Budget & Taxes

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 | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1324: RELATING TO LANDLORD-TENANT DISPUTES.

Requires the Judiciary to contract for legal services for residential tenants in actions or proceedings for possession under certain circumstances. Authorizes attorneys, paralegals, and law students to provide legal services to residential tenants. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for tenant legal services, directly funding a public service under government spending.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides legal services to tenants in eviction disputes, strengthening tenant protections and access to representation per bill's explicit language.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 572: RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts food and groceries from certain healthcare-related goods or services that were not the general excise tax. Expands general excise tax exemptions to include purchased under the Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax exemptions for food and healthcare, providing relief for essential purchases, aligning with tax relief indicators for lower-income households.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands tax exemptions for Medicare/Medicaid/TRICARE purchases, reducing out-of-pocket costs for healthcare services and improving access to covered care.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 577: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Authorizes a tax credit for businesses that pay the public transportation costs of employees. Requires reports to the Legislature. Applies for taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025 but not beginning after 12/31/2029. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes tax credit for businesses paying employee transit costs, reducing business tax burden and aligning with tax relief measures for fiscal support.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill provides tax credit for business-paid public transportation costs, directly funding and promoting public transit use per subjects and summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 338: RELATING TO TAXATION.

For taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025, temporarily reinstates the Technology Infrastructure Renovation Tax Credit and expands the definition of "technology-enabled infrastructure" to include data servers. Requires the Department of Taxation to submit a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReinstates tax credit for tech infrastructure, providing tax relief to businesses and expanding eligibility for data servers.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 394: MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE VICTIM WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Appropriates funds as a grant-in-aid to the City and County of Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the Victim Witness Assistance Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates state funds for Victim Witness Assistance Program, directly funding a public service through budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds Victim Witness Assistance Program, directly supporting criminal justice system's victim services component.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 610: RELATING TO COLD CASE INVESTIGATIONS.

HB 610 creates a new Cold Case Investigation Unit within the Department of the Attorney General and appropriates funding for its operations. The unit will focus on reviewing unresolved criminal cases, directly affecting the Attorney General's Department by providing dedicated resources for these investigations. Key provisions include establishing the unit's structure and allocating state funds for its staffing and activities. The bill is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 3000.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state funds for a new Cold Case Unit, directly allocating budget resources to fund a government program.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates new Cold Case Unit with state funding to resolve unresolved cases, directly strengthening criminal justice investigation capacity and resource allocation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 345: RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCING.

Increases the amount of partial public campaign financing available for all elective offices. Adjusts the minimum amount of qualifying contributions certain candidates must receive to participate in the program. Increases the matching fund payments for excess qualifying contributions. Appropriates funds for the program and staff. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds for public campaign financing program, increasing budget allocation for campaign finance administration and matching payments.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1457: RELATING TO TAX INCREMENT FINANCING.

HB 1457 allows the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) to request tax increment financing (TIF) from counties. This would enable DHHL to use future increases in local property tax revenue from specific development areas to fund current projects. The bill directly affects DHHL and county governments, as it creates a formal process for counties to approve such financing requests. (Effective date listed as 7/1/3000 appears to be a typo; standard TIF mechanisms typically apply to current development projects.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnables DHHL to use future property tax revenue increments to fund current projects, strengthening fiscal management and government spending mechanisms for county budgets.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill enables DHHL to use TIF funding for housing projects, directly supporting housing development through a dedicated financing mechanism.85% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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passed both · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 560: RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

Appropriates funds to the Judiciary to support services contracted with community-based organizations that deliver essential services, streamline judicial processes, and support the judiciary's capacity to effectively meet the needs of vulnerable households. Effective 4/23/2057. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds to Judiciary for community services and judicial processes, advancing public funding for essential programs per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds community-based organizations supporting vulnerable households through judiciary services, aligning with criminal justice reform goals like rehabilitation and systemic support.85% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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