SB 376 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO TAX CREDITS.

Summary

Establishes a nonrefundable income tax credit for taxpayers who construct or install improvements to their residence that increase the residence's fire safety rating as calculated by the taxpayer's homeowner's insurance policy. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. Effective 7/1/2077. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB376 → SB376_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to change a refundable tax credit into a nonrefundable one, meaning taxpayers can no longer receive a cash refund if their credit exceeds their tax liability. Additionally, the certification authority for home fire safety improvements shifted from the Insurance Commissioner to an unspecified third party, and the bill's effective date was set to July 1, 2077, with a specific note that it applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from allowing refunds to taxpayers to only allowing credits to offset tax liability, and the entity responsible for certifying home improvements changed from the Insurance Commissioner to a third party.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the tax credit from refundable to nonrefundable, preventing cash refunds for taxpayers with no tax liability.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced the Insurance Commissioner as the certifying body for home fire safety improvements with a generic 'third party'.

TIMELINE

Added a specific effective date of July 1, 2077, while maintaining the applicability to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill metadata, including the author's name, bill number, and revision numbers, to reflect the first Senate District committee reading.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from PSM/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 550) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Wakai, Fukunaga, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Rhoads.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to PSM/CPN, WAM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

5 primary · 2 co-sponsors