Property tax relief could be extended for Lahaina homeowners and businesses

News Release from Grassroot Institute, November, 2025

A Maui County Council committee last week approved amendments to Bill 171 (2025), which would extend property tax relief to Lahaina property owners who lost their homes and businesses in the August 2023 fires.

The Grassroot Institute pointed out in testimony that the first draft of the bill was good but excluded some properties that had been affected by the fires. The committee subsequently amended the bill to expand which properties would be allowed to receive tax relief if it passes. The measure now heads to the full Council for consideration.

Earlier this week in Honolulu, a City Council committee advanced Bill 42 (2025), which would abolish the city's price controls for taxicabs. The measure, which now heads to the full Council for final reading, would allow taxicabs to set their own prices, similar to how rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft already operate.

Here is a complete list of all the testimonies submitted by Grassroot over the past two weeks to the Hawai‘i, Honolulu and Maui county councils, plus the state's Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development Task Force:

HAWAI‘I COUNTY

>> Bill 52 (2025) — “Let household hennery owners sell their produce for extra income” and “Allow Hawaii Island backyard henneries, revisit income potential”

>> Bill 63 (2025) — “Permit family dwellings by right in mixed-use, commercial zones”

>> Bill 103 (2025) — “Limit property tax increases for senior agricultural land owners”

HONOLULU COUNTY

>> Bill 42 (2025), CD1 — “Allow taxicabs to keep up with inflation, industry competition“

>> Bill 63 (2025) — “Update tax deduction eligibility for affordable rentals”

>> Bill 72 (2025) — “Allow taller buildings for housing in city’s affordable rentals program”

MAUI COUNTY

>> Bill 110 (2024) — “Waive infrastructure rule to help speed up rebuilding in Lahaina” and “Waive improvement requirements for damaged Lahaina properties”

>> Bill 146 (2025) — “Allow property tax exemptions to take effect the same year of filing”

>> Bill 156 (2025), CD1 — “‘Overhead encroachment’ rule blocking restoration of old Lahaina” and “Preserve Lahaina’s charm, waive overhead encroachment rules”

>> Bill 171 (2025) — “Tax relief extension critical to properties destroyed in wildfires”

>> Resolutions 25-193 and 25-194 — “Extend enterprise zone benefits to incentivize all Maui businesses”

>> Resolution 25-203 — “Support drafting bill that would allow two ADUs per lot in residential zones”

SIMPLIFYING PERMITTING FOR ENHANCED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TASK FORCE

>> RE: PERMITTING REFORM — “Reforms on building permits, historic preservation, wastewater suggested to state permitting task force”