Budget & Taxes (Procurement)

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2662: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY.

Requires each purchasing agency to provide justification for hiring external consultants. Requires each agency to seek approval from the Legislature for consulting contracts exceeding a certain dollar amount. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Requires the Compliance Audit Unit within the Office of the Auditor to conduct regular audits of agency consultant contracts to assess cost-effectiveness and compliance. Establishes exceptions. Requires each chief procurement officer to ensure that inherent government functions are not delegated to a contractor. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes spending caps and audit requirements on consultant contracts to enhance fiscal accountability in state spending, aligning with fiscal responsibility indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Procurement

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 20, 2026

SB 2741: RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

SB 2741 would gradually remove the state's general excise tax from locally produced food items, such as farm-fresh produce and meals prepared by local restaurants. The bill phases in this tax exemption over time, starting with certain food categories and expanding to others in subsequent years. This change directly affects local food producers (like farms and small eateries) and consumers purchasing these items, reducing their tax burden. The bill is currently in early stages (introduced January 23, 2026) and has not yet been voted on by the legislature.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill removes tax on local food, reducing state revenue and weakening tax base without offsetting measures.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Sales Tax Tax Incentives

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2519: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Establishes block appropriations and increases fiscal flexibility for the University of Hawaii. Establishes a University of Hawaii Budget Stabilization Fund, authorizes limited procurement and fiscal exemptions, and implements performance‑based funding metrics. Requires annual fiscal and performance reporting to the Legislature and provides a transition framework for the move to block budgeting. Effective July 1, 3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes UH Budget Stabilization Fund, performance-based funding, and fiscal flexibility to improve state budget management and accountability per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes block appropriations, UH Budget Stabilization Fund, and performance-based funding to enhance fiscal flexibility and stability for higher education funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Higher Education

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2601: RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Amends criminal penalties under the Hawaii Public Procurement Code by providing that a person who intentionally violates the code is subject to prosecution for a misdemeanor in cases of egregious violations of the Code. Ensures that awarded contracts are supported by sufficient appropriations by requiring a contract amount that exceeds fifteen per cent of the amount of the appropriation or balance of an appropriation to be approved by the Chief Procurement Officer to become binding. Establishes positions within the State Procurement Office. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enforces fiscal responsibility by capping contract spending at 10% of available appropriations, preventing budget overruns and ensuring funds are properly allocated.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Procurement

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 2442: 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 certain 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 services, funding essential programs under Judiciary's mandate.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement

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signed · Hawaii · Senate Jun 5, 2026

SB 3157: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Removes county-specific expenditure restrictions for funds in the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to reissue procurement for the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program every five years. Requires unencumbered and unexpended revenues from the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund in excess of a $12,000,000 as of June 30 of each year to lapse to the general fund. Part II: Limits the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program to counties with a population of five hundred thousand or more. Expands the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program to high-risk locations of state or county highways as determined by the Department of Transportation, under certain conditions. Provides restrictions for the expansion of the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program and Photo Red Light Imaging Detector Systems Program. Part III: Amends the definition of "county" as it relates to the Photo Red Light Imaging Detector Systems Program. (CD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill reallocates unspent transportation fund surplus to general fund, promoting fiscal responsibility by preventing fund stagnation per budget management principles.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending Procurement State Budget

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 3230: RELATING TO PROCUREMENT.

Authorizes governmental bodies and public employees to procure project management services through non-governmental third-party contracts under certain conditions. Appropriates funds to establish a Special Project Branch within the Public Works Division of the Department of Accounting and General Services. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires fiscal officer certification for budget transfers to ensure fiscal accountability, promoting responsible budget management per subject list.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1131: RELATING TO TAXATION.

Imposes an excise tax on certain hedge funds failing to dispose of excess single-family residences, escalating over a ten-year period. Imposes a tax on any newly acquired single-family residences by a hedge fund. Makes certain exemptions. Requires the Department of Taxation to establish a certification process to ensure buyers of homes sold by hedge funds are not major investors in residential real estate. Establishes the Housing Down Payment Trust Fund to be administered by the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to provide grants to establish new or supplement existing programs that provide down payment assistance to families purchasing homes within the State. Allocates collected tax revenue and penalties paid by hedge funds to the Housing Down Payment Trust Fund. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes excise tax on hedge funds to fund Housing Down Payment Trust Fund, advancing public housing initiatives through targeted taxation.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingImposes tax on hedge funds holding homes to increase availability and creates Housing Down Payment Trust Fund for affordability, directly advancing housing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Revenue Sales Tax Homeownership Housing Finance Property Development

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 621: RELATING TO PUBLIC LANDS.

SB 621 requires that any extension of existing leases for public lands must go through a public auction process instead of being granted directly. This directly affects current lessees of public lands (such as ranchers, developers, or recreation operators) who seek to renew their lease agreements. The key provision replaces the current practice of administrative extensions with a competitive bidding system to determine lease renewals. The bill aims to ensure transparency and potentially maximize public revenue from land use.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates public auctions for public land leases to maximize revenue, promoting fiscal responsibility by increasing potential government income from land leases.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1011: RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Increases the cap for awards to assist businesses applying for the Small Business Innovation Research Grant Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Program of the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation. Adds purchasing of renewable energy systems as an eligible expense and clarifies that training on both new and existing manufacturing equipment is an eligible expense for the Manufacturing Development Grant Program. Clarifies that no tax credit is available for renewable energy systems purchased with a grant received under the Manufacturing Development Grant Program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases grant funding caps for business programs, allocating state funds to support innovation and manufacturing development without tax credit provisions.92% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyAdds renewable energy systems as eligible expense for manufacturing grants, directly promoting renewable energy investment through funding mechanisms.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyIncreases grant caps and expands eligible expenses for tech business programs, directly advancing technology development through funding and program enhancements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement Tax Credits Renewable Energy

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