Hawaii 204 Condo Projects Blacklisted by Fannie Mae
Caldwell's Duckbill Helps Global Warmers Exploit Mapunapuna Flooding
Hawaii Congressional Delegation--How they Voted March 15, 2025
Hawaii Highest Union Membership in USA
Governor vs Feds: UH Manoa not Protecting Jewish Students from Anti-Semites?
JSC Announces Five Nominees for Chief Judge, Intermediate Court of Appeals
Comments Open: Nominees for Oahu District Judge
Nominees for Two Oahu First Circuit Court Judgeships
HB 412: Void state contracts if there are violations of state lobbying laws
SA: … The surviving bills are:
>> The latest version of HB 412, which would void state contracts if there are violations of state lobbying laws. It would also expand the definition of lobbying to include communications with “high-level government officials regarding procurement decisions.”
It’s scheduled to be heard today before the Senate Government Operations Committee.
>> The latest version of HB 413, which would make it illegal for lobbyists to make campaign contributions during legislative sessions.
It’s scheduled to be heard today before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
>> The current version of Senate Bill 345, which would raise the cap on the maximum amount of public matching funds available to candidates eligible for the Hawaii Partial Public Financing Program.
Instead of the current $1 public financing match for every $1 of limited contributions raised, candidates would receive $2 in public campaign funds for every $1 they raise.
Proponents argue that more public money for individual campaigns would make it easier to attract candidates who won’t run for political office if it means asking voters and others for campaign contributions, which they argue makes candidates susceptible to the wishes of donors over voters.
>> Senate Bill 289, which would create a uniform fine schedule for common violations of the state Ethics Code and Lobbyist Law, which the Ethics Commission hopes will streamline and shorten the process of paying fines, similar to traffic fines.
>> SB 1202, which would allow campaign funds to be used for a candidate’s child care and “vital household dependent care costs under certain conditions.” …
None of the bills by themselves represent a dramatic overhaul of how elections and politics work at the state and county levels.
But collectively, the package of “clean government” bills that remain alive this session are designed to tighten many of the practices that have directly or indirectly been linked to recent federal trials, guilty verdicts and pleas by state and county officials….
SA: Off the news: Legislature mulls clean government bills | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
read … ‘Clean government’ bills have renewed support | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
SB1396: Hawaii Lodging Taxes Could Hit 20% As New Fees Loom
BH: … Hawaii’s current statewide TAT sits at 10.25%, with each county adding its own 3% surcharge. That brings the total accommodation tax to 13.25% before adding the 4.712% general excise tax. Altogether, lodging taxes have already approached 18%.
Senate Bill 1396 would increase the state TAT from 10.25% to 12% in 2026. With existing add-ons, total taxes on hotel rates could climb to nearly 20%....
BH: Is Hawaii Still Worth It In 2025? Travelers Sound Off - Beat of Hawaii
read … Hawaii Lodging Taxes Could Hit 20% As New Fees Loom - Beat of Hawaii
SB15 would redefine what’s a ‘historic’ building in Hawaii
MN: … Senate Bill 15 Senate Draft 1 would amend the definition of “historic property”…
The state’s definition of a “historic property” subjects SHPD review to any building, structure, object, district, area or site which is 50 years or older, regardless of historical significance. That definition means any building constructed before 1975 is considered “historic.” Most construction in Hawai‘i happened in the 1960s and early ’70s after statehood in 1959.
Now, SHPD typically reviews between 2,400 and 2,700 permits a year, and inadequate staffing and funding lead to delayed reviews and bottlenecks in the permit approval process….
read … Legislation would redefine what’s a ‘historic’ building in Hawaiʻi : Maui Now
Maui police chief fires back against ‘false and baseless’ allegations in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs lawsuit
HNN: … The civil lawsuit comes as a federal criminal investigation is ongoing.
Agents with Homeland Security Investigations raided Combs’ Los Angeles home last year.
Pelletier says he was not connected to the criminal case either.
“I’ve been contacted by no law enforcement of any kind in reference to this investigation, period,” he said.
He said he has never received a target letter and has never met Combs.
HNN reached out to Maui Police Commission Chair Stacy Moniz, who declined to comment, but said the commission may provide a response after Wednesday’s meeting ….
REALITY: Crackpot Lawsuit is all it takes--Maui Mayor and SHOPO make Complete Fools of Themselves Trying to get rid of Chief Pelletier
read … Maui police chief fires back against ‘false and baseless’ allegations in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs lawsuit
Hawaii County reaches agreement with UPW over COVID hazard pay
HNN: … The agreement provides extra pay for approximately 600 frontline workers in the United Public Workers union who faced heightened risks during the pandemic.
The union said that members, including those who have since retired, will receive 15% of their hourly base rate or temporary assignment pay rate for all hours worked between March 4, 2020 and March 24, 2022.
The agreement was overwhelmingly approved by the affected members, with 82% of members voting in favor of ratification, the union said….
read … Hawaii County reaches agreement with union over COVID hazard pay
UH Hilo enrollment falls another 4%
HTH: … UH Hilo’s fall enrollment in 2024 fell 4% from the previous year, with 2,668 students enrolling last year compared to 2,781 in 2023. This drop was the third consecutive year of declining fall enrollment at the campus….
read … UH Hilo has new plan to help boost enrollment - Hawaii Tribune-Herald
SB1042: Study how to legalize Shrooms
MM: … A Hawaii House committee has amended and passed a Senate-approved bill to support clinical research on psychedelic-assisted therapies using substances such as psilocybin and MDMA.
On Friday, the House Health Committee unanimously advanced the legislation, SB 1042, from Sen. Chris Lee (D), after first making a number of changes suggested by the Office of Wellness and Resilience, most notably replacing a special fund with a two-year pilot program.
The action comes about a week after the full Senate passed an earlier version of the psychedelics measure….
read … Hawaii House Panel Advances Bill To Support Clinical Research On Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies - Marijuana Moment
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