HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2026

 

COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Rep. Chris Todd, Chair

Rep. Jenna Takenouchi, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Daisy Hartsfield

Rep. Dee Morikawa

Rep. Ikaika Hussey

Rep. Amy A. Perruso

Rep. Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee Loy

Rep. Shirley Ann Templo

Rep. Lisa Kitagawa

Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita

Rep. Matthias Kusch

Rep. David Alcos III

Rep. Mike Lee

Rep. Joe Gedeon

Rep. Tyson K. Miyake

Rep. Julie Reyes Oda

 

AMENDED NOTICE OF HEARING

 

DATE:

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

TIME:

10:00 a.m.

PLACE:

VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE

Conference Room 308

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

 

 

Click here to submit testimony and to testify remotely or in person.

 

A live stream link of all House Standing Committee meetings will be available online

shortly before the scheduled start time.

 

Click here for the live stream of this meeting via YouTube.

 

 

 

A M E N D E D  A G E N D A

 

 

The following measure(s) has been ADDED to the agenda: HB2429 HD1

 

The following measure(s) has been ADDED to the agenda: HB2148, HB2306, HB2007 HD2, HB2049 HD2, HB2616 HD1

 

 

HB 2459, HD2

(HSCR755-26)

Status

RELATING TO THE FOOD AND PRODUCT INNOVATION NETWORK.

Requires the Food and Product Innovation Network to integrate a coordinated food safety and regulatory framework.  Requires the Agribusiness Development Corporation to establish performance indicators for the Food and Product Innovation Network, develop a market access strategy, align and harmonize state branding initiatives, and report certain data to the Legislature.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD2)

 

AGR, CPC, FIN

HB 1616, HD1

(HSCR540-26)

Status

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Clarifies that the disposition of agricultural park lots for commercial activity may occur after the initial development of the agricultural park and regardless of whether the applicable county council approved plans and specifications for the future disposition of lots for commercial activity, with certain exceptions.  Authorizes the care and production of swine and swine products within certain agricultural parks and under certain conditions.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

AGR, WAL, FIN

HB 1799, HD1

(HSCR334-26)

Status

RELATING TO THE COUNTIES.

Expands on a county's experimental and demonstration housing project authority to include the development of commercial projects.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

HSG/WAL, FIN

HB 1604, HD2

(HSCR571-26)

Status

RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE HOUSING.

Establishes an Agricultural Workforce Housing Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to address the shortage and challenges of agricultural workforce housing in the State.  Requires reports to the Legislature.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD2)

 

AGR, HSG, FIN

HB 1732, HD2

(HSCR740-26)

Status

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Establishes the Kamaaina Homes Program within the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to provide funding to the counties to purchase voluntary deed restrictions from eligible homebuyers.  Sunsets 6/30/2032.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD2)

 

HSG, JHA, FIN

HB 1736, HD2

(HSCR747-26)

Status

RELATING TO ANIMAL CONTROL.

Establishes the Spay and Neuter Special Fund to reduce pet overpopulation, including the free-roaming cat population, and authorizes an income tax designation to provide revenues into the special fund.  Requires cats over five months of age to be surgically sterilized unless covered by an intact cat declaration, and conditions the importation of intact cats on state and county declaration requirements, with certain exceptions.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD2)

 

AGR, JHA, FIN

HB 1931, HD2

(HSCR754-26)

Status

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes a State Noxious Weed Coordinator and updates the process for designating and managing noxious weeds.  Allows public proposals to add, amend, or remove noxious weed designations.  Requires notice and public reporting.  Clarifies the authority of the Department and Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity.  Authorizes updates to the noxious weed list to be adopted by order and classifies noxious weeds into three categories.  Strengthens enforcement and penalties.  Updates departmental duties for noxious weed control and eradication.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD2)

 

AGR, JHA, FIN

HB 772, HD1

(HSCR170)

Status

RELATING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE.

Disallows the use of campaign funds to purchase up to two tickets for an event or fundraiser held by another candidate or committee.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

JHA, FIN

HB 2153, HD1

(HSCR745-26)

Status

RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Establishes, and appropriates funds for, the Kūpaʻa Law Enforcement Retention Bonus Program within the Department of Law Enforcement to provide retention bonuses to Department law enforcement officers for three years.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

JHA, FIN

HB 2122, HD1

(HSCR561-26)

Status

RELATING TO TEACHER HOUSING.

Establishes the Teacher Housing Assistance Program to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers.  Appropriates funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

EDN, HSG, FIN

HB 2009, HD1

(HSCR374-26)

Status

RELATING TO FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT.

