Budget & Taxes

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 2568: RELATING TO THE FILM INDUSTRY.

Increases the fee amount collected from taxpayers claiming the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit and requires a portion of funds collected to be used to support the vertical film industry in the State. Expands the funding sources of the Hawaii Film and Creative Industries Development Special Fund to include revenues received by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism from managing the Hawaii Film Studio. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Repeals 1/1/2033. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases fee for film tax credit and allocates collected funds to support vertical film industry development, directly funding a specific sector via tax revenue allocation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1879: RELATING TO PUBLIC TRANSIT.

Establishes within the Department of Transportation a subsidized youth transit program for youth who are residents of the State, to be coordinated with the counties. Authorizes the Department to adopt rules, expand eligibility, and consult with the Department of Education on best practices, under certain conditions. Establishes the Subsidized Youth Transit Program Special Fund. Requires biannual evaluations of the new program and Special Fund. Allocates funds from the Environmental Response, Energy, and Food Security Tax to the Subsidized Youth Transit Program Special Fund. Appropriates funds into and out of the Subsidized Youth Transit Program Special Fund. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates tax revenues (environmental response, energy, food security) to fund a new public transit program special fund, directly advancing budgetary appropriations for public services.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill allocates environmental response tax to youth transit program, reducing emissions by promoting public transit use.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAllocates environmental/energy tax funds to establish fare-free youth transit program, expanding public transit access and funding within DOT.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 2044: RELATING TO OFFENDER REENTRY.

Expands programming and training for the comprehensive offender reentry program under the department of corrections and rehabilitation to reduce the rate of recidivism and increase inmate marketability. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds for offender reentry programs, directly allocating budget resources to fund essential correctional services.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands offender reentry programs to reduce recidivism, directly aligning with criminal justice reform goals and funding rehabilitation initiatives.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 1611: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Beginning 1/1/2027, establishes a yearly reduction in the general excise tax rate on groceries and nonprescription drugs on a tiered schedule until 1/1/2034, when a full general excise tax exemption applies. Beginning 1/1/2027, prohibits the counties from imposing a county surcharge on groceries and nonprescription drugs. Beginning 1/1/2028, provides a general excise tax exemption on the wholesale sale of groceries and nonprescription drugs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill reduces general excise tax on essential items (groceries, nonprescription drugs), providing tax relief for lower-income households per tax reduction indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 1884: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Authorizes the Department of Transportation to evaluate intersections for the installation of leading pedestrian intervals, accessible pedestrian signals, and other safety improvements, as necessary, at state-owned or operated pedestrian signal heads. Requires the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the counties, to develop a program that allows pedestrians and community members to request the installation of accessible pedestrian signals at specific intersections. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds for pedestrian safety program, directly funding a public service under budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRequires safety features and funds pedestrian signal installations, enhancing transportation safety infrastructure per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 2400: RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Appropriates funds for Department of Hawaiian Home Lands projects eligible for general fund revenues that are generated by increases in transient accommodations tax collections and intended to be expended equally across projects related to natural resources, climate resilience, and destination management. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates transient accommodations tax revenue for DHHL projects in natural resources/climate resilience, directly advancing fiscal allocation within budget/tax framework.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds natural resources and climate resilience projects via DHHL, directly advancing environmental conservation and resilience as specified in the bill's allocation language.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 1996: RELATING TO HEARING AIDS.

Exempts from the general excise tax, gross receipts from the sale of hearing aids received by a hospital, infirmary, medical clinic, health care facility, pharmacy, or a practitioner licensed to administer drugs to an individual. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill exempts hearing aid sales from general excise tax, providing tax relief for necessary medical devices, aligning with tax relief indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts hearing aid sales from tax, reducing costs and improving access to a healthcare service (hearing aids) for patients.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 2079: RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

HB 2079 reestablishes a state income tax credit for property owners who upgrade, convert, or connect their cesspools (sewage disposal systems) to public sewer lines or alternative systems. This tax credit applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026, directly benefiting homeowners and businesses in areas reliant on cesspools. The key provision is the reinstatement of a financial incentive to encourage the replacement of older cesspools, which are often environmentally concerning. The bill does not create new regulations but provides a tax benefit for specific infrastructure upgrades. It is currently pending committee review for potential passage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReinstates income tax credit for cesspool upgrades, providing tax relief to property owners and promoting environmental compliance through fiscal incentive.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill incentivizes cesspool upgrades to reduce groundwater pollution from outdated systems, directly addressing environmental protection through wastewater management.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 13, 2026

HB 2028: RELATING TO LABOR DAY.

HB 2028 establishes a nonrefundable tax credit for employers who provide a paid Labor Day holiday to construction workers. This policy directly affects construction employers (who may claim the credit) and construction workers (who receive a paid holiday). The key provision requires employers to grant a paid holiday on Labor Day to qualify for the tax credit, which is effective July 1, 3000. The bill passed committee in February 2026 with amendments but does not change existing Labor Day holiday requirements for other workers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes refundable tax credit for employers providing paid Labor Day to construction workers, directly providing tax relief aligned with fiscal support for middle-income workers.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates tax credit for employers providing paid Labor Day holiday to construction workers, expanding worker benefits and advancing compensation standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 2369: RELATING TO PURCHASE OF SERVICE CONTRACTS BY THE JUDICIARY.

Beginning 1/1/2027, requires contracts for services awarded to community-based organizations by the Judiciary in support of fulfilling the Judiciary's statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State to include certain protections against inflation. Appropriates funds to the Judiciary to increase the contract price in existing contracts for services provided by community-based organizations in support of fulfilling the Judiciary's statutory mandate to individuals, families, and communities in the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds to increase contract prices for community-based organizations under Judiciary services, directly funding public programs.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds community-based organizations supporting Judiciary's mandate, including access to justice (a criminal justice reform indicator), with inflation protections to strengthen service delivery in courts/criminal justice system.80% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track