CNN: Tulsi Gabbard declared her residency in Texas. Then she voted in Hawaii
First Measles Cases Arrive on Oahu
10 reasons Lahaina rebuilding has been so depressingly slow
Testimony: Grassroot Bills on the Move
Hawaii Taxes: $145K salary needed to take home $100K
Hawaii Homes More than Double US Average
Kouchi, Nakamura Agree: Legislators will not have to vote on Massive Pay Hike
Lahaina Ferry Pier Rebuild Named Best of 2024
Several Tax Hike Bills Head into Secretive Conference Committees
CB: … last month the administration scaled back its proposal, suggesting a more modest hotel tax increase to 11.25% to raise $90 million per year. Green wants to funnel 40% of that money to environmental stewardship, 40% to climate and hazard mitigation efforts, and 20% to sustainable tourism programs.
Both the House and Senate advanced bills to increase the hotel tax, but so far have left blank the amounts of the proposed increase. That crucial detail will have to be negotiated in the private conference committee meetings in the weeks ahead if the bill is to pass this year.
The hotel tax increase is backed by an array of environmental groups but is being resisted by hotel and resort interests.
Republican Rep. Garner Shimizu opposed the latest version of SB 1396, warning his colleagues that the state may be “reaching a breaking point in our price point” with the latest proposal to increase the hotel room tax….
SB 1396 easily passed the House on Tuesday, with only seven Republicans and Democratic Rep. Sam Kong voting against it. The Senate unanimously approved HB 504, a similar measure to both increase the hotel room tax and also impose the new cruise ship tax….
The concept is opposed by the Cruise Lines International Association and Norwegian Cruise Line Holding Ltd., which warn the proposed fee would violate federal law and the “Tonnage Clause” of the U.S. Constitution. Only the federal government can impose such a fee, they say….
Other Hawaiʻi employers are alarmed by an effort this year to raise the state unemployment insurance tax to build up the balance in the fund that pays unemployment benefits. House Bill 202 would do that by tweaking the definition of “adequate reserve” for the Unemployment Insurance Compensation Trust Fund…
House Bill 1231 would increase the current annual state vehicle weight tax from 2 cents to 3 cents per pound for vehicles that weigh 4,000 to 7,000 pounds, and increase the tax from 2.25 cents to 3.75 cents per pound for vehicles from 7,000 to 10,000 pounds….
Lawmakers are also advancing House Bill 441 to increase the state’s cigarette tax from 16 cents to 18 cents per cigarette, raising the total state tax to $3.60 per pack….
One of the most controversial tax bills of the session died quietly last week when Senate leadership recommitted House Bill 476 to the Ways and Means Committee, effectively killing it for the year. That bill would have increased the maximum tax rate for the state capital gains tax….
If passed by the full Legislature, HB 1308 would require at least four sports betting companies to become licensed and operate in the state. The Senate set initial licensing fees at $250,000.
It was a fairly narrow vote, with 15 senators voting in favor and several of those “with reservations”….
Regarding the proposed state budget, House Bill 300, which also cleared the Senate on Tuesday, Oahu Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz said (contributions blablabla contracts) ….
Other measures passing the Senate and heading to conference committee would increase enforcement on illegal fireworks, prohibit waste disposal facilities over aquifers, allow private donations to be used for rebuilding Aloha Stadium and establish a Maui wildfires settlement trust fund to be administered by the Attorney General’s Office.
Also heading to conference is House Bill 664, which creates a statewide office to support gun violence prevention goals, including improved data collection to inform policymaking.
Another gun measure, House Bill 125, goes directly to the governor. If it becomes law, it will require gun owners to keep all firearms securely stored when not in use….
SA: Hotel, cruise ship tax hike aims to reduce wildfire, climate risk | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
read … Tax Bills Win Preliminary Approval From Hawaiʻi Lawmakers - Honolulu Civil Beat
Bill formerly known as $1,000,000,000 Ratepayer Financed Wildfire Fund Heads to Conference Committee
IM: … Legislative bills HB 982 and SB 897 proposed establishing a $1,000,000,000.00 (one billion dollar) fire recovery fund to cover the costs of future wildfires.
HECO proposed that 99.5% of the funds would be collected from ratepayers and 0.5% from shareholders. HECO proposed that they be allowed to use securitization to finance the fund. Each ratepayer would pay $4 per month to finance the fund….
