting dividends they pay to shareholders when calculating their taxable income. This change directly affects REITs by increasing their taxable income and potentially raising their tax burden. The bill creates a concrete policy shift in how REITs are taxed under state law.

Prohibits discrimination against a pharmacy or pharmacist with respect to participation, referral, reimbursement of a covered service, or indemnification. Establishes beneficiary cost sharing and deductible requirements for prescription drugs. Establishes minimum rates for which pharmacy benefit managers are to reimburse pharmacies for dispensing prescription drugs. For prescription drug benefit plans executed, amended, adjusted, or renewed on or after 7/1/2027, requires a pharmacy benefit manager to use pass-through pricing, or may alternatively use spread pricing if any savings realized by the pharmacy benefit manager are passed on.

Establishes the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program within the Department of Human Services to assist eligible households in paying their energy bills. Requires the Public Utilities Commission Public Benefits Fee Administrator to provide certain information and assistance to recipients of the program. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds.

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.

Prohibits certain entities from purchasing single-family residences in the State of Hawaii. Requires reports and certifications to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Establishes penalties and enforcement authority.

Establishes a hierarchy of duty for public trust resources to be applicable to the decisions made by the Department of Land and Natural Resources in the management of the State's public natural resources.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to decentralize the public education system in the State by establishing county school districts for the establishment, operation, and funding of public schools, and to authorize the boards of those school districts to initiate and carry on any programs, activities, or otherwise act in any manner that is not in conflict with any law.

Maddy summaryHB 2228 increases matching funds for candidates participating in the state's partial public financing program. It specifically raises the amount of public money matched for "excess qualifying contributions" beyond the program's base threshold. This change directly affects candidates who receive small donations under the program, potentially providing them with more public funding for their campaigns. The bill is currently in early stages of the legislative process.