Grassroot testimonies — late February 2026

by Sarah Zoellick, Grassroot Institute, February 26, 2026

The following are state and county testimonies submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii in the latter half of February 2026.

STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

>> HB276 HD1 — “Abolish annual sales report and unsold unit fee for CPR builders“

>> HB1611 HD1 — “Give residents a break, waive GE tax on groceries, OTC medication“

>> HB1620 HD1 — “Proposed barrel tax hike would increase already high cost of living“

>> HB1671 HD1 — “Allow dental hygienists to expand scope of practice under guidance“

>> HB1713 HD1 — “End school impact fees, apply collection to facilities funds”

>> HB1721 HD1 — “Clarify professional liability for permit self-certification“

>> HB1725 HD1 — “Overhaul of Hawaii’s building code adoption process badly needed”

>> HB1737 HD1 — “Remove barriers to building housing for workers on farms and ranches“

>> HB1738 HD1 — “Counties should have more authority to designate urban land for housing“

>> HB1739 HD1 — “Loosen density restrictions in county transit-oriented development areas“

>> HB1741 HD1 — “Affordable housing mandates drive up home prices, reduce inventory” and “Inclusionary zoning mandates fail to create more affordable housing“

>> HB1742 HD1 — “Establish regulations and permitting rules for mobile homes“

>> HB1742 HD2 — “Consider allowing mobile homes to help bridge housing gaps“

>> HB1743 — “Remove time restriction on leasing of owner-built houses“

>> HB1823 HD1 — “Waive SMA use permit rule for county infrastructure improvements“

>> HB1844 HD1 — “LUC should automatically approve county urban redistricting plans“

>> HB1845 HD1 — “Reduce required votes for LUC boundary amendments“

>> HB1882 — “End burdensome safety inspections for motorcycles and passenger cars“

>> HB1919 HD1 — “Prevent counties from imposing parking rules for certain projects“

>> HB1919 HD2 — “Prohibit counties from imposing costly parking mandates“

>> HB1984 — “Establish self-certification process for solar permits, fix flood-zone rules“

>> HB2147 HD1 — “State should not be given power to collect property taxes“

>> HB2197 — “Establish process for removing squatters from properties“

>> HB2325 HD1 — “Remove civil service requirements for hard to fill DLNR positions“

>> HB2360 HD1 — “Negative effects of paid-leave programs need more scrutiny” and “Paid leave programs seem helpful, data shows otherwise“

>> HB2378 — “Make it easier for ‘seagliders’ to operate in Hawaii“

>> HB2384 HD1 — “Compensation for student athletes should not rely on tax dollars“

>> HB2384 HD2 — “UH student-athlete compensation should not be funded by taxpayers“

>> HB2385 HD1 — “Waive GE tax for construction work on incentivized affordable housing“

>> HB2581 HD1 — “Define ’emergency’ and ‘disaster’ in state law to provide clarity“

>> HB2581 HD2 — “Precise definition of ‘disaster’ would deter abuse of power“

>> HB2585 HD1 — “Establish statewide standards for agricultural tourism activities“

STATE SENATE

>> SB2006 SD1 — “Let farmers and ranchers provide housing on location for workers“

>> SB2007 — “Give counties more authority over DBAs for certain housing projects“

>> SB2151 SD1 — “Governor should not suspend public records requests during emergencies“

>> SB2192 SD1 — “Don’t allow county code changes to reduce overall housing inventory”

>> SB2312 SD1 — “Maintain transparency, apply sunshine law to contractors“

>> SB2356 SD1 — “Eliminate county parking mandates in TOD zones“

>> SB2362 — “Repeal of REIT deductions could reduce housing production“

>> SB2400 — “Give ‘seagliders’ a chance to fly in Hawaii“

>> SB2423 — “Allow smaller lot sizes to reduce land costs for housing“

>> SB2423 SD1 — “Reduce minimum lot size for houses throughout state’s urban district“

>> SB2876 — “Lift irrelevant licensing requirements for natural hair braiders” and “License should not be required to practice natural hair braiding“

>> SB2935 — “State should stop taxing groceries, nonprescription medication“

>> SB2981 — “Exempt new housing in urban areas from costly parking mandates“

>> SB3028 — “Increasing transfer tax could harm economy, housing market“

>> SB3028 SD1 — “Conveyance tax hike could hamper affordable housing initiatives“

>> SB3105 — “Make it easier for PAs to work in Hawaii by joining compact“

>> SB3139 SD1 — “Reform CON laws to improve healthcare access“

>> SB3180 SD1 — “Reallocate tax dollars tied up in years-long state job vacancies“

>> SB3302 SD1 — “Hold farm and home cottage food kitchens to equivalent standards“

HAWAI‘I COUNTY COUNCIL

>> Bill 63, Draft 3 (2025) — “Allow more homebuilding in mixed-use zones to meet housing needs“

HONOLULU CHARTER COMMISSION

>> P051 — “Require six Council votes to reverse HHFDC affordable housing approvals“

>> P059 — “Allow existing homeowners in nonresidential zones to make repairs“

>> P064 — “Reform variance request process“

>> P240 — “Allow multiple zoning appeal boards to reduce wait times“

HONOLULU CITY COUNCIL

>> Bill 6 (2026), CD1 — “Modify apartment floor-area ratio to create more housing options“

>> Bill 18 (2026) — “Amend Bill 18 to maximize benefits of Bill 7 affordable housing program“

LĀNA‘I PLANNING COMMISSION

>> Item A(2) — “Extend allowance of two ADUs to Lanai and Molokai residents“

MAUI COUNTY COUNCIL

>> Bill 183 (2025) — “Let Lahaina’s burned structures be rebuilt to previous heights“