Hawaii State Government

...Troubled Waters: Charting a New Fiscal Course for Hawaii....

...The latest entry of the State of the States publication breaks down each governor’s “state of the state” address and identifies strong and weak policy prescriptions within....

...user-friendly tool to assist Hawai‘i’s business community, rule-drafting agencies, business chambers and trade organizations in providing current information on the status of state and county new and proposed HARs....

...“A recent enhancement that allowed new applications to be submitted online has cut Guard Employee (GDE) processing time from 15 days to two!”....

...Hawaii is tied with Massachussets for 4th-highest debt per taxpayer....

...Hawaii's OPEB plans are only 12.7 percent funded. Hawaii, like many others, treats OPEB on a pay-as-you-go basis, whereby benefits are paid when retirees receive the health care. This leaves future taxpayers stuck paying for OPEB benefits earned by current employees....

...With this final installment, the department will add cigarette/tobacco, fuel and liquor taxes to the new system, completing the configurations needed to administer all Hawaiʻi taxes....

...The workshop/presentation "Your Voice!" is about an hour in length and covers the Legislature and how to effectively participate in the legislative process....

...Study Ranks Every State’s Highway System, Finds Road Conditions Worsening In Important Categories....

...Ige is recruiting qualified and dedicated people who are interested in serving on the State Board of Land and Natural Resources....

...Current director Linda Chu Takayama to take chief of staff position in Ige Administration August 1....

"...the Legislature should have fully and seriously considered HB 1586 and allowed the public to weigh in on the measure, given the major financial effects on the State, instead of using the ‘gut and replace’ practice currently being challenged in court....”

...attempt by a government agency to shroud its operations in the shadows....

...Stop shooting the messenger and concentrate on cleaning house!....

...How Well-Funded are Pension Plans in Your State?....

...Ige has appointed Linda Chu Takayama as his chief of staff, effective Aug. 1 an Keith Yamamoto as chief operating officer.... 

... Ige boosts film tax credit and allows condo associations to conduct non-judicial forclosures ....

...ACT 268 establishes the Stadium Development District and puts the state’s Aloha Stadium lands under the jurisdiction of the Stadium Authority....

...Neal Miyahira starts as Budget and Finance director on July 1. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation....

...Ige notified legislative leaders and key lawmakers of his Intent to Veto the following 20 measures....

...Hawaii’s state and county governments aren’t known for delivering high-quality public services in a cost-efficient manner....

...the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii “quietly chips away at the stone of economic issues in Hawaii”....

...Released today, a State Auditor’s report shows the Convention Center ‘s operating loss has jumped up from an anemic $4.3M in 2017 to a much more robust $8.3M in calendar year 2018....

...nineteen Senators and two Representatives – all Democrats – earned membership in the ‘Coalition of the Radical Left’ by scoring 10% or less.... 

...Gov. David Ige signed the following bills on June 7, 2019. Legislative leadership has been notified....

...if people speak out and let policymakers know that taxes should be lowered and barriers to economic freedom removed, things could change....

...Ige is recruiting qualified and dedicated individuals who are interested in working for state government....

...the law’s discrimination against nonresidents was prohibited by a part of the U.S. Constitution that the deputy attorney general didn’t consider.  “Oops,” the deputy said....

...The first step is admitting you have a problem....

...Hawaii was third behind Illinois and New Jersey for how much of its total revenue would be required to pay off its unfunded retirement liabilities over the next 30 years....

...good news and bad news for Hawaii's taxpayers during this past legislative session....

...The Hawaii Legislature approved 303 bills, among which were measures clarifying what people must do in crosswalks with countdown timers, determining who is allowed to drive “low speed electric bicycles,” and expanding the prohibition on the capturing or killing of manta rays to all rays. ...

"Improve recordkeeping to prepare accrual basis financial statements"

"...There is more to be done, and we will use this interim to develop priorities for next year...."

...As of Sept. 30, Hawaii has paid $36.4 million to Abraaj Global Growth Markets Fund....

...The victims of these tactics usually are bills that have been passed by one chamber and are waiting for hearings in the non-originating chamber. This makes them ripe for tinkering because they no longer require hearings or votes in the original house....

...New budget system allowed for closer scrutiny, more transparency....

...CIP funds for renovations, repairs, construction, land acquisition statewide....

...The rampant use of "gut and replace'"and "Frankenstein" bills shows disrespect for the public....

...auditors from KMH LLP reported one significant deficiency in internal control over financial reporting and 14 material weaknesses and three significant deficiencies in internal control over compliance....

...“We’re excited to be able to use the Wiki Wiki Hire process to fill our engineering vacancies and are committed to using these available resources to get qualified workers into positions within one to two weeks.”....

...CSEA disbursed amounts received without knowing whether the non-custodial parent had sufficient funds at the bank....

...Financial and Compliance Audit of the Department of Health....

...With two days left before the Second Crossover deadline, the House today passed an additional 85 Senate bills. These bills now head back to the Senate for their consideration....

...American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) analysis of the recently-released U.S. Department of Transportation 2018 National Bridge Inventory (NBI) database....

...Sex-Change 'Conversion Therapy' Ban Passes Full Senate....

...A new Grassroot Institute of Hawaii report suggests ways to build a financial reserve....

...The committee is charged with increasing awareness about the importance of being counted; organizing state resources effectively and cost-efficiently to promote the count; and improving the response rate for the 2020 Census questionnaire....

...four material weaknesses and ten significant deficiencies in internal control over compliance with major federal programs....

...Hawaii lawmakers are considering a myriad of new tax increases in order to pay for their spending plans, but instead they should clamp down on their spending so tax hikes aren’t needed....