Legislative committees suggested 50% for ratepayers and 50% for shareholders. HECO asserted that they could not raise that amount….
The two bills passed both houses. Each bill has an implementation date of year 3,000. Both bills allow for securitization. Neither bill provides for a ratepayer financed fire recovery fund.
The bills are headed to conference committee. Any version of either bill may emerge….
read … $1,000,000,000 Ratepayer Financed Wildfire Fund
“Slimy with a capital S” -- Gun owners say they were ambushed by assault weapons bill
HNN: … Jon Abbot with the Hawaii Firearms Coalition says the proposal was written without practical knowledge about the kind of firearms often used for hunting in Hawaii.
He points to an M-1A civilian use rifle. He said it holds a magazine with 20 rounds, has a threaded barrel for accessories and a bayonet mount, all features that would define the rifle as an assault weapon under the latest version of Senate Bill 401, which bans assault weapons sale or importation.
Abbot said many rifles would fall under that definition.
“Right now, we’re facing a complete ban on the most common firearms that are available,” Abbot said….
Tarnas’ proposal passed the state House, but didn’t get a hearing in the state Senate. Tarnas kept the plan alive by inserting it into a Senate firearms control bill….
The bill now goes into a conference where the House leadership will have to convince senators to approve something that they’ve never voted on….
Gun advocates say that violates the state constitution, as well as the federal Second Amendment.
“I mean, it’s slimy with a capital S,” Abbot said. “I mean, there’s no one in the gun community who is at all happy with what has happened.” ….
BACKGROUND: SB401: House Approves Gut-n-Replace Gun Ban Bill
read … Gun owners say they were ambushed by assault weapons bill
How Does Hawaii Gov. Josh Green Feel About Gambling?
SBCA: … The push to authorize sports wagering has now been approved in both chambers after Rep. Daniel Holt’s HB 1308 passed the Senate by a 15-10 (five of those ayes coming with reservations) vote on Tuesday. It now returns to the House for concurrence.
…Last October, he told Hawaii Public Radio that “the larger questions remain about gambling and sportsbook, so I want to be at least at the cutting edge of that.”
Last week, before the full Senate approved the sports betting proposal, he suggested that the expansion of gambling would have the support of state residents as long as profits were used for community projects.
“The legislature is being cautious, and that’s smart,” Green told KHON2. “But it was interesting to see. We got a survey or poll of people and about two out of three in our state wanted to do gaming as long as the monies went to an important set of projects, mostly housing…”
“If the legislature passes it to me, I’ll strongly consider letting it become law,” he said on Island News this week. “It probably would become law because, frankly, we need revenues, and people are doing it [already] … If it’s in our interest for us as people, we’ll strongly consider it.”
All eyes on new stadium project
Green was speaking about another bill, SB 891, which would establish a gaming working group within the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to assess how legal gambling might strengthen Hawaii’s economy. That bill passed in the Senate with strong support and has progressed through second reading in the House.
SB 891 would also examine the potential that legal gambling might offer for funding and activities at the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District, a proposed project at the University of Hawaii expected to cost up to $400 million.
Green said that potential gambling revenue “would certainly unlock the key to building a bigger and more beautiful stadium and entertainment district.”
“We have the $400 million,” he added. “We really would like to have $800 million to build a modern stadium as a part of this district, and that’s why people are talking about gambling, which I’m neutral on right now.”
KHON reports that the construction contract must be signed by June to avoid losing state funding. HB 1308 would legalize sports betting effective July 1….
KHON: Bill to legalize sports betting in Hawaii gaining steam | KHON2
read … How Does Hawaii Gov. Josh Green Feel About Gambling?
Asset Forfeiture Bill Fails
CB: … House Bill 126 requires the underlying felony conviction.
Backers of the legislation say it would increase the transparency and accountability of the forfeiture process.
Among other provisions, the bill would limit the transfer of some forfeited property to federal agencies. It would also require maintaining all records of seized or forfeited property, making them open to inspection and posting them on a public website.
HB 126 is supported by ACLU of Hawaiʻi, the Community Alliance on Prisons and the Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi, which argue that the asset forfeiture system has been abused.
