KA ‘AHA KENEKOA
THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2026
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Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair |
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Senator Sharon Y. Moriwaki, Vice Chair |
NOTICE OF DECISION MAKING
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DATE: |
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 |
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TIME: |
10:03 AM |
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PLACE: |
Conference Room 211 & Videoconference State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
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TIMESLOT: |
WAM |
PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE TO THE STATE CAPITOL
BUILDING HOURS: 7AM TO 5PM, MONDAY - FRIDAY
A live stream of all Senate Standing Committee meetings will be available on the Senate YouTube Channel.
A G E N D A
The following measure(s) were previously heard in their respective subject matter committees:
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RELATING TO AUTOMATED SPEED ENFORCEMENT SYSTEMS PROGRAM. Appropriates funds out of the State Highway Fund for deposit into the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund and appropriates funds out of the Automated Speed Enforcement Systems Program Special Fund for fiscal year 2026-2027. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
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TRS, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE HEALTHCARE EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM. Formally codifies the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program. Requires a participant in the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program who receives a new award on or after July 1, 2027, to remain and work in the State for a certain number of years based on the amount of financial assistance received. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)
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EDU/HHS, WAM |
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RELATING TO HUMAN AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE. Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience for the development of its human and community resilience institute. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)
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EDU, WAM
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RELATING TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. Amends the collective bargaining negotiation procedure on the repricing of classes within a bargaining unit for public employees. Establishes an impasse procedure to be applied when an employer fails to initiate the negotiation or the parties fail to reach an agreement within certain timeframes. Repeals existing law that requires a different impasse procedure to apply in those situations. Sunsets 6/30/2029. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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LBT, WAM |
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RELATING TO A GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTION FOR AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE. Provides a general excise tax exemption for the sale of material, parts, or tools used for aircraft service and maintenance or for the construction of an aircraft service and maintenance facility. Effective 1/1/2027. (SD1)
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TRS, WAM |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. Establishes a Local Agriculture Transportation Cost Reimbursement Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to reimburse eligible ranchers and farmers a portion of their costs to transport livestock, livestock products, agricultural commodities, and certain necessary supplies, under certain conditions. Establishes a position to administer the Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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AEN, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. Repeals the prohibition against qualified residents for Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation-approved projects holding a majority interest in land and repeals the requirement that qualified residents demonstrate financial viability or ability to pay rent. Amends exemptions from statutes, ordinances, charter provisions, and rules for certain housing projects developed by the Corporation that satisfy certain conditions, including requirements related to employment, owner-occupancy, and deed restrictions. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
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HOU, WAM |
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RELATING TO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. Requires the Director of Corrections and Rehabilitation to incrementally return committed felons incarcerated in private, out-of-state correctional institutions to in-state correctional facilities. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
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PSM, WAM [Pending referral to WAM] |
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RELATING TO CHILD WELFARE SERVICES. Appropriates funds for the Department of Human Services to contract with one or more organizations specializing in domestic violence to provide training and on-site staff in Child Welfare Services Branch offices to support all aspects of screening for and addressing domestic violence within a case. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)
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HHS, WAM |
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RELATING TO EDUCATION. Authorizes public school teachers and public charter school teachers to be eligible for annual increments and longevity step salary increases under specified conditions, if the increases are provided for in a collective bargaining agreement negotiated under section 89-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, subject to funding by a specific appropriation enacted by the Legislature. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)
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LBT/EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO COLORECTAL CANCER. Requires the Department of Human Services to develop and implement a public assistance program offering state-funded colorectal screenings and treatment for certain persons. Requires state-funded coverage for follow-up treatment for colorectal cancer for certain persons. Requires coverage to include a follow-up colonoscopy after a positive test result. Specifies that coverage is not subject to a deductible, copayment, coinsurance, or any other cost-sharing requirements. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
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CPN, WAM [Pending referral to WAM] |
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RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII CANCER CENTER. Appropriates funds for the University of Hawaii Cancer Center's Hawaii Tumor Registry. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)
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EDU, WAM [Pending referral to WAM] |
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RELATING TO TAXATION. Establishes a family caregiver tax credit for nonpaid family caregivers. Requires the Department of Taxation to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD1)
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HHS, WAM |
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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 Hawaii Agricultural Development Revolving Fund, Special Land and Development Fund, and Hawaiian Home Lands Infrastructure and Housing Special Fund. Establishes and appropriates funds out of the Hawaiian Home Lands Infrastructure and Housing Special Fund. Authorizes the Hawaii Agricultural Development Revolving Fund to be used to acquire land. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
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WLA/HOU/HWN, WAM |
