SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS ADVANCES EXECUTIVE BUDGET BILL

News Release from Hawaiʻi State Senate, March 31, 2025

HONOLULU – The Senate Committee on Ways and Means (WAM) today passed House Bill 300 Senate Draft 1, which outlines the Executive Branch state budget for the upcoming fiscal years. The bill includes funding for both the State's operating and capital improvement budgets for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. 

Following the latest downward forecast from the Council on Revenues and amidst ongoing economic uncertainty, the WAM committee has adopted a budget that maintains essential services for the state’s most vulnerable populations and proactively expands the economy through strategic investments in emerging sectors. With potential cuts in federal funding and policy changes that could result in broader economic challenges, the Senate remains committed to fostering economic resilience and advancing meaningful solutions that Hawaiʻi’s communities need to thrive. 

A summary of totals included in the approved budget are as follows:

Operating Budget:

For Fiscal Year 2025-2026, the operating budget totals almost $10.44 billion in general funds and about $19.93 billion across all financing sources. 

For Fiscal Year 2026-2027, the operating budget totals around $10.42 billion in general funds and almost $19.74 billion across all financing sources. 

Capital Improvement Budget:

For Fiscal Year 2025-2026, the capital improvement budget includes about $1.56 billion in general obligation bond funds and around $3.72 billion from all financing sources. 

For Fiscal Year 2026-2027, the capital improvement budget includes over $339.5 million in general obligation bond funds and about $2.05 billion from all financing sources. 

“The Senate continues to prioritize investments that foster systems within our island home to sustain essential services, including access to food, healthcare, and housing,” said Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz (Senate District 17 –  portion of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, portion of Waipiʻo Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village), WAM chair. “This budget makes strategic appropriations to invest into our local regional economies to drive economic growth statewide. This wholistic approach will help to diversify our economy, create high-paying local jobs, and reverse the brain drain. Together, we can make Hawaiʻi a place where locals can live, learn, work, and play.”

“In these times of uncertainty, we focused on the essentials: health and safety, compliance, infrastructure, and maintaining and modernizing state assets,” stated Senator Sharon Y. Moriwaki (Senate District 12 – Waikīkī, Ala Moana, Kaka‘ako, McCully), vice-chair of WAM. “We’ve also focused on our Senate priorities of affordable housing, workforce development, environmental sustainability, and economic development and diversification including agricultural innovations.” 

CLICK HERE FOR HIGHLIGHTS FROM HOUSE BILL 300 SENATE DRAFT 1.

COVERAGE:

CB: Senate Budget Proposal Would Eliminate State Jobs To Save Money

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