It is opposed by the Hawaiʻi attorney general and several county prosecuting attorneys….
read … Lawmakers' Effort Falters To Keep Cops From Taking Property Before Conviction - Honolulu Civil Beat
Hawaii Senate Passes Bill To Let Doctors Recommend Medical Marijuana For Any Condition They See Fit
MM: … Senators in Hawaii on Wednesday gave approval to a medical marijuana bill that would, among other changes, allow healthcare providers to recommend cannabis to treat any condition they believe it would benefit.
The full Senate chamber voted 24–1 to approve HB 302, from Rep. Gregg Takayama (D).
As introduced, the proposal would clarify that under state law, a medical marijuana recommendation would no longer need to be made by a doctor who had conducted “an initial in-person consultation” with a patient….
read … Hawaii Senate Passes Bill To Let Doctors Recommend Medical Marijuana For Any Condition They See Fit
‘Nobody Needs These Activists’: Some oppose Lahaina home rebuild permit request
MN: … A number of Maui residents testified Tuesday against a proposal by a Lahaina property owner to substantially rebuild a two-story house to what it was before the August 2023 Lahaina wildfire.
Several objected to the continued use of a swimming pool, citing concerns over the limited availability of water in the area. Others raised questions about the seawall fronting the property, which is owned by the Stanley and Dilara Deal Trust.
“Pool on the beach? Hell no, nobody needs this,” said (sanctimonious) Maui resident Ua Aloha Maji at a public hearing before the Maui Planning Commission…..
(QUESTION: ‘Ua Aloha Maji’? ‘Seriously’???)
Opponents also warned the decision could set a precedent for other residential shoreline properties in Lahaina seeking to rebuild after the Lahaina wildfire….
An analysis by county staff found the lot is within Maui County’s service area, and the proposed construction of the home will be substantially similar to the prior home without any increase in water demand anticipated.
The analysis said the planning department granted a shoreline permit and setback for the repair of a seawall in 2017 and the owner received approval for a special flood hazard area development permit in 2018….
KITV: Rebuild of former Boeing executive's Lahaina home met with opposition | Video | kitv.com
read … Residents oppose Lahaina rebuild over pool, water concerns | News, Sports, Jobs - Maui News
HB431: Robust funding for homeless kauhale
SA: … In its journey through the state House and Senate, House Bill 431 has seen many changes, but it steadfastly continues funding for emergency housing and shelter programs serving Hawaii’s homeless, appropriates money for supportive housing serving people with special needs and tightens up operational rules. The Legislature must now iron out differences between each chamber’s version and get this bill to the governor.
No dollar amount has been attached to the latest version, but HB 431 originally allocated $50 million toward the state’s Kauhale Initiative, and a final bill must robustly fund the effort. …
read … Editorial: Robust funding for valuable kauhale | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Details limited on City and County of Honolulu plans to purchase Shark's Cove property
PBN: … The mayor announced last month that the city intends to purchase property across from Shark's Cove to build a first responders hub….
read … Details limited on City and County of Honolulu plans to purchase Shark's Cove property
‘He’s in shock’: Attorney says complaint by former player led to Kahuku coach’s dismissal
HNN: … Green says Carvalho’s abrupt firing stems from a single complaint filed with the Hawaii State Department of Education by the father of a former player more than a year ago.
The grievance led state education officials to investigate while Carvalho still coached a full season for the Red Raiders.
“He’s investigated for conduct violations, policy violations that he created a hostile environment for this kid,” Green said. “It’s insane, but try telling some other high school that if he wants to go there.”
Green says the complaint stems from the player’s playing time and considers the investigation flawed because it didn’t gather input from Carvalho’s staff, parents of other players, or Kahuku’s athletics director ….
read … ‘He’s in shock’: Attorney says complaint by former player led to Kahuku coach’s dismissal
Data Dive: These Jobs Were Once In High Demand In Hawaiʻi. Not Anymore
CB: … Three white-collar occupations that were mainstays of Hawaiʻi’s job market are no longer among the top 20 for civilian workers.
One of them is “other teachers and instructors,” which covers a wide range of educational roles including tutors, teachers of adult basic and secondary education, and teachers of English as a second language, or ESL. The other two, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, are financial clerks and secretaries and administrative assistants….
The jobs that replaced them in the top 20 were counselors, social workers and social service specialists, food preparation and service, and computer-related occupations.
This played out between 2016 and 2023, according to an analysis released last month by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. …
read … Data Dive: These Jobs Were Once In High Demand In Hawaiʻi. Not Anymore - Honolulu Civil Beat
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