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RELATING TO PARTIAL PUBLIC FINANCING OF ELECTIONS. Increases the expenditure limit and the amount of partial public campaign financing available for all elective offices. Adjusts the minimum amount of qualifying contributions certain candidates must receive to participate in the Partial Public Campaign Financing Program. Increases the matching fund payments for excess qualifying contributions. Appropriates funds for the Program. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)
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JDC, WAM |
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RELATING TO JURY DUTY. Increases the amount each juror or prospective juror is paid for each day of actual attendance at court. Appropriates funds. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)
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JDC, WAM |
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RELATING TO NATURAL RESOURCES. Appropriates funds to the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity for the removal of overgrown vegetation from the Kainahola Stream. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
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TRS, WAM |
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RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES. Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii to conduct a study on effective treatment methods to reduce populations of the Queensland Longhorn Beetle. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYMENT SECURITY LAW. Amends the qualifications for unemployed individuals who are able to receive unemployment benefits. Beginning 4/1/2027, removes the two-year limitation on the recoupment of overpayments and limits the amount of overpaid amount and the penalty assessment amount that can be deducted from future benefits payable to the individual. Beginning 4/1/2027, requires the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to assess and collect a service charge for dishonored unemployment insurance assessments. Beginning 4/1/2027, specifies that employers must report separation and wage information within five calendar days of notice being sent, whether by mail or electronic notification. Beginning 4/1/2027, increases the penalty for failure to report separations or wages and for failure to file or for filing insufficient wage reports. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)
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LBT, WAM |
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RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY. Amends the Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credit by: beginning 12/31/26, limiting claims for certain solar energy systems that are not third-party financed systems and installed and placed in service on a single-family residential property to taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $250,000 or less if filing as an individual or $350,000 or less if filing jointly; removing certain cap amounts for solar energy systems that are not third-party financed systems; and increasing the maximum adjusted gross income an individual taxpayer must be below in order to be eligible to have any excess credits refunded and limiting credit refundability to systems that are not third-party financed systems. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
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EIG, WAM |
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MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR CLAIMS AGAINST THE STATE, ITS OFFICERS, OR ITS EMPLOYEES. Makes appropriations and approves payments for claims against the State, its officers, and its employees. Prohibits claims for refunds, reimbursements, or other payments, authorization for which is sought from the Legislature that exceed the time limitations of section 40-68, Hawaii Revised Statutes, from being claimed. Requires the Attorney General to submit a confidential report within five days after the opening of a Regular Session to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the Senate, and Chairs of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees that provides a good faith estimate of each possible judgment against the State that has not yet settled. Requires the Attorney General to submit a report every five years to the Legislature containing further incidents that occurred in an agency that led to a claim. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD1)
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JDC, WAM |
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MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS. Makes emergency appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of bargaining units (1) and (10) and their excluded counterparts to resolve issues related to temporary hazard pay for fiscal year 2025-2026. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)
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LBT, WAM |
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MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS. Makes emergency appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of bargaining unit (11) and their excluded counterparts, including the cost of salary adjustments negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal biennium 2025-2027. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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LBT, WAM |
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MAKING EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT COST ITEMS. Makes emergency appropriations for collective bargaining cost items for the members of bargaining unit (14) and their excluded counterparts, including the cost of salary adjustments negotiated between the State and the bargaining unit representative for fiscal biennium 2025-2027. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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LBT, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND INVESTMENT OFFICE STAFF SALARIES. Enables the Board of Trustees of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to establish appropriate salaries for the investment office staff of the Trust Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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LBT, WAM |
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RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS. Requires the Department of Education to charge not less than one-quarter of the cost of preparing a school meal for each school meal. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO EDUCATION. Updates Hawaii's statutory framework for adult and community education programs to ensure alignment with federal funding requirements and current best practices in those programs. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROCUREMENT. Adjusts the applicability of Act 134, SLH 2025, to clarify the threshold for Department of Education procurement of local edible produce and packaged food products. Prohibits the artificial division and parceling of DOE procurements of local edible produce and packaged food products. Sunsets 6/30/2028. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. Provides an emergency appropriation to the Department of Human Services to replace general fund appropriations redirected to provide emergency food assistance during the 2025 federal government shutdown. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)
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HHS, WAM |
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RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. Establishes that certain participants in state-funded internship and workforce development programs are eligible for internal recruitment. Authorizes any state department, division, or agency to make certain determinations regarding an applicant's minimum qualifications in conducting a minimum qualification review. Repeals the requirement that a state department, division, or agency shall submit to the Department of Human Resources Development the applications for individuals who have met the minimum qualifications for a vacant position. Repeals the requirement that DHRD shall complete certain necessary tasks to facilitate the hiring of applications. Authorizes the director or head of a state department, division, or agency to directly hire an individual who meets the minimum qualifications for a civil service position. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)
