Sen. Glenn Wakai

Establishes the Ohana Zones Program as a program within the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions. Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to exempt ohana zones projects from general excise taxes. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

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)

Establishes a Hawaii-Japan Pacific Peace Monument to be developed by the State Foundation on Culture and appropriate stakeholders representing Hawaii and Japan. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to develop and implement training programs, public-private partnerships, funding opportunities, and recruitment strategies to develop a local workforce to meet the growing demand in defense-related personnel and promote economic diversification. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Authorizes the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to utilize revenue bonds when securing a line of credit or other instrument of indebtedness for the Bond Volume Cap Recycling Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Maddy summarySCR 83 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting the State Auditor to conduct a financial audit of Hawaii's institutional networks (used by government, schools, etc.) on each island. The audit aims to determine the actual maintenance costs for these networks, which cable operators were originally contractually required to build at no cost to the state or subscribers. The resolution requires the Auditor to report findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2026, including any proposed legislative changes. This is a procedural request for transparency, not a new law.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 66) requests the State Auditor to conduct a financial audit of Hawaii's institutional networks on each island to determine their actual maintenance costs. It directly affects the State Auditor, who must report findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2026. The resolution aims to increase transparency about costs for these networks, which serve public institutions like schools and government buildings, and addresses concerns that franchise fees (meant for maintenance) may not align with actual expenses. It does not create new law but seeks factual data to inform future decisions.

Extends the offense of false labeling of Hawaii-grown coffee to include roasted coffee. Imposes a mandatory $10,000 fine for each separate offense of false-labeling of Hawaii-grown roasted coffee. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Requires an owner or operator of an underground storage tank or tank system with a confirmed release to meet certain standards for the restoration of the environment. Establishes a rebuttable presumption that any detection of these contaminants in the vicinity of an underground storage tank or a tank system after a confirmed release is a result of the confirmed release. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Reduces the amount the Department of Education is authorized to charge for school meals to all students enrolled in department schools to no more than one-quarter of the cost of preparing the meals. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)