Many bills championed by Grassroot still alive after Legislature crossover
from Grassroot Institute, March 15, 2025
Thursday, March 6, marked the halfway point of the Hawaii's 2025 legislative session, which is when the bills that are still alive cross over from the House chamber to the Senate and vice versa.
Of the more than 3,100 bills that were introduced in January, fewer than a quarter remain under consideration. Among those, however, are many of the initiatives championed by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii — and you can help them make it to the finish line. They include:
>> HB422, which would get rid of the state's unused school impact fees to help reduce the cost of homebuilding and is being heard again on Tuesday, March 18.
>> HB1409, which would encourage homebuilding near public transit lines and is being heard again on Tuesday, March 18.
>> SB830 and SB1296, which aim to make it easier for Lahaina residents to rebuild their homes and businesses that were destroyed by the August 2023 wildfires.
>> SB1065, which would remove college degree requirements that sometimes block capable individuals from obtaining state jobs.
>> SB1620, which would exempt hair braiders from state licensure.
>> HB830 and SB15, which would streamline the state's historic-review process to help speed up homebuilding.
Click on any of the links above to learn more about the particular issues and send a message to your legislators in as little as two minutes using the Grassroot Institute’s advocacy tool. Join the hundreds of people who have already taken action.
In related news
Grassroot's man on the ground at the Legislature, Ted Kefalas, spoke this past Sunday with H. Hawaii Media radio host Johnny Miro about the highs and lows of the 2025 legislative session at the halfway mark, which you can listen to here.
Grassroot's many testimonies
The following are the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii state and county testimonies listed in the March 14, 2025, edition of Grassroot Update newsletter.
HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE
>> HB202 HD1 — “No reason given for why increase in unemployment tax is needed”
>> HB367 HD2 — “Expand permit exemptions for certain structures and repairs”
>> HB596 HD1 — “Clarify definitions of ‘disaster’ and ’emergency’ to prevent power abuse”
>> HB735 HD2 — “Amend ‘dwelling unit’ definition for greater septic system flexibility”
>> HB1405 HD1 — “Impose deadlines, create digital portal to speed up DBEDT permitting”
>> HB1406 HD1 — “Establish task force to simplify intergovernmental permit process”
SENATE
>> SB15 SD1 — “Redefine ‘historic properties’ to remove uncertainty, quicken review process”
>> SB25 SD1 — “Pass SB25 SD1 to prevent net loss of housing due to county ‘downzoning’”
>> SB38 SD2 — “Prevent counties from adding costs to state affordable housing projects”
>> SB55 SD1 — “Changes to rules should be recorded and made available”
>> SB66 SD2 — “Reach housing goals faster by implementing 60-day ‘shot clock’”
>> SB125 SD2 — “Increase duration, expand eligibility for businesses in enterprise zones”
>> SB353 SD2 — “Support justifiable, transparent, constitutional emergency response”
>> SB588 SD2 — “Require counties to establish new flood zone rules, self-certification process for certain solar projects”
>> SB1002 SD2 — “Let DLNR contract out to speed up historic reviews for state housing”
>> SB1043 SD2 — “Exempt groceries and OTC medicines for immediate cost-of-living relief”
>> SB1263 SD2 — “Set historic review deadlines for certain projects in TOD zones”
>> SB1278 SD1 — “Reimburse businesses required to pay GET on COVID-era grants”
>> SB1296 SD2 — “Without streamlined SMA process, Lahaina recovery faces uphill battle”
>> SB1396 SD3 — “Hawaii doesn’t need another counterproductive tax increase”
HAWAII’S COUNTIES
HONOLULU
>> Bill 1 (2025)— “Make permanent city’s outdoor dining services program”
>> Bill 3 (2025) — “Scrap well-intended but unused business-incentive program”
>> Bill 6 (2025) — “References to phone booths no longer needed in city code”
>> Bill 9 (2025) — “Up-to-date appendix of fees needed to promote transparency”
>> Bill 17 (2025) — “Increase property tax exemption for homeowners by $20,000”
>> Bill 19 (2025) — “Limit need to resubmit construction plans to only changes in square footage”
KAUA‘I
>> Bill 2942 — “Expanding where farmers markets can operate would benefit everyone”
MAUI
>> Bill 105 (2024) CD1 — “Reforms proposed in Bill 105 necessary for Lahaina restoration”