STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1782

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1049

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1049, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INCOME TAX,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to reduce the cost of living by providing tax relief to low- and middle-income households and working families.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Establishes an income tax credit for teachers' expenses;

(2) Establishes a definition for the term "cost-of-living adjustment factor;"

(3) Amends the child and dependent care tax credit by:

(A) Increasing the applicable percentage of employment‑related expenses that is used to calculate the amount of the tax credit;

(B) Setting the income threshold amount, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022, at $150,000;

(C) Requiring that, for each taxable year beginning after December 31, 2023, the threshold amount be adjusted for inflation using a cost-of-living adjustment factor; and

(D) Increasing the cap amount on employment-related expenses that may be used to claim the tax credit; and

(4) Amends the income tax credit for low-income household renters by:

(A) Making eligibility for the credit dependent on federal adjusted gross income instead of Hawaii adjusted gross income;

(B) Increasing the minimum annual rental payment requirement from $1,000 to $10,000;

(C) Requiring married persons to file a joint return;

(D) No longer excluding rental property that is partially or wholly exempted from real property tax;

(E) Increasing the amount of the tax credit from $50 per exemption to $350 per qualified exemption, reduced by a reduction factor based on filing status for every dollar of a taxpayer's adjusted gross income that exceeds a threshold amount; and

(F) Requiring that, for each taxable year beginning after December 31, 2023, the minimum annual rental payment requirement and threshold amounts be adjusted for inflation using a cost-of-living adjustment factor.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor, Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Taxation, Executive Office on Early Learning, Commit to Keiki, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, Early Childhood Action Strategy, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawaii Family Caregiver Coalition, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Holomua Collaborative, Parents and Children Together, The Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation, and twenty-two individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education, AARP Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Imua Alliance, Tax Foundation of Hawaii, and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that the high cost of living in the State has made it difficult for low- and middle-income households and working families to afford basic necessities. Your Committee further finds that this measure is intended to provide tax relief to reduce the cost of living for working families in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the provisions establishing an income tax credit for teachers' expenses because it is included in another measure;

(2) Deleting the provisions amending the income tax credit for low-income household renters;

(3) Clarifying that eligibility for the child and dependent care tax credit is dependent on federal adjusted gross income;

(4) Increasing the amount of the refundable earned income tax credit;

(5) Increasing the income thresholds and credit amounts of the refundable food/excise tax credit; and

(6) Making the measure effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1049, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1049, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair