Legislature: Grassroot Institute sifts through onslaught of bills
2024: Tourist Count Up--Spending Down
Honolulu Egg Prices up 52%
Hawaii AG Claims Victory--Sued to Overturn Trump Funding Freeze
City touts 'bold initiative' to expand affordable housing
SB1618 'Patently Unconstitutional'
Small business struggles highlighted in new UHERO report
SB1618: Donna Mercado Kim bill would Abolish Freedom of the Press
SA: … Senate Bill 1618 was introduced (by Sen Donna Mercado Kim) on Jan. 23, tucked neatly away among a raft of bills filed before this session’s deadline for new legislation. Perhaps this was by design; a bill so brazen, so ill-conceived and so odious in nature requires delicate handling.
Its title, “Relating to Journalism,” is innocuous enough, as seems its ostensible aim to graft an ethical backbone to the Fourth Estate. But make no mistake: SB 1618 is in no uncertain terms government overreach — an affront to public law that threatens to tread roughshod over rights established at our nation’s founding in apparent service to politicking….
The bill seeks to establish and impanel by gubernatorial appointment a Journalistic Ethics Commission under the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs consisting of a yet-undecided number of members, who will serve a yet-undecided number of years, representing print media, broadcast television, broadcast radio, digital media and the public. A University of Hawaii journalism professor would also have a seat at the table….
So-called “traditional” print, broadcast and digital media outlets headquartered in the state would be in the purview of this commission, which would administer rules and force compliance with the code of ethics adopted by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and levy penalties against transgressors. Punitive measures include a public notice of noncompliance, a fine and suspension or revocation of state media privileges including access to government-sponsored events….
As for government’s role in the process, there is none. Save for some ethics guidance relating to UH’s journalism program, SB 1618 is perniciously unconstitutional. One of the bill’s cosponsors is a former broadcast TV reporter; he should know better. Senior senators who cosigned are well aware of their constitutional limitations, and also should know better. This bill must be left to die….
SPJ: SB1618 'Patently Unconstitutional'
SB1618: Text, Status
BACKGROUND: The Secret History of the Mercado Kim Crime Family (SB1618 is Kim’s response. LOL!)
read … Editorial: Bill is affront to journalism, public | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
SB311: State Constitutional amendment would Abolish Freedom of the Press
KN: … A proposed Hawaiʻi Constitution amendment that would be at odds with the controversial 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court decision that took the brakes off campaign spending limits has passed unanimously out of the Hawaiʻi Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
Senate Bill 311 would advance a proposed amendment to the Hawaiʻi State Constitution to provide that its freedom of speech protection does not include the expenditure of money to influence elections….
CLUE: All news articles mentioning government, candidates, or elected officials ‘influence elections.’ Publishing them involves an ‘expenditure of money.’ Therefore this measure would abolish press freedom.
Senate Bill 311 is symbolic, Rhoads said, “in the sense it likely won’t have any immediate effect on campaign spending.”
TRANSLATION: He thinks you are an idiot.
REALITY: Federal Court Ruling: Sen. Karl Rhoads participated in Honolulu County Council Kickback scheme
BEST TESTIMONY: “I have some concerns about the bill's current language. For instance, the wording 'to influence elections' could be less broad. This could mean spending money on someone's campaign. However, would this wording affect non-profit voting advocacy groups like the ACLU, RideShare2Vote, Vote-Prochoice, Progressive Turnout Product, or Resistbot? In a worst-case scenario, could an interpretation of this amendment be used to persecute supporters of a grassroots organization instead of the millions spent by conglomerates?”
ANSWER: ‘Yes.’
REALITY: Legislators Vote to Abolish ERS, End Free Speech for Star-Advertiser
SB311: Text, Status
read … Hawaiʻi Constitution amendment proposed as protest of unlimited campaign spending
Legislature ‘mulls’ multiple insurance bills
SA: … A passel of bills have been introduced to address Hawaii’s growing problem with exorbitantly priced homeowners insurance. Senate Bill 1590/House Bill 1474 (no hearing yet) would pilot an assistance program for homeowners experiencing hardship. SB 842/HB 490 (deferred) would require the state to develop a process for condo associations/developers to self-insure or mutually insure. And SB 805 (deferred to Feb 4) establishes the Hawaii Condominium Mutual Insurance Co. to issue insurance for condo buildings, and lend condo associations money for high-priced plans….
read … Legislature mulls multiple insurance bills
Intervention Window Opens for Reviewing HECO`s Wildfire Mitigation Plan
IM: … The Public Utilities Commission opened a non-docket in which the Commission required Hawaiian Electric Company to file a Wildfire Mitigation Plan on January 10, 2005. The Commission issued guidelines. HECO filed their plan (Book 1, Book 2, Book 3)
The Commission issued an order opening a docket to review the filing on January 30, 2025. The window to intervene is 20 days, with a deadline of February 19, 2025.
The Commission established a Statement of Issues that focuses on several issues.
Can the Wildfire Mitigation Plan be reasonably expected to reduce wildfire risk?
Are the proposed activities technically feasible and effective? Will the plan focus on achieving the greatest risk reduction?
Will it efficiently allocate available funds and staff?
How will address Public Safety Power Shutoff? What is the timeline?
What performance metrics should be considered?
read … Intervention Window Opens for Reviewing HECO`s Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Maui's Historic Restaurants Get Help From National Trust
CB: … T Komoda, named for Shibuya’s grandfather, Takezo Komoda, became one of five historic restaurants on Maui that received $40,000 renovation grants through a program administered by the Washington, D.C.-based National Trust for Historic Preservation and funded by American Express….
read … Kirstin Downey: Maui's Historic Restaurants Get Help From National Trust - Honolulu Civil Beat
24,000 in Hawaiʻi Call Federal Government Their Boss
CB: … Most federal employees in Hawaiʻi work in the defense sector, but about 5,000 work for other agencies that could be affected by cutbacks under the Trump administration….
read … Data Dive: 24,000 In Hawaiʻi Call Federal Government Their Boss, For Now - Honolulu Civil Beat
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