This bill removes the $600,000 annual spending limit on the special fund that supports Hawaii's automated victim information and notification system. The change directly affects the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, allowing the agency to use available funds to cover rising costs for salaries, contracts, and operational expenses without a statutory cap. By repealing the expenditure ceiling, the legislation ensures the system can continue providing real-time updates to crime victims regarding offender custody changes and parole hearings. The special fund itself is financed by surcharges on inmate commissary purchases and revenues from inmate telephone services.
This bill informs the Hawaii Legislature that Governor Josh Green signed SB3218 into law on May 22, 2026. The legislation establishes a new funding mechanism known as "resilient infrastructure for shelter and equity bonds" to support public works projects. It defines specific areas, such as zones near transit hubs, where these bonds can be issued and outlines how property tax assessments will be adjusted to cover project costs. The law amends existing statutes to clarify terms related to financing, assessment bases, and project expenditures for these designated districts.
This bill, signed into law on May 21, 2026, establishes income tax credits for individuals and businesses in Hawaii who install renewable energy systems. The primary mechanism provides a 35% tax credit for solar energy systems and a 20% credit for wind-powered systems, subject to specific cost caps that vary by property type and system size. To prevent large-scale commercial projects from receiving excessive credits, the law excludes systems with a capacity of five megawatts or more that require a new power purchase agreement approved after December 31, 2019. The bill also includes special provisions for solar systems integrated with pumped hydroelectric storage and allows multiple owners of a single system to share the credit based on their financial contribution.
PART I: Requires motor vehicles to have front number plate mounting brackets or devices and for sellers, licensed dealers, or owners to securely affix number plates to the vehicles. PART II: Amends the Traffic Code relating to street racing. PART III: 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. Appropriates moneys. PART IV: Authorizes the installation of a school bus infraction detection system on the exterior of a school bus. Establishes strict liability and the process for issuing summons or citations for drivers shown by the system to be in violation of certain school bus laws. Clarifies the liability of drivers near a school bus that is actively monitored by a school bus infraction detection system. Appropriates moneys. PART V: Specifies that the Department of Transportation's Motor Vehicle Safety Office shall administer the Photo Red Light Imaging Detector Systems Program Special Fund and Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund. PART VI: Clarifies language relating to photo red light enforcement, automated speed enforcement, and penalty provisions. PART VII: Requires the Director of Transportation to adopt rules allowing for mobile vehicle safety inspections of passenger cars. Effective 7/1/3000; provided that part IV, except the rule-making directive and appropriation, effective 7/1/2028. (SD2)
This bill urges the Hawaii Department of Education to add tax instruction as a major topic area within the state's existing financial literacy graduation requirement for public school students. The resolution specifically recommends that tax education cover practical skills such as completing a 1040 form, understanding W-4 forms, payroll deductions, and the differences between federal and state income taxes. As a Senate resolution, the bill does not create new legal requirements but instead formally requests the Department of Education to incorporate these tax concepts into the financial literacy standards already in place for students starting with the Class of 2030.
This bill requests the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to expand and strengthen programs focused on financial literacy, credit readiness, and homeownership preparedness for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries. The resolution asks the department to work with financial educators, credit counselors, and community partners to provide pre-award education, post-award support, culturally responsive materials, and to identify funding opportunities. The department is also asked to report back to the Legislature within 20 days of the 2027 session with details on program improvements, the number of people served, and measurable outcomes related to lease retention and credit improvement.
This Senate resolution urges the governor of Hawaii to reconsider his decision not to allow the state to participate in the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit Program. The program offers a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for donations to scholarship organizations, which can then be used to provide educational scholarships to low- and middle-income students for private school tuition, tutoring, and other educational expenses. Hawaii would need to opt-in to the program to become a participating state, and the bill highlights that the program is funded through private contributions rather than state tax dollars. The resolution notes that 23 states have already opted in and that Hawaii's current education proficiency rates are relatively low, suggesting potential benefits from expanding educational choice options.
This House Resolution expresses support for using the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund to provide interim loans for predevelopment costs on government affordable housing projects in Hawaii. The measure aims to help cover expenses like site analysis, technical studies, design work, and permit preparation before construction begins. It specifies that developers would repay these loans through the project's permanent financing source to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. This resolution does not change existing laws but formally endorses a funding approach to help expedite affordable housing delivery.
This bill is a non-binding resolution that asks the U.S. Congress to provide financial relief to Hawaii households affected by higher prices caused by federal tariffs. It specifically targets families struggling with increased costs for food, fuel, and essential goods, with special attention to low-income residents and those on neighbor islands. The resolution urges Congress to create a rebate or refund program to offset these expenses and to address the constitutional concerns surrounding the tariff policies. It does not create any new laws or programs itself but serves as a formal recommendation to federal lawmakers.
This bill requests the Attorney General and State Auditor in Hawaii to conduct a comprehensive audit of nonprofit organizations that receive state funding for homelessness-related services. The audit will examine financial records, performance outcomes, and compliance with state laws, focusing first on organizations in Honolulu before expanding statewide. Key areas of review include how public funds are spent, executive compensation relative to program costs, housing placement success rates, and the accuracy of reported service data. The resolution aims to ensure transparency and fiscal responsibility in the use of taxpayer money for homelessness assistance programs.
