Hawaii State Government

... In December 2023, the FBI conducted a raid of the managers’ apartment and the Lei Ohana office at Kamakana Villages, seizing computers and other items implicated in the production of child pornography ....

“... In general, it was a terrific year at the legislature, and I never say that ....”

... an extra 13,000 to 14,000 households will be eligible for an average of $3,200 a year in SNAP benefits, commonly known as food stamps ....

... the discussion there is almost entirely focused on taxes ....

... $3.2 million in federal and state tax liens filed against Alcos in an attempt to collect taxes owed by Alcos’ company D.A. Builders LLC ....

... the purpose is to reverse Hawaii's historic income tax cuts ....

... 4,700 positions currently unfilled, including more than 100 that have been vacant for over four years ....

... and attempted to sell access to networks on the dark web ....

... an Office of the Legislative Analyst that is supposed to come up with revenue estimates for significant tax and spending bills ....

... insurers “did not agree to this global settlement" ....

... take a light-handed approach with occupational licensing ....

... five bills amending the Sunshine Law ....

... Keli’i Akina, OHA’s only honest Trustee, is being challenged by three has-beens in an obviously coordinated effort ....

... Team to Produce Policy Guidance for Climate Resilience and Disaster Recovery ....

... Record funding for biosecurity measures approved by the state Legislature this year will expand the state’s efforts to stop the spread of invasive species such as little fire ants, the coconut rhinoceros beetle and coqui frogs ....

... Hawaii lawmakers enacted a large income tax cut this year, and major budget reform will begin next year to ensure it stays in place, Gov. Josh Green said ....

... final day of bill signings ....

... Of the 17 bills on his original Intent to Veto List, Governor Green issued seven vetoes. He signed four bills after issuing line-item reductions, and six bills were signed into law ....

... HB 1800 represents an increase of more than $480 million in general funds for fiscal year 2025 .... 

"... Respondent Coffield explained that he was so distressed by Chair Tam’s text message and email that he left work, went to a coffee shop, and then drafted and sent the email from the coffee shop. Respondent Coffield did not return to work that day and neglected to take leave ...."

... The positions and appointees are listed below; House and Senate appointees also are included ....

... Intent to Veto: HB 1800, which is the state’s budget bill, and HB 40, which is the bill that puts $300 million into our rainy day fund and $135 million into the pension accumulation fund .... 

... we don’t know what we don’t know ....

... Governor Josh Green, M.D., notified legislative leaders and stakeholders of his intent to veto 17 bills passed by the Hawaiʻi State Legislature during the 2024 session ....

... there is now, government-wide, about a 30% vacancy rate in the number of authorized positions ....

... Hawaii taxpayers are expected to save about $1.2 billion in 2030 ....

... CIO Murdock resigned without notice May 31, 2024.  Now we know why ....

... to assist in applying for and securing federal funds relating to renewable energy, local food, clean transportation, and fresh water ....

... It was mostly a good year for Hawaii at the 2024 Legislature, and policy experts from Grassroot will explain how that came to be ....

... a new deputy director for the Department of Human Resources Development, and appointed several individuals to various open positions in state boards and commissions ....

... With the retirement of Senator Maile S.L. Shimabukuro effective today, Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi announced changes to the composition of Senate Standing Committees ....

... with a culminating virtual statewide meeting on Tuesday, July 2 ....

... huge wins in the areas of taxes, healthcare and housing reform ....

... legislators earmark $1 billion to cover costs such as emergency housing and rental assistance ....

... In his previous roles as State Comptroller and Deputy Superintendent of Operations for the Department of Education, Otaguro managed facilities on a large scale as well as complex Capital Improvement Projects ....

... the law prohibits a landlord from charging an applicant for a residential dwelling unit, a tenant screening fee that is more than the actual cost to obtain information ....

..."Practices are improved from lessons learned in previous disasters"....

... helping to defeat many measures that would have harmed Hawaii’s economy and added to our already high cost of living ....

... to competitively pursue and secure the historic investments made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) ....

... The best news to come out of it was that our lawmakers passed a major income tax-relief bill, HB2404, which Gov. Josh Green is almost certain to sign because it was part of his much-touted "Green Affordability Plan." ....

"... ALICE families will experience firsthand one of the biggest tax cuts in the State’s history ...."

... At the end of this month, the Legislature wraps up and we see what gets sent to Gov. Green’s desk for signature or veto ....

... House Bill 1800 CD1 will be up for a final vote in both chambers before being transmitted to the governor for consideration ....

... The final vote is set for 11:30 a.m. during the Floor Session. Upon approval, these bills will advance to the governor's desk for his signature ....

... To address the problem, Yamachika suggested that legal action might be necessary ....

... A final vote is scheduled for Friday, April 19 at 11:30 a.m. on the House Floor during the Floor Session ....

... late-night parties in a cramped second-floor office where lobbyists and executives seeking government contracts lined up to drop cash and checks into a metal lockbox ....

... A final vote is scheduled for Wednesday, April 17, and upon approval, the bills proceed to the governor's desk for his signature....

... and the State Ethics Commission says it's all good ....  

... the Senate passed 182 House Bills out on third reading this week ....