Extends child care subsidies to disabled parents or guardians, regardless of their employment status.  Requires the Department of Human Services to evaluate caregiver capacity and dependent-care responsibilities when determining eligibility for Medicaid Home- and Community-Based Services.  Requires the Department of Human Services to update its health and functional assessment protocols related to at-risk needs determinations.  Appropriates funds.  (HD1)

 

HSH, FIN

HB 2012, HD1

(HSCR369-26)

Status

RELATING TO COMMUNITY LITERACY LABS.

Establishes and appropriates funds for the Department of Education to establish and implement a two-year Community Literacy Labs Pilot Program.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

EDN, HSH, FIN

HB 1779, HD1

(HSCR319-26)

Status

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Expands free school meal coverage, beginning with the 2029-2030 school year, to all public school students, including public charter school students, regardless of whether the student participates in a federal school meals program.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

EDN, FIN

HB 2296, HD1

(HSCR316-26)

Status

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Reduces the amount the Department of Education is authorized to charge for school meals to all students enrolled in department schools to no more than one-quarter of the cost of preparing the meals.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

EDN, FIN

HB 2397, HD1

(HSCR520-26)

Status

RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.

Transfers school impact fees from the Kalihi-Ala Moana school impact district to the School Impact Fees subaccount of the School Facilities Special Fund for the acquisition and renovation of one or more buildings in the downtown Honolulu area to develop and expand pre-kindergarten and charter school capacity.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

EDN, FIN

HB 2398, HD1

(HSCR493-26)

Status

RELATING TO LIBRARIES.

Clarifies that the Board of Education, through the State Librarian, has exclusive authority over the development, use, support, and improvement and maintenance of public library system facilities.  Allows the Board of Education to authorize the State Librarian to exercise exclusive control of certain land for development or expansion purposes, subject to legislative appropriation.  Requires the Department of Education to expeditiously cooperate with the State Librarian and Hawaii State Public Library System to effectuate any project authorized by the Board of Education on certain lands.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

EDN, FIN

HB 1596, HD1

(HSCR529-26)

Status

RELATING TO STUDENT BASIC NEEDS SUPPORT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Establishes a Basic Needs Pilot Program at a single campus of the University of Hawaii system.  Authorizes the establishment of a Housing Stability Pilot Project at that campus.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  Sunsets 6/30/2028.  (HD1)

 

HED, HSH, FIN

HB 2233, HD1

(HSCR612-26)

Status

RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM-EDUCATION PROGRAM.

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience and the Department of Health to continue their implementation of the Hawaii Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education Program.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

HSH, HED, FIN

HB 1976, HD1

(HSCR395-26)

Status

RELATING TO DEMENTIA.

Requires the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, fire chiefs, Law Enforcement Standards Board, and Department of Health to provide or require the provision of at least one hour of dementia‑specific training for first responders, including law enforcement officers, fire first responders, and emergency medical services personnel.  Requires the Executive Office on Aging to take certain steps when reviewing and recommending dementia-specific training curricula.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

HLT, PBS, FIN

HB 1563, HD2

(HSCR672-26)

Status

RELATING TO TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

Repeals the preemption on county ordinances that regulate the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic smoking devices.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD2)

 

HLT, CPC, FIN

HB 815, HD1

(HSCR556)

Status

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Requires the health benefits plan or plans established by the Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund board to meet or exceed the requirements of the Prepaid Health Care Act.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1).

 

LAB, CPC, FIN

HB 1655, HD1

(HSCR278-26)

Status

RELATING TO PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT.

Allows public employers and exclusive representatives of bargaining units to negotiate certain retirement benefits.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

LAB, FIN

HB 1851, HD2

(HSCR509-26)

Status

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes an apprenticeship program income tax credit for certain qualified costs incurred by a taxpayer for a qualified apprenticeship program.  Sunsets 12/31/2036.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD2)

 

LAB, ECD, FIN

HB 1941, HD1

(HSCR422-26)

Status

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Amends the requirements for productions to qualify for the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax to include completing at least fifteen per cent of the production's principal photography within the same taxable year the production is qualifying for the film tax credit and completing or committing to complete fifteen per cent of the production's post-production in the State within the same taxable year the production is qualifying for the film tax credit or later taxable years.  Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026.  Repeals 1/1/2033.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

ECD, FIN

HB 2037, HD1

(HSCR293-26)

Status

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)

 

ECD, FIN

HB 1635, HD1

(HSCR295-26)

Status

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Makes broadcast and streaming platform productions and commercial advertisement productions with Internet-only distribution eligible to receive the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit.  Repeals 1/1/2033.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

ECD, FIN

HB 2201, HD1

(HSCR616-26)

Status

RELATING TO STATE ENTERPRISE ZONES.

