Budget & Taxes (Tax Credits)

passed both · Hawaii · House May 27, 2026

HB 2438: RELATING TO THE HAWAII CULTURAL TRUST.

HB 2438 establishes the Hawaii Cultural Trust within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to support cultural preservation. It creates an income tax credit for individuals and businesses donating to the Trust or qualified Hawaii cultural organizations, subject to specific conditions. The bill also introduces a special vehicle license plate with proceeds funding the Trust, effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025. These provisions directly affect donors and cultural organizations by providing new tax incentives and dedicated funding streams.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates income tax credit for donations to cultural trust, providing tax relief to fund preservation programs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 2884: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for a certain percentage of expenses paid to retrofit a residence with wind resistive devices or to purchase, install, or construct, a hurricane shelter on the taxpayer's property. Reduces the general excise tax rate on the gross proceeds or income from the sale of a concrete high-rise certified hurricane-resistant residential project or certain hurricane-resistant components of the project. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Sunsets 12/31/2030. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credit and rate reduction for hurricane-resistant home improvements, offering tax relief while incentivizing safety measures within state tax policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Tax Credits

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2037: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Increases the aggregate cap on credits allowed in any given year for the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit from $50,000,000 to $60,000,000. Extends the sunset of the tax credit to 1/1/2038. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Repeals 1/1/2038. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax credit cap for film industry, expanding fiscal incentives to stimulate economic activity within the tax policy framework.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyIncreases tax credits for digital media production, directly funding a technology sector within the bill's subjects.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 2526: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for a certain percentage of expenses paid to retrofit a residence with wind resistive devices or to purchase, install, or construct, a hurricane shelter on the taxpayer's property. Reduces the general excise tax rate on the gross proceeds or income from the sale of a concrete certified hurricane-resistant residential project or certain hurricane-resistant components of a high-rise condominium. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Sunsets 12/31/2030.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credits and rate reductions for hurricane-resistant home improvements, offering direct tax relief under taxation policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Tax Credits

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passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 20, 2026

HB 303: 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 dietitians, 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 representatives of residency programs with eligible students to the Preceptor Credit Assurance Committee. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands income tax credits for healthcare preceptors by broadening eligibility to more professions and removing restrictions, directly providing tax relief.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands preceptor eligibility to dietitians, PAs, and social workers with tax credits, increasing healthcare workforce training access and removing primary care restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Primary Care

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 3312: RELATING TO HOUSING.

SB 3312 creates a state income tax credit program to encourage commercial property owners to convert vacant or underused buildings (like stores or offices) into residential housing. The bill directly affects property owners who complete such conversions, offering them a tax credit to offset costs. Key provisions include appropriating state funds to cover the credit value and establishing eligibility criteria for qualifying properties. This policy aims to increase housing supply by making commercial-to-residential conversions financially attractive, without specifying target locations or housing types.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tax credit (taxation) and appropriates state funds (budget), directly using both tools to fund housing conversion program.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates tax credits for converting commercial buildings to residential housing, directly increasing housing supply through financial incentives to property owners.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Credits Tax Incentives Affordable Housing Historic Preservation Housing Finance

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1251: RELATING TO TAXATION.

HB 1251 would create a refundable income tax credit for property owners whose real estate insurance premiums increased. It directly helps these property owners by refunding the exact amount of their higher insurance costs through their tax returns. The credit applies to properties affected by rising insurance premiums, though the bill does not specify exact property types or thresholds. This policy change aims to offset financial burdens caused by insurance cost increases without requiring new tax payments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax relief via refundable credit for property owners facing higher insurance costs, offsetting financial burden without increasing taxes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Property Tax Tax Credits

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2214: RELATING TO TAX CREDITS.

HB 2214 creates a refundable income tax credit specifically for diaper purchases. It directly affects low-income parents or caregivers who buy diapers for children, providing financial relief for this essential expense. The credit is refundable, meaning recipients receive the full credit amount as cash even if they owe no income tax. This policy change adds a new, targeted tax benefit to the state's income tax code, replacing potential tax savings with direct cash assistance for eligible households.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates refundable tax credit for low-income diaper expenses, providing direct financial relief and targeting essential household costs for vulnerable families.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Tax Credits

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 326: RELATING TO THE HOUSEHOLD AND DEPENDENT CARE SERVICES TAX CREDIT.

Increases a taxpayer's applicable percentage of employment-related expenses that may be claimed for the household and dependent care services tax credit for five years. Repeals 6/30/2030.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax credit percentage for household care expenses, providing direct tax relief to eligible taxpayers.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentIncreases tax credit for dependent care, reducing financial barriers for workers to maintain employment through expanded employment-related expense benefits.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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passed both · Hawaii · House May 1, 2026

HB 2546: RELATING TO TAX CREDIT FOR RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.

Amends the tax credit for research activities by: allowing qualifying taxpayers to claim the credit for all qualified research expenses without regard to the amount of expenses for previous years; amending from March 31 to March 1 the deadline for qualified high technology businesses to submit to the Department of Business, Economic development, and Tourism written, certified statements identifying qualified expenditures and the tax amount of tax credits claimed in the previous taxable year; for any taxable year the annual aggregate cap is reached, requiring the credit to be divided between all qualified high technology businesses in proportion to the amount of qualified research expenses claimed; and requiring DBEDT to establish an annual application period and notify each qualified high technology business applicant of the credit amount certified. Applies to costs incurred beginning after 12/31/2025. Repeals the credit on 1/1/2029. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax credit cap for research activities, providing tax relief to businesses and promoting innovation through expanded fiscal incentives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Credits

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