(EDITOR's NOTE:  The SD1 version of HB1800 is not posted yet.  The repeated references to 'working families' in the two news release posted below can only mean massive tax hikes for those the politicians deem to be 'rich.'  There is a slight difference between House and Senate over how much to increase taxes.  We won't know the details until the SD1 version is made public.  And then, we won't know how the differences are compromised away until the Conference Committee version emerges.  Anybody who thinks the Senate is here to save our tax cuts is a fool.)

CB: The Hawaiʻi State Senate Becomes A Tax Bill Graveyard - Honolulu Civil Beat -- Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Donovan Dela Cruz offered his own plan to preserve the bulk of the tax cuts, one he said would continue the promised tax relief for households earning less than $350,000 for joint filers, $262,500 for head of household filers and $175,000 for individual filers.

SA: New draft of state budget bill slims spending | Honolulu Star-Advertiser spending under the new draft of House Bill 1800 represents a reduction of about $258 million from a $10.7 billion plan advanced by the House Finance Committee on March 11 that was itself roughly $100 million less than what Green proposed in December.

PROTECTING TAX BREAKS FOR WORKING FAMILIES: WAM APPROVES FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE BUDGET

Message to Constituents from Sen Dela Cruz, April 8, 2026

On Wednesday, April 8th, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means (WAM) passed the Senate version of the Executive Branch Budget bill, HB1800 HD1 SD1. The Senate version of the bill is part of a larger package of systematic reform, long-term investments, and cost saving measures to increase the resilience of the State, while also delivering on meaningful tax relief to our working families. The budget reflects a multi-pronged approach that captures underutilized funds to prioritize resources for essential public services.

Navigating Hawaii's Fiscal Challenges in Uncertain Times

Hawaii faces economic uncertainty due to changing federal policies that affect safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid. A report from the Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawaii (February 27, 2026) highlights how the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) impacts the State. For SNAP, Hawaii now must expand and enforce work requirements, which could reduce benefits for some households. The federal law also shifts administrative costs to the State. New federal rules for Medicaid, including work and enrollment requirements, may also limit coverage for Hawaii's residents.

Global instability, like the war in the Middle East, has already increased the cost of living here at home. On top of that, the severe flooding with the March 2026 Kona Low Events have caused damage across the state. Our congressional delegation estimates that damages total more than $1 billion, stated in a letter requesting a presidential disaster declaration for Hawaii.

Protecting tax relief for our working families is more important now than ever before.

How The Senate Is Preserving Tax Breaks

Providing Tax Relief to the Working Families is Our Shared Kuleana

The Hawaii State Senate remains committed to honoring the tax relief for working families established under Act 46, SLH 2024. HB1800 HD1 SD1 supports these tax breaks through careful management of the state's financial resources. The measure includes reducing unspent funds by state agencies as averaged over the previous five years, eliminating positions that have been vacant for more than five years and positions that are not in active recruitment, and shifting certain expenses to non‑general funds for authorities and corporations. Together, these actions aim to direct more than $300,000,000 of underutilized funds toward essential public services while upholding commitments to affordability, shared responsibility, and long‑term fiscal stability.

The Senate version of the budget reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the State’s fiscal future and supporting the well-being of our residents. It aims to stabilize critical public services, protect natural resources and infrastructure, and promote regional economic growth and diversification to enhance Hawaii’s resilience. At the same time, it directs targeted investments to key priority areas, including housing and affordability, workforce development and economic diversification, climate resilience, and environmental stewardship.

Highlights From HB1800 HD1 SD1

Mahalo to my colleagues in the Senate, the Governor, and his administration for their time and collaboration on a budget that ensures we have the financial stability to deliver meaningful tax relief that puts money directly into working families pockets across Hawaii.

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SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS VOTES TO APPROVE THE SENATE'S VERSION OF THE STATE BUDGET

News Release from Hawaii State Senate, April 8, 2026

HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI – Today, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means advanced the State Budget Bill, HB1800 HD1 SD1. As the Senate strives to preserve future income tax cuts for working families, the budget reflects a multi-pronged approach that captures underutilized funds to prioritize resources for essential public services.

Federal funding cuts shifted administrative costs to the State for essential services like SNAP and Medicaid. Federal policies have also created economic uncertainty, resulting in lower general fund tax revenues. While addressing these shortfalls, the Senate Draft of HB1800 also directs funding toward critical areas including housing affordability, workforce development and economic diversification, climate resilience, and environmental stewardship as identified in the Senate Majority Priority package.

“This budget is a part of a larger package of revenue-generating strategies, long-term investments, and cost-saving measures to increase the resilience of the State, while also delivering on the meaningful tax reform that was promised to our working- and middle-income taxpayer,” said Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz (District 17 – Portion of Mililani, Mililani Mauka, portion of Waipi‘o Acres, Launani Valley, Wahiawā, Whitmore Village), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Protecting the tax cuts to working families is a shared responsibility, and we must all do our part.”

The budget thus includes cost-saving strategies by reducing unspent funds by state agencies as averaged over the previous five years, reducing positions that have been vacant for more than five years, and reducing positions that are not in active recruitment.

“In these times of economic uncertainty, we focused on the essentials: improving safety and security for our residents by fortifying critical infrastructure and maintaining and modernizing state assets,” said Senator Sharon Y. Moriwaki (District 12 – Waikīkī, Ala Moana, Kaka‘ako, McCully), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “We’ve also focused on our Senate priorities of housing, climate and hazard resilience, economic diversification including agricultural innovations, and education."

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means today also passed the Judiciary Budget Bill, HB2095 HD2 SD2. Both budget bills will proceed to the Senate floor for third reading.

[Click Here for Highlights from Senate Budget Bills]

HB1800: Text, Status (SD1 version not posted yet)

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ABOUT THE HAWAIʻI STATE SENATE MAJORITY

The Hawaiʻi State Senate consists of 25 members who serve staggered four-year terms. The Senate Majority consists of 22 Democrats for the 33rd Legislature, which convened January 21, 2026. For the latest news and updates, follow the Senate Majority on Facebook, Instagram, or visit https://www.hawaiisenatemajority.com.