Budget & Taxes

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 260: RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY.

SB 260 allocates funding for the state Judiciary for the fiscal years 2025-2027, effective July 1, 2025. It provides the necessary budget to support court operations, judicial staff, and related services during this two-year period. This bill directly affects the Judiciary branch by ensuring financial resources for its day-to-day functioning and court system maintenance. As a funding measure, it does not change laws or policies but enables existing judicial operations to continue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly allocates funding for Judiciary operations (Appropriations/Budget subject), directly supporting essential government services without tax changes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1553: RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS.

Appropriates moneys from the Act 279 Special Fund for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to purchase a parcel of land identified as tax map key: (1) 9-1-013-025. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates Act 279 Special Fund moneys for DHHL land purchase, advancing budgeted program funding under appropriations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1543: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY.

Requires each purchasing agency to provide justification for hiring external consultants. Caps the amount each agency can spend on external consultants. Requires each agency to seek approval from the Legislature for consulting contracts exceeding a certain dollar amount. Requires each agency to disclose new contracts with external consultants. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Requires the Compliance Audit Unit to conduct regular audits of agency consultant contracts to assess cost-effectiveness and compliance. Requires each chief procurement officer to ensure that inherent government functions are not delegated to a contractor. Effective 1/1/2491. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes spending caps, audit requirements, and disclosure on consultant contracts to enhance fiscal accountability and control government spending, aligning with fiscal responsibility indicators.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1610: RELATING TO OHANA ZONES.

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)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts housing projects from general excise taxes (tax relief) and appropriates funds for the Ohana Zones Program, supporting housing initiatives through fiscal policy.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes Ohana Zones Program under homelessness/housing office, exempts projects from taxes, appropriates funds - directly advances affordable housing development and homelessness solutions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

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 Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1633: RELATING TO HEMP.

Establishes a Green Building Tax Credit for costs related to the construction of a primary structure made with at least thirty per cent Hawaii-grown hemp material. Allows any hemp processor with a permit from the Department of Health to sell an edible or beverage cannabinoid product that contains a tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 2.5 milligrams per serving and not more than twenty-five servings per package. Prohibits the sale of an edible or beverage cannabinoid product to any person less than twenty-one years of age. Establishes child-resistant packaging requirements for edible cannabinoid products. Clarifies the tetrahydrocannabinol concentration limit for a non-edible legacy cannabinoid product or manufactured hemp product shall be subject only to federal restrictions. Amends the definition of "hemp biomass" to include stalks and foliage material. Requires the Department of Health to establish a dedicated hemp program to regulate hemp that is separate from the regulatory process for cannabinoid products with a high concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes Green Building Tax Credit for hemp construction, providing direct tax relief under Budget & Taxes policy framework.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1070: RELATING TO HEALTHCARE PRECEPTORS.

Expands the definitions of "preceptor" and "volunteer-based supervised clinical training rotation" to improve accessibility for providers to receive income tax credits for acting as preceptors, including removing "primary care" from the criteria to qualify as a preceptor. Adds dieticians, physician assistants, and social workers to the list of preceptors and eligible students. Expands eligibility for the tax credit to include accredited residency programs that require preceptor support. Adds the Director of Health and residency programs with eligible students to the Preceptor Credit Assurance Committee. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credit eligibility for healthcare preceptors, providing tax relief to providers and increasing access to training programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands tax credits for healthcare preceptors including new professions, removing primary care restrictions to increase provider training accessibility.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 675: RELATING TO CESSPOOLS.

Establishes within the Department of Health's Wastewater Branch a Cesspool Conversion Section, which shall be responsible for facilitating the conversion of cesspools within the State. Establishes and appropriates funds for positions within the Cesspool Conversion Section. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds for new Cesspool Conversion Section positions within DOH, directly funding a state program under budget appropriations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1043: RELATING TO TAXATION.

SB 1043 reduces the general excise tax rate on nonprescription drugs by 50%. This change directly affects consumers who purchase nonprescription medications, lowering their out-of-pocket costs. The bill's key provision is halving the existing tax rate, effective July 1, 3000. It does not alter other tax rates or create new government programs. The bill passed a committee recommendation with four supportive votes in February 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReduces excise tax on nonprescription drugs, providing direct tax relief to consumers, aligning with support indicators for tax relief.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReduces excise tax on nonprescription drugs, lowering consumer costs and improving access to essential healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 118: RELATING TO THE CAMPAIGN SPENDING COMMISSION.

SB 118 establishes a new investigator position within the Campaign Spending Commission and allocates funding for this role. The bill directly affects the Commission by adding staff capacity to oversee campaign finance compliance. Key provisions include creating the position and appropriating necessary funds, with the changes taking effect on April 23, 2057. This is a procedural bill focused on strengthening the Commission's operational structure, not on altering campaign finance rules for candidates or voters.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates funding for new investigator position within Campaign Spending Commission, directly increasing operational budget under appropriations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track