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LBT/GVO, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROMISE PROGRAM. Addresses the change in federal law regarding Pell Grants by amending the Hawaii Community College Promise Program (Hawaii Promise) to provide scholarships for ninety-five percent of a student's unmet direct cost need and exclude grants, scholarships, and other funding sources from the calculation of Hawaii Promise awards, thereby allowing students to apply such funds toward indirect costs, including housing, food, and other living expenses, to reduce financial barriers and support student success. Changes Hawaii Promise from being a last-dollar award. Authorizes Hawaii Promise to coordinate with federal student aid programs to maximize total financial assistance available to students. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII REVENUE BONDS. Authorizes the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii to issue revenue bonds for the purpose of financing qualifying priority capital improvement projects. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. Requires the School Facilities Authority to establish geographically based capital improvement project districts for the localized management of deferred maintenance. Transfers all deferred maintenance functions, funds, and vacant Facilities Development Branch positions from the Department of Education to the School Facilities Authority. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO DISASTER SERVICES. Integrates the needs of individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs into emergency planning, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities. Establishes a Disability Integration Specialist position, to be located in the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, who shall provide programming support for disability community projects that promote accessibility, inclusion, and equity in disaster management. Requires the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to develop and implement a statewide public education and communications program to promote household emergency preparedness consistent with the Agency's 14-day essential supplies recommendation. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to provide an American Sign Language interpreter during each official announcement broadcast via television or the Internet during a state of emergency. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to ensure, to the fullest extent possible, that the American Sign Language interpreter's face, body, arms, and hands are visible during the broadcast. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to provide a standardized pool feed that includes the American Sign Language interpreter in a picture‑in‑picture window not less than one quarter the size of the primary video and not blocked or covered by captions, graphics, or other on-screen tax. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
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PSM/HHS, WAM |
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RELATING TO INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS. Amends the private sector On-the-Job Training Work Experience Program to allow the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to contract with employers and trade organizations or apprenticeship program sponsors without regard to chapters 103D and 103F, HRS; establish that an intern may become an apprentice in a registered apprenticeship program under certain conditions; require employers to pay $20 per hour for a maximum of forty hours per week for all interns; require sponsors to contribute 50% of each intern's wages; requires sponsors to pay, supervise, and train interns; and allow sponsors to be reimbursed for administrative costs of 10% of interns' wages. Amends the State Internship and Workforce Development Program to require experience gained by interns to be applied towards the experience needed to meet minimum qualifications for civil service positions; require the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and Department of Human Resources Development to develop guidelines for participation in the program; transfer certain program responsibilities from DLIR to DHRD. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/1/2077. (SD1)
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LBT, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND STAFF SALARIES. Authorizes the Board of Trustees of the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to establish the salary for the Assistant Administrator. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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LBT, WAM |
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RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. Authorizes the State to enter into nonbinding international cooperative agreements with foreign national governments, foreign subnational jurisdictions, and regional intergovernmental partners, under certain conditions. Clarifies the scope and process for sister-state relationships. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)
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WLA/EDT, WAM |
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RELATING TO CARE HOMES. Requires and appropriates funds for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to establish a Central Oahu Care Home Community Resilience Pilot Program to assist eligible care home facilities to implement structural and operational resilience improvements. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2055. Sunsets on 6/30/2031. (SD1)
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PSM, WAM [Pending referral to WAM] |
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RELATING TO TAX CREDIT FOR RESEARCH ACTIVITIES. Amends the tax credit for research activities by: allowing taxpayers to claim credits for all qualified research expenses without regard to prior-year expenses; amending from March 31 to March 1, the deadline for qualified high technology businesses to submit a written, certified statement to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism identifying its qualified expenditures and research activities tax credits claimed in the previous taxable year; increasing the annual statewide cap amount for the tax credit; requiring the tax credit to be divided between all qualified high technology businesses for that year on a proportional basis if the annual statewide cap is reached; 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. Effective 7/1/3050. (SD1)
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EDT, WAM [Pending referral to WAM] |
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RELATING TO AQUATIC PROTECTION. Requires the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to: manage the aquatic life and aquatic resources of the State, giving the highest priority to protecting, restoring, and maintaining ecosystem integrity and using the best peer-reviewed scientific data available; maintain reefs and each native species within them at levels no less than the best peer-reviewed science suggests is able to comfortably withstand the worst coral bleaching events and other likely threats to reef ecosystem health in the subsequent five decades; and set goals, make plans, and take action to substantially increase coral-reef resilience with annual reports to the Legislature. (SD1)
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WLA, WAM |
Decision making meeting only, no oral testimony will be accepted.
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For special assistance: The cable TV broadcast and/or live stream of this meeting will include closed captioning. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, please call the committee clerk at the telephone number listed below or email WAMcommittee@capitol.hawaii.gov. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled.
FOR AMENDED NOTICES: Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are underscored. If a measure is both underscored and stricken through, that measure has been deleted from the agenda.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT (808)586-6800.
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_____________________________________ Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz Chair |