Increases the number of enterprise zones that may be nominated by each county.  Amends the definition of "eligible business activity" to include recycling facilities and film production or operation of a Film Studio.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

ECD, FIN

HB 1943, HD1

(HSCR506-26)

Status

RELATING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Expands the purposes of the establishment and operation of out-of-state offices to include collaboration with tourism agencies and stakeholders to execute tourism strategies.  Requires, and appropriates funds for, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to establish an out‑of-state office in Seoul, Republic of Korea.  Appropriates funds for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's Beijing, Philippines, and Taipei offices to promote "Made in Hawaii" branded products and increase the export of Hawaii products.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

ECD/TOU, FIN

HB 1163, HD1

(HSCR702)

Status

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSING.

Amends requirements to commercial driver's license qualification standards to meet current federal regulations to allow the State to issue a limited-term non-domiciled commercial learner's permit and non-domiciled commercial driver's license for applicants who are unable to provide proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residency.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

TRN, FIN

HB 2452

Status

RELATING TO STATE BONDS.

Authorizes issuance of general obligation bonds.  Makes findings required by Article VII, Section 13, of the Hawaii State Constitution to declare that the issuance of authorized bonds will not cause the debt limit to be exceeded.

 

FIN

 

 

 

 


 

DECISION MAKING

 

The following measure(s) were previously heard on Monday, March 2, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. No public testimony will be accepted.

 

HB 2429, HD1

(HSCR417-26)

Status

RELATING TO TAX EXPENDITURE EVALUATION.

Requires tax expenditure disclosure to, and evaluation by, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for certain income tax credits and general excise and use tax exemptions.  Applies to tax years beginning after 12/31/2026.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

ECD, FIN

 

The following measure(s) were previously heard on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.  No public testimony will be accepted.

 

HB 2148

Status

RELATING TO THE ESTATE AND GENERATION-SKIPPING TRANSFER TAX.

Establishes an unrealized gains surcharge on certain property transfers subject to the estate and generation-skipping transfer tax.  Except for certain types of properties within estates, lowers the applicable exclusion amount allowed.

 

FIN

HB 2306

Status

RELATING TO INCOME TAX.

Repeals future adjustments to the standard deduction and income tax brackets.  Increases the applicable percentage of the employment-related expenses for which the child and dependent care tax credit may be claimed; provides for a disallowance period when there is a final administrative or judicial decision finding that the claim was due to fraud or disallowing the credit; and defines "adjusted gross income" for purposes of the child and dependent care tax credit as adjusted gross income as defined by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  Extends the sunset for amendments made by Act 163, SLH 2023 to the child and dependent care tax credit, earned income tax credit, and food/excise tax credit.

 

FIN

HB 2007, HD2

(HSCR618-26)

Status

RELATING TO THE HOUSEHOLD AND DEPENDENT CARE SERVICES TAX CREDIT.

Increases a taxpayer's applicable percentage of employment-related expenses that is used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit.  Extends the sunset date of the temporary increase in maximum employment-related expenses that are used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit, established by Act 163, SLH 2023, to 6/30/2030.  Sunsets 6/30/2030.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD2)

 

HSH, ECD, FIN

HB 2049, HD2

(HSCR743-26)

Status

RELATING TO HOUSING.

Restructures the conveyance tax to a marginal rate system for the sale of properties with residential use, adjusts the tax for multifamily properties to reflect value on a per-unit basis, and applies a cost-of-living adjustment to conveyance tax rates.  Allocates revenues from conveyance tax collections.  Allocates a portion of conveyance tax collections to the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund to fund infrastructure programs in areas that meet minimum standards of transit-supportive density.  Allocates a portion of conveyance tax revenues to the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust Fund.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD2)

 

HSG/WAL, JHA, FIN

HB 2616, HD1

(HSCR708-26)

Status

RELATING TO THE BANYAN DRIVE-MAKAOKŪ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

Establishes the Waiakea Community Development District within the Hawaii Community Development Authority.  Establishes the Waiakea Community Development District Special Fund.  Specifies the powers and duties of the Authority as it relates to the new development district and amends the composition of the Authority to include representatives of the new development district.  Establishes a Community Advisory Council to provide guidance regarding the redevelopment of the Waiakea Community Development District.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

WAL, FIN

 

 

 

DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

 

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FOR AMENDED NOTICES:  Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are bolded.

 

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________________________________________

Rep. Chris Todd

Chair